they wanted to congratulate each father's will. Then it would be all other on having occasioned so well, my father was pleased to say: severe a beginning to be made Then they should dote upon me, was with me. my brother's expression: Love me as well as ever, was my sister's: and my uncle's, That I then should be the pride of their hearts. But, alas: what a forfeiture of all these must I make?

I went up to my chamber, and there with my faithful Hannah deplored the determined face which the new proposal it was plain they had to make me wore.

This was the reception I had on my return from you.

I had not recovered myself when I was sent for down to tea. I begged by my maid to be excused attend- Mr. Solmes came in before we ing; but on the repeated command, had done tea. My uncle Antony went down with as much cheer-presented him to me, as a gentlefulness as I could assume; and had man he had a particular friendship a new fault to clear myself of: for for. My uncle Harlowe in terms my brother, so pregnant a thing is equally favourable for him. My determined illwill, by intimations father said, Mr.Solmes is my friend, equally rude and intelligible, Clarissa Harlowe. My mother charged my desire of being ex- looked at him, and looked at me, cused coming down, to sullens, now and then, as he sat near me, I because a certain person had been thought with concern. -I at her, spoken against, upon whom, as he with eyes appealing for pity. At supposed, my fancy ran. him, when I could glance at him, with disgust little short of affrightment. While my brother and sister Mr. Solmes'd him, and sir'd him up, at every word. So caressed, in short, by all;-yet such a wretch!

I could easily answer you, sir, said I, as such a reflection deserves: but I forbear. If I do not find a brother in you, you shall have a sister in me.

Pretty meekness! Bella whisperingly said; looking at my brother, and lifting up her lip in contempt.

He, with an imperious air, bid me deserve his love, and I should be sure to have it.

But I will at present only add, my humble thanks and duty to your honoured mother (to whom I will particularly write, to express the grateful sense I have of her goodness to me); and that I am Your ever obliged CL. HARLOWE.

As we sat, my mother, in her admirable manner, expatiated upon brotherly and sisterly love: indulgently blamed my brother and sister for having taken up displeasure too lightly against me; and politically, if I may so say, answered for my obedience to my rate.

LETTER VIII.

Miss Clarissa Harlowe to Miss Howe.
Feb. 24.
THEY drive on here at a furious
The man lives here, I think.

He courts them, and is more and visits, besides my share in his more a favourite. Such terms! such more general ones; and find it is settlements! That's the cry. impossible I should ever endure

O my dear, that I had not reason him. He has but a very ordinary to deplore the family fault, im- share of understanding; is very mensely rich as they all are! But illiterate; knows nothing but the this I may the more unreservedly value of estates, and how to imsay to you, as we have often joined prove them, and what belongs to in the same concern: I, for a father land-jobbing and husbandry. Yet and uncles; you, for a mother; in am I as one stupid, I think. They every other respect faultless. have begun so cruelly with me, Hitherto, I seem to be delivered that I have not spirit enough to over to my brother, who pretends assert my own negative. as great love to me as ever.

They had endeavoured, it You may believe, I have been seems, to influence my good Mrs. very sincere with him. But he Norton before I came home - So affects to rally me, and not to be- intent are they to carry their point! lieve it possible, that one so dutiful And her opinion not being to their and so discreet as his sister Clary liking, she has been told that she can resolve to disoblige all her would do well to decline visiting friends.

here for the present: yet she is the Indeed, I tremble at the pro- person of all the world, next to my spect before me; for it is evident mother, the most likely to prevail that they are strangely deter- upon me, were the measures they mined. are engaged in reasonable meaMy father and mother industri-sures, or such as she could ously avoid giving me opportunity think so.

of speaking to them alone. They My aunt likewise having said ask not for my approbation, in- that she did not think her niece tending, as it should seem, to could ever be brought to like Mr. suppose me into their will. And Solmes, has been obliged to learn with them I shall hope to prevail, another lesson. or with nobody. They have not I am to have a visit from her tothe interest in compelling me, as morrow. And, since I have refused my brother and sister have: I say so much as to hear from my brother less therefore to them, reserving and sister what the noble settlemy whole force for an audience ments are to be, she is to acquaint with my father, if he will permit me with the particulars; and to me a patient ear. How difficult is receive from me my determination: it, my dear, to give a negative for my father, I am told, will not where both duty and inclination have patience to suppose that I join to make one wish to oblige. shall stand in opposition to his will. Meantime it has been signified

I have already stood the shock of three of this man's particular to me, that it will be acceptable if

I do not think of going to church loth to mention how equally unjust next Sunday. it is for him to make such offers,

me.

The same signification was or for those I am bound to remade me for last Sunday; and I verence to accept of them. I hate obeyed. They are apprehensive him more than before. One great that Mr. Lovelace will be there estate is already obtained at the with design to come home with expense of the relations to it, though distant relations; my Help me, dear Miss Howe, to a brother's I mean, by his godlittle of your charming spirit: I mother: and this has given the never more wanted it. hope, however chimerical that The man, this Solmes, you may hope, of procuring others; and suppose has no reason to boast of that my own at least may revert his progress with me. He has not to the family. And yet in my the sense to say any thing to the opinion the world is but one great purpose. His courtship indeed is family. Originally it was so. What to them; and my brother pretends then is this narrow selfishness that to court me as his proxy, truly! reigns in us, but relationship reI utterly to my brother reject his membered against relationship address; but thinking a person so forgot?

well received and recommended But here, upon my absolute by all my family, entitled to good refusal of him upon any terms, manners, all I say against him is have I had a signification made affectedly attributed to coyness: me that wounds me to the heart. and he, not being sensible of his How can I tell it you? Yet I must. own imperfections, believes that It is, my dear, that I must not for my avoiding him when I can, and a month to come, or till licence the reserves I express, are owing obtained, correspond with any to nothing else: for, as I said, all body out of the house.

his courtship is to them; and I have My brother, upon my aunt's no opportunity of saying no, to report (made, however, as I am one who asks me not the question. informed, in the gentlest manner, And so, with an air of mannish and even giving remote hopes, superiority, he seems rather to which she had no commission from pity the bashful girl, than to ap- me to give) brought me, in auprehend that he shall not succeed. thoritative terms, the prohibition! Not to Miss Howe? said I. No, not to Miss Howe, madam, tauntingly: for have you not acknowledged, that Lovelace is a favourite there?

Feb. 25.

I have had the expected conference with my aunt.

I have been obliged to hear the man's proposals from her; and have been also told what their motives are for espousing his interest with so much warmth. I am even is

See, my dear Miss Howe!
And do you think, brother, this
the way -

Do you look to that - But your a sister have I! How have I letters will be stopt, I can tell you. deserved this? And away he flung.

Then I again regretted my

My sister came to me soon after grandfather's too distinguishing Sister Clary, you are going on goodness to me. in a fine way, I understand. But

Feb. 25, in the evening.

as there are people who are sup- What my brother and sister posed to harden you against your have said against me I cannot tell: duty, I am to tell you, that it will—but I am in heavy disgrace with be taken well if you avoid visits or my father. visitings for a week or two, till I was sent for down to tea. I further order. went with a very cheerful aspect: Can this be from those who have but had occasion soon to change it. authority Such a solemnity in every body's Ask them; ask them, child, with countenance! My mother's eyes a twirl of her finger. I have were fixed upon the tea-cups; and delivered my message. Your when she looked up, it was heavifather will be obeyed. He is ly, as if her eyelids had weights willing to hope you to be all upon them; and then not to me. obedience, and would prevent all My father sat half-aside in his elbow-chair, that his head might

incitements to refractoriness.

I know my duty, said I; and be turned from me, his hands hope I shall not find impossible clasped, and waving, as it were, up and down; his fingers, poor dear gentleman! in motion, as if angry to the very ends of them.

conditions annexed to it.

was at bottom.

Dear Bella, said I! hands and eyes lifted up why all this? Dear, dear Bella! why —

A pert young creature, vain and conceited, she called me. I was the only judge, in my own wise My sister sat swelling. My brother looked at me with scorn, having opinion, of what was right and fit. measured me, as I may say, with She, for her part, had long seen his eyes as I entered, from head to into my specious ways: and now I foot. My aunt was there, and should shew every body what I looked upon me as if with kindness restrained, bending coldly to my compliment to her as she sat; and then cast an eye first on my brother, then on my sister, as if to None of your dear, dear Bella's give the reason [so I am willing to to me. I tell you, i see through construe it] of her unusual stiffBless me, my dear! that strange word]. And away she they should choose to intimidate flung; adding, as she went-And rather than invite a mind, till now, so will every body else very quick- not thought either unpersuadable ly, I dare say. or ungenerous! Bless me, said I to myself, what

your witchcrafts [that was her ness:

I took my seat. Shall I make

tea, madam, to my mother? I He turned from me, and in a always used, you know, my dear, strong voice, Clarissa Harlowe, to make tea. said he, know that I will be

No! a very short sentence, in one very short word, was the ex

obeyed.

God forbid, sir, that you should pressive answer. And she took not! I have never yet opposed

the canister in her own hand.

My brother bid the footman who attended leave the room; I, said he, will give the water.

My heart was in agitation, I did not know what to do with myself. What is to follow? thought I.

Nor I your whimsies, Clarissa Harlowe, interrupted he. - Don't let me run the fate of all who shew indulgence to your sex; to be the more contradicted for mine to you.

Just after the second dish, out My father, you know, my dear, stept my mother A word with has not (any more than my broyou, sister Hervey! taking her ther) a kind opinion of our sex; hand. Presently my sister dropt although there is not a more conaway. Then my brother. And I descending wife in the world than was left alone with my father. my mother.

He looked so very sternly, that I was going to make protestamy heart failed me as twice or tions of duty No protestations, thrice I would have addressed my-girl! No words! I will not be self to him: nothing but solemn prated to! I will be obeyed! I silence on all sides having passed have no child, I will have no child, before. but an obedient one.

At last, I asked, If it were his pleasure that I should pour him out another dish.

He answered me with the same angry monosyllable, which I had received from my mother before; and then arose, and walked about the room. I arose too, with intent to throw myself at his feet; but was too much overawed by his sternness, even to make such an expression of my duty to him as my heart overflowed with.

Sir, you never had reason, 1 hope

Tell me not what I never had, but what I have, and what I shall have.

Good sir, be pleased to hear me
My brother and my sister, I

fear

Your brother and sister shall not be spoken against, girl! They have a just concern for the honour of my family.

And I hope, sir At last, as he supported him- Hope nothing. Tell me not self, because of his gout, on the of hopes, but of facts. I ask noback of a chair, I took a little thing of you but what is in your more courage; and approaching power to comply with, and what him, besought him to acquaint me it is your duty to comply with. in what I had offended him

Then, sir, I will comply with