it given into Mrs. Howe's hands, she thought fit to carry her reinstead of her daughter's. Women sentment so high, and had the who have lived some time in the injustice to suppose the fire to be world knew better, than to encou- a contrivance of mine."

rage such skittish pranks in young wives.

Let me just stop to tell thee, while it is in my head, that I have since given Will his cue to find out where the man lives who is gone with the fair fugitive's letter; and, if possible, to see him on his return, before he sees her.

"To suppose I should have recourse to such a poor contrivance, said I, when I saw the dear creature every hour "Was not this a bold put, Jack?

I told the women, "I despaired that it would ever be better with A most extraordinary case, us while Miss Howe had so strange truly! cried the maiden; fanning, an ascendency over my wife, and yet coming in with her well-buts; remained herself unmarried; and and her sifting pray sirs! and her until the reconciliation with her restraining enough sirs! — flying friends could be effected; or a from the question to the question; still happier event - as I should her seat now and then uneasy, for think it, who am the last male fear my want of delicacy should of my family; and which my hurt her abundant modesty; and foolish vow and her rigour, had yet it was difficult to satisfy her hitherto " super-abundant curiosity.

Here I stopt, and looked modest, "My beloved's jealousy [and turning my diamond ring round jealousy of itself, to female minds, my finger while Goody Moore accounts for a thousand unaclooked mighty significant, calling countablenesses] and the imputait a very particular case; and the tion of her half-phrensy brought maiden fanned away, and primm'd upon her by her father's wicked and purs'd, to shew, that what curse, and by the previous perI said needed no further expla-secutions she had undergone from all her family, were what I dwelt upon, in order to provide against what might happen."

nation.

"I told them the occasion of our present difference; I avowed the reality of the fire; but owned, that In short "I owned against myI would have made no scruple of self most of the offences which I breaking the unnatural oath she did not doubt but she would had bound me in (having a hus- charge me with in their hearing: band's right on my side) when she and as every cause has a black was so accidentally frighted into and a white side, I gave the worst my arms: and I blamed myself, parts of our story the gentlest excessively, that I did not; since turn. And when I had done, ac

quainted them with some of the quiry from her ladyship to me by contents of that letter of Captain her gentleman; who coming to Tomlinson which I had left with me in company with Mr. Lilburne, the lady. I concluded with cau- I had no way but to confirm the tioning them to be guarded report. And I understand, that against the inquiries of James Lady Betty takes it amiss, Harlowe, and of Captain Single- she was not acquainted with so ton, or of any sailor-looking desirable a piece of news from yourself.

men.

that

This thou wilt see from the Her ladyship, it seems, has busiletter itself was necessary to be ness that calls her to town [and you done. Here therefore thou mayest will possibly choose to put her read it. And a charming letter right. If you do, it will, I preto my purpose wilt thou find it to be, if thou givest the least atten

tion to its contents.

TO ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ.
DEAR SIR,
Wedn. June 7.

sume, be in confidence; that nothing may transpire from your own family to contradict what I have given out].

[I have ever been of opinion, that truth ought to be strictly adhered ALTHOUGH I am obliged to be in to on all occasions: and am contown to-morrow, or next day at cerned that I have (though with furthest, yet I would not dispense so good a view) departed from my with writing to you by one of my old maxim. But my dear friend servants, (whom I send up before Mr. John Harlowe would have it me upon a particular occasion) in so. Yet I never knew a departure order to advertise you, that it is of this kind a single departure. probable you will hear from some of But, to make the best of it now, your own relations on your [sup- allow me, sir, once more to beg posed* nuptials. One of the per- the lady, as soon as possible, to sons, (Mr. Lilburne by name) to authenticate the report given out] whom I hinted my belief of your When both you and the lady marriage, happens to be ac- join in the acknowledgment of quainted with Mr. Spurrier, Lady your marriage, it will be imperBetty Lawrence's steward; and tinent in any one to be inquisitive (not being under any restriction) as to the day or week: [and, if as mentioned it to Mr. Spurrier, and privately celebrated as you intend he to Lady Betty, as a thing cer- (while the gentlewomen with tain: and this (though I have not whom you lodge are properly in the honour to be personally known to her ladyship) brought on an in

* What is between hooks [] thou mayest suppose, Jack, I sunk upon the women, in the account I gave them of the contents of this Letter.

Clarissa. III.

structed, as you say they are, and who actually believe you were married long ago) who shall be able to give a contradiction to my report?]

And yet it is very probable,

5

that minute inquiries will be reason for it, on my Mr. Harlowe's made; and this is what renders account) that his younger sister precaution necessary. For Mr. will be, at last, more benefited James Harlowe will not believe than he wishes for, by the alterathat you are married; and is sure, tion intended. He has already he says, that you both lived to- been endeavouring to sound his gether when Mr. Hickman's ap- uncle Harlowe on this subject, plication was made to Mr. John and wanted to know whether any Harlowe: and if you lived to- new application had been made to gether any time unmarried, he him on his sister's part. Mr. Harinfers from your character, Mr. lowe avoided a direct answer, and Lovelace, that it is not probable, expressed his wishes for a general that you would ever marry. And reconciliation, and his hopes that he leaves it to his two uncles to his niece was married. This decide, if you even should be mar- offended the furious young man, ried, whether there be not room to and he reminded his uncle of enbelieve, that his sister was first gagements they had all entered dishonoured; and if so, to judge into at his sister's going away, of the title she will have to their not to be reconciled but by general favour, or to the forgiveness of consent.

any of her family. I believe, sir, Mr. John Harlowe complains to this part of my letter had best be me often, of the uncontrollablekept from the lady. ness of his nephew; and says, that Young Mr. Harlowe is resolved now, that the young man has not to find this out, and to come at his any body of whose superior sense sister's speech likewise; and for he stands in awe, he observes not that purpose sets out to-morrow, decency in his behaviour to any as I am well informed, with a large of them. And this makes my Mr. attendance armed, and Mr. Solmes Harlowe still more desirous than is to be of the party. And what ever of bringing his younger niece makes him the more earnest to into favour again. I will not say find it out, is this: Mr. John Har- all I might of this young man's lowe has told the whole family extraordinary rapaciousness: that he will alter and new settle but one would think, that these his will. Mr. Antony Harlowe is grasping men expect to live for resolved to do the same by his; ever!

, for, it seems, he has now given "I took the liberty but within over all thoughts of changing his these two hours, to propose to set condition, having lately been dis-on foot (and offered my cover to) appointed in a view he had of that a correspondence between my sort with Mrs. Howe. These two friend, and his daughter-niece, as brothers generally act in concert; he still sometimes fondly calls and Mr. James Harlowe dreads her. She was mistress of so much (and let me tell you, that he has prudence, I said, that I was sure

she could better direct every thing are actually one; and I hope I to its desirable end, than any may carry him down word, when body else could. But he said, he I leave you next, that I saw the did not think himself entirely at ceremony performed.]

liberty to take such a step at present; and that it was best that he lady, (from you it cannot) I shall [If any obstacle arises from the should have it in his power to say, be tempted to think a little hardly occasionally, that he had not any of her punctilio.] correspondence with her, or letter from her.

He has the better

Mr. Harlowe hopes, sir, that "You will see, sir, from all this, you will rather take pains to the necessity of keeping our avoid, than to meet, this violent treaty an absolute secret; and if young man. the lady has mentioned it to her opinion of you, let me tell you, worthy friend Miss Howe, I hope it sir, from the account I gave him of your moderation and politeness; neither of which are qualiall of us something to amend. ties with his nephew. But we have

is in confidence." [And now, sir, a few lines in answer to yours of Monday last.] [Mr. Harlowe was very well pleased with your readiness to You cannot imagine how dearly come into his proposal. But as my friend still loves this excellent to what you both desire, that he niece of his - I will give you an will be present at the ceremony, instance of it, which affected me he said, that his nephew watched a good deal "If once more, all his steps so narrowly, that he said he, (the last time but one we thought it impracticable (if he were together) I can but see this were inclinable) to oblige you: sweet child gracing the upper end but that he consented with all his of my table, as mistress of my heart, that I should be the person house, in my allotted month; all whom he had stipulated should be the rest of my family present but privately present at the ceremony as her guests; for so I formerly on his part.] would have it, and had her mo[However, I think, I have an ther's consent for it "There he expedient for this, if your lady stopt; for he was forced to turn continues to be very desirous of his reverend face from me. Tears her uncle's presence (except he ran down his cheeks. Fain would should be more determined than he have hid them: but he could his answer to me seemed to im- not. "Yet — yet, said he, — how port); of which I shall acquaint - how -" Poor gentleman, you, and perhaps what he says to perfectly sobbed, "how shall I be it, when I have the pleasure to see able to bear the first meeting!" you in town. But, indeed, I think I bless God I am no hard-hearted you have no time to lose. Mr. Har-man, Mr. Lovelace: my eyes lowe is impatient to hear, that you shewed to my worthy friend, that

-

he

he had no reason to be ashamed Jack, and their dependence on of his humanity before me. my known good humour, are their

I will put an end to this long inducements. epistle. Be pleased to make my compliments acceptable to the most excellent of women; as well as believe me to be,

Dear sir,

Your faithful friend, and
humble servant,

ANTONY TOMLINSON.

TO ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ.
DEAR NEPHEW,

Wedn. morn. June 7.

I UNDERSTAND, that at length all our wishes are answered in your happy marriage. But I think, we might as well have heard of it directly from you, as from the round-about way by which we During the conversation be- have been made acquainted with tween me and the women, I had it. Methinks, sir, the power and planted myself at the further end the will we have to oblige you, of the apartment we were in, should not expose us the more to over-against the door, which was your slights and negligence. My open; and opposite to the lady's brother had set his heart upon chamber-door, which was shut. I giving to you the wife we have all spoke so low that it was impos- so long wished you to have. But sible for her, at that distance, to if you were actually married at hear what we said; and in this the time you made him that resituation I could see if her door quest (supposing, perhaps, that his opened. gout would not let him attend you) I told the women, that what I it is but like you*. - If your lady had mentioned to my spouse of had her reasons to wish it to be Lady Betty's coming to town private while the differences bewith her niece Montague, and of tween her family and self continue, their intention to visit my be- you might nevertheless have comloved, whom they had never seen, municated it to us with that renor she them, was real; and that striction; and we should have forI expected news of their arrival borne the public manifestations of every hour. I then shewed them our joy, upon an event we have so copies of the other two letters, long desired.

wilt.

which I had left with her; the one The distant way we have come from Lady Betty, the other from to know it is by my steward; who my cousin Montague. And here is acquainted with a friend of thou mayest read them if thou Captain Tomlinson, to whom that gentleman revealed it: and he, it Eternally reproaching, eternal- seems, had it from yourself and ly upbraiding me, are my imper- lady, with such circumstances as tinent relations. But they are leave it not to be doubted. fond of occasions to find fault with me. Their love, their love,

*I gave Mrs. Moore and Miss Rawlins

room to think this reproach just, Jack,