imagine the world made for us, token of my love" [offering her and for us only. sweet face to his salute, and Thus as to useful knowledge, pressing his hand between hers]: while others go to the bottom, we 'And perhaps her love of me will only skim the surface; are de- make it more agreeable to her, spised by people of solid sense, of than her punctilio would othertrue honour, and superior talents; wise allow it to be: and tell her, and shutting our eyes, move round said she, dropping on one knee, and round (like so many blind with clasped hands, and uplifted mill-horses) in one narrow circle, while we imagine we have all the world to range in.

*

*

I threw myself in Mr. Hickman's way, on his return from the lady.

eyes, that in this posture you see me, in the last moment of our parting, begging a blessing upon you both, and that you may be the delight and comfort of each other for many, very many happy years!"

He was excessively moved at Tears, said he, fell from my taking leave of her; being afraid, eyes: I even scbbed with mingled as he said to me (though he would joy and sorrow: and she retreatnot tell her so) that he should ing as soon as I raised her, I went never see her again. She charged down stairs highly dissatisfied him to represent every thing to with myself for going; yet unable Miss Howe in the most favourable to stay; my eyes fixed the conlight that the truth would bear. trary way to my feet, as long as I He told me of a tender passage could behold the skirts of her raiat parting; which was, that having ment.

saluted her at her closet-door, he I went into the back-shop, concould not help once more taking tinued the worthy man, and rethe same liberty, in a more fer- commended the angelic lady to vent manner, at the stairs-head, the best care of Mrs. Smith; and, whither she accompanied him; when I was in the street, cast my and this in the thought, that it eye up at her window: there, for was the last time he should ever the last time, I doubt, said he, that have that honour; and offering to I shall ever behold her, I saw her; apologize for his freedom (for he and she waved her charming hand had pressed her to his heart with to me, and with such a look of a vehemence, that he could neither smiling goodness, and mingled account for nor resist)-"Excuse concern, as I cannot describe. you, Mr. Hickman! that I will: Pr'ythee tell me, thou vile Loveyou are my brother and my friend: lace, if thou hast not a notion, and to shew you, that the good even from these jejune deman who is to be happy with my scriptions of mine, that there must beloved Miss Howe, is very dear be a more exalted pleasure in into me, you shall carry to her this tellectual friendship, than ever

thou couldst taste in the gross There must be still a great deal fumes of sensuality? And whe- for you to do for the good of all ther it may not be possible for who have the happiness to know thee, in time, to give that pre- you. ference to the infinitely preferable, which, I hope, now, that I shall always give?

I will leave thee to make the most of this reflection, from Thy true friend,

J. BELFORD.

LETTER VI.

Miss Howe to Miss Clarissa Harlowe.

Tuesday July 25.

You enumerate in your letter of Thursday last, the particulars in which your situation is already mended: let me see by effects that you are in earnest in that enumeration; and that you really have the courage to resolve to get above the sense of injuries you could not avoid; and then will I trust to Providence and my humble prayers for your perfect recovery: and glad at my heart shall I be, on my return from the little island, to find you well enough to be near us, according to the proposal Mr. Hickman has to make to you.

I may be warm. I know I am too warm. Yet warmth in friend

YOUR two affecting letters were brought to me (as I had directed any letter from you should be) to the colonel's, about an hour before we broke up. I could not forbear dipping into them there; and You chide me in yours of Sunshedding more tears over them day on the freedom I take with than I will tell you of; although I your friends. ** dried my eyes as well as I could, that the company I was obliged to return to, and my mother should ship, surely, cannot be a crime; see as little of my concern as pos- especially when our friend has sible. great merit, labours under opI am yet (and was then still pression, and is struggling with more) excessively fluttered. The undeserved calamity. occasion I will communicate to I have no notion of coolness in you by-and-by: for nothing but friendship, be it dignified or disthe flutters given by the stroke of tinguished by the name of prudeath could divert my first atten- dence, or what it will.

tion from the sad and solemn con- You may excuse your relations. tents of your last favour. These It was ever your way to do so. therefore I must begin with. But, my dear, other people must How can I bear the thoughts of be allowed to judge as they losing so dear a friend! I will not please. I am not their daughter, so much as suppose it. Indeed I nor the sister of your brother and cannot! Such a mind as yours was sister-I thank heaven, I am not. not vested in humanity to be snatched away from us so soon.

*See Vol. III. letter cxviii. ** See Vol. III. letter cxxxv.

But if you are displeased with tions are so implacable think me for the freedoms I took so long dear, and re-think. ago as you mention, I am afraid, And let me leave you to do so, if you knew what passed upon an while I give you the occasion of application I made to your sister the flutter I mentioned at the bevery lately (in hopes to procure ginning of this letter; in the conyou the absolution your heart is clusion of which you will find the so much set upon) that you would obligation I have consented to lay be still more concerned. But they myself under, to refer this imporhave been even with me but I tant point once more to your dismust not tell you all. I hope, cussion, before I give in your however, that these unforgivers name, the negative that cannot, [my mother is among them] were when given, be with honour to always good, dutiful, passive yourself repented of or recalled. children to their parents. Know then, my dear, that I

Once more forgive me. I owned accompanied my mother to CoI was too warm. But I have no lonel Ambrose's, on the occasion I example to the contrary, but from mentioned to you in my former. you: and the treatment you meet Many ladies and gentlemen were with is very little encouragement there whom you know; partito me to endeavour to imitate you cularly Miss Kitty D'Oily, Miss in your dutiful meekness. Lloyd, Miss Biddy d'Ollyffe, Miss You leave it to me to give a ne- Biddulph, and their respective gative to the hopes of the noble admirers with the colonel's two family, whose only disgrace is, nieces: fine women both; besides that so very vile a man is so nearly many whom you know not, for related to them. But yet alas! they were strangers to me but by my dear, I am so fearful of con- name. A splendid company, and sequences, so selfishly fearful, if all pleased with one another, till this negative must be given -I Colonel Ambrose introduced one, don't know what I should say who, the moment he was brought but give me leave to suspend, into the great hall, set the whole however, this negative, till I hear assembly into a kind of agitafrom you again. tion.

-

they so

It was your villain.

This earnest courtship of you into their splendid family is so I thought I should have sunk as very honourable to you soon as I set my eyes upon him. justly admire you you must My mother was also affected; and, have had such a noble triumph over coming to me, Nancy, whispered the base man He is so much she, can you bear the sight of in earnest the world knows so that wretch without too much emomuch of the unhappy affair - you tion? If not, withdraw into the may do still so much good your next apartment. will is so inviolate

your rela

I could not remove. Every bo

dy's eyes were glanced from him to me. I sat down and fanned myself, and was forced to order a glass of water. O that I had the eye the basilisk is reported to have, thought I, and that his life were within the power of it! directly would I kill him.

He entered with an air so hateful to me, but so agreeable to every other eye, that I could have looked him dead for that too.

Then I am the only person to whom you are not very good: and so I am the less obliged to you.

He turned, with an unconcerned air, to Miss Playford, and made her some genteel compliments. I believe you know her not. She visits his cousins Montague. Indeed he had something in his speAfter the general salutations he cious manner to say to every singled out Mr. Hickman, and body: and this too soon quieted told him, he had recollected some the disgust each person had at his parts of his behaviour to him when entrance.

ness.

was.

he saw him last, which had made I still kept my seat, and he him think himself under obliga- either saw me not, or would not tion to his patience and polite- yet see me; and addressing himself to my mother, taking her unAnd so, indeed, he willing hand, with an air of high Miss D'Oily, upon his compli- here, madam, I hope Miss Howe assurance, I am glad to see you menting her among a knot of ladies, asked him in their hear- is well. I have reason to complain ing, how Miss Clarissa Harlowe greatly of her: but hope to owe to her the highest obligation that can did? be laid on man.

He heard, he said, you were not so well as he wished you to be, and as you deserved to be.

O, Mr. Lovelace, said she, what have you to answer for on that young lady's account, if all be true that I have heard.

to be too warm and too zealous in My daughter, sir, is accustomed her friendships for either my tranquillity, or her own.

There had indeed been some late occasion given for mutual displeasure between my mother I have a great deal to answer and me: but I think she might for, said the unblushing villain: have spared this to him; though but that dear lady has so many nobody heard it I believe but the excellencies, and so much deli- person to whom it was spoken, and cacy, that little sins are great the lady who told it me; for my ones in her eye. mother spoke it low.

Little sins! replied Miss D'Oily: Mr. Lovelace's character is so well known, that nobody believes he can commit little sins.

Clarissa. IV.

We are not wholly, madam, to live for ourselves, said the vile hypocrite: it is not every one who has a soul capable of friendship;

2

and what a heart must that be, an air, (taking her hand as he which can be insensible to the interests of a suffering friend?

This sentiment from Mr. Lovelace's mouth! said my mother forgive me, sir; but you can have no end, surely, in endeavouring to make me think, as well of you as some innocent creatures have thought of you, to their cost.

quitted my mother's) tell me, tell me, is Miss Arabella Harlowe here? Or will she be here? I was informed she would and this, and the opportunity of paying my compliments to your friend Miss Howe, were great inducements with me to attend the colonel.

Superlative assurance! was it

She would have flung from him. not, my dear? But, detaining her hand

be very

would

- Less Miss Arabella Harlowe, excuse severe, dear madam, said he, be less severe in this place, I beseech me, sir, said Miss Lloyd, little inclined to meet you you. You will allow, that a very here, or any where else. faulty person may see his errors; and when he does, and owns them, but, perhaps, for that very reaand repents, should he not be treated mercifully?

Your air, sir, seems not to be that of a penitent. But the place may as properly excuse this subject, as what you call my severity.

Perhaps so, my dear Miss Lloyd:

son, I am more desirous to see her.

Miss Harlowe, sir, said Miss Biddulph, with a threatening air, will hardly be here without her brother. Iimagine, if one comes, both will come.

But dearest madam, permit me to say, that I hope for your interHeaven grant they both may! Miss est with your charming daughter said the wretch. Nothing, (was his sycophant word) to have Biddulph, shall begin from me to it put in my power to convince all disturb this assembly, I assure the world, that there never was a you, if they do. One calm halftruer penitent. And why, why hour's conversation with that brothis anger, dear madam, (for she ther and sister, would be a most struggled to get her hand out of fortunate opportunity to me, in his) these violent airs- so maiden presence of the colonel and his ly! [impudent fellow!] May I lady, or whom else they should not ask, if Miss Howe be here?

She would not have been here, replied my mother, had she known whom she had been to see.

-

choose.

Then turning round, as if desirous to find out the one or the other, or both, he 'spied me, and with a very low bow, approached

And is she here, then? Thank heaven! he disengaged me. her hand, and stept forward into company.

Dear Miss Lloyd, said he, with

I was all in a flutter, you may suppose. He would have taken my hand. I refused it, all glowing