is not full of it. But, as you say, whom has it moved, that you wished to move? Yet, were it not for this unhappy notion, I am sure your mother would relent. Forgive me, my dear Miss Clary; for I must vinced if my opinion be not just. what that is, unless it succeeds. and love to them, as well as to you.

try one way to be con

But I will not tell you I will try, in pure duty

May heaven be your support, in all your trials, is the constant prayer, my dearest young lady, of

Your ever affectionate friend and servant,

JUDITH NORTON.

II

MRS. NORTON TO MRS. HARLOWE.

July 28. JONOURED MADAM,-Being forbidden (without leave) to send you anything I might happen to receive from my beloved Miss Clary, and so ill, that I cannot attend to ask your leave, I give you this trouble, to let you know, that I have received a letter from her; which, I think, I should hereafter be held inexcusable, as things may happen, if I did not desire permission to communicate to you, and that as soon as possible.

Applications have been made to the dear young lady from Lord M., from the two ladies his sisters, and from both his nieces, and from the wicked man himself, to forgive and marry him. This, in noble indignation for the usage she has received from him, she has absolutely refused. And perhaps, madam, if you and the honoured family should be of opinion, that to comply with their wishes is now the properest measure that can be taken, the circumstances of things may require your authority or advice, to induce her to change her mind.

I have reason to believe, that one motive for her refusal is her full conviction, that she shall not long be a trouble to anybody; and so she would not give a husband a right to interfere with her family, in relation to the estate her

grandfather devised to her. But of this, however, I have not the least intimation from her. Nor would she, I dare say, mention it, as a reason, having still stronger reasons, from his vile treatment of her, to refuse him.

The letter I have received will show how truly penitent the dear creature is; and if I have your permission, I will send it sealed up, with a copy of mine, to which it is an answer. But as I resolve upon this step without her knowledge I will not acquaint her with it, unless it be attended with desirable effects: because, otherwise, besides making me incur her displeasure, it might quite break her already half-broken heart. I am,

Honoured Madam,

Your dutiful and ever obliged servant,

JUDITH NORTON.

MRS. HARLOWE TO MRS. JUDITH NORTON.

Sunday, July 30. E all know your virtuous prudence, worthy woman: we all do. But your partiality to this your rash

favourite is likewise known. And we are no less acquainted with the unhappy body's power of painting her distresses so as to pierce a stone.

Everyone is of opinion, that the dear naughty creature is working about to be forgiven and received; and for this reason it is, that Betty has been forbidden (not by me, you may be sure!) to mention any more of her letters; for she did speak to my Bella of some moving passages you read to her.

This will convince you, that nothing will be heard in her favour. To what purpose then should I mention anything about her?-But you may be sure that I will, if I can have but one second. However, that is not at all likely, until we see what the consequences of her crime will be: and who can tell that?-She may-how can I speak it, and

my once darling daughter unmarried ?-She may be with child! This would perpetuate her stain. Her brother may come to some harm; which God forbid ! - One child's ruin, I hope, will not be followed by another's murder !

As to her grief, and her present misery, whatever it be, she must bear with it; and it must be short of what I hourly bear for her! Indeed I am afraid nothing but her being at the last extremity of all will make her father, and her uncles, and her other friends, forgive her.

You say her heart is half-broken: Is it to be wondered at? Was not her sin committed equally against warning, and the light of her own knowledge ?

That he would now marry her, or that she would refuse him, if she believed him in earnest, as she has circumstanced herself, is not at all probable; and were I inclined to believe it, nobody else here would.

And is she really ill ?—so very ill?—But she ought to sorrow. She has given a double measure of it.

But does she really believe she shall not long trouble us ?-But, O my Norton!-She must, she will, long trouble us-for can she think her death, if we should be deprived of her, will put an end to our afflictions? Can it be thought, that the fall of such a child will not be regretted by us to the last hour of our lives?

But I choose not to know more of her, than is communicated to us all-no more than I dare own I have seenand what some of them may rather communicate to me, than receive from me : and this for the sake of my outward quiet although my inward peace suffers more and more by the compelled reserve.

I was forced to break off. But I will now try to conclude my long letter.

I am sorry you are ill. But if you were well, I could not, for your own sake, wish you to go up, as Betty tells us you long to do. If you went, nothing would be minded that

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came from you. As they already think you too partial in her favour, your going up would confirm it, and do yourself. prejudice, and her no good. And as everybody values you here, I advise you not to interest yourself too warmly in her favour, especially before my Bella's Betty, till I can let you know a proper time. Yet to forbid you to love the dear naughty creature, who can? O my Norton! you must love her!And so must I !

I send you five guineas, to help you in your present illness, and your son's; for it must have lain heavy upon you.

Perhaps I may find an opportunity to pay you a visit, as in your illness; and then may weep over the letter you mention, with you. But, for the future, write nothing to me about the poor girl that you think may not be communicated to us all.

And I charge you, as you value my friendship, as you wish my peace, not to say anything of a letter you have from me, either to the naughty one, or to anybody else. It was some little relief (the occasion given) to write to you, who must, in so particular a manner, share my affliction. A mother, Mrs. Norton, cannot forget her child, though that child could abandon her mother; and, in so doing, run away with all her mother's comforts as I can truly is the case of say,

Your unhappy Friend,
CHARLOTTE HARLOWE,

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE TO MRS. JUDITH NORTON..

Saturday, July 29. CONGRATULATE you, my dear Mrs. Norton, with all my heart, on your son's recovery; which I pray to God, with your own health, to perfect. I write in some hurry, being apprehensive of the consequence of the hints you give of some method you pro

pose to try in my favour (with my relations, I presume, you mean): but you will not tell me what, you say, if it prove unsuccessful.

Now I must beg of you, that you will not take any step in my favour, with which you do not first acquaint me.

I have but one request to make to them, besides what is contained in my letter to my sister; and I would not, methinks, for the sake of their own future peace of mind, that they should be teazed so, by your well-meant kindness, and that of Miss Howe, as to be put upon denying me that. And why should more be asked for me than I can partake of? More than is absolutely necessary for my own peace?

:

You suppose I should have my sister's answer to my letter by the time yours reached my hand. I have it and a severe one, a very severe one, it is. Yet, considering my fault in their eyes, and the provocations I am to suppose they so newly had from my dear Miss Howe, I am to look upon it as a favour, that it was answered at all. I will send you a copy of it soon; as also of mine, to which it is

an answer.

I have reason to be very thankful, that my father has withdrawn that heavy malediction, which affected me so much-A parent's curse, my dear Mrs. Norton ! What child could die in peace under a parent's curse? SO literally fulfilled too as this has been in what relates to this life!

My heart is too full to touch upon the particulars of my sister's letter. I can make but one atonement for my fault. May that be accepted! And may it soon be forgotten, by every dear relation, that there was such an unhappy daughter, sister, or niece, as Clarissa Harlowe !

in

My cousin Morden was one of those, who was so earnest prayers for my recovery, at nine and eleven years of age, as you mention. My sister thinks he will be one of those, who will wish I never had had a being. But pray, when he does come, let me hear of it with the first.