Clarissa, Volume 1 | Page 4

Substance of a letter from Lovelace,
resenting the indignities he receives from her relations. She freely
acquaints him that he has nothing to expect from her contrary to her
duty. Insists that his next letter shall be his last.
LETTER XXVII. Miss Howe to Clarissa.-- Advises her to resume her
estate. Her satirical description of Solmes. Rallies her on her curiosity
to know what opinion Lord M. and his family have of her. Ascribes to
the difference in each of their tempers their mutual love. Gives
particulars of a conversation between her mother and her on Clarissa's
case. Reflects on the Harlowe family, and particularly on Mrs. Harlowe,
for her passiveness.
LETTER XXVIII. Clarissa. In answer.-- Chides her for the liberties she
takes with her relations. Particularly defends her mother. Chides her
also for her lively airs to her own mother. Desires her to treat her freely;
but wishes not that she should impute love to her; and why.
LETTER XXIX. From the same.-- Her expostulatory letter to her
brother and sister. Their answers.
LETTER XXX. From the same.-- Exceedingly angry with Lovelace, on
his coming to their church. Reflections on pride, &c.
LETTER XXXI. Mr. Lovelace to John Belford, Esq.-- Pride, revenge,
love, ambition, or a desire of conquest, his avowedly predominant
passions. His early vow to ruin as many of the fair sex as he can get
into his power. His pretences for it. Breathes revenge against the
Harlowe family. Glories in his contrivances. Is passionately in love
with Clarissa. His high notions of her beauty and merit. Yet is incensed
against her for preferring her own relations to him. Clears her, however,

of intentional pride, scorn, haughtiness, or want of sensibility. What a
triumph over the sex, and over her whole family, if he can carry off a
lady so watchful and so prudent! Is resolved, if he cannot have the
sister, to carry off the brother. Libertine as he is, can have no thoughts
of any other woman but Clarissa. Warns Belford, Mowbray, Tourville,
and Belton, to hold themselves in readiness to obey his summons, on
the likelihood there is of room for what he calls glorious mischief.
LETTER XXXII. XXXIII. Clarissa to Miss Howe.-- Copies of her
letters to her two uncles; and of their characteristic answer.--Her
expostulatory letter to Solmes. His answer.--An insolent letter from her
brother, on her writing to Solmes.
LETTER XXXIV. Lovelace to Belford.-- He directs him to come down
to him. For what end. Description of the poor inn he puts up at in
disguise; and of the innocent daughter there, whom he calls his
Rosebud. He resolves to spare her. Pride and policy his motives, and
not principle. Ingenuous reflections on his own vicious disposition. He
had been a rogue, he says, had he been a plough-boy. Resolves on an
act of generosity for his Rosebud, by way of atonement, as he calls it,
for some of his bad actions; and for other reasons which appear in the
sequel.
LETTER XXXV. From the same.-- His artful contrivances and
dealings with Joseph Leman. His revenge and his love uppermost by
turns. If the latter succeeds not, he vows that the Harlowes shall feel the
former, although for it he become an exile from his country forever. He
will throw himself into Clarissa's presence in the woodhouse. If he
thought he had no prospect of her favour, he would attempt to carry her
off: that, he says, would be a rape worthy of a Jupiter. The arts he is
resolved to practise when he sees her, in order to engage her future
reliance upon his honour.
LETTER XXXVI. Clarissa to Miss Howe.-- Lovelace, in disguise,
surprises her in the woodhouse. Her terrors on first seeing him. He
greatly engages her confidence (as he had designed) by his respectful
behaviour.
LETTER XXXVII. Miss Howe to Clarissa.-- After rallying her on her
not readily owning the passion which she supposes she has for
Lovelace, she desires to know how far she thinks him eligible for his
best qualities, how far rejectable for his worst.

LETTER XXXVIII. XXXIX. Clarissa to Miss Howe.-- She disclaims
tyranny to a man who respects her. Her unhappy situation to be
considered, in which the imputed love is held by her parents to be an
undutiful, and therefore a criminal passion, and where the supposed
object of it is a man of faulty morals. Is interrupted by a visit from Mrs.
Norton, who is sent up to her to influence her in Solmes's favour. An
affecting conversation between them. What passes upon it, and after it.
LETTER XL. From the same.-- Resumes the requested subject. What
sort of man she could have preferred to Mr. Lovelace. Arguments she
has used to herself in his favour, and in his disfavour. Frankly owns