Clarissa, Volume 1 | Page 9

mere omission, with a
man of Mr. Lovelace's penetration. Nor with any man; since if love has
not taken root deep enough to cause it to shoot out into declaration, if

an opportunity be fairly given for it, there is little room to expect, that
the blighting winds of anger or resentment will bring it forward. Then
my poor sister is not naturally good-humoured. This is too well-known
a truth for me to endeavor to conceal it, especially from you. She must
therefore, I doubt, have appeared to great disadvantages when she
aimed to be worse tempered than ordinary.
How they managed it in their next conversation I know not. One would
be tempted to think by the issue, that Mr. Lovelace was ungenerous
enough to seek the occasion given,* and to improve it. Yet he thought
fit to put the question too:--But, she says, it was not till, by some means
or other (she knew not how) he had wrought her up to such a pitch of
displeasure with him, that it was impossible for her to recover herself at
the instant. Nevertheless he re-urged his question, as expecting a
definitive answer, without waiting for the return of her temper, or
endeavouring to mollify her; so that she was under a necessity of
persisting in her denial: yet gave him reason to think she did not dislike
his address, only the manner of it; his court being rather made to her
mother than to herself, as if he was sure of her consent at any time.
* See Mr. Lovelace's Letter, No. XXXI, in which he briefly accounts
for his conduct in this affair.
A good encouraging denial, I must own: as was the rest of her plea; to
wit, 'A disinclination to change her state. Exceedingly happy as she was:
she never could be happier!' And such-like consenting negatives, as I
may call them, and yet not intend a reflection upon my sister: for what
can any young creature in the like circumstances say, when she is not
sure but a too-ready consent may subject her to the slights of a sex that
generally values a blessing either more or less as it is obtained with
difficulty or ease? Miss Biddulph's answer to a copy of verse from a
gentleman, reproaching our sex as acting in disguise, is not a bad one,
although you may perhaps think it too acknowledging for the female
character.
Ungen'rous Sex!--To scorn us if we're kind; And yet upbraid us if we
seem severe! Do you, t' encourage us to tell our mind, Yourselves put
off disguise, and be sincere. You talk of coquetry!--Your own false
hearts Compel our sex to act dissembling parts.
Here I am obliged to lay down my pen. I will soon resume it.

LETTER III
MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE JAN. 13, 14.
And thus, as Mr. Lovelace thought fit to take it, had he his answer from
my sister. It was with very great regret, as he pretended, [I doubt the
man is an hypocrite, my dear] that he acquiesced in it. 'So much
determinedness; such a noble firmness in my sister, that there was no
hope of prevailing upon her to alter sentiments she had adopted on full
consideration.' He sighed, as Bella told us, when he took his leave of
her: 'Profoundly sighed; grasped her hand, and kissed it with such an
ardour--Withdrew with such an air of solemn respect--She could almost
find it in her heart, although he had vexed her, to pity him.' A good
intentional preparative to love, this pity; since, at the time, she little
thought that he would not renew his offer.
He waited on my mother after he had taken leave of Bella, and reported
his ill success in so respectful a manner, as well with regard to my
sister, as to the whole family, and with so much concern that he was not
accepted as a relation to it, that it left upon them all (my brother being
then, as I have said, in Scotland) impressions in his favour, and a belief
that this matter would certainly be brought on again. But Mr. Lovelace
going up directly to town, where he staid a whole fortnight, and
meeting there with my uncle Antony, to whom he regretted his niece's
cruel resolution not to change her state; it was seen that there was a
total end of the affair.
My sister was not wanting to herself on this occasion. She made a
virtue of necessity; and the man was quite another man with her. 'A
vain creature! Too well knowing his advantages: yet those not what she
had conceived them to be!--Cool and warm by fits and starts; an
ague-like lover. A steady man, a man of virtue, a man of