Clarissa, Volume 2 | Page 5

is no prospect of a liking?
Where the direct contrary is avowed, all along avowed, without the
least variation, or shadow of a change of sentiment?--But it is not my
father's doing originally. O my cruel, cruel brother, to cause a measure
to be forced upon me, which he would not behave tolerably under, were
the like to be offered to him!
The girl is got into her altitudes, Aunt Hervey, said my sister. You see,
Madam, she spares nobody. Be pleased to let her know what she has to
trust to. Nothing is to be done with her. Pray, Madam, pronounce her
doom.
My aunt retired to the window, weeping, with my sister in her hand: I
cannot, indeed I cannot, Miss Harlowe, said she, softly, (but yet I heard
every word she said): there is great hardship in her case. She is a noble
child after all. What pity things are gone so far!--But Mr. Solmes ought
to be told to desist.
O Madam, said my sister, in a kind of loud whisper, are you caught too
by the little siren?--My mother did well not to come up!--I question
whether my father himself, after his first indignation, would not be
turned round by her. Nobody but my brother can do any thing with her,
I am sure.
Don't think of your brother's coming up, said my aunt, still in a low
voice--He is too furious. I see no obstinacy, no perverseness, in her
manner! If your brother comes, I will not be answerable for the
consequences: for I thought twice or thrice she would have gone into
fits.
O Madam, she has a strong heart!--And you see there is no prevailing
with her, though you were upon your knees to her.
My sister left my aunt musing at the window, with her back towards us,
and took that opportunity to insult me still more barbarously; for,
stepping to my closet, she took up the patterns which my mother had
sent me up, and bringing them to me, she spread them upon the chair
by me; and offering one, and then another, upon her sleeve and
shoulder, thus she ran on, with great seeming tranquility, but
whisperingly, that my aunt might not hear her. This, Clary, is a pretty
pattern enough: but this is quite charming! I would advise you to make
your appearance in it. And this, were I you, should be my wedding

night-gown--And this my second dressed suit! Won't you give orders,
love, to have your grandmother's jewels new set?--Or will you thing to
shew away in the new ones Mr. Solmes intends to present to you? He
talks of laying out two or three thousand pounds in presents, child!
Dear heart!--How gorgeously will you be array'd! What! silent
still?--But, Clary, won't you have a velvet suit? It would cut a great
figure in a country church, you know: and the weather may bear it for a
month yet to come. Crimson velvet, suppose! Such a fine complexion
as yours, how it would be set off by it! What an agreeable blush would
it give you!--Heigh-ho! (mocking me, for I sighed to be thus fooled
with,) and do you sigh, love?--Well then, as it will be a solemn
wedding, what think you of black velvet, child?--Silent still,
Clary?--Black velvet, so fair as you are, with those charming eyes,
gleaming through a wintry cloud, like an April sun!--Does not
Lovelace tell you they are charming eyes?--How lovely will you appear
to every one!--What! silent still, love?--But about your laces, Clary?--
She would have gone on still further, had not my aunt advance towards
me, wiping her eyes--What! whispering ladies! You seem so easy and
so pleased, Miss Harlowe, with your private conference, that I hope I
shall carry down good news.
I am only giving her my opinion of her patterns, here.--Unasked indeed;
but she seems, by her silence, to approve of my judgment.
O Bella! said I, that Mr. Lovelace had not taken you at your word!--
You had before now been exercising your judgment on your own
account: and I had been happy as well as you! Was it my fault, I pray
you, that it was not so?--
O how she raved!
To be so ready to give, Bella, and so loth to take, is not very fair in you.
The poor Bella descended to call names.
Why, Sister, said I, you are as angry, as if there were more in the hint
than possibly might be designed. My wish is sincere, for both our
sakes!--for the whole family's sake!--And what (good now) is there in
it?--Do not, do not, dear Bella, give me cause to suspect, that I have
found a reason for your behaviour to me, and which till now was
wholly unaccountable