Clarissa, Volume 7 | Page 4

her favour. But by what means, will not tell her, unless she succeed.
LETTER LVII. Mrs. Norton to Mrs. Harlowe.
LETTER LVIII. Mrs. Harlowe's affecting answer.
LETTER LIX. Clarissa to Mrs. Norton.-- Earnestly begs, for reasons equally generous and dutiful, that she may be left to her own way of working with her relations. Has received her sister's answer to her letter, No. XLV. of this volume. She tries to find an excuse for the severity of it, though greatly affected by it. Other affecting and dutiful reflections.
LETTER LX. Her sister's cruel letter, mentioned in the preceding.
LETTER LXI. Clarissa to Miss Howe.-- Is pleased that she now at last approved of her rejecting Lovelace. Desires her to be comforted as to her. Promises that she will not run away from life. Hopes she has already got above the shock given her by the ill treatment she has met with from Lovelace. Has had an escape, rather than a loss. Impossible, were it not for the outrage, that she could have been happy with him; and why. Sets in the most affecting, the most dutiful and generous lights, the grief of her father, mother, and other relations, on her account. Had begun the particulars of her tragical story; but would fain avoid proceeding with it; and why. Opens her design to make Mr. Belford her executor, and gives her reasons for it. Her father having withdrawn his malediction, she now has only a last blessing to supplicate for.
LETTER LXII. Clarissa to her sister.-- Beseeching her, in the most humble and earnest manner, to procure her a last blessing.
LETTER LXIII. Mrs. Norton to Clarissa.-- Mr. Brand to be sent up to inquire after her way of life and health. His pedantic character. Believes they will withhold any favour till they hear his report. Doubts not that matters will soon take a happy turn.
LETTER LXIV. Clarissa. In answer.-- The grace she asks for is only a blessing to die with, not to live with. Their favour, if they design her any, may come too late. Doubts her mother can do nothing for her of herself. A strong confederacy against a poor girl, their daughter, sister, niece. Her brother perhaps got it renewed before he went to Edinburgh. He needed not, says she: his work is done, and more than done.
LETTER LXV. Lovelace to Belford.-- Is mortified at receiving letters of rejection. Charlotte writes to the lady in his favour, in the name of all the family. Every body approves of what she has written; and he has great hopes from it.
LETTER LXVI. Copy of Miss Montague's letter to Clarissa.-- Beseeching her, in the names of all their noble family, to receive Lovelace to favour.
LETTER LXVII. Belford to Lovelace.-- Proposes to put Belton's sister into possession of Belton's house for him. The lady visibly altered for the worse. Again insists upon his promise not to molest her.
LETTER LXVIII. Clarissa to Miss Montague.-- In answer to her's, No. LXVI.
LETTER LXIX. Belford to Lovelace.-- Has just now received a letter from the lady, which he encloses, requesting extracts form the letters written to him by Mr. Lovelace within a particular period. The reasons which determine him to oblige her.
LETTER LXX. Belford to Clarissa.-- With the requested extracts; and a plea in his friend's favour.
LETTER LXXI. Clarissa to Belford.-- Thanks him for his communications. Requests that he will be her executor; and gives her reasons for her choice of him for that solemn office.
LETTER LXXII. Belford to Clarissa.-- His cheerful acceptance of the trust.
LETTER LXXIII. Belford to Lovelace.-- Brief account of the extracts delivered to the lady. Tells him of her appointing him her executor. The melancholy pleasure he shall have in the perusal of her papers. Much more lively and affecting, says he, must be the style of those who write in the height of a present distress than the dry, narrative, unanimated style of a person relating difficulties surmounted, can be.
LETTER LXXIV. Arabella to Clarissa.-- In answer to her letter, No. LXII., requesting a last blessing.
LETTER LXXV. Clarissa to her mother.-- Written in the fervour of her spirit, yet with the deepest humility, and on her knees, imploring her blessing, and her father's, as what will sprinkle comfort through her last hours.
LETTER LXXVI. Miss Montague to Clarissa.-- In reply to her's, No. LXVIII.--All their family love and admire her. Their kinsman has not one friend among them. Beseech her to oblige them with the acceptance of an annuity, and the first payment now sent her, at least till she can be put in possession of her own estate. This letter signed by Lord M., Lady Sarah, Lady Betty, and her sister and self.
LETTER LXXVII. Lovelace to Belford.-- Raves against the lady for rejecting him; yet adores her the more for it. Has one half of the house to