Clarissa, Volume 7 | Page 3

good people
that convert them. Reasons for it. He has hopes still of the lady's favour;
and why. Never adored her so much as now. Is about to go to a ball at
Colonel Ambrose's. Who to be there. Censures affectation and finery in
the dress of men; and particularly with a view to exalt himself, ridicules
Belford on this subject.
LETTER XXXIII. XXXIV. XXXV. XXXVI. XXXVII. Sharp letters
that pass between Miss Howe and Arabella Harlowe.
LETTER XXXVIII. Mrs. Harlowe to Mrs. Howe.-- Sent with copies of
the five foregoing letters.
LETTER XXXIX. Mrs. Howe to Mrs. Harlowe. In answer.
LETTER XL. Miss Howe to Clarissa.-- Desires an answer to her
former letters for her to communicate to Miss Montague. Farther
enforces her own and her mother's opinion, that she should marry
Lovelace. Is obliged by her mother to go to a ball at Colonel Ambrose's.

Fervent professions of her friendly love.
LETTER XLI. Clarissa to Miss Howe.-- Her noble reasons for refusing
Lovelace. Desires her to communicate extracts from this letter to the
Ladies of his family.
LETTER XLII. From the same.-- Begs, for her sake, that she will
forbear treating her relations with freedom and asperity. Endeavours, in
her usual dutiful manner, to defend their conduct towards her. Presses
her to make Mr. Hickman happy.
LETTER XLIII. Mrs. Norton to Clarissa.-- Excuses her long silence.
Her family, who were intending to favour her, incensed against her by
means of Miss Howe's warm letters to her sister.
LETTER XLIV. Clarissa to Mrs. Norton.-- Is concerned that Miss
Howe should write about her to her friends. Gives her a narrative of all
that has befallen her since her last. Her truly christian frame of mind.
Makes reflections worthy of herself, upon her present situation, and
upon her hopes, with regard to a happy futurity.
LETTER XLV. Copy of Clarissa's humble letter to her sister, imploring
the revocation of her father's heavy malediction.
LETTER XLVI. Belford to Lovelace.-- Defends the lady from the
perverseness he (Lovelace) imputes to her on parting with some of her
apparel. Poor Belton's miserable state both of body and mind.
Observations on the friendship of libertines. Admires the noble
simplicity, and natural ease and dignity of style, of the sacred books.
Expatiates upon the pragmatical folly of man. Those who know least,
the greatest scoffers.
LETTER XLVII. From the same.-- The lady parts with one of her best
suits of clothes. Reflections upon such purchasers as take advantage of
the necessities of their fellow-creatures. Self an odious devil. A visible
alteration in the lady for the worse. She gives him all Mr. Lovelace's
letters. He (Belford) takes this opportunity to plead for him. Mr.
Hickman comes to visit her.
LETTER XLVIII. From the same.-- Breakfasts next morning with the
lady and Mr. Hickman. His advantageous opinion of that gentleman.
Censures the conceited pride and narrow-mindedness of rakes and
libertines. Tender and affecting parting between Mr. Hickman and the
lady. Observations in praise of intellectual friendship.
LETTER XLIX. Miss Howe to Clarissa.-- Has no notion of coldness in

friendship. Is not a daughter of those whom she so freely treats. Delays
giving the desired negative to the solicitation of the ladies of Lovelace's
family; and why. Has been exceedingly fluttered by the appearance of
Lovelace at the ball given by Colonel Ambrose. What passed on that
occasion. Her mother and all the ladies of their select acquaintance of
opinion that she should accept of him.
LETTER L. Clarissa. In answer.-- Chides her for suspending the
decisive negative. Were she sure she should live many years, she would
not have Mr. Lovelace. Censures of the world to be but of second
regard with any body. Method as to devotion and exercise she was in
when so cruelly arrested.
LETTER LI. Clarissa to Miss Howe.-- Designed to be communicated
to Mr. Lovelace's relations.
LETTER LII. LIII. Lovelace to Belford.-- Two letters entirely
characteristic yet intermingled with lessons and observations not
unworthy of a better character. He has great hopes from Miss Howe's
mediation in his favour. Picture of two rakes turned Hermits, in their
penitentials.
LETTER LIV. Miss Howe to Clarissa.-- She now greatly approves of
her rejection of Lovelace. Admires the noble example she has given her
sex of a passion conquered. Is sorry she wrote to Arabella: but cannot
imitate her in her self-accusations, and acquittals of others who are all
in fault. Her notions of a husband's prerogative. Hopes she is
employing herself in penning down the particulars of her tragical story.
Use to be made of it to the advantage of her sex. Her mother earnest
about it.
LETTER LV. Miss Howe to Miss Montague.-- With Clarissa's Letter,
No. XLI. of this volume. Her own sentiments of the villanous treatment
her beloved friend had met with