Clarissa, Volume 7 | Page 5

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 himself, and that the best; having forbid Lord M. and the ladies to
see him, in return for their forbidding him to see them. Incensed against
Belford for the extracts he has promised from his letters. Is piqued to
death at her proud refusal of him. Curses the vile women, and their
potions. But for these latter, the majesty of her virtue, he says, would
have saved her, as it did once before.
LETTER LXXVIII. Lovelace to Belford.-- He shall not, he tells him,
be her executor. Nobody shall be any thing to her but himself. What a
reprobation of a man, who was once so dear to her! Farther instances of
his raving impatience.
LETTER LXXIX. Lovelace to Clarissa.-- A letter full of penitence,
promises, praises, and admiration of her virtue. Has no hopes of
escaping from perdition but by her precepts and example. All he begs
for the present is a few lines to encourage him to hope for forgiveness,
if he can justify his vows by his future conduct.
LETTER LXXX. Clarissa to Lord M. and the ladies of the house.--
Thankfully declines accepting of their offered bounty. Pleads for their
being reconciled to their kinsman, for reasons respecting her own peace.
Hopes that they may be enabled to rejoice in the effects of his
reformation many years after she is laid low and forgotten.
LETTER LXXXI. Belford to Lovelace.-- Brief account of his expelling
Thomasine, her sons, and her gallant. Farther reflections on keeping. A
state not calculated for a sick bed. Gives a short journal of what had
passed relating to the lady since his last. Mr. Brand inquires after her
character and behaviour of Mrs. Smith. His starchedness, conceit, and
pedantry.
LETTER LXXXII. From the same.-- Farther particulars relating to the
lady. Power left her by her grandfather's will.
LETTER LXXXIII. Clarissa to Lovelace.-- In answer to his letter, No.
LXXIX.
LETTER LXXXIV. Her uncle Harlowe's cruel answer, in answer to
her's to her mother, No. LXXV. Meditation stitched to it with black
silk.
LETTER LXXXV. Clarissa to her uncle Harlowe. In reply.

THE HISTORY
OF

CLARISSA HARLOWE

LETTER I
MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE WED. NIGHT,
JULY 12.
I write, my dearest creature, I cannot but write, to express my concern
on your dejection. Let me beseech you, my charming excellence, let me
beseech you, not to give way to it.
Comfort yourself, on the contrary, in the triumphs of a virtue unsullied;
a will wholly faultless. Who could have withstood the trials you have
surmounted?--Your cousin Morden will soon come. He will see justice
done you, I make no doubt, as well with regard to what concerns your
person as your estate. And many happy days may you yet see; and
much good may you still do, if you will not heighten unavoidable
accidents into guilty despondency.
But why, why, my dear, this pining solicitude continued after a
reconciliation with relations as unworthy as implacable; whose wills
are governed by an all-grasping brother, who finds his account in
keeping the breach open? On this over-solicitude it is now plain to me,
that the vilest of men built all his schemes. He saw that you thirsted
after it beyond all reason for hope. The view, the hope, I own,
extremely desirable, had your family been Christians: or even had they
been Pagans who had had bowels.
I shall send this short letter [I am obliged to make it a short one] by
young Rogers, as we call him; the fellow I sent to you to Hampstead;
an innocent, though pragmatical rustic. Admit him, I pray you, into you
presence, that he may report to me how you look, and how you are.
Mr. Hickman should attend you; but I apprehend, that all his motions,
and mine own too, are watched by the execrable wretch: and indeed his
are by an agent of mine; for I own, that I am so apprehensive of his
plots and revenge, now I know that he has intercepted my vehement
letters against him, that he is the subject of my dreams, as well as of my
waking fears.
***
My mother, at my earnest importunity, has just given me leave to write,
and to receive your letters--but fastened this condition upon the
concession, that your's must be under cover to Mr.