Clarissa, Volume 7 | Page 6

Hickman, [this is a

view, I suppose, to give him consideration with me]; and upon this
further consideration, that she is to see all we write.--'When girls are set
upon a point,' she told one who told me again, 'it is better for a mother,
if possible, to make herself of their party, than to oppose them; since
there will be then hopes that she will still hold the reins in her own
hands.'
Pray let me know what the people are with whom you lodge?--Shall I
send Mrs. Townsend to direct you to lodgings either more safe or more
convenient for you?
Be pleased to write to me by Rogers; who will wait on you for your
answer, at your own time.
Adieu, my dearest creature. Comfort yourself, as you would in the like
unhappy circumstances comfort
Your own ANNA HOWE.

LETTER II
MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE THURSDAY,
JULY 13.
I am extremely concerned, my dear Miss Howe, for being primarily the
occasion of the apprehensions you have of this wicked man's vindictive
attempts. What a wide-spreading error is mine!----
If I find that he has set foot on any machination against you, or against
Mr. Hickman, I do assure you I will consent to prosecute him, although
I were sure I could not survive my first appearance at the bar he should
be arraigned at.
I own the justice of your mother's arguments on that subject; but must
say, that I think there are circumstances in my particular case, which
will excuse me, although on a slighter occasion than that you are
apprehensive of I should decline to appear against him. I have said, that
I may one day enter more particularly into this argument.
Your messenger has now indeed seen me. I talked with him on the
cheat put upon him at Hampstead: and am sorry to have reason to say,
that had not the poor young man been very simple, and very
self-sufficient, he had not been so grossly deluded. Mrs. Bevis has the
same plea to make for herself. A good-natured, thoughtless woman; not
used to converse with so vile and so specious a deceiver as him, who
made his advantage of both these shallow creatures.

I think I cannot be more private than where I am. I hope I am safe. All
the risque I run, is in going out, and returning from morning-prayers;
which I have two or three times ventured to do; once at Lincoln's-inn
chapel, at eleven; once at St. Dunstan's, Fleet-street, at seven in the
morning,* in a chair both times; and twice, at six in the morning, at the
neighbouring church in Covent-garden. The wicked wretches I have
escaped from, will not, I hope, come to church to look for me;
especially at so early prayers; and I have fixed upon the privatest pew
in the latter church to hide myself in; and perhaps I may lay out a little
matter in an ordinary gown, by way of disguise; my face half hid by my
mob.--I am very careless, my dear, of my appearance now. Neat and
clean takes up the whole of my attention.
* The seven-o'clock prayers at St. Dunstan's have been since
discontinued.
The man's name at whose house I belong, is Smith--a glove maker, as
well as seller. His wife is the shop-keeper. A dealer also in stockings,
ribbands, snuff, and perfumes. A matron-like woman, plain-hearted,
and prudent. The husband an honest, industrious man. And they live in
good understanding with each other: a proof with me that their hearts
are right; for where a married couple live together upon ill terms, it is a
sign, I think, that each knows something amiss of the other, either with
regard to temper or morals, which if the world knew as well as
themselves, it would perhaps as little like them as such people like each
other. Happy the marriage, where neither man nor wife has any wilful
or premeditated evil in their general conduct to reproach the other
with!-- for even persons who have bad hearts will have a veneration for
those who have good ones.
Two neat rooms, with plain, but clean furniture, on the first floor, are
mine; one they call the dining-room.
There is, up another pair of stairs, a very worthy widow-lodger, Mrs.
Lovick by name; who, although of low fortunes, is much respected, as
Mrs. Smith assures me, by people of condition of her acquaintance, for
her piety, prudence, and understanding. With her I propose to be well
acquainted.
I thank you, my dear, for your kind, your seasonable advice and
consolation. I hope I shall have more grace given me than to despond,
in the religious sense of the word: especially as I can apply to myself

the comfort you