Clarissa, Volume 8 | Page 2

Belford.-- Receives a letter from Clarissa, written by way of allegory to induce him to forbear hunting after her. Copy of it. He takes it in a literal sense. Exults upon it. Will now hasten down to Lord M. and receive the gratulations of all his family on her returning favour. Gives an interpretation of his frightful dream to his own liking.
LETTER XIX. XX. From the same.-- Pities Belton. Rakishly defends him on the issue of a duel, which now adds to the poor man's terrors. His opinion of death, and the fear of it. Reflections upon the conduct of play-writers with regard servants. He cannot account for the turn his Clarissa has taken in his favour. Hints at one hopeful cause of it. Now matrimony seems to be in his power, he has some retrograde motions.
LETTER XXI. Belford to Lovelace.-- Continuation of his narrative of Belton's last illness and impatience. The poor man abuses the gentlemen of the faculty. Belford censures some of them for their greediness after fees. Belton dies. Serious reflections on the occasion.
LETTER XXII. Lovelace to Belford.-- Hopes Belton is happy; and why. He is setting out for Berks.
LETTER XXIII. Belford to Lovelace.-- Attends the lady. She is extremely ill, and receives the sacrament. Complains of the harasses his friend had given her. Two different persons (from her relations, he supposes) inquire after her. Her affecting address to the doctor, apothecary, and himself. Disposes of some more of her apparel for a very affecting purpose.
LETTER XXIV. Dr. Lewen to Clarissa.-- Writes on his pillow, to prevail upon her to prosecute Lovelace for his life.
LETTER XXV. Her pathetic and noble answer.
LETTER XXVI. Miss Arabella Harlowe to Clarissa.-- Proposes, in a most taunting and cruel manner, the prosecution of Lovelace; or, if not, her going to Pensylvania.
LETTER XXVII. Clarissa's affecting answer.
LETTER XXVIII. XXIX. Mrs. Norton to Clarissa.-- Her uncle's cruel letter to what owing. Colonel Morden resolved on a visit to Lovelace.--Mrs. Hervey, in a private conversation with her, accounts for, yet blames, the cruelty of her family. Miss Dolly Hervey wishes to attend her.
LETTER XXX. Clarissa. In answer.-- Thinks she has been treated with great rigour by her relations. Expresses more warmth than usual on this subject. Yet soon checks herself. Grieves that Colonel Morden resolves on a visit to Lovelace. Touches upon her sister's taunting letter. Requests Mrs. Norton's prayers for patience and resignation.
LETTER XXXI. Miss Howe to Clarissa.-- Approves now of her appointment of Belford for an executor. Admires her greatness of mind in despising Lovelace. Every body she is with taken with Hickman; yet she cannot help wantoning with the power his obsequious love gives her over him.
LETTER XXXII. XXXIII. Clarissa to Miss Howe.-- Instructive lessons and observations on her treatment of Hickman.-- Acquaints her with all that has happened since her last. Fears that all her allegorical letter is not strictly right. Is forced by illness to break off. Resumes. Wishes her married.
LETTER XXXIV. Mr. Wyerley to Clarissa.-- A generous renewal of his address to her now in her calamity; and a tender of his best services.
LETTER XXXV. Her open, kind, and instructive answer.
LETTER XXXVI. Lovelace to Belford.-- Uneasy, on a suspicion that her letter to him was a stratagem only. What he will do, if he find it so.
LETTER XXXVII. Belford to Lovelace.-- Brief account of his proceedings in Belton's affairs. The lady extremely ill. Thought to be near her end. Has a low-spirited day. Recovers her spirits; and thinks herself above this world. She bespeaks her coffin. Confesses that her letter to Lovelace was allegorical only. The light in which Belford beholds her.
LETTER XXXVIII. Belford to Lovelace.-- An affecting conversation that passed between the lady and Dr. H. She talks of death, he says, and prepares for it, as if it were an occurrence as familiar to her as dressing and undressing. Worthy behaviour of the doctor. She makes observations on the vanity of life, on the wisdom of an early preparation for death, and on the last behaviour of Belton.
LETTER XXXIX. XL. XLI. Lovelace to Belford.-- Particulars of what passed between himself, Colonel Morden, Lord M., and Mowbray, on the visit made him by the Colonel. Proposes Belford to Miss Charlotte Montague, by way of raillery, for an husband.--He encloses Brand's letter, which misrepresents (from credulity and officiousness, rather than ill-will) the lady's conduct.
LETTER XLII. Belford to Lovelace.-- Expatiates on the baseness of deluding young creatures, whose confidence has been obtained by oaths, vows, promises. Evil of censoriousness. People deemed good too much addicted to it. Desires to know what he means my his ridicule with regard to his charming cousin.
LETTER XLIII. From the same.-- A proper test of the purity of writing. The lady again makes excuses for her allegorical letter. Her calm behaviour, and generous and useful reflections,