....... ...... ...... ....... ..... PAGE 302-311 lady on her knees in one corner of it. Her great and moving sence. 326-336 336-341 LETTER LXXIII. Lovelace, to Belford.-Raves at him. For PAGE gay resolutions. Renews, however, his promises not to molest LETTER LXXIV. Miss Howe, to Clarissa.-Is shocked at re- ceiving a letter from her written by another hand. Tenderly consoles her, and inveighs against Lovelace. Re-urges her, however, to marry him. Her mother absolutely of her opinion. ........ 352-354 Clarissa, to Miss Howe.-Her condition greatly mended. In what particulars. Her mind begins to strengthen; and she finds herself at times superior to her ca- lamities. In what light she wishes her to think of her. De- sires her to love her still, but with a weaning love. She is not now what she was when they were inseparable lovers. Their LETTER LXXVI. Belford, to Lovelace.-A consuming malady, and a consuming mistress, as in Belton's case, dreadful things to struggle with. Farther reflections on the life of keeping. The poor man afraid to enter into his own house. Belford un- dertakes his cause. Instinct in brutes equivalent to natural affection in men. Story of the ancient Sarmatians, and their slaves. Reflects on the lives of rakes, and free-livers; and how ready they are in sicknesss to run away from one another. ...... 356-362 .... 364-380 ...... ...... PAGE tions' cruelty. Makes light of her selling her clothes and laces. Touches upon Belton's case. Distinguishes between compa- nionship and friendship. How he purposes to rid Belton of LETTER LXXX. Belford, to Lovelace.-The lady has written to her sister, to obtain a revocation of her father's malediction. Defends her parents. He pleads with the utmost earnestness ..... 385-388 LETTER LXXXII. Lovelace, to Belford.-Ridicules him on his address to the lady as her banker, and on his aspirations and prostrations. Wants to come at letters she has written. Puts him upon engaging Mrs. Lovick to bring this about. Weight that proselytes have with the good people that convert them. Reasons for it. He has hopes still of the lady's favour; aud why. Never adored her so much as now. to a ball at Colonel Ambrose's. Who to be there. Censures affection and finery in the dress of men; and particularly with a view to exalt himself, ridicules Belford on this subject 599-404 LETTER LXXXIII. LXXXIV. LXXXV. LXXXVI. LETTER LXXXVIII. Mrs. Harlowe, to Mrs. Howe.--Sent with copies of the five foregoing letters LETTER LXXXIX. Mrs. Howe, to Mrs. Harlowe. In an- swer..... .... LETTER XC. Miss Howe, to Clarissa.-Desires an answer to PAGE should marry Lovelace. Is obliged by her mother to go to a ball at Colonel Ambrose's. Fervent professions of her friendly LETTER XCI. 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 XCII. From the same.-Begs, for her sake, that she LETTER XCIII. Mrs. Norton, to Clarissa.-Excuses her long silence. Her family, who were intending to favour her, in- THE HISTORY OF CLARISSA HARLOWE. LETTER I. MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, Esq. Tuesday Morn. June 20. W Thou must be partial in the highest degree, if now thou blamest me for resuming my former schemes, since in that case I shall but follow her clue. No forced construction of her actions do I make on this occasion, in order to ustify a bad cause or a worse intention. A slight pretence, indeed, served the wolf, when he had a mind to quarrel with the lamb; but this is not now my case. For here (wouldst thou have thought it?) taking advantage of Dorcas's compassionate temper, and of some warm expressions which the tender-hearted wench let fall against the cruelty of men, and wishing to have it in her |