dear friends whom I have so grievously offended. 'Tis only, simply, a blessing I ask: a blessing to die with, not to live with.-Do they know that? And do they know that their unkindness will perhaps shorten my date? So that their favour, if ever they intend to grant it, may come too late.

Önce more, I desire you not to think of coming to me. I have no uneasiness now, but what proceeds from the apprehension of seeing a man I would not see for the world, if I could help it; and from the severity of my nearest and dearest relations: a severity entirely their own, I doubt; for you tell me that my brother is at Edinburgh! You would therefore heighten their severity, and make yourself enemies besides, if you were to come to me- -don't you see that you would? Mr. Brand may come, if he will. He is a clergyman, and must mean well; or I must think so, let him say of me what he will. All my fear is, that, as he knows I am in disgrace with a family whose esteem he is desirous to cultivate; and as he has obligations to my uncle Harlowe, and to my father, he will be but a languid acquitter-not that I am afraid of what he, or any body in the world, can hear as to my conduct. You may, my revered and dear friend, indeed you may, rest satisfied, that that is such as may warrant me to challenge the inquiries of the most officious.

I will send you copies of what passes, as you desire, when I have an answer to my second letter. I now begin to wish that I had taken the courage to write to my father himself: or to my mother, at least; instead of to my sister; and yet I doubt my poor mother can do nothing for me of herself. Ă strong confederacy, my dear Mrs. Norton (a strong confederacy indeed!) against a poor girl, their daughter, sister, niece!-My brother, perhaps, got

it renewed before he left them. He needed nothis work is done; and more than done.

Don't afflict yourself about money matters on my account. I have no occasion for money. I am glad my mother was so considerate to you. I was in pain for you, on the same subject. But heaven will not permit so good a woman to want the humble blessings she was always satisfied with. I wish every individual of our family were but as rich as you!-O my mamma Norton, you are rich! You are rich indeed!-The true riches are such content as you are blessed with. And I hope in God, that I am in the way to be rich too.

Adieu, my ever indulgent friend. You say, all will be at last happy-and I know it will-I confide that it will, with as much security, as you may, that I will be to my last hour,

Your ever grateful and affectionate

CL. HARLOWE.

LETTER XXII.

MR. LOVELACE TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.

Tuesday, Aug. 1.

I AM most confoundedly chagrined and disappointed: for here, on Saturday, arrived a messenger from Miss Howe with a letter to my cousins*; which I knew nothing of till yesterday: when Lady Sarah and Lady Betty were procured to be here, to sit in judgment upon it with the old peer, and my two cousins. And never was bear so miserably baited as thy poor friend! -And for what?-Why, for the cruelty of Miss Harlowe: for have I committed any new offence? And would I not have reinstated

* See Letter xii. of this vol.

myself in her favour upon her own terms, if I could? And is it fair to punish me for what is my misfortune, and not my fault? Such event-judging fools as I have for my relations! I am ashamed of them all. In that of Miss Howe was inclosed one to her from Miss Harlowe*, to be transmitted to my cousins, containing a final rejection of me; and that in very vehement and positive terms; yet she pretends, that in this rejection she is governed more by principle than passion-[D-'d lie as ever was told!] And, as a proof that she is, says, that she can forgive me, and does on this one condition, that I will never molest her more- -the whole letter so written, as to make herself more admired, me more detested.

What we have been told of the agitations and workings, and sighings and sobbings, of the French prophets among us formerly, was nothing at all to the scene exhibited by these maudlin souls, at the reading of these letters; and of some affecting passages extracted from another of my fair implacable's to Miss Howe-such lamentations for the loss of so charming a relation! Such applaudings of her virtue, of her exaltedness of soul and sentiment! Such menaces of disinherisons! I, not needing their reproaches to be stung to the heart with my own reflections, and with the rage of disappointment; and as sincerely as any of them admiring her- What the devil,' cried I, is all this for? Is it not enough to be despised and rejected? Can I help her implacable spirit?-Would I not repair the evils I have made her suffer?'-Then was I ready to curse them all, herself and Miss Howe for company: and heartily I swore, that she should yet be mine. I now swear it over again to thee-' Were her

*See Letter viii. of this volume.

death to follow in a week after the knot is tied, by the Lord of heaven it shall be tied, and she shall die a Lovelace! Tell her so, if thou wilt: but, at the same time, tell her, that I have no view to her fortune; and that I will solemnly resign that, and all pretensions to it, in whose favour she pleases, if she resign life issueless.-I am not so low-minded a wretch as to be guilty of any sordid views to her fortune-let her judge for herself then, whether it be not for her honour rather to leave this world a Lovelace than a Harlowe.

But do not think I will entirely rest a cause so near my heart, upon an advocate, who so much more admires his client's adversary, than his client. I will go to town in a few days, in order to throw myself at her feet: and I will carry with me, or have at hand, a resolute, well prepared parson: and the ceremony shall be performed, let what will be

the consequence.

But if she will permit me to attend her for this purpose at either of the churches mentioned in the licence (which she has by her, and, thank heaven! has not returned me with my letters); then will I not disturb her; but meet her at the altar in either church, and will engage to bring my two cousins to attend her, and even Lady Sarah and Lady Betty; and my Lord M. in person shall give her to me.

Or, if it will be still more agreeable to her, I will undertake, that either Lady Sarah or Lady Betty, or both, shall go to town, and attend her down; and the marriage shall be celebrated in their presence, and in that of Lord M. either here or elsewhere, at her own choice.

Do not play me booty, Belford; but sincerely and warmly use all the eloquence thou art master of, to prevail upon her to choose one of these three

methods. One of them she must choose-by my soul, she must.

Here is Charlotte tapping at my closet door for admittance. What the devil wants Charlotte!- I will bear no more reproaches !-Come in, girl.

My cousin Charlotte, finding me writing on with too much earnestness to have any regard for politeness to her, and guessing at my subject, besought me to let her see what I had written.

I obliged her, and she was so highly pleased on seeing me so much in earnest, that she offered, and I accepted her offer, to write a letter to Miss Harlowe; with permission to treat me in it as she thought fit.

I shall inclose a copy of her letter.

When she had written it, she brought it to me, with apologies for the freedom taken with me in it : but I excused it; and she was ready to give me a kiss for joy of my approbation: and I gave her two for writing it; telling her, I had hopes of success: from it; and that I thought she had luckily hit it

off.

Every one approves of it, as well as I; and is pleased with me for so patiently submitting to be abused, and undertaken for. If it do not succeed, all the blame will be thrown upon the dear creature's perverseness: her charitable or forgiving disposition, about which she makes such a parade, will be justly questioned; and the pity, of which she is now in full possession, will be transferred to me.

Putting therefore my whole confidence in this letter, I postpone all my other alternatives, as also my going to town, till my empress send an answer to my cousin Montague.

But if she persist, and will not promise to take