CLARISSA;

OR,

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FA
10552

THE HISTORY OF A YOUNG LADY:

COMPREHENDING

THE MOST IMPORTANT CONCERNS

OF PRIVATE LIFE; AND PARTICULARLY SHEWING
THE DISTRESSES THAT MAY ATTEND THE
MISCONDUCT BOTH OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN,
IN RELATION TO MARRIAGE.

BY

S. RICHARDSON.

COMPLETE IN FOUR VOLUMES.

VOL. III.

LEIPZIG

BERNHARD TAUCHNITZ

1862.

THE HISTORY OF CLARISSA HARLOWE.

LETTER I.

I hope she has had more rest than I have had. Soft and balmy, Mr. Lovelace to John Belford, Esq. I hope, have been her slumbers, Thursday morning, eight o'clock. that she may meet me in tolerable HER chamber door has not yet temper. All sweetly blushing and been opened. I must not expect confounded-I know how she will she will breakfast with me. Nor look! - But why should she, the dine with me, I doubt. A little sufferer, be ashamed, when I, the silly soul, what troubles does she trespasser, am not? make to herself by her over-nice- But custom is a prodigious thing. ness! All I have done to her, The women are told how much would have been looked upon as their blushes heighten their a frolic only, a romping-bout, and graces. They practise for them laughed off by nine parts in ten therefore: blushes come as readily of the sex accordingly. The more when they call for them, as their she makes of it, the more painful to herself, as well as to me.

Why now, Jack, were it not better, upon her own notions, that she seemed not so sensible as she will make herself to be, if she is very angry ?

tears; aye, that's it! While we men, taking blushes for a sign of guilt or sheepishness, are equally studious to suppress them.

*

By my troth, Jack, I am half as much ashamed to see the woBut perhaps I am more afraid men below, as my fair one can be than I need. I believe I am. to see me. I have not yet opened From her over-niceness arises my my door, that I may not be obfear, more than from any extra-truded upon by them. ordinary reason for resentment. After all, what devils may one Next time, she may count herself make of the sex! To what a very happy, if she come off no what shall I call it? must those of it be arrived, who once loved a man with so much distinction, as both Polly and Sally loved me; and yet can have got so much above the pangs

worse.

The dear creature was so frightened, and so fatigued last night no wonder she lies it out this morning.

Clarissa. III.

height of

1

Am I
Is it

of jealousy, so much above the A happy escape indeed, Jack! mortifying reflections that arise For the fire had scorched the from dividing and sharing with window-board, singed the hangnew objects the affections of him ings, and burnt through the slitthey prefer to all others, as to deal lining of the window-jambs. wish for, and promote a competi- No answer, madam! torship in his love, and make not worthy of one word? their supreme delight consist in thus you keep your promise with reducing others to their level! me?- Shall I not have the favour For thou canst not imagine, how of your company for two minutes even Sally Martin rejoiced last [only for two minutes] in the night in the thought that the dining-room? lady's hour was approaching.

Past ten o'clock.

Hem! And a deep sigh!

were all the answer.

I NEVER longed in my life for Answer me but how you do! any thing with so much im- Answer me but that you are well! patience, as to see my charmer. Is this the forgiveness that was She has been stirring, it seems, the condition of my obedience? these two hours.

Then, in a faintish, but angry voice, Begone from my door! Wretch! inhuman, barbarous, and all that is base and treacherous!

begone from my door! Nor tease thus a poor creature, entitled to protection, not outrage.

I see, madam, how you keep your word with me - if a sudden impulse, the effects of an unthought-of accident, cannot be forgiven

Ŏ the dreadful weight of a father's curse, thus in the very letter of it

And then her voice dying away in murmurs inarticulate, I looked through the key-hole, and saw her on her knees, her face, though not towards me, lifted up, as well as hands, and these folded, deprecating, I suppose, that gloomy tyrant's curse.

I could not help being moved.

My dearest life! admit me to your presence but for two minutes,

and confirm your promised par-| I CANNOT see you: nor will I, if don; and may lightning blast me I can help it. Words cannot exon the spot, if I offer any thing press the anguish of my soul on but my penitence, at a shrine so your baseness and ingratitude. sacred! I will afterwards leave If the circumstances of things you for the whole day, and till are such, that I can have no to-morrow morning; and then way for reconciliation with those attend you with writings, all who would have been my natural ready to sign, a licence obtained, protectors from such outrages, or if it cannot, a minister without but through you, [the only inone. This once believe me! When ducement I can have to stay a you see the reality of the danger moment longer in your knowthat gave occasion for this your ledge] pen and ink must be, at unhappy resentment, you will present, the only means of comthink less hardly of me. And let munication between us. me beseech you to perform a promise on which I made a reliance not altogether ungenerous.

I cannot see you! Would to Heaven I never had! If I write, that's all I can do.

Let your writing then, my dearest life, confirm your promise: and I will withdraw in expectation of it.

Past eleven o'clock.

SHE rung the bell for Dorcas; and, with her door in her hand, only half-opened gave her a billet for me.

Vilest of men and most detestable of plotters! how have I deserved from you the shocking indignities but no more only for your own sake, wish not, at least for a week to come, to see The undeservedly injured and insulted CLARISSA HARLOWE.

So, thou seest, nothing could have stood me in stead, but this plot of Tomlinson and her uncle! To what a pretty pass, nevertheless, have I brought myself! Had Cæsar been such a fool, he How did the dear creature look, had never passed the Rubicon. Dorcas? But after he had passed it, had he She was dressed. She turned retreated re infecta, intimidated her face quite from me; and by a senatorial edict, what a sighed, as if her heart would pretty figure would he have made break. I might have known, Sweet creature! I kissed the that to attempt a robbery, and wet wafer, and drew it from the put a person in bodily fear, is as paper with my breath. punishable as if the robbery had been actually committed.

These are the contents. No inscriptive Sir! No Mr. Lovelace!

in history!