Their hearts were better turned for such works than their heads.

I asked him if he valued himself upon having a head better turned than theirs for such works, as he called them?

He drew off; and then ran into the highest professions of reverence and affection for you. The object so meritorious, who can doubt the reality of his professions?

Adieu, my dearest, my noble friend! I love and admire you for the generous conclusion of your last more than I can express. Though I began this letter with impertinent raillery, knowing that you always loved to indulge my mad vein, yet never was there a heart that more glowed with friendly love than that of

Your own

ANNA HOWE

Letter 15: MISS HOWE TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE

Friday, March 3

I have both your letters at once. It is very unhappy, my dear, since your friends will have you marry, that such a merit as yours should be addressed by a succession of worthless creatures, who have nothing but their presumption for their excuse.

Yet I am afraid all opposition will be in vain. You must, you will, I doubt, be sacrificed to this odious man [Solmes]! I know your family! There will be no resisting such baits as he has thrown out.

And now I am more than ever convinced of the propriety of the advice I formerly gave you, to keep in your own hands the estate bequeathed to you by your grandfather. Had you done so, it would have procured you at least an outward respect from your brother and sister, which would have made them conceal the envy and ill-will that now is bursting upon you from hearts so narrow.

I know your dutiful, your laudable motives, and one would have thought that you might have trusted to a father who so dearly loved you. But had you been actually in possession of that estate, and living up to it and upon it (your youth protected from blighting tongues by the company of your prudent [nurse] Norton, as you had purposed), do you think that your brother, grudging it to you at the time as he did, and looking upon it as his right as an only son, would have been practising about it and aiming at it? I told you some time ago that I thought your trials but proportioned to your prudence. But you will be more than woman if you can extricate yourself with honour, having such violent spirits and sordid minds as in some, and such tyrannical and despotic wills as in others, to deal with. Indeed, all may be done, and the world be taught further to admire you, for your blind duty and will-less resignation, if you can persuade yourself to be Mrs Solmes!

I long for your next letter. Continue to be as particular as possible. I can think of no other subject but what relates to you and to your affairs; for I am, and ever will be, most affectionately,

All your own

ANNA HOWE

Letter 16: MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE TO MISS HOWE

Friday, March 3

Oh my dear friend, I have had a sad conflict! trial upon trial; conference upon conference! But what law, what ceremony, can give a man a right to a heart which abhors him more than it does any of God Almighty’s creatures?

I hope my mamma will be able to prevail for me. But I will recount all, though I sit up the whole night to do it, for I have a vast deal to write and will be as minute as you wish me to be.

I went down this morning when breakfast was ready with a very uneasy heart, from what Hannah had told me yesterday afternoon; wishing for an opportunity, however, to appeal to my mamma in hopes to engage her interest in my behalf, and purposing to try to find one, when she retired to her own apartment after breakfast. But, unluckily, there was the odious Solmes sitting asquat between my mamma and sister, with so much assurance in his looks! But you know, my dear, that those we love not cannot do anything to please us.

Had the wretch kept his seat, it might have been well enough, but the bent and broad-shouldered creature must needs rise and stalk towards a chair, which was just by that which was set for me.

I removed it at a distance, as if to make way to my own; and down I sat, abruptly I believe; what I had heard all in my head.

But this was not enough to daunt him. The man is a very confident, he is a very bold, staring man!

He took the removed chair and drew it so near mine, squatting in it with his ugly weight, that he pressed upon my hoop. I was so offended (all I had heard, as I said, in my head) that I removed to another chair. I own I had too little command of myself. It gave my brother and sister too much advantage. I dare say they took it—but I did it involuntarily, I think; I could not help it. I knew not what I did.

I saw my papa was excessively displeased. When angry, no man’s countenance ever showed it so much as my papa’s. Clarissa Harlowe! said he with a big voice, and there he stopped. Sir! said I, and curtsied. I trembled and put my chair nearer the wretch, and sat down; my face I could feel all in a glow.

Make tea, child, said my kind mamma. Sit by me, love, and make tea.

I removed with pleasure to the seat the man had quitted, and being thus indulgently put into employment, soon recovered myself; and in the course of the breakfasting officiously asked two or three questions of Mr Solmes, which I would not have done, but to make up with my papa. Proud spirits may be brought to, whispering spoke my sister to me over her shoulder, with an air of triumph and scorn; but I did not mind her.

My mamma was all kindness and condescension. I asked her once if she were pleased with the tea? She said softly, and again called me dear, she was pleased with all I did. I was very proud of this encouraging goodness; and all blew over, as I hoped, between my papa and me, for he also spoke kindly to me two or three times.

Small incidents these, my dear, to trouble you with; only as they lead to greater, as you shall hear.

Before the usual breakfast-time was over my papa withdrew with my mamma, telling her he wanted to speak to her. My sister and my aunt, who was with us, next dropped away.

I saw what all this was for. I curtsied. Your servant, sir.