But I hope not.

Tuesday night

•   •   •

Since I wrote the above, I have ventured to send a letter by Shorey to my mamma. I directed her to give it into her own hand when nobody was by.

I shall enclose the copy of it. You’ll see that I would have it thought, that now Hannah is gone I have no way to correspond out of the house. I am far from thinking all I do, right. I am afraid this is a little piece of art, that is not so. But this is an afterthought: the letter went first.

•   •   •

Clarissa to Mrs Harlowe

Honoured madam,

Having acknowledged to you that I had received letters from Mr Lovelace full of resentment, and that I answered them purely to prevent further mischief; and having showed you copies of my answers, which you did not disapprove of, although you thought fit, after you had read them, to forbid me any further correspondence with him; I think it my duty to acquaint you that another letter from him has since come to my hand, in which he is very earnest with me to permit him to wait on my papa, or you, or my two uncles, in a pacific way, accompanied by Lord M. on which I beg your commands.

I own to you, madam, that had not the prohibition been renewed, and had not Hannah been so suddenly dismissed my service, I should have made the less scruple to have written an answer and to have commanded her to convey it to him with all speed, in order to dissuade him from these visits, lest anything should happen on the occasion that my heart aches but to think of.

This communication being as voluntarily made as dutifully intended, I humbly presume to hope that I shall not be required to produce the letter itself. I cannot either in honour or prudence do that, because of the vehemence of his style; for having heard (not, I assure you, by my means, or through Hannah’s) of some part of the harsh treatment I have met with, he thinks himself entitled to place it to his own account by reason of speeches thrown out by some of my relations equally vehement.

If I do not answer him, he will be made desperate, and think himself justified (though I shall not think him so) in resenting the treatment he complains of. If I do, and if in compliment to me he forbears to resent what he thinks himself entitled to resent, be pleased, madam, to consider the obligation he will suppose he lays me under.

If I were as strongly prepossessed in his favour as is supposed, I should not have wished this to be considered by you. And permit me, as a still further proof that I am not prepossessed, to beg of you to consider, whether, upon the whole, the proposal I made of declaring for the single life (which I will religiously adhere to) is not the best way to get rid of his pretensions with honour. To renounce him, and not to be allowed to aver that I will never be the other man’s will make him conclude (driven as I am driven) that I am determined in that other man’s favour.

And so leaving the whole to your own wisdom, and whether you choose to consult my papa and uncles upon this humble application, or not; or whether I shall be allowed to write an answer to Mr Lovelace, or not (and if allowed so to do, I beg your direction by whom to send it); I remain,

Honoured madam,

Your unhappy, but ever-dutiful daughter,

CL. HARLOWE

Wednesday morning

•   •   •

I have just received an answer to the enclosed letter. My mamma, you’ll observe, has ordered me to burn it: but as you will have it in your safe keeping and nobody else will see it, her end will be equally answered. It has neither date nor superscription.

•   •   •

Mrs Harlowe to Clarissa

Clarissa,

Say not all the blame and all the punishment is yours. I am as much blamed and as much punished as you are; yet am more innocent. When your obstinacy is equal to any other person’s passion, blame not your brother. We judged right that Hannah carried on your correspondencies. Now she is gone, and you cannot write (we think you cannot) to Miss Howe, nor she to you, without our knowledge, one cause of uneasiness and jealousy is over.

I had no dislike to Hannah. I did not tell her so, because Somebody was within hearing when she desired to pay her duty to me at going. I gave her a caution, in a raised voice, to take care wherever she went to live next, if there were any young ladies, how she made parties, and assisted in clandestine correspondencies: but I slid two guineas into her hand. Nor was I angry to hear you were more bountiful to her. So much for Hannah.

I don’t know what to write about your answering that man of violence. What can you think of it, that such a family as ours should have such a rod held over it? You was once all my comfort: you made all my hardships tolerable. But now! However, nothing, it is plain, can move you; and I will say no more on that head: for you are under your papa’s discipline now; and he will neither be prescribed to, nor entreated.

I should have been glad to see the letter you tell me of, as I saw the rest. You say both honour and prudence forbid you to show it me! Oh Clarissa! what think you of receiving letters that honour and prudence forbid you to show to a mother! But it is not for me to see it, if you would choose to show it me. I will not be in your secret. I will not know that you did correspond. And, as to an answer, take your own methods. But let him know it will be the last you will write. And if you do write, I won’t see it: so seal it up, if you do, and give it to Shorey and she—Yet do not think I give you licence to write!

As to the rest, you have by your obstinacy put it out of my power to do anything for you.