LETTER XX
MR. BELFORD, TO ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ.TUESDAY, JULY 18. AFTERNOON.
I renewed my inquiries after the lady's health, in the morning, by myservant: and, as soon as I had dined, I went myself.
I had but a poor account of it: yet sent up my compliments. She returnedme thanks for all my good offices; and her excuses, that they could notbe personal just then, being very low and faint: but if I gave myself thetrouble of coming about six this evening, she should be able, she hoped,to drink a dish of tea with me, and would then thank me herself.
I am very proud of this condescension; and think it looks not amiss foryou, as I am your avowed friend. Methinks I want fully to remove fromher mind all doubts of you in this last villanous action: and who knowsthen what your noble relations may be able to do for you with her, if youhold your mind? For your servant acquainted me with their havingactually engaged Miss Howe in their and your favour, before this cursedaffair happened. And I desire the particulars of all from yourself, thatI may the better know how to serve you.
She has two handsome apartments, a bed-chamber and dining-room, withlight closets in each. She has already a nurse, (the people of the househaving but one maid,) a woman whose care, diligence, and honesty, Mrs.Smith highly commends. She has likewise the benefit of a widowgentlewoman, Mrs. Lovick her name, who lodges over her apartment, and ofwhom she seems very fond, having found something in her, she thinks,resembling the qualities of her worthy Mrs. Norton.
About seven o'clock this morning, it seems, the lady was so ill, that sheyielded to their desires to have an apothecary sent for--not the fellow,thou mayest believe, she had had before at Rowland's; but one Mr.Goddard, a man of skill and eminence; and of conscience too; demonstratedas well by general character, as by his prescriptions to this lady: forpronouncing her case to be grief, he ordered, for the present, onlyinnocent juleps, by way of cordial; and, as soon as her stomach should beable to bear it, light kitchen-diet; telling Mrs. Lovick, that that, withair, moderate exercise, and cheerful company, would do her more good thanall the medicines in his shop.
This has given me, as it seems it has the lady, (who also praises hismodest behaviour, paternal looks, and genteel address,) a very goodopinion of the man; and I design to make myself acquainted with him, and,if he advises to call in a doctor, to wish him, for the fair patient'ssake, more than the physician's, (who wants not practice,) my worthyfriend Dr. H.--whose character is above all exception, as his humanity, Iam sure, will distinguish him to the lady.
Mrs. Lovick gratified me with an account of a letter she had written fromthe lady's mouth to Miss Howe; she being unable to write herself withsteadiness.
It was to this effect; in answer, it seems, to her two letters, whateverwere the contents of them:
'That she had been involved in a dreadful calamity, which she was sure,when known, would exempt her from the effects of her friendlydispleasure, for not answering her first; having been put under anarrest.--Could she have believed it?--That she was released but the daybefore: and was now so weak and so low, that she was obliged to accountthus for her silence to her [Miss Howe's] two letters of the 13th and16th: that she would, as soon as able, answer them--begged of her, meantime, not to be uneasy for her; since (only that this was a calamitywhich came upon her when she was far from being well, a load laid uponthe shoulders of a poor wretch, ready before to sink under too heavy aburden) it was nothing to the evil she had before suffered: and onefelicity seemed likely to issue from it; which was, that she would beat rest, in an honest house, with considerate and kind-hearted people;having assurance given her, that she should not be molested by thewretch, whom it would be death for her to see: so that now she, [MissHowe,] needed not to send to her by private and expensive conveyances:nor need Collins to take precautions for fear of being dogged to herlodgings; nor need she write by a fictitious name to her, but by herown.'
You can see I am in a way to oblige you: you see how much she dependsupon my engaging for your forbearing to intrude yourself into hercompany: let not your flaming impatience destroy all; and make me looklike a villain to a lady who has reason to suspect every man she sees tobe so.--Upon this condition, you may expect all the services that canflow from
Your sincere well-wisher,J. BELFORD.
Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 7 Page 21
