LETTER II
MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE[WITH HER TWO LAST LETTERS, NO. LVIII. LIX. OF VOL. III., ENCLOSED.]THURSDAY NIGHT, APRIL 27.
I have your's; just brought me. Mr. Hickman has helped me to a luckyexpedient, which, with the assistance of the post, will enable me tocorrespond with you every day. An honest higler, [Simon Collins hisname,] by whom I shall send this, and the two enclosed, (now I have yourdirection whither,) goes to town constantly on Mondays, Wednesdays, andFridays; and can bring back to me from Mr. Wilson's what you shall havecaused to be left for me.
I congratulate you on your arrival in town, so much amended in spirits.I must be brief. I hope you'll have no cause to repent returning myNorris. It is forthcoming on demand.
I am sorry your Hannah can't be with you. She is very ill still; but notdangerously.
I long for your account of the women you are with. If they are not rightpeople, you will find them out in one breakfasting.
I know not what to write upon his reporting to them that you are actuallymarried. His reasons for it are plausible. But he delights in oddexpedients and inventions.
Whether you like the people or not, do not, by your noble sincerity andplain dealing, make yourself enemies. You are in the real world now youknow.
I am glad you had thoughts of taking him at his offer, if he had re-urgedit. I wonder he did not. But if he do not soon, and in such a way asyou can accept of it, don't think of staying with him.
Depend upon it, my dear, he will not leave you, either night or day, ifhe can help it, now he has got footing.
I should have abhorred him for his report of your marriage, had he notmade it with such circumstances as leave it still in your power to keephim at distance. If once he offer at the least familiarity--but this isneedless to say to you. He can have, I think, no other design but whathe professes; because he must needs think, that his report of beingmarried to you must increase your vigilance.
You may depend upon my looking narrowly into the sealings of yourletters. If, as you say, he be base in that point, he will be so inevery thing. But to a person of your merit, of your fortune, of yourvirtue, he cannot be base. The man is no fool. It is his interest, aswell with regard to his expectations from his own friends, as from you,to be honest. Would to Heaven, however, you were really married! Thisis now the predominant wish of
YourANNA HOWE.
Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 4 Page 3
