Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 1 by Samuel Richardson Page B
Authors: Samuel Richardson
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brother.
O the fond, fond heart! with a sneer of insult, lifting up his hands.
Sir, said I, to my father, to your justice I appeal: If I have deserved reflection, let me be not spared. But if I am to be answerable for the rashness--
No more!--No more of either side, said my father. You are not to receive the visits of that Lovelace, though.--Nor are you, son James, to reflect upon your sister. She is a worthy child.
Sir, I have done, replied he:--and yet I have her honour at heart, as much as the honour of the rest of the family.
And hence, Sir, retorted I, your unbrotherly reflections upon me?
Well, but you observe, Miss, said he, that it is not I, but your father, that tells you, that you are not to receive the visits of that Lovelace.
Cousin Harlowe, said my aunt Hervey, allow me to say, that my cousin Clary's prudence may be confided in.
I am convinced it may, joined my mother.
But, aunt, but, madam (put in my sister) there is no hurt, I presume, in letting my sister know the condition she goes to Miss Howe upon; since, if he gets a nack of visiting her there--
You may be sure, interrupted my uncle Harlowe, he will endeavour to
see her there.
So would such an impudent man here, said my uncle Antony: and 'tis
better done there than here.
Better no where, said my father.--I command you (turning to me) on pain of displeasure, that you see him not at all.
I will not, Sir, in any way of encouragement, I do assure you: not at all, if I can properly avoid it.
You know with what indifference, said my mother, she has hitherto seen him.--Her prudence may be trusted to, as my sister Hervey says.
With what appa--rent indifference, drawled my brother.
Son James! said my father sternly.
I have done, Sir, said he. But again, in a provoking manner, he reminded me of the prohibition.
Thus ended the conference.
Will you engage, my dear, that the hated man shall not come near your house?--But what an inconsistence is this, when they consent to my going, thinking his visits here no otherwise to be avoided!--But if he does come, I charge you never to leave us alone together.
As I have no reason to doubt a welcome from your good mother, I will put every thing in order here, and be with you in two or three days.
Mean time, I am
Your most affectionate and obliged,
CLARISSA HARLOWE.
LETTER VII
MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE
[AFTER HER RETURN FROM HER.]
HARLOWE-PLACE, FEB. 20.
I beg your excuse for not writing sooner. Alas! my dear, I have sad prospects before me! My brother and sister have succeeded in all their views. They have found out another lover for me; an hideous one!--Yet he is encouraged by every body. No wonder that I was ordered home so suddenly. At an hour's warning!--No other notice, you know, than what was brought with the chariot that was to carry me back.--It was for fear, as I have been informed [an unworthy fear!] that I should have entered into any concert with Mr. Lovelace had I known their motive for commanding me home; apprehending, 'tis evident, that I should dislike the man they had to propose to me.
And well might they apprehend so:--For who do you think he is?--No other than that Solmes--Could you have believed it?--And they are all determined too; my mother with the rest!--Dear, dear excellence! how could she be thus brought over, when I am assured, that on his first being proposed she was pleased to say, That had Mr. Solmes the Indies in possession, and would endow me with them, she should not think him deserving of her Clarissa!
The reception I met with at my return, so different from what I used to meet with on every little absence [and now I had been from them three weeks], convinced me that I was to suffer for the happiness I had had in your company and conversation for that most agreeable period. I will give you an account of it.
My brother met me at the door, and gave me his hand when I stepped out of the chariot. He bowed very low: pray, Miss, favour me.--I thought it in good
O the fond, fond heart! with a sneer of insult, lifting up his hands.
Sir, said I, to my father, to your justice I appeal: If I have deserved reflection, let me be not spared. But if I am to be answerable for the rashness--
No more!--No more of either side, said my father. You are not to receive the visits of that Lovelace, though.--Nor are you, son James, to reflect upon your sister. She is a worthy child.
Sir, I have done, replied he:--and yet I have her honour at heart, as much as the honour of the rest of the family.
And hence, Sir, retorted I, your unbrotherly reflections upon me?
Well, but you observe, Miss, said he, that it is not I, but your father, that tells you, that you are not to receive the visits of that Lovelace.
Cousin Harlowe, said my aunt Hervey, allow me to say, that my cousin Clary's prudence may be confided in.
I am convinced it may, joined my mother.
But, aunt, but, madam (put in my sister) there is no hurt, I presume, in letting my sister know the condition she goes to Miss Howe upon; since, if he gets a nack of visiting her there--
You may be sure, interrupted my uncle Harlowe, he will endeavour to
see her there.
So would such an impudent man here, said my uncle Antony: and 'tis
better done there than here.
Better no where, said my father.--I command you (turning to me) on pain of displeasure, that you see him not at all.
I will not, Sir, in any way of encouragement, I do assure you: not at all, if I can properly avoid it.
You know with what indifference, said my mother, she has hitherto seen him.--Her prudence may be trusted to, as my sister Hervey says.
With what appa--rent indifference, drawled my brother.
Son James! said my father sternly.
I have done, Sir, said he. But again, in a provoking manner, he reminded me of the prohibition.
Thus ended the conference.
Will you engage, my dear, that the hated man shall not come near your house?--But what an inconsistence is this, when they consent to my going, thinking his visits here no otherwise to be avoided!--But if he does come, I charge you never to leave us alone together.
As I have no reason to doubt a welcome from your good mother, I will put every thing in order here, and be with you in two or three days.
Mean time, I am
Your most affectionate and obliged,
CLARISSA HARLOWE.
LETTER VII
MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE
[AFTER HER RETURN FROM HER.]
HARLOWE-PLACE, FEB. 20.
I beg your excuse for not writing sooner. Alas! my dear, I have sad prospects before me! My brother and sister have succeeded in all their views. They have found out another lover for me; an hideous one!--Yet he is encouraged by every body. No wonder that I was ordered home so suddenly. At an hour's warning!--No other notice, you know, than what was brought with the chariot that was to carry me back.--It was for fear, as I have been informed [an unworthy fear!] that I should have entered into any concert with Mr. Lovelace had I known their motive for commanding me home; apprehending, 'tis evident, that I should dislike the man they had to propose to me.
And well might they apprehend so:--For who do you think he is?--No other than that Solmes--Could you have believed it?--And they are all determined too; my mother with the rest!--Dear, dear excellence! how could she be thus brought over, when I am assured, that on his first being proposed she was pleased to say, That had Mr. Solmes the Indies in possession, and would endow me with them, she should not think him deserving of her Clarissa!
The reception I met with at my return, so different from what I used to meet with on every little absence [and now I had been from them three weeks], convinced me that I was to suffer for the happiness I had had in your company and conversation for that most agreeable period. I will give you an account of it.
My brother met me at the door, and gave me his hand when I stepped out of the chariot. He bowed very low: pray, Miss, favour me.--I thought it in good
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