nt!--I beseech you leave me; looking wildly
and in confusion about her, and upon herself.

Excuse me, my dearest creature, for those liberties which, innocent as
they were, your too great delicacy may make you take amiss--

No more! no more!--leave me, I beseech you! again looking upon herself,
and round her, in a sweet confusion--Begone! begone!

Then weeping, she struggled vehemently to withdraw her hands, which all
the while I held between mine.--Her struggles!--O what additional charms,
as I now reflect, did her struggles give to every feature, every limb, of
a person so sweetly elegant and lovely!

Impossible, my dearest life, till you pronounce my pardon!--Say but you
forgive me!--say but you forgive me!

I beseech you to be gone! leave me to myself, that I may think what I can
do, and what I ought to do.

That, my dearest creature, is not enough. You must tell me that I am
forgiven; that you will see me to-morrow as if nothing had happened.

And then I clasped her again in my arms, hoping she would not forgive
me--

I will--I do forgive you--wretch that you are!

Nay, my Clarissa! and is it such a reluctant pardon, mingled with a word
so upbraiding, that I am to be put off with, when you are thus (clasping
her close to me) in my power?

I do, I do forgive you!

Heartily?

Yes, heartily!

And freely?

Freely!

And will you look upon me to-morrow as if nothing had passed?

Yes, yes!

I cannot take these peevish affirmatives, so much like intentional
negatives!--Say, you will, upon your honour.

Upon my honour, then--Oh! now, begone! begone!--and never never--

What! never, my angel!--Is this forgiveness?

Never, said she, let what has passed be remembered more!

I insisted upon one kiss to seal my pardon--and retired like a fool, a
woman's fool, as I was!--I sneakingly retired!--Couldst thou have
believed it?

But I had no sooner entered my own apartment, than reflecting upon the
opportunity I had lost, and that all I had gained was but an increase of
my own difficulties; and upon the ridicule I should meet with below upon
a weakness so much out of my usual character; I repented, and hastened
back, in hope that, through the distress of mind which I left her in, she
had not so soon fastened the door; and I was fully resolved to execute
all my purposes, be the consequence what it would; for, thought I, I have
already sinned beyond cordial forgiveness, I doubt; and if fits and
desperatio