nocent freedoms, she could not look
me in the face; when, all the while, she was impudently [yes, I say,
impudently, though she be Clarissa Harlowe] contriving to rob me of the
dearest property I had ever purchased--purchased by a painful servitude
of many months; fighting through the wild-beasts of her family for her,
and combating with a wind-mill virtue, which hath cost me millions of
perjuries only to attempt; and which now, with its damn'd air-fans, has
tost me a mile and a half beyond hope!--And this, just as I had arrived
within view of the consummation of all my wishes!

O Devil of Love! God of Love no more--how have I deserved this of
thee!--Never before the friend of frozen virtue?--Powerless demon, for
powerless thou must be, if thou meanedest not to frustrate my hopes; who
shall henceforth kneel at thy altars!--May every enterprising heart
abhor, despise, execrate, renounce thee, as I do!--But, O Belford,
Belford, what signifies cursing now!

***

How she could effect this her wicked escape is my astonishment; the whole
sisterhood having charge of her;--for, as yet, I have not had patience
enough to inquire into the particulars, nor to let a soul of them
approach me.

Of this I am sure, or I had not brought her hither, there is not a
creature belonging to this house, that could be corrupted either by
virtue or remorse: the highest joy every infernal nymph, of this worse
than infernal habitation, could have known, would have been to reduce
this proud beauty to her own level.--And as to my villain, who also had
charge of her, he is such a seasoned varlet, that he delights in mischief
for the sake of it: no bribe could seduce him to betray his trust, were
there but wickedness in it!--'Tis well, however, he was out of my way
when the cursed news was imparted to me!--Gone, the villain! in quest of
her: not to return, nor to see my face [so it seems he declared] till he
has heard some tidings of her; and all the out-of-place varlets of his
numerous acquaintance are summoned and employed in the same business.

To what purpose brought I this angel (angel I must yet call her) to this
hellish house?--And was I not meditating to do her deserved honour? By
my soul, Belford, I was resolved--but thou knowest what I had
conditionally resolved--And now, who can tell into what hands she may
have fallen!

I am mad, stark mad, by Jupiter, at the thoughts of this!--Unprovided,
destitute, unacquainted--some villain,