ell enough to write a long letter by the next day's post; and
would not now detain him.

***

SATURDAY, SIX IN THE AFTERNOON.

I called just now, and found the lady writing to Miss Howe. She made me
a melancholy compliment, that she showed me not Miss Howe's letter,
because I should soon have that and all her papers before me. But she
told me that Miss Howe had very considerably obviated to Colonel Morden
several things which might have occasioned misapprehensions between him
and me; and had likewise put a lighter construction, for the sake of
peace, on some of your actions than they deserved.

She added, that her cousin Morden was warmly engaged in her favour with
her friends: and one good piece of news Miss Howe's letter contained,
that her father would give up some matters, which (appertaining to her of
right) would make my executorship the easier in some particulars that had
given her a little pain.

She owned she had been obliged to leave off (in the letter she was
writing) through weakness.

Will. says he shall reach you to-night. I shall send in the morning;
and, if I find her not worse, will ride to Edgware, and return in the
afternoon.

LETTER LII

MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE
TUESDAY, AUG. 29.

MY DEAREST FRIEND,

We are at length returned to our own home. I had intended to wait on you
in London: but my mother is very ill--Alas! my dear, she is very ill
indeed--and you are likewise very ill--I see that by your's of the 25th--
What shall I do, if I lose two such near, and dear, and tender friends?
She was taken ill yesterday at our last stage in our return home--and has
a violent surfeit and fever, and the doctors are doubtful about her.

If she should die, how will all my pertnesses to her fly in my face!--
Why, why, did I ever vex her? She says I have been all duty and
obedience!--She kindly forgets all my faults, and remembers every thing I
have been so happy as to oblige her in. And this cuts me to the heart.

I see, I see, my dear, that you are very bad--and I cannot bear it. Do,
my beloved Miss Harlowe, if you can be better, do, for my sake, be
better; and send me word of it. Let the bearer bring me a line. Be sure
you send me a line. If I lose you, my more than sister, and lose my
mother, I shall distrust my own conduct, and will not marry. And why
should I?--Creeping, cringing in courtship!--O my dear, these men are a
vile race of reptiles in our day, and mere