t Mrs. Smith descended not to particulars.

The doctor had been with her, as well as Mr. Goddard; and they both
joined with great earnestness to persuade her to have her house removed
out of her sight; but she assured them that it gave her pleasure and
spirits; and, being a necessary preparation, she wondered they should be
surprised at it, when she had not any of her family about her, or any old
acquaintance, on whose care and exactness in these punctilios, as she
called them, she could rely.

The doctor told Mrs. Smith, that he believed she would hold out long
enough for any of her friends to have notice of her state, and to see
her; and hardly longer; and since he could not find that she had any
certainty of seeing her cousin Morden, (which made it plain that her
relations continued inflexible,) he would go home, and write a letter to
her father, take it as she would.

She had spent great part of the day in intense devotions; and to-morrow
morning she is to have with her the same clergyman who has often attended
her; from whose hands she will again receive the sacrament.

Thou seest, Lovelace, that all is preparing, that all will be ready; and
I am to attend her to-morrow afternoon, to take some instructions from
her in relation to my part in the office to be performed for her. And
thus, omitting the particulars of a fine conversation between her and
Mrs. Lovick, which the latter acquainted me with, as well as another
between her and the doctor and apothecary, which I had a design this
evening to give you, they being of a very affecting nature, I have
yielded to your impatience.

I shall dispatch Harry to-morrow morning early with her letter to Miss
Howe: an offer she took very kindly; as she is extremely
solicitous to lessen that young lady's apprehensions for her on
not hearing from her by Saturday's post: and yet, if she write
truth, as no doubt but she will, how can her apprehensions be
lessened?

LETTER LV

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE
SATURDAY, SEPT. 2.

I write, my beloved Miss Howe, though very ill still: but I could not by
the return of your messenger; for I was then unable to hold a pen.

Your mother's illness (as mentioned in the first part of your letter,)
gave me great distress for you, till I read farther. You bewailed it as
became a daughter so sensible. May you be blessed in each other for
many, very many years to come! I doubt not, that eve