asts about to whom she can apply for this purpose. At last resolves to
write to her sister to beg her mediation.

LETTER LXV. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
Her angry and reproachful letter above-mentioned; demands from her the
clearing up of her conduct.

LETTER LXVI. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Gently remonstrates upon her severity. To this hour knows not all the
methods taken to deceive and ruin her. But will briefly, yet
circumstantially, enter into the darker part of her sad story, though her
heart sinks under the thoughts of a recollection so painful.

LETTER LXVII. LXVIII. LXIX. LXX. From the same.--
She gives the promised particulars of her story. Begs that the blackest
parts of it may be kept secret; and why. Desires one friendly tear, and
no more, may be dropt from her gentle eye, on the happy day that shall
shut up all her sorrows.

LETTER LXXI. LXXII. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
Execrates the abandoned profligate. She must, she tells her, look to the
world beyond this for her reward. Unravels some of Lovelace's plots; and
detects his forgeries. Is apprehensive for her own as well as Clarissa's
safety. Advises her to pursue a legal vengeance. Laudable custom in the
Isle of Man. Offers personally to attend her in a court of justice.

LETTER LXXIII. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Cannot consent to a prosecution. Discovers who it was that personated
her at Hampstead. She is quite sick of life, and of an earth in which
innocent and benevolent spirits are sure to be considered as aliens.

THE HISTORY

OF

CLARISSA HARLOWE

LETTER I

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.
SAT. MIDNIGHT.

No rest, says a text that I once heard preached upon, to the wicked--and
I cannot close my eyes (yet only wanted to compound for half an hour in
an elbow-chair)--so must scribble on.

I parted with the Captain after another strong debate with him in
relation to what is to be the fate of this lady. As the fellow has an
excellent head, and would have made an eminent figure in any station of
life, had not his early days been tainted with a deep crime, and he
detected in it; and as he had the right side of the argument; I had a
good deal of difficulty with him; and at last brought myself to promise,
that if I could prevail upon her generously to forgive me, and to
reinstate me in her favour, I would make it my whole endeavour to get off
of my contrivances, as happily as I could; (only that Lady Betty and
Cha