of grief.

And that it is this, seriously reflected upon, may temporally give a fine
air of sincerity to the wailings of lively widows, heart-exulting heirs,
and residuary legatees of all denominations; since, by keeping down the
inward joy, those interesting reflections must sadden the aspect, and add
an appearance of real concern to the assumed sables.

Well, but, now thou art come to the reward of all thy watchings,
anxieties, and close attendances, tell me what it is; tell me if it
compensate thy trouble, and answer thy hope?

As to myself, thou seest, by the gravity of my style, how the subject has
helped to mortify me. But the necessity I am under of committing either
speedy matrimony, or a rape, has saddened over my gayer prospects, and,
more than the case itself, contributed to make me sympathize with the
present joyful-sorrow.

Adieu, Jack, I must be soon out of my pain; and my Clarissa shall be soon
out of her's--for so does the arduousness of the case require.

LETTER III

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.
SUNDAY MORNING.

I have had the honour of my charmer's company for two complete hours. We
met before six in Mrs. Moore's garden. A walk on the Heath refused me.

The sedateness of her aspect and her kind compliance in this meeting gave
me hopes. And all that either the Captain and I had urged yesterday to
obtain a full and free pardon, that re-urged I; and I told her, besides,
that Captain Tomlinson was gone down with hopes to prevail upon her uncle
Harlowe to come up in person, in order to present to me the greatest
blessing that man ever received.

But the utmost I could obtain was, that she would take no resolution in
my favour till she received Miss Howe's next letter.

I will not repeat the arguments I used; but I will give thee the
substance of what she said in answer to them.

She had considered of every thing, she told me. My whole conduct was
before her. The house I carried her to must be a vile house. The people
early showed what they were capable of, in the earnest attempt made to
fasten Miss Partington upon her; as she doubted not, with my approbation.
[Surely, thought I, she has not received a duplicate of Miss Howe's
letter of detection!] They heard her cries. My insult was undoubtedly
premeditated. By my whole recollected behaviour to her, previous to it,
it must be so. I had the vilest of views, no question. And my treatment
of her put it out of all doubt.