ay write to whom you
please. Your friend, Miss Howe, will expect to hear from you.

I have no friend, said she, I deserve none.

Rowland, for that's the officer's name, told her, she had friends enow to
pay the debt, if she would write.

She would trouble nobody; she had no friends; was all they could get from
her, while Sally staid: but yet spoken with a patience of spirit, as if
she enjoyed her griefs.

The insolent creature went away, ordering them, in the lady's hearing, to
be very civil to her, and to let her want for nothing. Now had she, she
owned, the triumph of her heart over this haughty beauty, who kept them
all at such a distance in their own house!

What thinkest thou, Lovelace, of this!--This wretch's triumph was over a
Clarissa!

About six in the evening, Rowland's wife pressed her to drink tea. She
said, she had rather have a glass of water; for her tongue was ready to
cleave to the roof of her mouth.

The woman brought her a glass, and some bread and butter. She tried to
taste the latter; but could not swallow it: but eagerly drank the water;
lifting up her eyes in thankfulness for that!!!

The divine Clarissa, Lovelace,--reduced to rejoice for a cup of cold
water!--By whom reduced?

About nine o'clock she asked if any body were to be her bedfellow.

Their maid, if she pleased; or, as she was so weak and ill, the girl
should sit up with her, if she chose she should.

She chose to be alone both night and day, she said. But might she not be
trusted with the key of the room where she was to lie down; for she
should not put off her clothes!

That, they told her, could not be.

She was afraid not, she said.--But indeed she would not get away, if she
could.

They told me, that they had but one bed, besides that they lay in
themselves, (which they would fain have had her accept of,) and besides
that their maid lay in, in a garret, which they called a hole of a
garret: and that that one bed was the prisoner's bed; which they made
several apologies to me about. I suppose it is shocking enough.

But the lady would not lie in theirs. Was she not a prisoner? she said
--let her have the prisoner's room.

Yet they owned that she started, when she was conducted thither. But
recovering herself, Very well, said she--why should not all be of a
piece?--Why should not my wretchedness be complete?

She found fault, that all the fastenings were on the outside, and none
within; and said, she coul