or it.
Has one half of the house to himself, and that the best; having forbid
Lord M. and the ladies to see him, in return for their forbidding him to
see them. Incensed against Belford for the extracts he has promised from
his letters. Is piqued to death at her proud refusal of him. Curses the
vile women, and their potions. But for these latter, the majesty of her
virtue, he says, would have saved her, as it did once before.

LETTER LXXVIII. Lovelace to Belford.--
He shall not, he tells him, be her executor. Nobody shall be any thing
to her but himself. What a reprobation of a man, who was once so dear to
her! Farther instances of his raving impatience.

LETTER LXXIX. Lovelace to Clarissa.--
A letter full of penitence, promises, praises, and admiration of her
virtue. Has no hopes of escaping from perdition but by her precepts and
example. All he begs for the present is a few lines to encourage him to
hope for forgiveness, if he can justify his vows by his future conduct.

LETTER LXXX. Clarissa to Lord M. and the ladies of the house.--
Thankfully declines accepting of their offered bounty. Pleads for their
being reconciled to their kinsman, for reasons respecting her own peace.
Hopes that they may be enabled to rejoice in the effects of his
reformation many years after she is laid low and forgotten.

LETTER LXXXI. Belford to Lovelace.--
Brief account of his expelling Thomasine, her sons, and her gallant.
Farther reflections on keeping. A state not calculated for a sick bed.
Gives a short journal of what had passed relating to the lady since his
last. Mr. Brand inquires after her character and behaviour of Mrs.
Smith. His starchedness, conceit, and pedantry.

LETTER LXXXII. From the same.--
Farther particulars relating to the lady. Power left her by her
grandfather's will.

LETTER LXXXIII. Clarissa to Lovelace.--
In answer to his letter, No. LXXIX.

LETTER LXXXIV. Her uncle Harlowe's cruel answer,
in answer to her's to her mother, No. LXXV. Meditation stitched to it
with black silk.

LETTER LXXXV. Clarissa to her uncle Harlowe. In reply.

THE HISTORY

OF

CLARISSA HARLOWE

LETTER I

MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE
WED. NIGHT, JULY 12.

I write, my dearest creature, I cannot but write, to express my concern
on your dejection. Let me beseech you, my charming excellence, let me
beseech you, not to give way to it.

Comfort yourself, on the contrary, in the triumphs of a