e
very reason that I myself deserve every one's pity.

Perhaps I may find an opportunity to pay you a visit, as in your illness;
and then may weep over the letter you mention with you. But, for the
future, write nothing to me about the poor girl that you think may not be
communicated to us all.

And I charge you, as you value my friendship, as you wish my peace, not
to say any thing of a letter you have from me, either to the naughty one,
or to any body else. It was with some little relief (the occasion given)
to write to you, who must, in so particular a manner, share my
affliction. A mother, Mrs. Norton, cannot forget her child, though that
child could abandon her mother; and, in so doing, run away with all her
mother's comforts!--As I truly say is the case of

Your unhappy friend,
CHARLOTTE HARLOWE.

LETTER LIX

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MRS. JUDITH NORTON
SAT. JULY 29.

I congratulate you, my dear Mrs. Norton, with all my heart, on your son's
recovery; which I pray to God, with all your own health, to perfect.

I write in some hurry, being apprehensive of the sequence of the hints
you give of some method you propose to try in my favour [with my
relations, I presume, you mean]: but you will not tell me what, you say,
if it prove unsuccessful.

Now I must beg of you that you will not take any step in my favour, with
which you do not first acquaint me.

I have but one request to make to them, besides what is contained in my
letter to my sister; and I would not, methinks, for the sake of their own
future peace of mind, that they should be teased so by your well-meant
kindness, and that of Miss Howe, as to be put upon denying me that. And
why should more be asked for me than I can partake of? More than is
absolutely necessary for my own peace?

You suppose I should have my sister's answer to my letter by the time
your's reached my hand. I have it: and a severe one, a very severe one,
it is. Yet, considering my fault in their eyes, and the provocations I
am to suppose they so newly had from my dear Miss Howe, I am to look upon
it as a favour that it was answered at all. I will send you a copy of it
soon; as also of mine, to which it is an answer.

I have reason to be very thankful that my father has withdrawn that heavy
malediction, which affected me so much--A parent's curse, my dear Mrs.
Norton! What child could die in peace under a parent's curse? so
literally fulfilled too as this has bee