poses, she says, to
attend me, and to make one in my train to M. Hall, if his Lordship shall
continue as ill of the gout as he is at present. But that, should he get
better, he will himself attend me, she is sure, and conduct me thither;
and afterwards quit either of his three seats to us, till we shall be
settled to our mind.'

This young lady says nothing in excuse for not meeting me on the road,
or St. Alban's, as he had made me expect she would: yet mentions her
having been indisposed. Mr. Lovelace had also told me, that Lord M. was
ill of the gout; which Miss Montague's letter confirms.

But why did not the man show me these letters last night? Was he afraid
of giving me too much pleasure?

LETTER XXXI

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE

You may believe, my dear, that these letters put me in good humour with
him. He saw it in my countenance, and congratulated himself upon it.
Yet I cannot but repeat my wonder, that I could not have the contents of
them communicated to me last night.*

* The reader will see how Miss Howe accounts for this, in Letter XXXV.

He then urged me to go directly to Lady Betty's, on the strength of her
letter.

But how, said I, can I do that, were I even out of all hope of a
reconciliation with my friends, (which yet, however unlikely to be
effected, is my duty to attempt,) as her Ladyship has given me no
particular invitation?

That, he was sure, was owing to her doubt that it would be
accepted--Else she had done it with the greatest pleasure in the world.

That doubt itself, I said, was enough to deter me: since her Ladyship,
who knew so well the boundaries to the fit and the unfit, by her not
expecting I would accept of the invitation, had she given it, would have
reason to think me very forward, if I had accepted it; and much more
forward to go without it. Then, said I, I thank you, Sir, I have no
clothes fit to go any where, or to be seen by any body.

O, I was fit to appear in the drawing-room, were full dress and
jewels to be excused; and should make the most amiable [he must mean
extraordinary] figure there. He was astonished at the elegance of my
dress. By what art he knew not, but I appeared to such advantage, as if
I had a different suit every day.

Besides, his cousins Montague would supply me with all I wanted for the
present; and he would write to Miss Charlotte accordingly, if I would
give him leave.

Do you think me the jay in the fable? sa