denier;
yet, if your mother think my fault to be of such a nature, as that a
correspondence with me will cast a shade upon your reputation, all my
own friends having given me up--that hardship is to be submitted to. And
must it not make her the more strenuous to support her own opinion, when
she sees the first fruits of this tenaciousness on your side is to
be gloriously in the sullens, as you call it, and in a disobedient
opposition?

I know that you have a humourous meaning in that expression, and that
this turn, in most cases, gives a delightful poignancy both to your
conversation and correspondence; but indeed, my dear, this case will not
bear humour.

Will you give me leave to add to this tedious expostulation, that I by
no means approve of some of the things you write, in relation to the
manner in which your father and mother lived--at times lived--only at
times, I dare day, though perhaps too often.

Your mother is answerable to any body, rather than to her child, for
whatever was wrong in her conduct, if any thing was wrong, towards Mr.
Howe: a gentleman, of whose memory I will only say, that it ought to be
revered by you--But yet, should you not examine yourself, whether your
displeasure at your mother had no part in your revived reverence for
your father at the time you wrote?

No one is perfect: and although your mother may not be right to remember
disagreeableness against the departed, yet should you not want to be
reminded on whose account, and on what occasion, she remembered them.
You cannot judge, nor ought you to attempt to judge, of what might
have passed between both, to embitter and keep awake disagreeable
remembrances in the survivor.

LETTER XLII

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE [IN CONTINUATION.]

But this subject must not be pursued. Another might, with more pleasure,
(though not with more approbation,) upon one of your lively excursions.
It is upon the high airs you give yourself upon the word approve.

How comes it about, I wonder, that a young lady so noted for
predominating generosity, should not be uniformly generous? That your
generosity should fail in an instance where policy, prudence, gratitude,
would not permit it to fail? Mr. Hickman (as you confess) had indeed a
worthy mind. If I had not long ago known that, he would never have found
an advocate in me for my Anna Howe's favour to him. Often and often
have I been concerned, when I was your happy guest, to see him, after a
con