dgment each shall
form upon persons, things, and circumstances.' And all this upon the
following consideration; 'that it is much more eligible, as well as
honourable, to be corrected with the gentleness that may be expected
from an undoubted friend, than, by continuing either blind or wilful,
to expose ourselves to the censures of an envious and perhaps malignant
world.'

But it is as needless, I dare say, to remind you of this, as it is to
repeat my request, so often repeated, that you will not, in your turn,
spare the follies and the faults of

Your ever affectionate CL. HARLOWE.

SUBJOINED TO THE ABOVE.

I said, that I would avoid writing any thing of my own particular
affairs in the above address, if I could.

I will write one letter more, to inform you how I stand with this man.
But, my dear, you must permit that one, and your answer to it (for I
want your advice upon the contents of mine) and the copy of one I have
written to my aunt, to be the last that shall pass between us, while the
prohibition continues.

I fear, I very much fear, that my unhappy situation will draw me in to
being guilty of evasion, of little affectations, and of curvings from
the plain simple truth which I was wont to delight in, and prefer to
every other consideration. But allow me to say, and this for your sake,
and in order to lessen your mother's fears of any ill consequences that
she might apprehend from our correspondence, that if I am at any time
guilty of a failure in these respects, I will not go on in it, but
endeavour to recover my lost ground, that I may not bring error into
habit.

I have deferred going to town, at Mrs. Sorlings's earnest request. But
have fixed my removal to Monday, as I shall acquaint you in my next.

I have already made a progress in that next; but, having an unexpected
opportunity, will send this by itself.

LETTER XLIV

MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL 21.

My mother will not comply with your condition, my dear. I hinted it to
her, as from myself. But the Harlowes (excuse me) have got her entirely
in with them. It is a scheme of mine, she told me, formed to draw her
into your party against your parents. Which, for your own sake, she is
very careful about.

Don't be so much concerned about my mother and me, once more, I beg of
you. We shall do well enough together--now a falling out, now a falling
in.

It used to be so, when you were not in the question.