w to help it.
Do, dear, now, let me spread my plumes a little, and now-and-then make
myself feared. This is my time, you know, since it would be no more to
my credit than to his, to give myself those airs when I am married. He
has a joy when I am pleased with him that he would not know, but for the
pain my displeasure gives him.

Men, no more than women, know how to make a moderate use of power. Is
not that seen every day, from the prince to the peasant? If I do not
make Hickman quake now-and-then, he will endeavour to make me fear. All
the animals in the creation are more or less in a state of hostility
with each other. The wolf, that runs away from a lion, will devour a
lamb the next moment. I remember, that I was once so enraged at a game
chicken that was continually pecking at another (a poor humble one, as I
thought him) that I had the offender caught, and without more ado, in a
pet of humanity, wrung his neck off. What followed this execution? Why
that other grew insolent, as soon as his insulter was gone, and was
continually pecking at one or two under him. Peck and be hanged, said
I,--I might as well have preserved the first, for I see it is the nature
of the beast.

Excuse my flippancies. I wish I were with you. I would make you smile in
the midst of your gravest airs, as I used to do. O that you had
accepted of my offer to attend you! but nothing that I offer will you
accept----Take care!--You will make me very angry with you: and when I
am, you know I value nobody: for, dearly as I love you, I must be, and
cannot always help it,

Your saucy ANNA HOWE.

LETTER XLV

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE FRIDAY, APRIL 22.

Mr. Lovelace communicated to me this morning early, from his
intelligencer, the news of my brother's scheme. I like him the better
for making very light of it, and for his treating it with contempt. And
indeed, had I not had the hint of it from you, I should have suspected
it to be some contrivance of his, in order to hasten me to town, where
he has long wished to be himself.

He read me the passage in that Leman's letter, which is pretty much to
the effect of what you wrote to me from Miss Lloyd; with this addition,
that one Singleton, a master of a Scots vessel, is the man who is to be
the principal in this act of violence.

I have seen him. He had been twice entertained at Harlowe-place, as my
brother's friend. He has the air of a very bold and fearless man, and I
fancy it