w words.*

* See Letter XLV. of this volume.

Be angry at me, if you please; but as sure as you are alive, now that
this poor creature, whom some call your brother, finds he has succeeded
in making you fly your father's house, and that he has nothing to fear
but your getting into your own, and into an independence of him,
he thinks himself equal to any thing, and so he has a mind to fight
Lovelace with his own weapons.

Don't you remember his pragmatical triumph, as told you by your aunt,
and prided in by that saucy Betty Barnes, from his own foolish mouth?*

* See Vol.II. Letter XLVII.

I expect nothing from your letter to your aunt. I hope Lovelace will
never know the contents of it. In every one of yours, I see that he
as warmly resents as he dares the little confidence you have in him. I
should resent it too, were I he; and knew that I deserved better.

Don't be scrupulous about clothes, if you think of putting yourself into
the protection of the ladies of his family. They know how matters stand
between you and your relations, and love you never the worse for the
silly people's cruelty.

I know you won't demand possession of your estate. But give him a right
to demand it for you; and that will be still better.

Adieu, my dear! May heaven guide and direct you in all your steps, is
the daily prayer of

Your ever affectionate and faithful ANNA HOWE.

LETTER LI

MR. BELFORD, TO ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ. FRIDAY, APRIL 21.

Thou, Lovelace, hast been long the entertainer; I the entertained. Nor
have I been solicitous to animadvert, as thou wentest along, upon thy
inventions, and their tendency. For I believed, that with all thy airs,
the unequalled perfections and fine qualities of this lady would always
be her protection and security. But now that I find thou hast so far
succeeded, as to induce her to come to town, and to choose her lodgings
in a house, the people of which will too probably damp and suppress any
honourable motions which may arise in thy mind in her favour, I cannot
help writing, and that professedly in her behalf.

My inducements to this are not owing to virtue: But if they were, what
hope could I have of affecting thee by pleas arising from it?

Nor would such a man as thou art be deterred, were I to remind thee
of the vengeance which thou mayest one day expect, if thou insultest a
woman of her character, family, and fortune.

Neither are gratitude and honour motiv