ear: may you be able
to make this reflection upon his good behaviour to the last of your
knowledge of him! May he behave himself better to you, than he ever did
to any body else over whom he had power! Amen!

No answer, I beseech you. I hope your messenger will not tell any body
that I have written to you. And I dare say you will not show what I
have written to Mr. Lovelace--for I have written with the less reserve,
depending upon your prudence.

You have my prayers.

My Dolly knows not that I write: nobody does*; not even Mr. Hervey.

* Notwithstanding what Mrs. Hervey here says, it will be hereafter seen
that this severe letter was written in private concert with the
implacable Arabella.

Dolly would have several times written: but having defended your fault
with heat, and with a partiality that alarmed us, (such a fall as
your's, my dear, must be alarming to all parents,) she has been
forbidden, on pain of losing our favour for ever: and this at your
family's request, as well as by her father's commands.

You have the poor girl's hourly prayers, I will, however, tell you,
though she knows not what I do, as well as those of

Your truly afflicted aunt, D. HERVEY.

FRIDAY, APRIL 21.

LETTER LIII

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE [WITH THE PRECEDING.] SAT. MORN.
APRIL 22.

I have just now received the enclosed from my aunt Hervey. Be pleased,
my dear, to keep her secret of having written to the unhappy wretch her
niece.

I may go to London, I see, or where I will. No matter what becomes of
me.

I was the willinger to suspend my journey thither till I heard from
Harlowe-place. I thought, if I could be encouraged to hope for a
reconciliation, I would let this man see, that he should not have me in
his power, but upon my own terms, if at all.

But I find I must be his, whether I will or not; and perhaps through
still greater mortifications than those great ones which I have already
met with--And must I be so absolutely thrown upon a man, with whom I am
not at all satisfied!

My letter is sent, you see, to Harlowe-place. My heart aches for the
reception it may meet with there.

One comfort only arises to me from its being sent; that my aunt will
clear herself, by the communication, from the supposition of having
corresponded with the poor creature whom they have all determine to
reprobate. It is no small part of my misfortune that I have weakened the
confidence one dear friend has i