sions!

I have, at last, a letter from my unrelenting sister. Would to Heaven I
had not provoked it by my second letter to my aunt Hervey! It lay ready
for me, it seems. The thunder slept, till I awakened it. I enclose the
letter itself. Transcribe it I cannot. There is no bearing the thoughts
of it: for [shocking reflection!] the curse extends to the life beyond
this.

I am in the depth of vapourish despondency. I can only repeat--shun,
fly, correspond not with a wretch so devoted as

CL. HARLOWE.

LETTER LV

TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE TO BE LEFT AT MR. OSGOOD'S, NEAR SOHO-SQUARE
FRIDAY, APRIL 21.

It was expected you would send again to me, or to my aunt Hervey. The
enclosed has lain ready for you, therefore, by direction. You will have
no answer from any body, write to whom you will, and as often as you
will, and what you will.

It was designed to bring you back by proper authority, or to send you
whither the disgraces you have brought upon us all should be in the
likeliest way, after a while, to be forgotten. But I believe that design
is over: so you may range securely--nobody will think it worth while to
give themselves any trouble about you. Yet my mother has obtained leave
to send you your clothes of all sorts: but your clothes only. This is
a favour you'll see by the within letter not designed you: and now not
granted for your sake, but because my poor mother cannot bear in her
sight any thing you used to wear. Read the enclosed, and tremble.

ARABELLA HARLOWE.

TO THE MOST UNGRATEFUL AND UNDUTIFUL OF DAUGHTERS HARLOWE-PLACE, APRIL
15.

SISTER THAT WAS!

For I know not what name you are permitted, or choose to go by.

You have filled us all with distraction. My father, in the first
agitations of his mind, on discovering your wicked, your shameful
elopement, imprecated on his knees a fearful curse upon you. Tremble
at the recital of it!--No less, than 'that you may meet your punishment
both here and hereafter, by means of the very wretch in whom you have
chosen to place your wicked confidence.'

Your clothes will not be sent you. You seen, by leaving them behind you,
to have been secure of them, whenever you demanded them, but perhaps you
could think of nothing but meeting your fellow:--nothing but how to get
off your forward self!--For every thing seems to have been forgotten
but what was to contribute to your wicked flight.--Yet you judged right,
perhaps, that you would have been detec