e world.

LETTER VI

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 12.

I will pursue my melancholy story.

Being thus hurried to the chariot, it would have been to no purpose to
have refused entering into it, had he not in my fright lifted me in, as
he did: and it instantly drove away a full gallop, and stopped not till
it brought us to St. Alban's; which was just as the day shut in.

I thought I should have fainted several times by the way. With uplifted
hands and eyes, God protect me! said I often to myself: Can it be I,
that am here! My eyes running over, and my heart ready to burst with
sighs as involuntarily as my flight.

How different, how inexpressibly different, the gay wretch; visibly
triumphing (as I could not be construe his almost rapturous joy) in the
success of his arts! But overflowing with complimental flourishes, yet
respectfully distant his address, all the way we flew; for that, rather
than galloping, was the motion of the horses; which took, as I believe,
a round-about way, to prevent being traced.

I have reason to think, there were other horsemen at his devotion; three
or four different persons, above the rank of the servants, galloping by
us now-and-then, on each side of the chariot: but he took no notice
of them; and I had too much grief, mingled with indignation,
notwithstanding all his blandishments, to ask any questions about them,
or any thing else.

Think, my dear, what were my thoughts on alighting from the chariot;
having no attendant of my own sex; no clothes but what I had on, and
those little suited to such a journey as I had already taken, and was
still to take: neither hood nor hat, nor any thing but a handkerchief
round my head and shoulders: fatigued to death: my mind still more
fatigued than my body: and in such a foam the horses, that every one in
the inn we put up at guessed [they could not do otherwise] that I was
a young giddy creature, who had run away from her friends. This it was
easy to see, by their whispering and gaping: more of the people of the
house also coming in by turns, than were necessary for the attendance.

The mistress of the house, whom he sent in to me, showed me another
apartment; and, seeing me ready to fain, brought me hartshorn and water;
and then, upon my desiring to be left alone for half an hour, retired:
for I found my heart ready to burst, on revolving every thing in my
thoughts: and the moment she was gone, fastening the d