girls who know too much to doubt their knowledge;
and to convince them, that they know too little, to defend themselves
from the inconveniencies of knowing too much.

How passion drives a man on! (proceeds he).--I have written a prodigious
quantity in a very few hours! Now my resentments are warm, I will see,
and perhaps will punish, this proud, this double-armed beauty. I have
sent to tell her, that I must be admitted to sup with her. We have
neither of us dined. She refused to drink tea in the afternoon: and I
believe neither of us will have much stomach to our supper.

LETTER XLVI

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE
SUNDAY MORNING, SEVEN O'CLOCK.

I was at the play last night with Mr. Lovelace and Miss Horton. It is,
you know, a deep and most affecting tragedy in the reading. You have my
remarks upon it, in the little book you made me write upon the principal
acting-plays. You will not wonder, that Miss Horton, as well as I, was
greatly moved at the representation, when I tell you, and have some
pleasure in telling you, that Mr. Lovelace himself was very sensibly
touched with some of the most affecting scenes. I mention this in praise
of the author's performance; for I take Mr. Lovelace to be one of the
most hard-hearted men in the world. Upon my word, my dear, I do.

His behaviour, however, on this occasion, and on our return, was
unexceptionable; only that he would oblige me to stay to supper with the
women below, when we came back, and to sit up with him and them till near
one o'clock this morning. I was resolved to be even with him; and indeed
I am not very sorry to have the pretence; for I love to pass the Sundays
by myself.

To have the better excuse to avoid his teasing, I am ready dressed to go
to church this morning. I will go only to St. James's church, and in a
chair; that I may be sure I can go out and come in when I please, without
being intruded upon by him, as I was twice before.

***

NEAR NINE O'CLOCK.

I have your kind letter of yesterday. He knows I have. And I shall
expect, that he will be inquisitive next time I see him after your
opinions of his proposals. I doubted not your approbation of them, and
had written an answer on that presumption; which is ready for him. He
must study for occasions of procrastination, and to disoblige me, if now
any thing happens to set us at variance again.

He is very importunate to see me. He has desired to attend me to church.