LETTER XXXIX
MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE MONDAY, MARCH 12.
This letter will account to you, my dear, for my abrupt breaking off inthe answer I was writing to yours of yesterday; and which, possibly,I shall not be able to finish and send you till to-morrow or next day;having a great deal to say to the subjects you put to me in it. WhatI am now to give you are the particulars of another effort made by myfriends, through the good Mrs. Norton.
It seems they had sent to her yesterday, to be here this day, to taketheir instructions, and to try what she could do with me. It would,at least, I suppose they thought, have this effect; to render meinexcusable with her; or to let her see, that there was no room for theexpostulations she had often wanted to make in my favour to my mother.
The declaration, that my heart was free, afforded them an argument toprove obstinacy and perverseness upon me; since it could be nothing elsethat governed me in my opposition to their wills, if I had no particularesteem for another man. And now, that I have given them reason (inorder to obviate this argument) to suppose that I have a preference toanother, they are resolved to carry their schemes into execution as soonas possible. And in order to do this, they sent for this good woman, forwhom they know I have even a filial regard.
She found assembled my father and mother, my brother and sister, my twouncles, and my aunt Hervey.
My brother acquainted her with all that had passed since she was lastpermitted to see me; with the contents of my letters avowing my regardfor Mr. Lovelace (as they all interpreted them); with the substance oftheir answers to them; and with their resolutions.
My mother spoke next; and delivered herself to this effect, as the goodwoman told me.
After reciting how many times I had been indulged in my refusals ofdifferent men, and the pains she had taken with me, to induce me tooblige my whole family in one instance out of five or six, and myobstinacy upon it; 'O my good Mrs. Norton, said the dear lady, couldyou have thought, that my Clarissa and your Clarissa was capable of sodetermined an opposition to the will of parents so indulgent to her? Butsee what you can do with her. The matter is gone too far to be recededfrom on our parts. Her father had concluded every thing with Mr. Solmes,not doubting her compliance. Such noble settlements, Mrs. Norton, andsuch advantages to the whole family!--In short, she has it in her powerto lay an obligation upon us all. Mr. Solmes, knowing she has goodprinciples, and hoping by his patience now, and good treatmenthereafter, to engage her gratitude, and by degrees her love, is willingto overlook all!--'
[Overlook all, my dear! Mr. Solmes to overlook all! There's a word!]
'So, Mrs. Norton, if you are convinced, that it is a child's duty tosubmit to her parents' authority, in the most important point as well asin the least, I beg you will try your influence over her: I have none:her father has none: her uncles neither: although it is her apparentinterest to oblige us all; for, on that condition, her grandfather'sestate is not half of what, living and dying, is purposed to be done forher. If any body can prevail with her, it is you; and I hope you willheartily enter upon this task.'
The good woman asked, Whether she was permitted to expostulate with themupon the occasion, before she came up to me?
My arrogant brother told her, she was sent for to expostulate with hissister, and not with them. And this, Goody Norton [she is alwaysGoody with him!] you may tell her, that the treaty with Mr. Solmes isconcluded: that nothing but her compliance with her duty is wanting;of consequence, that there is no room for your expostulation, or herseither.
Be assured of this, Mrs. Norton, said my father, in an angry tone, thatwe will not be baffled by her. We will not appear like fools in thismatter, and as if we have no authority over our own daughter. We willnot, in short, be bullied out of our child by a cursed rake, who hadlike to have killed our only son!--And so she had better make a meritof her obedience; for comply she shall, if I live; independent as shethinks my father's indiscreet bounty has made her of me, her father.Indeed, since that, she has never been like she was before. An unjustbequest!--And it is likely to prosper accordingly!--But if she marrythat vile rake Lovelace, I will litigate every shilling with her: tellher so; and that the will may be set aside, and shall.
My uncles joined, with equal heat.
My brother was violent in his declarations.
My sister put in with vehemence, on the same side.
My aunt Hervey was pleased to say, there was no article so proper forparents to govern in, as this of marriage: and it was very fit mineshould be obliged.
Thus instructed, the good woman came up to me. She told me all that hadpassed, and was very earnest with me to comply; and so much justice didshe to the task imposed upon her, that I more than once thought, thather own opinion went with theirs. But when she saw what an immovableaversion I had to the man, she lamented with me their determinedresolution: and then examined into the sincerity of my declaration,that I would gladly compound with them by living single. Of this beingsatisfied, she was so convinced that this offer, which, carried intoexecution, would exclude Lovelace effectually, ought to be accepted,that she would go down (although I told her, it was what I had tenderedover-and-over to no purpose) and undertake to be guaranty for me on thatscore.
She went accordingly; but soon returned in tears; being used harshly forurging this alternative:--They had a right to my obedience upon theirown terms, they said: my proposal was an artifice, only to gain time:nothing but marrying Mr. Solmes should do: they had told me so before:they should not be at rest till it was done; for they knew what aninterest Lovelace had in my heart: I had as good as owned it in myletters to my uncles, and brother and sister, although I had mostdisingenuously declared otherwise to my mother. I depended, they said,upon their indulgence, and my own power over them: they would nothave banished me from their presence, if they had not known that theirconsideration for me was greater than mine for them. And they wouldbe obeyed, or I never should be restored to their favour, let theconsequence be what it would.
My brother thought fit to tell the good woman, that her whining nonsensedid but harden me. There was a perverseness, he said, in female minds, atragedy-pride, that would make a romantic young creature, such a one asme, risque any thing to obtain pity. I was of an age, and a turn [theinsolent said] to be fond of a lover-like distress: and my grief (whichshe pleaded) would never break my heart: I should sooner break that ofthe best and most indulgent of mothers. He added, that she might oncemore go up to me: but that, if she prevailed not, he should suspect,that the man they all hated had found a way to attach her to hisinterest.
Every body blamed him for this unworthy reflection; which greatlyaffected the good woman. But nevertheless he said, and nobodycontradicted him, that if she could not prevail upon her sweet child,[as it seems she had fondly called me,] she had best draw to her ownhome, and there tarry till she was sent for; and so leave her sweetchild to her father's management.
Sure nobody had ever so insolent, so hard-hearted a brother, as I have!So much resignation to be expected from me! So much arrogance, and to sogood a woman, and of so fine an understanding, to be allowed in him.
She nevertheless told him, that however she might be ridiculed forspeaking of the sweetness of my disposition, she must take upon herselfto say, that there never was a sweeter in the sex: and that she hadever found, that my mild methods, and gentleness, I might at any time beprevailed upon, even in points against my own judgment and opinion.
My aunt Hervey hereupon said, It was worth while to consider whatMrs. Norton said: and that she had sometimes allowed herself to doubt,whether I had been begun with by such methods as generous tempers areonly to be influenced by, in cases where their hearts are supposed to beopposite to the will of their friends.
She had both my brother and sister upon her for this: who referred tomy mother, whether she had not treated me with an indulgence that hadhardly any example?
My mother said, she must own, that no indulgence had been wanting fromher: but
she must needs say, and had often said it, that the receptionI met with on my return from Miss Howe, and the manner in which theproposal of Mr. Solmes was made to me, (which was such as left nothingto my choice,) and before I had an opportunity to converse with him,were not what she had by any means approved of.
She was silenced, you will guess by whom,--with, My dear!--my dear!--Youhave ever something to say, something to palliate, for this rebel of agirl!--Remember her treatment of you, of me!--Remember, that the wretch,whom we so justly hate, would not dare persist in his purposes, but forher encouragement of him, and obstinacy to us.--Mrs. Norton, [angrily toher,] go up to her once more--and if you think gentleness will do, youhave a commission to be gentle--if it will not, never make use of thatplea again.
Ay, my good woman, said my mother, try your force with her. My sisterHervey and I will go up to her, and bring her down in our hands, toreceive her father's blessing, and assurances of every body's love, ifshe will be prevailed upon: and, in that case, we will all love you thebetter for your good offices.
She came up to me, and repeated all these passages with tears. But Itold her, that after what had passed between us, she could not hope toprevail upon me to comply with measures so wholly my brother's, and somuch to my aversion. And then folding me to her maternal bosom, I leaveyou, my dearest Miss, said she--I leave you, because I must!--But let mebeseech you to do nothing rashly; nothing unbecoming your character. Ifall be true that is said, Mr. Lovelace cannot deserve you. If you cancomply, remember it is your duty to comply. They take not, I own, theright method with so generous a spirit. But remember, that there wouldnot be any merit in your compliance, if it were not to be againstyour own liking. Remember also, what is expected from a characterso extraordinary as yours: remember, it is in your power to unite ordisunite your whole family for ever. Although it should at present bedisagreeable to you to be thus compelled, your prudence, I dare say,when you consider the matter seriously, will enable you to get overall prejudices against the one, and all prepossessions in favour of theother: and then the obligation you will lay all your family under,will be not only meritorious in you, with regard to them, but in a fewmonths, very probably, highly satisfactory, as well as reputable, toyourself.
Consider, my dear Mrs. Norton, said I, only consider, that it is not asmall thing that is insisted upon; not for a short duration; it is formy life: consider too, that all this is owing to an overbearing brother,who governs every body. Consider how desirous I am to oblige them, ifa single life, and breaking all correspondence with the man they hate,because my brother hates him, will do it.
I consider every thing, my dearest Miss: and, added to what I have said,do you only consider, that if, by pursuing your own will, and rejectingtheirs, you should be unhappy, you will be deprived of all thatconsolation which those have, who have been directed by their parents,although the event prove not answerable to their wishes.
I must go, repeated she: your brother will say [and she wept] that Iharden you by my whining nonsense. 'Tis indeed hard, that so muchregard should be paid to the humours of one child, and so little tothe inclination of another. But let me repeat, that it is your duty toacquiesce, if you can acquiesce: your father has given your brother'sschemes his sanction, and they are now his. Mr. Lovelace, I doubt,is not a man that will justify your choice so much as he will theirdislike. It is easy to see that your brother has a view in discreditingyou with all your friends, with your uncles in particular: but for thatvery reason, you should comply, if possible, in order to disconcert hisungenerous measures. I will pray for you; and that is all I can do foryou. I must now go down, and make a report, that you are resolved neverto have Mr. Solmes--Must I?--Consider, my dear Miss Clary--Must I?
Indeed you must!--But of this I do assure you, that I will do nothing todisgrace the part you have had in my education. I will bear every thingthat shall be short of forcing my hand into his who never can have anyshare in my heart. I will try by patient duty, by humility, to overcomethem. But death will I choose, in any shape, rather than that man.
I dread to go down, said she, with so determined an answer: they willhave no patience with me.--But let me leave you with one observation,which I beg of you always to bear in mind:--
'That persons of prudence, and distinguished talents, like yours, seemto be sprinkled through the world, to give credit, by their example, toreligion and virtue. When such persons wilfully err, how great mustbe the fault! How ungrateful to that God, who blessed them with suchtalents! What a loss likewise to the world! What a wound to virtue!--Butthis, I hope, will never be to be said of Miss Clarissa Harlowe!'
I could give her no answer, but by my tears. And I thought, when shewent away, the better half of my heart went with her.
I listened to hear what reception she would meet with below; and foundit was just such a one as she had apprehended.
Will she, or will she not, be Mrs. Solmes? None of your whiningcircumlocutions, Mrs. Norton!--[You may guess who said this] Will she,or will she not, comply with her parents' will?
This cut short all she was going to say.
If I must speak so briefly, Miss will sooner die, than have--
Any body but Lovelace! interrupted my brother.--This, Madam, this, Sir,is your meek daughter! This is Mrs. Norton's sweet child!--Well, Goody,you may return to your own habitation. I am empowered to forbid you tohave any correspondence with this perverse girl for a month to come, asyou value the favour of our whole family, or of any individual of it.
And saying this, uncontradicted by any body, he himself shewed herto the door,--no doubt, with all that air of cruel insult, which thehaughty rich can put on to the unhappy low, who have not pleased them.
So here, my dear Miss Howe, am I deprived of the advice of one of themost prudent and conscientious women in the world, were I to have everso much occasion for it.
I might indeed write (as I presume, under your cover) and receive heranswers to what I should write. But should such a correspondence becharged upon her, I know she would not be guilty of a falsehood for theworld, nor even of an equivocation: and should she own it after thisprohibition, she would forfeit my mother's favour for ever. And in mydangerous fever, some time ago, I engaged my mother to promise me, that,if I died before I could do any thing for the good woman, she would sether above want for the rest of her life, should her eyes fail her, orsickness befall her, and she could not provide for herself, as she nowso prettily does by her fine needle-works.
What measures will they fall upon next?--Will they not recede when theyfind that it must be a rooted antipathy, and nothing else, that couldmake a temper, not naturally inflexible, so sturdy?
Adieu, my dear. Be you happy!--To know that it is in your power to beso, is all that seems wanting to make you so.
CL. HARLOWE.