LETTER XIII
MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ. [IN CONTINUATION.]
Never was there such a pair of scribbling lovers as we;--yet perhapswhom it so much concerns to keep from each other what each writes. Shewon't have any thing else to do. I would, if she'd let me. I am notreformed enough for a husband.--Patience is a virtue, Lord M. says. Slowand sure, is another of his sentences. If I had not a great deal of thatvirtue, I should not have waited the Harlowes own time of ripening intoexecution my plots upon themselves and upon their goddess daughter.
My beloved has been writing to her saucy friend, I believe, all that hasbefallen her, and what has passed between us hitherto. She will possiblyhave fine subjects for her pen, if she be as minute as I am.
I would not be so barbarous as to permit old Antony to set Mrs. Howeagainst her, did I not dread the consequences of the correspondencebetween the two young ladies. So lively the one, so vigilant, so prudentboth, who would not wish to outwit such girls, and to be able to twirlthem round his finger?
My charmer has written to her sister for her clothes, for some gold, andfor some of her books. What books can tell her more than she knows? ButI can. So she had better study me.
She may write. She must be obliged to me at last, with all her pride.Miss Howe indeed will be ready enough to supply her; but I question,whether she can do it without her mother, who is as covetous as thegrave. And my agent's agent, old Antony, has already given the mother ahint which will make her jealous of pecuniaries.
Besides, if Miss Howe has money by her, I can put her mother uponborrowing it of her: nor blame me, Jack, for contrivances that havetheir foundation in generosity. Thou knowest my spirit; and that Ishould be proud to lay an obligation upon my charmer to the amount ofhalf, nay, to the whole of my estate. Lord M. has more for me than Ican ever wish for. My predominant passion is girl, not gold; nor value Ithis, but as it helps me to that, and gives me independence.
I was forced to put it into the sweet novice's head, as well for my sakeas for hers (lest we should be traceable by her direction) whither todirect the sending of her clothes, if they incline to do her that smallpiece of justice.
If they do I shall begin to dread a reconciliation; and must be forcedto muse for a contrivance or two to prevent it, and to avoid mischief.For that (as I have told honest Joseph Leman) is a great point with me.
Thou wilt think me a sad fellow, I doubt. But are not all rakes sadfellows?--And art not thou, to thy little power, as bad as any? If thoudost all that's in thy head and in thy heart to do, thou art worse thanI; for I do not, I assure you.
I proposed, and she consented, that her clothes, or whatever else herrelations should think fit to send her, should be directed to thy cousinOsgood's. Let a special messenger, at my charge, bring me any letter, orportable parcel, that shall come. If not portable, give me notice of it.But thou'lt have no trouble of this sort from her relations, I dare besworn. And in this assurance, I will leave them, I think, to act upontheir own heads. A man would have no more to answer for than needs must.
But one thing, while I think of it; which is of great importance to beattended to--You must hereafter write to me in character, as I shall doto you. It would be a confounded thing to be blown up by a train ofmy own laying. And who knows what opportunities a man in love may haveagainst himself? In changing a coat or waistcoat, something might beforgotten. I once suffered that way. Then for the sex's curiosity, itis but remembering, in order to guard against it, that the name of theircommon mother was Eve.
Another thing remember; I have changed my name: changed it without anact of parliament. 'Robert Huntingford' it is now. Continue Esquire.It is a respectable addition, although every sorry fellow assumes it,almost to the banishment of the usual traveling one of Captain. 'To beleft till called for, at the post-house at Hertford.'
Upon naming thee, she asked thy character. I gave thee a better thanthou deservest, in order to do credit to myself. Yet I told her, thatthou wert an awkward fellow; and this to do credit to thee, that she maynot, if ever she be to see thee, expect a cleverer man than she'll find.Yet thy apparent awkwardness befriends thee not a little: for wert thoua sightly mortal, people would discover nothing extraordinary inthee, when they conversed with thee: whereas, seeing a bear, they aresurprised to find in thee any thing that is like a man. Felicitatethyself then upon thy defects; which are evidently thy principalperfections; and which occasion thee a distinction which otherwise thouwouldst never have.
The lodgings we are in at present are not convenient. I was so delicateas to find fault with them, as communicating with each other, becauseI knew she would; and told her, that were I sure she was safe frompursuit, I would leave her in them, (since such was her earnest desireand expectation,) and go to London.
She must be an infidel against all reason and appearances, if I do notbanish even the shadow of mistrust from her heart.
Here are two young likely girls, daughters of the widow Sorlings; that'sthe name of our landlady.
I have only, at present, admired them in their dairy-works. How greedilydo the sex swallow praise!--Did I not once, in the streets of London,see a well-dressed, handsome girl laugh, bridle, and visibly enjoy thepraises of a sooty dog, a chimney-sweeper; who, with his empty sackacross his shoulder, after giving her the way, stopt, and held up hisbrush and shovel in admiration of her?--Egad, girl, thought I, Idespise thee as Lovelace: but were I the chimney-sweeper, and could onlycontrive to get into thy presence, my life to thy virtue, I would havethee.
So pleased was I with the young Sorlings, for the elegance of her works,that I kissed her, and she made me a courtesy for my condescension; andblushed, and seemed sensible all over: encouraging, yet innocently, sheadjusted her handkerchief, and looked towards the door, as much as tosay, she would not tell, were I to kiss her again.
Her eldest sister popt upon her. The conscious girl blushed again, andlooked so confounded, that I made an excuse for her, which gratifiedboth. Mrs. Betty, said I, I have been so much pleased with the neatnessof your dairy-works, that I could not help saluting your sister: youhave your share of merit in them, I am sure--Give me leave----
Good souls!--I like them both--she courtesied too!--How I love agrateful temper! O that my Clarissa were but half so acknowledging!
I think I must get one of them to attend my charmer when sheremoves--the mother seems to be a notable woman. She had not best,however, be too notable: since, were she by suspicion to give me a faceof difficulty to the matter, it would prepare me for a trial with one orboth the daughters.
Allow me a little rhodamantade, Jack--but really and truly my heart isfixed. I can think of no creature breathing of the sex, but my Gloriana.