LETTER XXVII
MISS HOWE, TO MIS CLARISSA HARLOWE SATURDAY, APRIL 15.
Though pretty much pressed in time, and oppressed by my mother'swatchfulness, I will write a few lines upon the new light that hasbroken in upon your gentleman; and send it by a particular hand.
I know not what to think of him upon it. He talks well; but judge himby Rowe's lines, he is certainly a dissembler, odious as the sin ofhypocrisy, and, as he says, that other of ingratitude, are to him.
And, pray, my dear, let me ask, could he have triumphed, as it is saidhe has done, over so many of our sex, had he not been egregiously guiltyof both sins?
His ingenuousness is the thing that staggers me: yet is he cunningenough to know, that whoever accuses him first, blunts the edge of anadversary's accusation.
He is certainly a man of sense: there is more hope of such a one than afool: and there must be a beginning to a reformation. These I will allowin his favour.
But this, that follows, I think, is the only way to judge of hisspecious confessions and self-accusations--Does he confess any thingthat you knew not before, or that you are not likely to find out fromothers?--If nothing else, what does he confess to his own disadvantage?You have heard of his duels: you have heard of his seductions.--Allthe world has. He owns, therefore, what it would be to no purpose toconceal; and his ingenuousness is a salvo--'Why, this, Madam, is no morethan Mr. Lovelace himself acknowledges.'
Well, but what is now to be done?--You must make the best of yoursituation: and as you say, so he has proposed to you of Windsor, and hiscanon's house. His readiness to leave you, and go himself in quest ofa lodging, likewise looks well. And I think there is nothing can be soproperly done, as (whether you get to a canon's house or not) that thecanon should join you together in wedlock as soon as possible.
I much approve, however, of all your cautions, of all your vigilance,and of every thing you have done, but of your meeting him. Yet, in mydisapprobation of that, I judge by that event only: for who would havedivined it would have been concluded as it did? But he is the devil byhis own account: and had he run away with the wretched Solmes, and yourmore wretched brother, and himself been transported for life, he shouldhave had my free consent for all three.
What use does he make of that Joseph Leman!--His ingenuousness, I mustmore than once say, confounds me; but if, my dear, you can forgiveyour brother for the part he put that fellow upon acting, I don't knowwhether you ought to be angry at Lovelace. Yet I have wished fiftytimes, since Lovelace got you away, that you were rid of him, whether itwere by a burning fever, by hanging, by drowning, or by a brokenneck; provided it were before he laid you under a necessity to go intomourning for him.
I repeat my hitherto rejected offer. May I send it safely by your oldman? I have reasons for not sending it by Hickman's servant; unless Ihad a bank note. Inquiring for such may cause distrust. My mother is sobusy, so inquisitive--I don't love suspicious tempers.
And here she is continually in and out--I must break off.
*****
Mr. Hickman begs his most respectful compliments to you, with offer ofhis services. I told him I would oblige him, because minds in troubletake kindly any body's civilities: but that he was not to imagine thathe particularly obliged me by this; since I should think the man orwoman either blind or stupid who admired not a person of your exaltedmerit for your own sake, and wished not to serve you without view toother reward than the honour of serving you.
To be sure, that was his principal motive, with great daintiness he saidit: but with a kiss of his hand, and a bow to my feet, he hoped, that afine lady's being my friend did not lessen the merit of the reverence hereally had for her.
Believe me ever, what you, my dear, shall ever find me,
Your faithful and affectionate, ANNA HOWE.