LETTER IX
MRS. NORTON, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWEWEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6.
At length, my best beloved Miss Clary, every thing is in the wishedtrain: for all your relations are unanimous in your favour. Even yourbrother and your sister are with the foremost to be reconciled to you.
I knew it must end thus! By patience, and persevering sweetness, what atriumph have you gained!
This happy change is owing to letters received from your physician, fromyour cousin Morden, and from Mr. Brand.
Colonel Morden will be with you, no doubt, before this can reach you,with his pocket-book filled with money-bills, that nothing may be wantingto make you easy.
And now, all our hopes, all our prayers, are, that this good news mayrestore you to spirits and health; and that (so long withheld) it may notcome too late.
I know how much your dutiful heart will be raised with the joyful tidingsI write you, and still shall more particularly tell you of, when I havethe happiness to see you: which will be by next Sunday, at farthest;perhaps on Friday afternoon, by the time you can receive this.
For this day, being sent for by the general voice, I was received byevery one with great goodness and condescension, and entreated (for thatwas the word they were pleased to use, when I needed no entreaty, I amsure,) to hasten up to you, and to assure you of all their affectionateregards to you: and your father bid me say all the kind things that werein my heart to say, in order to comfort and raise you up, and they wouldhold themselves bound to make them good.
How agreeable is this commission to your Norton! My heart will overflowwith kind speeches, never fear! I am already meditating what I shallsay, to cheer and raise you up, in the names of every one dear and nearto you. And sorry I am that I cannot this moment set out, as I might,instead of writing, would they favour my eager impatience with theirchariot; but as it was not offered, it would be a presumption to haveasked for it: and to-morrow a hired chaise and pair will be ready; but atwhat hour I know not.
How I long once more to fold my dear, precious young lady to my fond, mymore than fond, my maternal bosom!
Your sister will write to you, and send her letter, with this, by aparticular hand.
I must not let them see what I write, because of my wish about thechariot.
Your uncle Harlowe will also write, and (I doubt not) in the kindestterms: for they are all extremely alarmed and troubled at the dangerousway your doctor represents you to be in; as well as delighted with thecharacter he gives you. Would to Heaven the good gentleman had writtensooner! And yet he writes, that you know not he has now written. But itis all our confidence, and our consolation, that he would not havewritten at all, had he thought it too late.
They will prescribe no conditions to you, my dear young lady; but willleave all to your own duty and discretion. Only your brother and sisterdeclare they will never yield to call Mr. Lovelace brother; nor will yourfather, I believe, be easily brought to think of him for a son.
I am to bring you down with me as soon as your health and inclinationwill permit. You will be received with open arms. Every one longs tosee you. All the servants please themselves that they shall be permittedto kiss your hands. The pert Betty's note is already changed; and shenow runs over in your just praises. What friends does prosperity make!What enemies adversity! It always was, and always will be so, in everystate of life, from the throne to the cottage.--But let all be forgottennow on this jubilee change: and may you, my dearest Miss, be capable ofrejoicing in this good news; as I know you will rejoice, if capable ofany thing.
God preserve you to our happy meeting! And I will, if I may say so,weary Heaven with my incessant prayers to preserve and restore youafterwards!
I need not say how much I am, my dear young lady,Your ever-affectionate and devoted,JUDITH NORTON.
An unhappy delay, as to the chaise, will make it Saturday morning before I can fold you to my fond heart.