This debate between the Captain and me was hardly over when the three
women, led by Miss Rawlins, entered, hoping no intrusion, but very
desirous, the maiden said, to know if we were likely to accommodate.
O yes, I hope so. You know, Ladies, that your sex must, in these cases,
preserve their forms. They must be courted to comply with their own
happiness. A lucky expedient we have hit upon. The uncle has his doubts
of our marriage. He cannot believe, nor will any body, that it is
possible that a man so much in love, the lady so desirable--
They all took the hint. It was a very extraordinary case, the two widows
allowed. Women, Jack, [as I believe I have observed* elsewhere,] have a
high opinion of what they can do for us. Miss Rawlins desired, if I
pleased, to let them know the expedient; and looked as if there was no
need to proceed in the rest of my speech.
* See Letter XXIV. of this volume.
I begged that they would not let the lady know I had told them what this
expedient was; and they should hear it.
They promised.
It was this: that to oblige and satisfy Mr. Harlowe, the ceremony was to
be again performed. He was to be privately present, and to give his
niece to me with his own hands--and she was retired to consider of it.
Thou seest, Jack, that I have provided an excuse, to save my veracity to
the women here, in case I should incline to marriage, and she should
choose to have Miss Rawlins's assistance at the ceremony. Nor doubted I
to bring my fair-one to save my credit on this occasion, if I could get
her to consent to be mine.
A charming expedient! cried the widow. They were all three ready to clap
their hands for joy upon it. Women love to be married twice at least,
Jack; though not indeed to the same man. And all blessed the
reconciliatory scheme and the proposer of it; and, supposing it came from
the Captain, they looked at him with pleasure, while his face shined with
the applause implied. He should think himself very happy, if he could
bring about a general reconciliation; and he flourished with his head
like my man Will. on his victory over old Grimes; bridling by turns, like
Miss Rawlins in the height of a prudish fit.
But now it was time for the Captain to think of returning to town, having
a great deal of business to dispatch before morning. Nor was he certain
that he should be able again to attend us at Hampstead before he went
home.
And yet, as every thing was drawing towards a crisis, I did not intend
that he should leave Hampstead that night.
A message to the above effect was carried up, at my desire, by Mrs.
Moore; with the Captain's compliments, and to know if she had any
commands for him to her uncle?
But I hinted to the women, that it would be proper for them to withdraw,
if the lady did come down; lest she should not care to be so free before
them on a proposal so particular, as she would be to us, who had offered
it to her consideration.
Mrs. Moore brought down word that the lady was following her. They all
three withdrew; and she entered at one door, as they went out at the
other.
The Captain accosted her, repeating the contents of the message sent up;
and desired that she would give him her commands in relation to the
report he was to make to her uncle Harlowe.
I know not what to say, Sir, nor what I would have you to say, to my
uncle--perhaps you may have business in town--perhaps you need not see my
uncle till I have heard from Miss Howe; till after Lady Betty--I don't
know what to say.
I implored the return of that value which she had so generously
acknowledged once to have had for me. I presumed, I said, to flatter
myself that Lady Betty, in her own person, and in the name of all my
family, would be able, on my promised reformation and contrition, to
prevail in my favour, especially as our prospects in other respects with
regard to the general reconciliation wished for were so happy. But let
me owe to your own generosity, my dearest creature, said I, rather than
to the mediation of any person on earth, the forgiveness I am an humble
suitor for. How much more agreeable to yourself, O best beloved of my
soul, must it be, as well as obliging to me, that your first personal
knowledge of my relations, and theirs of you, (for they will not be
denied attending you) should not be begun in recriminations, in appeals?
As Lady Betty will be here soon, it will not perhaps be possible for you
to receive her visit with a brow absolutely serene. But, dearest,
dearest creature, I beseech you, let the misunderstanding pass as a
slight one--as a misunderstanding cleared up. Appeals give pride and
superiority to the persons appealed to, and are apt to lessen the
appellant, not only in their eye, but in her own. Exalt not into judges
those who are prepared to take lessons and instructions from you. The
individuals of my family are as proud as I am said to be. But they will
cheerfully resign to your superiority--you will be the first woman of the
family in every one's eyes.
This might have done with any other woman in the world but this; and yet
she is the only woman in the world of whom it may with truth be said.
But thus, angrily, did she disclaim the compliment.
Yes, indeed!--[and there she stopt a moment, her sweet bosom heaving with
a noble disdain]--cheated out of myself from the very first!--A fugitive
from my own family! Renounced by my relations! Insulted by you!--Laying
humble claim to the protection of your's!--Is not this the light in which
I must appear not only to the ladies of your family, but to all the
world?--Think you, Sir, that in these circumstances, or even had I been
in the happiest, that I could be affected by this plea of undeserved
superiority?--You are a stranger to the mind of Clarissa Harlowe, if you
think her capable of so poor and so undue a pride!
She went from us to the farther end of the room.
The Captain was again affected--Excellent creature! I called her; and,
reverently approaching her, urged farther the plea I had last made.
It is but lately, said I, that the opinions of my relations have been
more than indifferent to me, whether good or bad; and it is for your
sake, more than for my own, that I now wish to stand well with my whole
family. The principal motive of Lady Betty's coming up, is, to purchase
presents for the whole family to make on the happy occasion.
This consideration, turning to the Captain, with so noble-minded a dear
creature, I know, can have no weight; only as it will show their value
and respect. But what a damp would their worthy hearts receive, were
they to find their admired new niece, as they now think her, not only not
their niece, but capable of renouncing me for ever! They love me. They
all love me. I have been guilty of carelessness and levity to them,
indeed; but of carelessness and levity only; and that owing to a pride
that has set me above meanness, though it has not done every thing for
me.
My whole family will be guaranties for my good behaviour to this dear
creature, their niece, their daughter, their cousin, their friend, their
chosen companion and directress, all in one.--Upon my soul, Captain, we
may, we must be happy.
But, dearest, dearest creature, let me on my knees [and down I dropt, her
face all the time turned half from me, as she stood at the window, her
handkerchief often at her eyes] on my knees let me plead your promised
forgiveness; and let us not appear to them, on their visit, thus unhappy
with each other. Lady Betty, the next hour that she sees you, will write
her opinion of you, and of the likelihood of our future happiness, to
Lady Sarah her sister, a weak-spirited woman, who now hopes to supply to
herself, in my bride, the lost daughter she still mourns for!
The Captain then joined in, and re-urged her uncle's hopes and
expectations, and his resolution effectually to set about the general
reconciliation; the mischief that might be prevented; and the certainty
that there was that her uncle might be prevailed on to give her to me
with his own hand, if she made it her choice to wait for his coming up.
but, for his own part, he humbly advised, and fervently pressed her, to
make the very next day, or Monday at farthest, my happy day.
Permit me, dearest lady, said he, and I could kneel to you myself,
[bending his knee,] though I have no interest in my earnestness, but the
pleasure I should have to be able to serve you all, to beseech you to
give me an opportunity to assure your uncle that I myself saw with my own
eyes the happy knot tied!--All misunderstandings, all doubts, all
diffidences, will then be at an end.
And what, Madam, rejoined I, still kneeling, can there be in your new
measures, be they what they will, that can so happily, so reputably, I
will presume to say, for all around, obviate the present difficulties?
Miss Howe herself, if she love you, and if she love your fame, Madam,
urged the Captain, his knee still bent, must congratulate you on such
happy conclusion.
Then turning her face, she saw the Captain half-kneeling--O Sir! O Capt.
Tomlinson!--Why this undue condescension? extending her hand to his
elbow, to raise him. I cannot bear this!--Then casting her eye on me,
Rise, Mr. Lovelace--kneel not to the poor creature whom you have
insulted!--How cruel the occasion for it!--And how mean the submission!
Not mean to such an angel!--Nor can I rise but to be forgiven!
The Captain then re-urged once more the day--he was amazed, he said, if
she ever valued me--
O Captain Tomlinson, interrupted she, how much are you the friend of this
man!--If I had never valued him, he never would have had it in his power
to insult me; nor could I, if I had never regarded him, have taken to
heart as I do, the insult (execrable as it was) so undeservedly, so
ungratefully given--but let him retire--for a moment let him retire.
I was more than half afraid to trust the Captain by himself with her. He
gave me a sign that I might depend upon him. And then I took out of my
pocket his letter to me, and Lady Betty's and Miss Montague's, and Lord
M.'s letters (which last she had not then seen); and giving them to him,
procure for me, in the first place, Mr. Tomlinson, a re-perusal of these
three letters; and of this from Lord M. And I beseech you, my dearest
life, give them due consideration: and let me on my return find the happy
effects of that consideration.