You say well. And far be it from me to persuade you to do otherwise.
But what have you farther heard?
(Thou wilt think, Jack, I must be very desirous to know in what light my
elected spouse had represented things to Miss Howe; and how far Miss Howe
had communicated them to Mr. Hickman.)
Sir, this is no part of my present business.
But, Mr. Hickman, 'tis part of mine. I hope you would not expect that I
should answer your questions, at the same time that you refused to answer
mine. What, pray, have you farther heard?
Why then, Sir, if I must say, I am told, that Miss Harlowe was carried to
a very bad house.
Why, indeed, the people did not prove so good as they should be.--What
farther have you heard?
I have heard, Sir, that the lady had strange advantages taken of her,
very unfair ones: but what I cannot say.
And cannot you say? Cannot you guess?--Then I'll tell you, Sir. Perhaps
some liberty was taken with her when she was asleep. Do you think no
lady ever was taken at such an advantage?--You know, Mr. Hickman, that
ladies are very shy of trusting themselves with the modestest of our sex,
when they are disposed to sleep; and why so, if they did not expect that
advantages would be taken of them at such times?
But, Sir, had not the lady something given her to make her sleep?
Ay, Mr. Hickman, that's the question: I want to know if the lady says she
had?
I have not seen all she has written; but, by what I have heard, it is a
very black affair--Excuse me, Sir.
I do excuse you, Mr. Hickman: but, supposing it were so, do you think a
lady was never imposed upon by wine, or so?--Do you not think the most
cautious woman in the world might not be cheated by a stronger liquor for
a smaller, when she was thirsty, after a fatigue in this very warm
weather? And do you think, if she was thus thrown into a profound sleep,
that she is the only lady that was ever taken at such an advantage?
Even as you make it, Mr. Lovelace, this matter is not a light one. But I
fear it is a great deal heavier than as you put it.
What reasons have you to fear this, Sir? What has the lady said? Pray
let me know. I have reason to be so earnest.
Why, Sir, Miss Howe herself knows not the whole. The lady promises to
give her all the particulars at a proper time, if she lives; but has said
enough to make it out to be a very bad affair.
I am glad Miss Harlowe has not yet given all the particulars. And, since
she has not, you may tell Miss Howe from me, that neither she, nor any
woman in the world can be more virtuous than Miss Harlowe is to this
hour, as to her own mind. Tell her, that I hope she never will know the
particulars; but that she has been unworthily used: tell her, that though
I know not what she has said, yet I have such an opinion of her veracity,
that I would blindly subscribe to the truth of every tittle of it, though
it make me ever so black. Tell her, that I have but three things to
blame her for; one, that she won't give me an opportunity of repairing
her wrongs: the second, that she is so ready to acquaint every body with
what she has suffered, that it will put it out of my power to redress
those wrongs, with any tolerable reputation to either of us. Will this,
Mr. Hickman, answer any part of the intention of this visit?
Why, Sir, this is talking like a man of honour, I own. But you say there
is a third thing you blame the lady for: May I ask what that is?
I don't know, Sir, whether I ought to tell it you, or not. Perhaps you
won't believe it, if I do. But though the lady will tell the truth, and
nothing but the truth, yet, perhaps, she will not tell the whole truth.
Pray, Sir--But it mayn't be proper--Yet you give me great curiosity.
Sure there is no misconduct in the lady. I hope there is not. I am
sure, if Miss Howe did not believe her to be faultless in every
particular, she would not interest herself so much in her favour as she
does, dearly as she loves her.
I love Miss Harlowe too well, Mr. Hickman, to wish to lessen her in Miss
Howe's opinion; especially as she is abandoned of every other friend.
But, perhaps, it would hardly be credited, if I should tell you.
I should be very sorry, Sir, and so would Miss Howe, if this poor lady's
conduct had laid her under obligation to you for this reserve.--You have
so much the appearance of a gentleman, as well as are so much
distinguished in your family and fortunes, that I hope you are incapable
of loading such a young lady as this, in order to lighten yourself----
Excuse me, Sir.
I do, I do, Mr. Hickman. You say you came not with any intention to
affront me. I take freedom, and I give it. I should be very loth, I
repeat, to say any thing that may weaken Miss Harlowe in the good opinion
of the only friend she thinks she has left.
It may not be proper, said he, for me to know your third article against
this unhappy lady: but I never heard of any body, out of her own
implacable family, that had the least doubt of her honour. Mrs. Howe,
indeed, once said, after a conference with one of her uncles, that she
feared all was not right on her side.--But else, I never heard--
Oons, Sir, in a fierce tone, and with an erect mien, stopping short upon
him, which made him start back--'tis next to blasphemy to question this
lady's honour. She is more pure than a vestal; for vestals have often
been warmed by their own fires. No age, from the first to the present,
ever produced, nor will the future, to the end of the world, I dare aver,
ever produce, a young blooming lady, tried as she has been tried, who has
stood all trials, as she has done.--Let me tell you, Sir, that you never
saw, never knew, never heard of, such another woman as Miss Harlowe.
Sir, Sir, I beg your pardon. Far be it from me to question the lady.
You have not heard me say a word that could be so construed. I have the
utmost honour for her. Miss Howe loves her, as she loves her own soul;
and that she would not do, if she were not sure she were as virtuous as
herself.
As herself, Sir!--I have a high opinion of Miss Howe, Sir--but, I dare
say--
What, Sir, dare you say of Miss Howe!--I hope, Sir, you will not presume
to say any thing to the disparagement of Miss Howe.
Presume, Mr. Hickman!--that is presuming language, let me tell you, Mr.
Hickman!
The occasion for it, Mr. Lovelace, if designed, is presuming, if you
please.--I am not a man ready to take offence, Sir--especially where I am
employed as a mediator. But no man breathing shall say disparaging
things of Miss Howe, in my hearing, without observation.
Well said, Mr. Hickman. I dislike not your spirit, on such a supposed
occasion. But what I was going to say is this. That there is not, in my
opinion, a woman in the world, who ought to compare herself with Miss
Clarissa Harlowe till she has stood her trials, and has behaved under
them, and after them, as she has done. You see, Sir, I speak against
myself. You see I do. For, libertine as I am thought to be, I never
will attempt to bring down the measures of right and wrong to the
standard of my actions.
Why, Sir, this is very right. It is very noble, I will say. But 'tis
pity, that the man who can pronounce so fine a sentence, will not square
his actions accordingly.
That, Mr. Hickman, is another point. We all err in some things. I wish
not that Miss Howe should have Miss Harlowe's trials: and I rejoice that
she is in no danger of any such from so good a man.
(Poor Hickman!--he looked as if he knew not whether I meant a compliment
or a reflection!)
But, proceeded I, since I find that I have excited your curiosity, that
you may not go away with a doubt that may be injurious to the most
admirable of women, I am enclined to hint to you what I have in the third
place to blame her for.