*****
We look mighty glum upon each other, I can tell you. She had not best
Harlowe me at this rate--I won't bear it.
I have a vast deal to write. I know not what to write first. Yet my mind
is full, and ready to run over.
I am got into a private corner of the garden, to be out of her
way.--Lord help these mothers!--Do they think they can prevent a
daughter's writing, or doing any thing she has a mind to do, by
suspicion, watchfulness, and scolding?--They had better place a
confidence in one by half--A generous mind scorns to abuse a generous
confidence.
You have a nice, a very nice part to act with this wretch--who yet has,
I think, but one plain path before him. I pity you--but you must
make the best of the lot you have been forced to draw. Yet I see your
difficulties.--But, if he do not offer to abuse your confidence, I would
have you seem at least to place some in him.
If you think not of marrying soon, I approve of your resolution to fix
somewhere out of his reach. And if he know not where to find you, so
much the better. Yet I verily believe, they would force you back, could
they but come at you, if they were not afraid of him.
I think, by all means, you should demand of both your trustees to be put
in possession of your own estate. Mean time I have sixty guineas at your
service. I beg you will command them. Before they are gone, I'll take
care you shall be further supplied. I don't think you'll have a shilling
or a shilling's worth of your own from your relations, unless you extort
it from them.
As they believe you went away by your own consent, they are, it seems,
equally surprised and glad that you have left your jewels and money
behind you, and have contrived for clothes so ill. Very little
likelihood this shews of their answering your requests.
Indeed every one who knows not what I now know, must be at a loss to
account for your flight, as they will call it. And how, my dear, can
one report it with any tolerable advantage to you?--To say, you did not
intend it when you met him, who will believe it?--To say, that a person
of your known steadiness and punctilio was over-persuaded when you gave
him the meeting, how will that sound?--To say, you were tricked out of
yourself, and people were given credit to it, how disreputable!--And
while unmarried, and yet with him, the man a man of such a character,
what would it not lead a censuring world to think?