MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE
[WITH HER TWO LAST LETTERS, NO. LVIII. LIX. OF VOL. III., ENCLOSED.]
THURSDAY NIGHT, APRIL 27.
I have your's; just brought me. Mr. Hickman has helped me to a lucky
expedient, which, with the assistance of the post, will enable me to
correspond with you every day. An honest higler, [Simon Collins his
name,] by whom I shall send this, and the two enclosed, (now I have your
direction whither,) goes to town constantly on Mondays, Wednesdays, and
Fridays; and can bring back to me from Mr. Wilson's what you shall have
caused to be left for me.
I congratulate you on your arrival in town, so much amended in spirits.
I must be brief. I hope you'll have no cause to repent returning my
Norris. It is forthcoming on demand.
I am sorry your Hannah can't be with you. She is very ill still; but not
dangerously.
I long for your account of the women you are with. If they are not right
people, you will find them out in one breakfasting.
I know not what to write upon his reporting to them that you are actually
married. His reasons for it are plausible. But he delights in odd
expedients and inventions.
Whether you like the people or not, do not, by your noble sincerity and
plain dealing, make yourself enemies. You are in the real world now you
know.
I am glad you had thoughts of taking him at his offer, if he had re-urged
it. I wonder he did not. But if he do not soon, and in such a way as
you can accept of it, don't think of staying with him.
Depend upon it, my dear, he will not leave you, either night or day, if
he can help it, now he has got footing.
I should have abhorred him for his report of your marriage, had he not
made it with such circumstances as leave it still in your power to keep
him at distance. If once he offer at the least familiarity--but this is
needless to say to you. He can have, I think, no other design but what
he professes; because he must needs think, that his report of being
married to you must increase your vigilance.
You may depend upon my looking narrowly into the sealings of your
letters. If, as you say, he be base in that point, he will be so in
every thing. But to a person of your merit, of your fortune, of your
virtue, he cannot be base. The man is no fool. It is his interest, as
well with regard to his expectations from his own friends, as from you,
to be honest. Would to Heaven, however, you were really married! This
is now the predominant wish of
Your
ANNA HOWE.