***
[The Lady, after having given to Miss Howe on the particulars contained
in Mr. Lovelace's last letter, thus expresses herself:]
A principal consolation arising from these favourable appearances, is,
that I, who have now but one only friend, shall most probably, and if it
be not my own fault, have as many new ones as there are persons in Mr.
Lovelace's family; and this whether Mr. Lovelace treat me kindly or not.
And who knows, but that, by degrees, those new friends, by their rank and
merit, may have weight enough to get me restored to the favour of my
relations? till which can be effected, I shall not be tolerably easy.
Happy I never expect to be. Mr. Lovelace's mind and mine are vastly
different; different in essentials.
But as matters are at present circumstanced, I pray you, my dear friend,
to keep to yourself every thing that might bring discredit to him, if
revealed.--Better any body expose a man than a wife, if I am to be his;
and what is said by you will be thought to come from me.
It shall be my constant prayer, that all the felicities which this world
can afford may be your's: and that the Almighty will never suffer you nor
your's, to the remotest posterity, to want such a friend as my Anna Howe
has been to
Her
CLARISSA HARLOWE.