Clarissa Harlowe Samuel Richardson (most important books to read TXT) 📖

married; especially as he came prepared to believe it; and as her uncle hoped it was so?⁠—But nothing on earth is so perverse as a woman, when she is set upon carrying a point, and has a meek man, or one who loves his peace, to deal with.

My beloved was vexed. She pulled out her handkerchief: but was more inclined to blame me than herself.

Had you kept your word, Mr. Lovelace, and left me when we came to town⁠—And there she stopped; for she knew, that it was her own fault that we were not married before we left the country; and how could I leave her afterwards, while her brother was plotting to carry her off by violence?

Nor has this brother yet given over his machinations.

For, as the Captain proceeds, “Mr. John Harlowe owned to him (but in confidence) that his nephew is at this time busied in endeavouring to find out where we are; being assured (as I am not to be heard of at any of my relations, or at my usual lodgings) that we are together. And that we are not married is plain, as he will have it, from Mr. Hickman’s application so lately made to her uncle; and which was seconded by Mrs. Norton to her mother. And her brother cannot bear that I should enjoy such a triumph unmolested.”

A profound sigh, and the handkerchief again lifted to the eye. But did not the sweet soul deserve this turn upon her, for feloniously resolving to rob me of herself, had the application made by Hickman succeeded?

I read on to the following effect:

“Why (asked Mr. Harlowe) was it said to his other inquiring friend, that we were married; and that by his niece’s woman, who ought to know? who could give convincing reasons, no doubt”⁠—

Here again she wept; took a turn across the room; then returned⁠—Read on, says she⁠—

Will you, my dearest life, read it yourself?

I will take the letter with me, by-and-by⁠—I cannot see to read it just now, wiping her eyes⁠—read on⁠—let me hear it all⁠—that I may know your sentiments upon this letter, as well as give my own.

“The Captain then told uncle John the reasons that induced me to give out that we were married; and the conditions on which my beloved was brought to countenance it; which had kept us at the most punctilious distance.

“But still Mr. Harlowe objected my character. And went away dissatisfied. And the Captain was also so much concerned, that he cared not to write what the result of his first conference was.

“But in the next, which was held on receipt of the draughts, at the Captain’s house, (as the former was, for the greater secrecy), when the old gentleman had read them, and had the Captain’s opinion, he was much better pleased. And yet he declared, that it would not be easy to persuade any other person of his family to believe so favourably of the matter, as he was now willing to believe, were they to know that we had lived so long together unmarried.

“And then the Captain says, his dear friend made a proposal:⁠—It was this⁠—That we should marry out of hand, but as privately as possible, as indeed he found we intended, (for he could have no objection to the draughts)⁠—but yet, he expected to have present one trusty friend of his own, for his better satisfaction”⁠—

Here I stopped, with a design to be angry⁠—but she desiring me to read on, I obeyed.

“⁠—But that it should pass to everyone living, except to that trusty person, to himself, and to the Captain, that we were married from the time that we had lived together in one house; and that this time should be made to agree with that of Mr. Hickman’s application to him from Miss Howe.”

This, my dearest life, said I, is a very considerate proposal. We have nothing to do but to caution the people below properly on this head. I did not think your uncle Harlowe capable of hitting upon such a charming expedient as this. But you see how much his heart is in the reconciliation.

This was the return I met with⁠—You have always, as a mark of your politeness, let me know how meanly you think of everyone in my family.

Yet thou wilt think, Belford, that I could forgive her for the reproach.

“The Captain does not know, says he, how this proposal will be relished by us. But for his part, he thinks it an expedient that will obviate many difficulties, and may possibly put an end to Mr. James Harlowe’s further designs: and on this account he has, by the uncle’s advice, already declared to two several persons, by whose means it may come to that young gentleman’s, that he (Captain Tomlinson) has very great reason to believe that we were married soon after Mr. Hickman’s application was rejected.

“And this, Mr. Lovelace, (says the Captain), will enable you to pay a compliment to the family, that will not be unsuitable to the generosity of some of the declarations you were pleased to make to the lady before me, (and which Mr. John Harlowe may make some advantage of in favour of a reconciliation), in that you were entitled to make the demand.” An excellent contriver, surely, she must think this worthy Mr. Tomlinson to be!

But the Captain adds, “that if either the lady or I disapprove of his report of our marriage, he will retract it. Nevertheless, he must tell me, that Mr. John Harlowe is very much set upon this way of proceeding; as the only one, in his opinion, capable of being improved into a general reconciliation. But if we do acquiesce in it, he beseeches my fair-one not to suspend my day, that he may be authorized in what he says, as to the truth of the main fact. (How conscientious this good man!) Nor must it be expected, he says, that her uncle will take one step towards the wished-for reconciliation, till the solemnity is actually over.”

He adds, “that he shall be very soon in town