My dearest, dearest creature, would you incur a maternal, as I have a paternal, malediction?  Would not the world think there was an infection in my fault, if it were to be followed by Miss Howe?  There are some points so flagrantly wrong that they will not bear to be argued upon.  This is one of them.  I need not give reasons against such a rashness.  Heaven forbid that it should be known that you had it but once in your thought, be your motives ever so noble and generous, to follow so bad an example, the rather, as that you would, in such a case, want the extenuations that might be pleaded in my favour; and particularly that one of being surprised into the unhappy step!

The restraint your mother lays you under would not have appeared heavy to you but on my account.  Would you had once thought it a hardship to be admitted to a part of her bed?—­How did I use to be delighted with such a favour from my mother! how did I love to work in her presence!—­So did you in the presence of your’s once.  And to read to her in winter evenings I know was one of your joys.—­Do not give me cause to reproach myself on the reason that may be assigned for the change in you.

Learn, my dear, I beseech you, learn to subdue your own passions.  Be the motives what they will, excess is excess.  Those passions in our sex, which we take pains to subdue, may have one and the same source with those infinitely-blacker passions, which we used so often to condemn in the violent and headstrong of the other sex; and which may only be heightened in them by custom, and their freer education.  Let us both, my dear, ponder well this thought:  look into ourselves, and fear.

If I write, as I find I must, I insist upon your forbearing to write.  Your silence to this shall be the sign to me that you will not think of the rashness you threaten me with:  and that you will obey your mother as to your own part of the correspondence, however; especially as you can inform or advise me in every weighty case by Mr. Hickman’s pen.

My trembling writing will show you, my dear impetuous creature, what a trembling heart you have given to

Your ever obliged,
Or, if you take so rash a step,
Your for ever disobliged,
Clarissa Harlowe.

My clothes were brought to me just now.  But you have so much discomposed me, that I have no heart to look into the trunks.  Why, why, my dear, will you fright me with your flaming love? discomposure gives distress to a weak heart, whether it arise from friendship or enmity.

A servant of Mr. Lovelace carries this to Mr. Hickman for dispatch-sake.  Let that worthy man’s pen relieve my heart from this new uneasiness.

LETTER XII

Mr. Hickman, to miss Clarissa Harlowe [sent to Wilson’s by A particular hand.] Friday, may 5.