“He was ever a favourite with our domestics; and on this occasion they privately reported his behaviour in such favourable terms that those reports and my apprehensions of the consequences, induced me to ’read a letter’ he sent me that night imploring me ‘to answer’ it some days after.

“To this unhappy necessity is owing our correspondence; meantime I am extremely concerned to find that I am become the public talk.”

“February 20.  Alas, my dear, I have sad prospects!  My brother and sister have found another lover for me; he is encouraged by everybody.  Who do you think it is?  No other than that Solmes.  They are all determined too, my mother with the rest.

“Yesterday, Mr. Solmes came in before we had done tea.  My uncle Antony presented him as a gentleman he had a particular friendship for.  My father said, ‘Mr. Solmes is my friend, Clarissa Harlowe.’  My mother looked at him, and at me; and I at her, with eyes appealing for pity, while my brother and sister sir’d him at every word.”

“February 24.  They drive on at a furious rate.  The man lives here.  Such terms, such settlements.  That’s the cry.  I have already stood the shock of three of this man’s visits.

“What my brother and sister have said of me, I cannot tell.  I am in heavy disgrace with my papa.

“March 9.  I have another letter from Mr. Lovelace, although I have not answered his former one.  He knows all that passes here, and is excessively uneasy upon what he hears, and solicits me to engage my honour to him never to have Mr. Solmes.  I think I can safely promise him that.

“I am now confined to my room; my maid has been taken away from me.  In answer to my sincere declaration, that I would gladly compound to live single, my father said angrily that my proposal was an artifice.  Nothing but marrying Solmes should do.”

“April 5.  I must keep nothing by me now; and when I write lock myself in that I may not be surprised now they think I have no pen and ink.

“I found another letter from this diligent man, and he assures me they are more and more determined to subdue me.

“He sends me the compliments of his family, and acquaints me with their earnest desire to see me amongst them.  Vehemently does he press for my quitting this house while it is in my power to get away, and again craves leave to order his uncle’s chariot-and-six to attend my commands at the stile leading to the coppice adjoining to the paddock.

“Settlements he again offers; Lord M. and Lady Sarah and Lady Betty to be guarantees of his honour.

“As to the disgrace a person of my character may be apprehensive of on quitting my father’s house, he observes, too truly I doubt, that the treatment I meet with is in everybody’s mouth, that all the disgrace I can receive they have given me.  He says he will oppose my being sent away to my uncle’s.  He tells me my brother and sister and Mr. Solmes design to be there to meet me; that my father and mother will not come till the ceremony is over, and then to try to reconcile me to my odious husband.