Sally owned that she told her, That, truly, she had thought herself as well descended, and as well educated, as herself, though not entitled to such considerable fortunes.  And had the impudence to insist upon it to me to be truth.

She had the insolence to add, to the lady, That she had as much reason as she to expect Mr. Lovelace would marry her; he having contracted to do so before he knew Miss Clarissa Harlowe:  and that she had it under his hand and seal too—­or else he had not obtained his end:  therefore it was not likely she should be so officious as to do his work against herself, if she thought Mr. Lovelace had designs upon her, like what she presumed to hint at:  that, for her part, her only view was, to procure liberty to a young gentlewoman, who made those things grievous to her which would not be made such a rout about by any body else—­and to procure the payment of a just debt to her friend Mrs. Sinclair.

She besought them to leave her.  She wanted not these instances, she said, to convince her of the company she was in; and told them, that, to get rid of such visiters, and of the still worse she was apprehensive of, she would write to one friend to raise the money for her; though it would be death for her to do so; because that friend could not do it without her mother, in whose eye it would give a selfish appearance to a friendship that was above all sordid alloys.

They advised her to write out of hand.

But how much must I write for?  What is the sum?  Should I not have had a bill delivered me?  God knows, I took not your lodgings.  But he that could treat me as he has done, could do this!

Don’t speak against Mr. Lovelace, Miss Harlowe.  He is a man I greatly esteem. [Cursed toad!] And, ’bating that he will take his advantage, where he can, of us silly credulous women, he is a man of honour.

She lifted up her hands and eyes, instead of speaking:  and well she might!  For any words she could have used could not have expressed the anguish she must feel on being comprehended in the us.

She must write for one hundred and fifty guineas, at least:  two hundred, if she were short of more money, might well be written for.

Mrs. Sinclair, she said, had all her clothes.  Let them be sold, fairly sold, and the money go as far as it would go.  She had also a few other valuables; but no money, (none at all,) but the poor half guinea, and the little silver they had seen.  She would give bond to pay all that her apparel, and the other maters she had, would fall short of.  She had great effects belonging to her of right.  Her bond would, and must be paid, were it for a thousand pounds.  But her clothes she should never want.  She believed, if not too much undervalued, those, and her few valuables, would answer every thing.  She wished for no surplus but to discharge the last expenses; and forty shillings would do as well for those as forty pounds.  ’Let my ruin, said she, lifting up her eyes, be large!  Let it be complete, in this life!—­For a composition, let it be complete.’—­And there she stopped.