* See the beginning of Letter II.

It is easy to judge what must be their grief and surprise on receiving the fatal news which the letters Harry sent in to them communicated.

He staid there long enough to find the whole house in confusion; the servants running different ways; lamenting and wringing their hands as they ran; the female servants particularly; as if somebody (poor Mrs. Harlowe, no doubt; and perhaps Mrs. Hervey too) were in fits.

Every one was in such disorder, that he could get no commands, nor obtain any notice of himself.  The servants seemed more inclined to execrate than welcome him—­O master!—­O young man! cried three or four together, what dismal tidings have you brought?—­They helped him, at the very first word, to his horse; which, with great civility, they had put up on his arrival; and he went to an inn, and pursued on foot his way to Mrs. Norton’s; and finding her come to town, left the letter he carried don for her with her son, (a fine youth,) who, when he heard the fatal news, burst out into a flood of tears—­first lamenting the lady’s death, and then crying out, What—­what would become of his poor mother!—­How would she support herself, when she should find, on her arrival in town, that the dear lady, who was so deservedly the darling of her heart, was no more!

He proceeded to Miss Howe’s with the letter for her.  That lady, he was told, had just given orders for a young man, a tenant’s son, to post to London, and bring her news of her dear friend’s condition, and whether she should herself be encouraged, by an account of her being still alive, to make her a visit; every thing being ordered to be in readiness for her going up on his return with the news she wished and prayed for with the utmost impatience.  And Harry was just in time to prevent the man’s setting out.

He had the precaution to desire to speak with Miss Howe’s woman or maid, and communicated to her the fatal tidings, that she might break them to her young lady.  The maid herself was so affected, that her old lady (who, Harry said, seemed to be every where at once) came to see what ailed her! and was herself so struck with the communication, that she was forced to sit down in a chair.—­O the sweet creature! said she, and is it come to this?—­O my poor Nancy!—­How shall I be able to break the matter to my Nancy?

Mr. Hickman was in the house.  He hastened in to comfort the old lady—­ but he could not restrain his own tears.  He feared, he said, when he was last in town, that this sad event would soon happen; but little thought it would be so very soon!—­But she is happy, I am sure, said the good gentleman.

Mrs. Howe, when a little recovered, went up, in order to break the news to her daughter.  She took the letter, and her salts in her hand.  And they had occasion for the latter.  For the housekeeper soon came hurrying down into the kitchen, her face overspread with tears—­her young mistress had fainted away, she said—­nor did she wonder at it—­never did there live a lady more deserving of general admiration and lamentation, than Miss Clarissa Harlowe! and never was there a stronger friendship dissolved by death than between her young lady and her.