Letters 37-45 dated March 19th through March 22nd Summary

Miss Howe teases Clarissa that she praises and defends Mr. Lovelace so much that she is harboring and concealing a growing love for him. Miss Howe agrees that it appears likely that Clarissa will be forced to choose between Mr. Lovelace and Mr. Solmes, and while Mr. Lovelace is the better of the two, Miss Howe prefers any of Clarissa's former suitors to either of the current two. Clarissa defends herself saying that she does not love Mr. Lovelace and only intends him justice in her praise. Clarissa admits to Miss Howe "that were [Mr. Lovelace] now but a moral man, I would prefer him to all the men I ever saw," but resents Miss Howe's teasing. Betty has told Clarissa that Mr. Solmes is now sure of her...