Clarissa, Volume 6 - The History Of A Young Lady

Clarissa, Volume 6 − The History Of A Young Lady 136
hope a line from if I did. It is but to answer a question. It is this:
Whether you know any such man as Captain Tomlinson? and, if you do, whether he be very intimate with my
uncle Harlowe?
I will describe his person lest, possibly, he should go by another name among you; although I know not why
he should.
'He is a thin, tallish man, a little pock−fretten, of a sallowish complexion. Fifty years of age, or more. Of good
aspect when he looks up. He seems to be a serious man, and one who knows the world. He stoops a little in
the shoulders. Is of Berkshire. His wife of Oxfordshire; and has several children. He removed lately into your
parts form Northamptonshire.'
I must desire you, Mrs. Hodges, that you will not let my uncle, nor any of my relations, know that I write to
you.
You used to say, that you would be glad to have it in your power to serve me. That, indeed, was in my
prosperity. But, I dare say, you will not refuse me in a particular that will oblige me, without hurting yourself.
I understand that my father, mother, and sister, and I presume, my brother, and my uncle Antony, are to be at
my uncle Harlowe's this day. God preserve them all, and may they rejoice in many happy birth−days! You
will write six words to me concerning their healths.
Direct, for a particular reason, to Mrs. Dorothy Salcombe, to be left till called for, at the Four Swans Inn,
Bishopsgate−street.
You know my hand−writing well enough, were not the contents of the letter sufficient to excuse my name, or
any other subscription, than that of
Your friend.
LETTER LX
MRS. HODGES [IN ANSWER.] SAT. JULY 2.
MADDAM,
I return you an anser, as you wish me to doe. Master is acquented with no sitch man. I am shure no sitch ever
came to our house. And master sturs very little out. He has no harte to stur out. For why? Your obstinacy
makes um not care to see one another. Master's birth−day never was kept soe before: for not a sole heere: and
nothing but sikeing and sorrowin from master to think how it yused to bee.
I axed master, if soe bee he knowed sitch a man as one Captain Tomlinson? but said not whirfor I axed. He
sed, No, not he.
Shure this is no trix nor forgery bruing against master by one Tomlinson −−Won knows not what company
you may have been forsed to keep, sen you went away, you knoe, Maddam; but Lundon is a pestilent plase;
and that 'Squire Luvless is a devil (for all he is sitch a like gentleman to look to) as I hev herd every boddy
say; and think as how you have found by thiss.
I truste, Maddam, you wulde not let master cum to harme, if you knoed it, by any body who may pretend to be
acquented with him: but for fere, I querid with myself if I shulde not tell him. But I was willin to show you,