Clarissa, Volume 6 - The History Of A Young Lady

Clarissa, Volume 6 − The History Of A Young Lady 153
And then, laying down the book, turning upon his heel, with one of his usual airs of gaiety, And are you
determined, Ladies, to take up your lodgings with my charming creature?
Indeed they were.
Never were there more cunning, more artful impostors, than these women. Practised creatures, to be sure: yet
genteel; and they must have been well−educated−−once, perhaps, as much the delight of their parents, as I
was of mine: and who knows by what arts ruined, body and mind−−O my dear! how pregnant is this
reflection!
But the man!−−Never was there a man so deep. Never so consummate a deceiver; except that detested
Tomlinson; whose years and seriousness, joined with a solidity of sense and judgment that seemed
uncommon, gave him, one would have thought, advantages in villany, the other had not time for. Hard, very
hard, that I should fall into the knowledge of two such wretches; when two more such I hope are not to be met
with in the world!−−both so determined to carry on the most barbarous and perfidious projects against a poor
young creature, who never did or wished harm to either.
Take the following slight account of these women's and of this man's behaviour to each other before me.
Mr. Lovelace carried himself to his pretended aunt with high respect, and paid a great deference to all she
said. He permitted her to have all the advantage over him in the repartees and retorts that passed between
them. I could, indeed, easily see, that it was permitted; and that he forbore that vivacity, that quickness, which
he never spared showing to his pretended Miss Montague; and which a man of wit seldom knows how to
spare showing, when an opportunity offers to display his wit.
The pretended Miss Montague was still more respectful in her behaviour to her pretended aunt. While the aunt
kept up the dignity of the character she had assumed, rallying both of them with the air of a person who
depends upon the superiority which years and fortune give over younger persons, who might have a view to
be obliged to her, either in her life, or at her death.
The severity of her raillery, however, was turned upon Mr. Lovelace, on occasion of the character of the
people who kept the lodgings, which, she said, I had thought myself so well warranted to leave privately.
This startled me. For having then no suspicion of the vile Tomlinson, I concluded (and your letter of the 7th*
favoured my conclusion) that if the house were notorious, either he, or Mr. Mennell, would have given me or
him some hints of it−−nor, although I liked not the people, did I observe any thing in them very culpable, till
the Wednesday night before, that they offered not to come to my assistance, although within hearing of my
distress, (as I am sure they were,) and having as much reason as I to be frighted at the fire, had it been real.
* His forged letter. See Vol. V. Letter XXX.
I looked with indignation upon Mr. Lovelace, at this hint.
He seemed abashed. I have not patience, but to recollect the specious looks of this vile deceiver. But how was
it possible, that even that florid countenance of his should enable him to command a blush at his pleasure? for
blush he did, more than once: and the blush, on this occasion, was a deep−dyed crimson, unstrained for, and
natural, as I thought−−but he is so much of the actor, that he seems able to enter into any character; and his
muscles and features appear entirely under obedience to his wicked will.*
* It is proper to observe, that there was a more natural reason than this that the Lady gives for Mr. Lovelace's
blushing. It was a blush of indignation, as he owned afterwards to his friend Belford, in conversation; for the
pretended Lady Betty had mistaken her cue, in condemning the house; and he had much ado to recover the