Clarissa, Volume 6 - The History Of A Young Lady
Clarissa, Volume 6 - The History Of A Young Lady
Clarissa, Volume 6 - The History Of A Young Lady
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<strong>Clarissa</strong>, <strong>Volume</strong> 6 − <strong>The</strong> <strong>History</strong> <strong>Of</strong> A <strong>Young</strong> <strong>Lady</strong> 73<br />
And pr'ythee, Jack, see in this my ardent hope, a distinction in my favour from other rakes; who, almost to a<br />
man, follow their inclinations without troubling themselves about consequences. In imitation, as one would<br />
think, of the strutting villain of a bird, which from feathered lady to feathered lady pursues his imperial<br />
pleasures, leaving it to his sleek paramours to hatch the genial product in holes and corners of their own<br />
finding out.<br />
LETTER XXIV<br />
MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ. TUESDAY MORN. JUNE 20.<br />
Well, Jack, now are we upon another footing together. This dear creature will not let me be good. She is now<br />
authorizing all my plots by her own example.<br />
Thou must be partial in the highest degree, if now thou blamest me for resuming my former schemes, since in<br />
that case I shall but follow her cue. No forced construction of her actions do I make on this occasion, in order<br />
to justify a bad cause or a worse intention. A slight pretence, indeed, served the wolf when he had a mind to<br />
quarrel with the lamb; but this is not now my case.<br />
For here (wouldst thou have thought it?) taking advantage of Dorcas's compassionate temper, and of some<br />
warm expressions which the tender−hearted wench let fall against the cruelty of men, and wishing to have it<br />
in her power to serve her, has she given her the following note, signed by her maiden name: for she has<br />
thought fit, in positive and plain words, to own to the pitying Dorcas that she is not married.<br />
MONDAY, JUNE 19.<br />
I then underwritten do hereby promise, that, on my coming into possession of my own estate, I will provide<br />
for Dorcas Martindale in a gentlewoman− like manner, in my own house: or, if I do not soon obtain that<br />
possession, or should first die, I do hereby bind myself, my executors, and administrators, to pay to her, or her<br />
order, during the term of her natural life, the sum of five pounds on each of the four usual quarterly days in the<br />
year; on condition that she faithfully assist me in my escape from an illegal confinement under which I now<br />
labour. <strong>The</strong> first quarterly payment to commence and be payable at the end of three months immediately<br />
following the day of my deliverance. And I do also promise to give her, as a testimony of my honour in the<br />
rest, a diamond ring, which I have showed her. Witness my hand this nineteenth day of June, in the year above<br />
written.<br />
CLARISSA HARLOWE.<br />
Now, Jack, what terms wouldst thou have me to keep with such a sweet corruptress? Seest thou not how she<br />
hates me? Seest thou not that she is resolved never to forgive me? Seest thou not, however, that she must<br />
disgrace herself in the eye of the world, if she actually should escape? That she must be subjected to infinite<br />
distress and hazard! For whom has she to receive and protect her? Yet to determine to risque all these evils!<br />
and furthermore to stoop to artifice, to be guilty of the reigning vice of the times, of bribery and corruption! O<br />
Jack, Jack! say not, write not another word in her favour!<br />
Thou hast blamed me for bringing her to this house: but had I carried her to any other in England, where there<br />
would have been one servant or inmate capable either of compassion or corruption, what must have been the<br />
consequence?<br />
But seest thou not, however, that in this flimsy contrivance, the dear implacable, like a drowning man, catches<br />
at a straw to save herself!−−A straw shall she find to be the refuge she has resorted to.<br />
LETTER XXV