Clarissa, Volume 6 - The History Of A Young Lady

Clarissa, Volume 6 − The History Of A Young Lady 81
What shall I say now!−−I, who but a few hours ago had such faith in dreams, and had proposed out of hand to
begin my treatise of dreams sleeping and dreams waking, and was pleasing myself with the dialogues between
the old matronal lady and the young lady, and with the metamorphoses, (absolutely assured that every thing
would happen as my dream chalked it out,) shall never more depend upon those flying follies, those illusions
of a fancy depraved, and run mad.
Thus confoundedly have matters happened.
I went out at eight o'clock in high good humour with myself, in order to give the sought−for opportunity to the
plotting mistress and corrupted maid; only ordering Will. to keep a good look−out for fear his lady should
mistrust my plot, or mistake a hackney−coach for the dowager−lady's chariot. But first I sent to know how she
did; and receiving for answer, Very ill: had a very bad night: which latter was but too probable; since this I
know, that people who have plots in their heads as seldom have as deserve good ones.
I desired a physician might be called in; but was refused.
I took a walk in St. James's Park, congratulating myself all the way on my rare inventions: then, impatient, I
took coach, with one of the windows quite up, the other almost up, playing at bo−peep in every chariot I saw
pass in my way to Lincoln's−inn−fields: and when arrived there I sent the coachman to desire any one of
Mother H.'s family to come to me to the coach−side, not doubting but I should have intelligence of my fair
fugitive there; it being then half an hour after ten.
A servant came, who gave me to understand that the matronly lady was just returned by herself in the chariot.
Frighted out of my wits, I alighted, and heard from the mother's own mouth, that Dorcas had engaged her to
protect the lady; but came to tell her afterwards, that she had changed her mind, and would not quit the house.
Quite astonished, not knowing what might have happened, I ordered the coachman to lash away to our
mother's.
Arriving here in an instant, the first word I asked, was, If the lady was safe?
[Mr. Lovelace here gives a very circumstantial relation of all that passed between the Lady and Dorcas. But as
he could only guess at her motives for refusing to go off, when Dorcas told her that she had engaged for her
the protection of the dowager−lady, it is thought proper to omit this relation, and to supply it by some
memoranda of the Lady's. But it is first necessary to account for the occasion on which those memoranda
were made.
The reader may remember, that in the letter written to Miss Howe, on her escape to Hampstead,* she promises
to give her the particulars of her flight at leisure. She had indeed thoughts of continuing her account of every
thing that had passed between her and Mr. Lovelace since her last narrative letter. But the uncertainty she was
in from that time, with the execrable treatment she met with on her being deluded back again, followed by a
week's delirium, had hitherto hindered her from prosecuting her intention. But, nevertheless, having it still in
her view to perform her promise as soon as she had opportunity, she made minutes of every thing as it passed,
in order to help her memory:−−'Which,' as she observes in one place, 'she could less trust to since her late
disorders than before.' In these minutes, or book of memoranda, she observes, 'That having apprehensions that
Dorcas might be a traitress, she would have got away while she was gone out to see for a coach; and actually
slid down stairs with that intent. But that, seeing Mrs. Sinclair in the entry, (whom Dorcas had planted there
while she went out,) she speeded up again unseen.'
* See Vol. V. Letter XXI.