where he says,

_Thou too a Man born for Intrigue, full of Invention, intrepid,
remorseless, able patiently to watch for the Opportunity, not
flurried, as most Men, by Gusts of violent Passion, which often nip
a Project in the Bud, and make the Snail, which was just putting
out its Horns to meet the Inviter, withdraw into its Shell._

So that it seems to be a Maxim, amongst _Lovelace_ and his Club of
Rakes, not to destroy their own Schemes by a too precipitate Pursuit;
and _Lovelace_ gives yet a stronger Reason for it in the following
Words.

_O Virtue, Virtue_, says he, _what is there in thee, that can thus
affect the Heart of such a Man as me against my Will!--Whence these
involuntary Tremors, and fear of giving mortal Offence! What art
thou that, acting in the Breast of a feeble Woman, canst strike so
much awe into a Spirit so intrepid which never before, no, not in
my first Attempt, young as I then was, and frighted at my own
Boldness (till I found myself_ forgiven,) _had such an Effect on
me._

But Quotations from _Lovelace's_ Words to this Purpose, and that he was
resolved to be slow in order to be sure, would be endless.

This, I think, was the last Objection raised; only _Bellario_ said, that
the Report that the Catastrophy was to be unhappy had made a deep
Impression on him; for that he could not avoid thinking that, if it was
true, it must be a great Error, and destroy all the Pleasure a
good-natur'd Reader might already have received: However, he said, he
would keep his Word in not absolutely giving his Judgment till he saw
the Conclusion.

And thus ended the second Scene of Criticism on _Clarissa_; only, as we
went down Stairs, a Lady, who had not spoke one Word the whole Evening,
mutter'd out a strong Dislike, that the agreeable Mr. _Lovelace_ should
not become a Husband.

And now, in the Month of _December_, appears the long expected, much
wished for Conclusion of _Clarissa's_ Story.

The Company we have already mentioned being again assembled, the Lady
who had before grieved that the agreeable Mr. _Lovelace_ should not
become a Husband, now lamented that Miss _Howe_ should be married to so
insipid a Man (that was the Epithet she chose for him) as Mr. _Hickman_.
This passed some little time without any Answer. Miss _Gibson_ was
silent; and I saw by her Looks that she thought there was some Weight in
her Objection. At last an old Lady, who had t