erefore, propose an expedient, in order to spare my own
confusion; and to spare you the necessity for that soul-harrowing
recrimination, which I cannot stand, and which must be disagreeable to
yourself--to name the church, and I will have every thing in readiness;
so that our next interview will be, in a manner, at the very altar; and
then you will have the kind husband to forgive for the faults of the
ungrateful lover. If your resentment be still too high to write more,
let it only be in your own dear hand, these words, St. Martin's church,
Thursday--or these, St. Giles's church, Thursday; nor will I insist upon
any inscription or subscription, or so much as the initials of your name.
This shall be all the favour I will expect, till the dear hand itself is
given to mine, in presence of that Being whom I invoke as a witness of
the inviolable faith and honour of

Your adoring
LOVELACE.

LETTER XXXIX

MR. LOVELACE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE
[SUPERSCRIBED TO MRS. LOVELACE.]
M. HALL, MONDAY, JUNE 26.

Once more, my dearest love, do I conjure you to send me the four
requested words. There is no time to be lost. And I would not have next
Thursday go over, without being entitled to call you mine, for the world;
and that as well for your sake as for my own. Hitherto all that has
passed is between you and me only; but, after Thursday, if my wishes are
unanswered, the whole will be before the world.

My Lord is extremely ill, and endures not to have me out of his sight for
one half hour. But this shall not have the least weight with me, if you
be pleased to hold out the olive-branch to me in the four requested
words.

I have the following intelligence from Captain Tomlinson.

'All your family are at your uncle Harlowe's. Your uncle finds he cannot
go up; and names Captain Tomlinson for his proxy. He proposes to keep
all your family with him till the Captain assures him that the ceremony
is over.

'Already he has begun, with hope of success, to try to reconcile your
mother to you.'

My Lord M. but just now has told me how happy he should think himself to
have an opportunity, before he dies, to salute you as his niece. I have
put him in hopes that he shall see you; and have told him that I will go
to town on Wednesday, in order to prevail upon you to accompany me down
on Thursday or Friday. I have ordered a set to be in readiness to carry
me up; and, were not my Lord so very ill, my cousin Montague tells