me
that she would offer her attendance on you. If you please, therefore, we
can set out for this place the moment the solemnity is performed.

Do not, dearest creature, dissipate all those promising appearances, and
by refusing to save your own and your family's reputation in the eye of
the world, use yourself worse than the ungratefullest wretch on earth has
used you. For if we were married, all the disgrace you imagine you have
suffered while a single lady, will be my own, and only known to
ourselves.

Once more, then, consider well the situation we are both in; and
remember, my dearest life, that Thursday will be soon here; and that you
have no time to lose.

In a letter sent by the messenger whom I dispatch with this, I have
desired that my friend, Mr. Belford, who is your very great admirer, and
who knows all the secrets of my heart, will wait upon you, to know what I
am to depend upon as to the chosen day.

Surely, my dear, you never could, at any time, suffer half so much from
cruel suspense, as I do.

If I have not an answer to this, either from your own goodness, or
through Mr. Belford's intercession, it will be too late for me to set
out: and Captain Tomlinson will be disappointed, who goes to town on
purpose to attend your pleasure.

One motive for the gentle resistance I have presumed to lay you under is,
to prevent the mischiefs that might ensue (as probably to the more
innocent, as to the less) were you to write to any body while your
passions were so much raised and inflamed against me. Having apprized
you of my direction to the women in town on this head, I wonder you
should have endeavoured to send a letter to Miss Howe, although in a
cover directed to that young lady's* servant; as you must think it would
be likely to fall into my hands.

* The lady had made an attempt to send away a letter.

The just sense of what I have deserved the contents should be, leaves me
no room to doubt what they are. Nevertheless, I return it you enclosed,
with the seal, as you will see, unbroken.

Relieve, I beseech you, dearest Madam, by the four requested words, or by
Mr. Belford, the anxiety of

Your ever-affectionate and obliged
LOVELACE.

Remember, there will not, there cannot be time for further writing, and
for coming up by Thursday, your uncle's birth-day.

LETTER XL

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.
MONDAY, JUNE 26.

Thou wilt see the situation I am in with Miss Harlowe by the