ar Miss
Howe, from whom I had not heard of a long time, were ill; as I had been
told she was; and if so, how she now does. But my injuries being recent,
and my distresses having been exceeding great, self would crowd into my
letter. When distressed, the human mind is apt to turn itself to every
one, in whom it imagined or wished an interest, for pity and consolation.
--Or, to express myself better, and more concisely, in your own words,
misfortune makes people plaintive: And to whom, if not to a friend, can
the afflicted complain?

Miss Howe being abroad when my letter came, I flatter myself that she is
recovered. But it would be some satisfaction to me to be informed if she
has been ill. Another line from your hand would be too great a favour:
but if you will be pleased to direct any servant to answer yes, or no, to
that question, I will not be farther troublesome.

Nevertheless, I must declare, that my Miss Howe's friendship was all the
comfort I had, or expected to have in this world; and a line from her
would have been a cordial to my fainting heart. Judge then, dearest
Madam, how reluctantly I must obey your prohibition--but yet I will
endeavour to obey it; although I should have hoped, as well from the
tenor of all that has passed between Miss Howe and me, as from her
established virtue, that she could not be tainted by evil communication,
had one or two letters been permitted. This, however, I ask not for,
since I think I have nothing to do but to beg of God (who, I hope, has
not yet withdrawn his grace from me, although he has pleaded to let loose
his justice upon my faults) to give me a truly broken spirit, if it be
not already broken enough, and then to take to his mercy

The unhappy
CLARISSA HARLOWE.

Two favours, good Madam, I have to beg of you.--The first,--that you will
not let any of my relations know that you have heard from me. The
other,--that no living creature be apprized where I am to be heard of,
or directed to. This is a point that concerns me more than I can
express.--In short, my preservation from further evils may depend upon
it.

LETTER LIII

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO HANNAH BURTON
THURSDAY, JUNE 29.

MY GOOD HANNAH,

Strange things have happened to me, since you were dismissed my service
(so sorely against my will) and your pert fellow servant set over me.
But that must all be forgotten now--

How do you, my Hannah? Are you recovered of your illness