s if the one were my own aunt, and the other
were my own cousin.

They shed tears upon this--of joy they called them:--But since, I
believe, to their credit, bad as they are, that they were tears of
temporary remorse; for, the pretended Miss Montague turned about, and, as
I remember, said, There was no standing it.

But Mr. Lovelace was not so easily satisfied. He was fixed upon his
villanous measures perhaps; and so might not be sorry to have a pretence
against me. He bit his lip--he had been but too much used, he said, to
such indifference, such coldness, in the very midst of his happiest
prospects. I had on twenty occasions shown him, to his infinite regret,
that any favour I was to confer upon him was to be the result of--there
he stopt--and not of my choice.

This had like to have set all back again. I was exceedingly offended.
But the pretended ladies interposed. The elder severely took him to
task. He ought, she told him, to be satisfied with what I had said. She
desired no other condition. And what, Sir, said she, with an air of
authority, would you commit errors, and expect to be rewarded for them?

They then engaged me in a more agreeable conversation--the pretended lady
declared, that she, Lord M. and Lady Sarah, would directly and personally
interest themselves to bring about a general reconciliation between the
two families, and this either in open or private concert with my uncle
Harlowe, as should be thought fit. Animosities on one side had been
carried a great way, she said; and too little care had been shown on the
other to mollify or heal. My father should see that they could treat him
as a brother and a friend; and my brother and sister should be convinced
that there was no room either for the jealously [sic] or envy they had
conceived from motives too unworthy to be avowed.

Could I help, my dear, being pleased with them?--

Permit me here to break off. The task grows too heavy, at present, for
the heart of

Your
CLARISSA HARLOWE.

LETTER LXVIII

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE
[IN CONTINUATION.]

I was very ill, and obliged to lay down my pen. I thought I should have
fainted. But am better now--so will proceed.

The pretended ladies, the more we talked, the fonder they seemed to be of
me. And the Lady Betty had Mrs. Moore called up; and asked her, If she
had accommodations for her niece and self, her woman, and two men
servants, for three or four days?

Mr. Lovelace answere