.

As to myself, I hope I have a great deal of time before me; since I
intend one day to be a reformed man. I have very serious reflections
now-and-then. Yet am I half afraid of the truth of what my charmer once
told me, that a man cannot repent when he will.--Not to hold it, I
suppose she meant! By fits and starts I have repented a thousand times.

Casting my eye over the two preceding paragraphs, I fancy there is
something like contradiction in them. But I will not reconsider them.
The subject is a very serious one. I don't at present quite understand
it. But now for one more airy.

Tourville, Mowbray, and myself, pass away our time as pleasantly as
possibly we can without thee. I wish we don't add to Lord M.'s gouty
days by the joy we give him.

This is one advantage, as I believe I have elsewhere observed, that we
male-delinquents in love-matters have of the other sex:--for while they,
poor things! sit sighing in holes and corners, or run to woods and groves
to bemoan themselves on their baffled hopes, we can rant and roar, hunt
and hawk; and, by new loves, banish from our hearts all remembrance of
the old ones.

Merrily, however, as we pass our time, my reflections upon the injuries
done to this noble creature bring a qualm upon my heart very often. But
I know she will permit me to make her amends, after she has plagued me
heartily; and that's my consolation.

An honest fellow still--clap thy wings, and crow, Jack!----

LETTER XXIV

MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE
THURSDAY MORN. JUNE* 20.

* Text error: should be JULY.

What, my dearest creature, have been your sufferings!--What must have
been your anguish on so disgraceful an insult, committed in the open
streets, and in the broad day!

No end, I think, of the undeserved calamities of a dear soul, who had
been so unhappily driven and betrayed into the hands of a vile libertine!
--How was I shocked at the receiving of your letter written by another
hand, and only dictated by you!--You must be very ill. Nor is it to be
wondered at. But I hope it is rather from hurry, and surprise, and
lowness, which may be overcome, than from a grief given way to, which may
be attended with effects I cannot bear to think of.

But whatever you do, my dear, you must not despond! Indeed you must not
despond! Hitherto you have been in no fault: but despair would be all
your own: and the worst fault you can be guilty of.

I cannot bear to look upo