er place, and
proper company about her.

To such a place then--and where she cannot fly me--And then to see
how my will works, and what can be done with the amorous see-saw; now
humble, now proud; now expecting, or demanding; now submitting, or
acquiescing--till I have tried resistance.

But these hints are at present enough. I may further explain myself as
I go along; and as I confirm or recede in my future motions. If she
will revive past disobligations! If she will--But no more, no more, as I
said, at present, of threatenings.

LETTER XVII

MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ. [IN CONTINUATION.]

And do I not see that I shall need nothing but patience, in order to
have all power with me? For what shall we say, if all these complaints
of a character wounded; these declarations of increasing regrets for
meeting me; of resentments never to be got over for my seducing her
away; these angry commands to leaver her:--What shall we say, if all
were to mean nothing but MATRIMONY? And what if my forbearing to enter
upon that subject come out to be the true cause of their petulance and
uneasiness!

I had once before played about the skirts of the irrevocable obligation;
but thought myself obliged to speak in clouds, and to run away from the
subject, as soon as she took my meaning, lest she should imagine it to
be ungenerously urged, now she was in some sort in my power, as she
had forbid me beforehand, to touch upon it, till I were in a state of
visible reformation, and till a reconciliation with her friends were
probable. But now, out-argued, out-talented, and pushed so vehemently to
leave one of whom I had no good pretence to hold, if she would go; and
who could so easily, if I had given her cause to doubt, have thrown
herself into other protection, or have returned to Harlowe-place and
Solmes; I spoke out upon the subject, and offered reasons, although
with infinite doubt and hesitation, [lest she should be offended at
me, Belford!] why she should assent to the legal tie, and make me the
happiest of men. And O how the mantle cheek, the downcast eye, the
silent yet trembling lip, and the heaving bosom, a sweet collection
of heightened beauties, gave evidence that the tender was not mortally
offensive!

Charming creature! thought I, [but I charge thee, that thou let not
any of the sex know my exultation,*] Is it so soon come to this? Am
I already lord of the destiny of a Clarissa Harlowe? Am I already
the refo