wickedness of a woman.* Canst thou tell me, Jack, who
says this? Was it Socrates? for he had the devil of a wife--Or who? Or
is it Solomon?--King Solomon--Thou remembrest to have read of such a
king, dost thou not? SOL-O-MON, I learned, in my infant state [my mother
was a good woman] to answer, when asked, Who was the wisest man?--But my
indulgent questioner never asked me how he came by the uninspired part
of his wisdom.

* Mr. Lovelace is as much out in his conjecture of Solomon, as of
Socrates. The passage is in Ecclesiasticus, chap. xxv.

Come, come, Jack, you and I are not so very bad, could we but stop where
we are.

He then gives the particulars of what passed between him and the Lady on
his menaces relating to her brother and Mr. Solmes, and of his design
to punish Betty Barnes and Joseph Leman.

LETTER XXIV

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE FRIDAY, APR. 14.

I will now give you the particulars of a conversation that has just
passed between Mr. Lovelace and me, which I must call agreeable.

It began with his telling me, that he had just received intelligence
that my friends were on a sudden come to a resolution to lay aside all
thoughts of pursuing me, or of getting me back: and that therefore he
attended me to know of my pleasure; and what I would do, or have him do?

I told him, that I would have him leave me directly; and that, when it
was known to every body that I was absolutely independent of him, it
would pass, that I had left my father's house because of my brother's
ill usage of me: which was a plea that I might make with justice, and to
the excuse of my father, as well as of myself.

He mildly replied, that if we could be certain that my relations would
adhere to this their new resolution, he could have no objection, since
such was my pleasure; but, as he was well assured that they had taken it
only from apprehensions, that a more active one might involve my brother
(who had breathed nothing but revenge) in some fatal misfortune, there
was too much reason to believe that they would resume their former
purpose the moment they should think they safely might.

This, Madam, said he, is a risque I cannot run. You would think it
strange if I could. And yet, as soon as I knew they had so given out, I
thought it proper to apprize you of it, and take your commands upon it.

Let me hear, said I, (willing to try if he had any particular view,)
what you think most advisa