and times worse
for what he knows, and much harder to be reclaimed, than if he had never
known any thing at all.

I was equally shocked at him, and concerned for him; and having laid so
few bricks (to speak to his allusion) and those so ill-cemented, I was
as willing as the gay and inconsiderate to call another cause, as he
termed it--another cause, too, more immediately pressing upon me, from
my uncertain situation.

I said, I took it for granted that he assented to the reasoning he
seemed to approve, and would leave me. And then I asked him, what he
really, and in his most deliberate mind, would advise me to, in my
present situation? He must needs see, I said, that I was at a great loss
what to resolve upon; entirely a stranger to London, having no adviser,
no protector, at present: himself, he must give me leave to tell
him, greatly deficient in practice, if not in the knowledge, of those
decorums, which, I had supposed, were always to be found in a man of
birth, fortune, and education.

He imagines himself, I find, to be a very polite man, and cannot bear to
be thought otherwise. He put up his lip--I am sorry for it, Madam--a man
of breeding, a man of politeness, give me leave to say, [colouring,] is
much more of a black swan with you, than with any lady I ever met with.

Then that is your misfortune, Mr. Lovelace, as well as mine, at present.
Every woman of discernment, I say as I say, [I had a mind to mortify a
pride, that I am sure deserves to be mortified;] that your politeness is
not regular, nor constant. It is not habit. It is too much seen by fits
and starts, and sallies, and those not spontaneous. You must be reminded
into them.

O Lord! O Lord!--Poor I!--was the light, yet the half-angry wretch's
self-pitying expression!

I proceeded.--Upon my word, Sir, you are not the accomplished man, which
your talents and opportunities would have led one to expect you to be.
You are indeed in your noviciate, as to every laudable attainment.

LETTER XXXII

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE, TO MISS HOWE [IN CONTINUATION.]

As this subject was introduced by himself, and treated so lightly by
him, I was going on to tell him more of my mind; but he interrupted
me--Dear, dear Madam, spare me. I am sorry that I have lived to this
hour for nothing at all. But surely you could not have quitted a subject
so much more agreeable, and so much more suitable, I will say, to your
present situation, if you had not too cruel a