in the morning. He might think of any convenient
place in London, or near it, in mean time.

And so I retired from him. As I do from my pen; hoping for better rest
for the few hours that remain of this night than I have had of a long
time.

CLARISSA HARLOWE.

LETTER XXXIV

MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE [IN CONTINUATION.] MONDAY MORNING, APRIL 17.

Late as I went to bed, I have had very little rest. Sleep and I have
quarreled; and although I court it, it will not be friends. I hope its
fellow-irreconcilables at Harlowe-place enjoy its balmy comforts. Else
that will be an aggravation of my fault. My brother and sister, I dare
say, want it not.

Mr. Lovelace, who is an early riser, as well as I, joined me in the
garden about six; and after the usual salutations, asked me to resume
our last night's subject. It was upon lodgings at London, he said.

I think you mentioned one to me, Sir--Did you not?

Yes, Madam, [but, watching the turn of my countenance,] rather as what
you would be welcome to, than perhaps approve of.

I believe so too. To go to town upon an uncertainty, I own, is not
agreeable: but to be obliged to any persons of your acquaintance, when
I want to be thought independent of you; and to a person, especially, to
whom my friends are to direct to me, if they vouchsafe to take notice of
me at all, is an absurd thing to mention.

He did not mention it as what he imagined I would accept, but only to
confirm to me what he had said, that he himself knew of none fit for me.

Has not your family, Madam, some one tradesman they deal with, who has
conveniences of this kind? I would make it worth such a person's while
to keep his secret of your being at his house. Traders are dealers in
pins, said he, and will be more obliged by a penny customer, than by a
pound present, because it is in their way: yet will refuse neither, any
more than a lawyer or a man of office his fee.

My father's tradesmen, I said, would, no doubt, be the first employed to
find me out. So that that proposal was as wrong as the other. And who
is it that a creature so lately in favour with all her friends can apply
to, in such a situation as mine, but must be (at least) equally the
friends of her relations.

We had a good deal of discourse upon the same topic. But, at last, the
result was this--He wrote a letter to one Mr. Doleman, a married man,
of fortune and character, (I excepting to Mr. Belford,) desiring him
to provide decent apa