more shocking by the communication of a father's
curse, upon a daughter deserving only blessings?--A curse upon the
curser's heart, and a double one upon the transmitter's, the spiteful
the envious Arabella!

Absent when it came--on my return I found her recovering from fits,
again to fall into stronger fits; and nobody expecting her life; half a
dozen messengers dispatched to find me out. Nor wonder at her being so
affected; she, whose filial piety gave her dreadful faith in a father's
curses; and the curse of this gloomy tyrant extending (to use her own
words, when she could speak) to both worlds--O that it had turned, in
the moment of its utterance, to a mortal quinsy, and, sticking in his
gullet, had choked the old execrator, as a warning to all such unnatural
fathers!

What a miscreant had I been, not to have endeavoured to bring her back,
by all the endearments, by all the vows, by all the offers, that I could
make her!

I did bring her back. More than a father to her: for I have given her a
life her unnatural father had well-nigh taken away: Shall I not cherish
the fruits of my own benefaction? I was earnest in my vows to marry,
and my ardour to urge the present time was a real ardour. But extreme
dejection, with a mingled delicacy, that in her dying moments I doubt
not she will preserve, have caused her to refuse me the time, though not
the solemnity; for she has told me, that now she must be wholly in my
protection [being destitute of every other!] More indebted, still, thy
friend, as thou seest, to her cruel relations, than to herself, for her
favour!

She has written to Miss Howe an account of their barbarity! but has not
acquainted her how very ill she was.

Low, very low, she remains; yet, dreading her stupid brother's
enterprise, she wants to be in London, where, but for this accident, and
(wouldst thou have believed it?) for my persuasions, seeing her so very
ill, she would have been this night; and we shall actually set out on
Wednesday morning, if she be not worse.

And now for a few words with thee, on the heavy preachment of Saturday
last.

Thou art apprehensive, that the lady is now truly in danger; and it is a
miracle, thou tellest me, if she withstand such an attempter!--'Knowing
what we know of the sex, thou sayest, thou shouldst dread, wert thou
me, to make further trial, lest thou shouldst succeed.' And, in another
place, tellest me, 'That thou pleadest not for the state for any favour