III

MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE. FRIDAY NOON, MARCH 31.

Justice obliges me to forward this after my last on the wings of the
wind, as I may say. I really believe the man is innocent. Of this
one accusation, I think he must be acquitted; and I am sorry I was so
forward in dispatching away my intelligence by halves.

I have seen the girl. She is really a very pretty, a very neat, and,
what is still a greater beauty, a very innocent young creature. He who
could have ruined such an undersigned home-bred, must have been
indeed infernally wicked. Her father is an honest simple man; entirely
satisfied with his child, and with her new acquaintance.

I am almost afraid for your heart, when I tell you, that I find, now I
have got to the bottom of this inquiry, something noble come out in this
Lovelace's favour.

The girl is to be married next week; and this promoted and brought about
by him. He is resolved, her father says, to make one couple happy,
and wishes he could make more so [There's for you, my dear!] And she
professes to love, he has given her an hundred pounds: the grandmother
actually has it in her hands, to answer to the like sum given to the
youth by one of his own relation: while Mr. Lovelace's companion,
attracted by the example, has given twenty-five guineas to the father,
who is poor, towards clothes to equip the pretty rustic.

Mr. Lovelace and his friend, the poor man says, when they first came to
his house, affected to appear as persons of low degree; but now he knows
the one (but mentioned it in confidence) to be Colonel Barrow, the other
Captain Sloane. The colonel he owns was at first very sweet upon his
girl: but her grandmother's begging of him to spare her innocence, he
vowed, that he never would offer any thing but good counsel to her. He
kept his word; and the pretty fool acknowledged, that she never
could have been better instructed by the minister himself from the
bible-book!--The girl pleased me so well, that I made her visit to me
worth her while.

But what, my dear, will become of us now?--Lovelace not only reformed,
but turned preacher!--What will become of us now?--Why, my sweet friend,
your generosity is now engaged in his favour!--Fie upon this generosity!
I think in my heart, that it does as much mischief to the noble-minded,
as love to the ignobler.--What before was only a conditional liking, I
am now afraid will turn to liking unconditional.

I could not endure to chang