Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 8

by Samuel Richardson

  LETTER XXXIX

  MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.TUESDAY MORN. AUG. 29.

  Now, Jack, will I give thee an account of what passed on occasion of thevisit made us by Col. Morden.

  He came on horseback, attended by one servant; and Lord M. received himas a relation of Miss Harlowe's with the highest marks of civility andrespect.

  After some general talk of the times, and of the weather, and suchnonsense as Englishmen generally make their introductory topics toconversation, the Colonel addressed himself to Lord M. and to me, asfollows:

  I need not, my Lord, and Mr. Lovelace, as you know the relation I bear tothe Harlowe family, make any apology for entering upon a subject, which,on account of that relation, you must think is the principal reason ofthe honour I have done myself in this visit.

  Miss Harlowe, Miss Clarissa Harlowe's affair, said Lord M. with his usualforward bluntness. That, Sir, is what you mean. She is, by allaccounts, the most excellent woman in the world.

  I am glad to hear that is your Lordship's opinion of her. It is everyone's.

  It is not only my opinion, Col. Morden (proceeded the prating Peer), butit is the opinion of all my family. Of my sisters, of my nieces, and ofMr. Lovelace himself.

  Col. Would to Heaven it had been always Mr. Lovelace's opinion of her!

  Lovel. You have been out of England, Colonel, a good many years.Perhaps you are not yet fully apprized of all the particulars of thiscase.

  Col. I have been out of England, Sir, about seven years. My cousinClary was then about 12 years of age: but never was there at twenty sodiscreet, so prudent, and so excellent a creature. All that knew her, orsaw her, admired her. Mind and person, never did I see such promises ofperfection in any young lady: and I am told, nor is it to be wondered at,that, as she advanced to maturity, she more than justified and made goodthose promises.--Then as to fortune--what her father, what her uncles,and what I myself, intended to do for her, besides what her grandfatherhad done--there is not a finer fortune in the country.

  Lovel. All this, Colonel, and more than this, is Miss Clarissa Harlowe;and had it not been for the implacableness and violence of her family(all resolved to push her upon a match as unworthy of her as hateful toher) she had still been happy.

  Col. I own, Mr. Lovelace, the truth of what you observed just now, thatI am not thoroughly acquainted with all that has passed between you andmy cousin. But permit me to say, that when I first heard that you madeyour addresses to her, I knew but of one objection against you; that,indeed, a very great one: and upon a letter sent me, I gave her my freeopinion upon that subject.* But had it not been for that, I own, that,in my private mind, there could not have been a more suitable match: foryou are a gallant gentleman, graceful in your person, easy and genteel inyour deportment, and in your family, fortunes, and expectations, happy asa man can wish to be. Then the knowledge I had of you in Italy(although, give me leave to say, your conduct there was not whollyunexceptionable) convinces me that you are brave: and few gentlemen comeup to you in wit and vivacity. Your education has given you greatadvantages; your manners are engaging, and you have travelled; and Iknow, if you'll excuse me, you make better observations than you aregoverned by. All these qualifications make it not at all surprising thata young lady should love you: and that this love, joined to thatindiscreet warmth wherewith my cousin's friends would have forced herinclinations in favour of men who are far your inferiors in the qualitiesI have named, should throw herself upon your protection. But then, ifthere were these two strong motives, the one to induce, the other toimpel, her, let me ask you, Sir, if she were not doubly entitled togenerous usage from a man whom she chose for her protector; and whom, letme take the liberty to say, she could so amply reward for the protectionhe was to afford her?

  * See Vol. IV. Letter XIX.

  Lovel. Miss Clarissa Harlowe was entitled, Sir, to have the best usagethat man could give her. I have no scruple to own it. I will always doher the justice she so well deserves. I know what will be your inference;and have only to say, that time past cannot be recalled; perhaps I wishit could.

  The Colonel then, in a very manly strain, set forth the wickedness ofattempting a woman of virtue and character. He said, that men hadgenerally too many advantages from the weakness, credulity, andinexperience of the fair sex: that their early learning, which chieflyconsisted in inflaming novels, and idle and improbable romances,contributed to enervate and weaken their minds: that his cousin, however,he was sure, was above the reach of common seduction, and not to beinfluenced to the rashness her parents accused her of, by weaker motivesthan their violence, and the most solemn promises on my part: but,nevertheless, having those motives, and her prudence (eminent as it was)being rather the effect of constitution than experience, (a fineadvantage, however, he said, to ground an unblamable future life upon,)she might not be apprehensive of bad designs in a man she loved: it was,therefore, a very heinous thing to abuse the confidence of such a woman.

  He was going on in this trite manner; when, interrupting him, I said,These general observations, Colonel, suit not perhaps this particularcase. But you yourself are a man of gallantry; and, possibly, were youto be put to the question, might not be able to vindicate every action ofyour life, any more than I.

  Col. You are welcome, Sir, to put what questions you please to me.And, I thank God, I can both own an be ashamed of my errors.

  Lord M. looked at me; but as the Colonel did not by his manner seem tointend a reflection, I had no occasion to take it for one; especially asI can as readily own my errors, as he, or any man, can his, whetherashamed of them or not.

  He proceeded. As you seem to call upon me, Mr. Lovelace, I will tell you(without boasting of it) what has been my general practice, till lately,that I hope I have reformed it a good deal.

  I have taken liberties, which the laws of morality will by no meansjustify; and once I should have thought myself warranted to cut thethroat of any young fellow who should make as free with a sister of mineas I have made with the sisters and daughters of others. But then I tookcare never to promise any thing I intended not to perform. A modest earshould as soon have heard downright obscenity from my lips, as matrimony,if I had not intended it. Young ladies are generally ready enough tobelieve we mean honourably, if they love us; and it would look lie astrange affront to their virtue and charms, that it should be supposedneedful to put the question whether in your address you mean a wife. Butwhen once a man make a promise, I think it ought to be performed; and awoman is well warranted to appeal to every one against the perfidy of adeceiver; and is always sure to have the world on her side.

  Now, Sir, continued he, I believe you have so much honour as to own, thatyou could not have made way to so eminent a virtue, without promisingmarriage; and that very explicitly and solemnly--

  I know very well, Colonel, interrupted I, all you would say. You willexcuse me, I am sure, that I break in upon you, when you find it is toanswer the end you drive at.

  I own to you then that I have acted very unworthily by Miss ClarissaHarlowe; and I'll tell you farther, that I heartily repent of myingratitude and baseness to her. Nay, I will say still farther, that Iam so grossly culpable as to her, that even to plead that the abuses andaffronts I daily received from her implacable relations were in anymanner a provocation to me to act vilely by her, would be a mean and lowattempt to excuse myself--so low and so mean, that it would doublycondemn me. And if you can say worse, speak it.

  He looked upon Lord M. and then upon me, two or three times. And my Lordsaid, My kinsman speaks what he thinks, I'll answer for him.

  Lovel. I do, Sir; and what can I say more? And what farther, in youropinion, can be done?

  Col. Done! Sir? Why, Sir, [in a haughty tone he spoke,] I need nottell you that reparation follows repentance. And I hope you make noscruple of justifying your sincerity as to the one or the other.

  I hesitated, (for I relished not the manner of his speech, and hishaught
y accent,) as undetermined whether to take proper notice of it ornot.

  Col. Let me put this question to you, Mr. Lovelace: Is it true, as Ihave heard it is, that you would marry my cousin, if she would have you?--What say you, Sir?--

  This wound me up a peg higher.

  Lovel. Some questions, as they may be put, imply commands, Colonel. Iwould be glad to know how I am to take your's? And what is to be the endof your interrogatories?

  Col. My questions are not meant by me as commands, Mr. Lovelace. Theend is, to prevail upon a gentleman to act like a gentleman, and a man ofhonour.

  Lovel. (briskly) And by what arguments, Sir, do you propose to prevailupon me?

  Col. By what arguments, Sir, prevail upon a gentleman to act like agentleman!--I am surprised at that question from Mr. Lovelace.

  Lovel. Why so, Sir?

  Col. WHY so, Sir! (angrily)--Let me--

  Lovel. (interrupting) I don't choose, Colonel, to be repeated upon, inthat accent.

  Lord M. Come, come, gentlemen, I beg of you to be willing to understandone another. You young gentlemen are so warm--

  Col. Not I, my Lord--I am neither very young, nor unduly warm. Yournephew, my Lord, can make me be every thing he would have me to be.

  Lovel. And that shall be, whatever you please to be, Colonel.

  Col. (fiercely) The choice be your's, Mr. Lovelace. Friend or foe! asyou do or are willing to do justice to one of the finest women in theworld.

  Lord M. I guessed, from both your characters, what would be the casewhen you met. Let me interpose, gentlemen, and beg you but to understandone another. You both shoot at one mark; and, if you are patient, willboth hit it. Let me beg of you, Colonel, to give no challenges--

  Col. Challenges, my Lord!--They are things I ever was readier to acceptthan to offer. But does your Lordship think that a man, so nearlyrelated as I have the honour to be to the most accomplished woman onearth,--

  Lord M. (interrupting) We all allow the excellencies of the lady--andwe shall all take it as the greatest honour to be allied to her that canbe conferred upon us.

  Col. So you ought, my Lord!--

  A perfect Chamont; thought I.*

  * See Otway's Orphan.

  Lord M. So we ought, Colonel! and so we do!--and pray let every one doas he ought!--and no more than he ought; and you, Colonel, let me tellyou, will not be so hasty.

  Lovel. (coolly) Come, come, Col. Morden, don't let this dispute, whateveryou intend to make of it, go farther than with you and me. Youdeliver yourself in very high terms. Higher than ever I was talked to inmy life. But here, beneath this roof, 'twould be inexcusable for me totake that notice of it which, perhaps, it would become me to takeelsewhere.

  Col. That is spoken as I wish the man to speak whom I should be pleasedto call my friend, if all his actions were of a piece; and as I wouldhave the man speak whom I would think it worth my while to call my foe.I love a man of spirit, as I love my soul. But, Mr. Lovelace, as my Lordthinks we aim at one mark, let me say, that were we permitted to be alonefor six minutes, I dare say, we should soon understand one anotherperfectly well.--And he moved to the door.

  Lovel. I am entirely of your opinion, Sir; and will attend you.

  My Lord rung, and stept between us: Colonel, return, I beseech youreturn, said he: for he had stept out of the room while my Lord held me--Nephew, you shall not go out.

  The bell and my Lord's raised voice brought in Mowbray, and Clements, myLord's gentleman; the former in his careless way, with his hands behindhim, What's the matter, Bobby? What's the matter, my Lord?

  Only, only, only, stammered the agitated peer, these young gentlemen are,are, are--are young gentlemen, that's all.--Pray, Colonel Morden, [whoagain entered the room with a sedater aspect,] let this cause have a fairtrial, I beseech you.

  Col. With all my heart, my Lord.

  Mowbray whispered me, What is the cause, Bobby?--Shall I take thegentleman to task for thee, my boy?

  Not for the world, whispered I. The Colonel is a gentleman, and I desireyou'll not say one word.

  Well, well, well, Bobby, I have done. I can turn thee loose to the bestman upon God's earth; that's all, Bobby; strutting off to the other endof the room.

  Col. I am sorry, my Lord, I should give your Lordship the leastuneasiness. I came not with such a design.

  Lord M. Indeed, Colonel, I thought you did, by your taking fire soquickly. I am glad to hear you say you did not. How soon a little sparkkindles into a flame; especially when it meets with such combustiblespirits!

  Col. If I had had the least thought of proceeding to extremities, I amsure Mr. Lovelace would have given me the honour of a meeting where Ishould have been less an intruder: but I came with an amicable intention;to reconcile differences rather than to widen them.

  Lovel. Well then, Colonel Morden, let us enter upon the subject in yourown way. I don't know the man I should sooner choose to be upon termswith than one whom Miss Clarissa Harlowe so much respects. But I cannotbear to be treated, either in word or accent, in a menacing way.

  Lord M. Well, well, well, well, gentlemen, this is somewhat like.Angry men make to themselves beds of nettles, and, when they lie down inthem, are uneasy with every body. But I hope you are friends. Let mehear you say you are. I am persuaded, Colonel, that you don't know allthis unhappy story. You don't know how desirous my kinsman is, as wellas all of us, to have this matter end happily. You don't know, do you,Colonel, that Mr. Lovelace, at all our requests, is disposed to marry thelady?

  Col. At all your requests, my Lord?--I should have hoped that Mr.Lovelace was disposed to do justice for the sake of justice; and when atthe same time the doing of justice was doing himself the highest honour.

  Mowbray lifted up his before half-closed eyes to the Colonel, and glancedthem upon me.

  Lovel. This is in very high language, Colonel.

  Mowbr. By my soul, I thought so.

  Col. High language, Mr. Lovelace? Is it not just language?

  Lovel. It is, Colonel. And I think, the man that does honour to MissClarissa Harlowe, does me honour. But, nevertheless, there is a mannerin speaking, that may be liable to exception, where the words, withoutthat manner, can bear none.

  Col. Your observation in the general is undoubtedly just: but, if youhave the value for my cousin that you say you have, you must needs think--

  Lovel. You must allow me, Sir, to interrupt you--IF I have the value Isay I have--I hope, Sir, when I say I have that value, there is no roomfor that if, pronounced as you pronounced it with an emphasis.

  Col. You have broken in upon me twice, Mr. Lovelace. I am as littleaccustomed to be broken in upon, as you are to be repeated upon.

  Lord M. Two barrels of gunpowder, by my conscience! What a devil willit signify talking, if thus you are to blow one another up at every word?

  Lovel. No man of honour, my Lord, will be easy to have his veracitycalled into question, though but by implication.

  Col. Had you heard me out, Mr. Lovelace, you would have found, that myif was rather an if of inference, than of doubt. But 'tis, really astrange liberty gentlemen of free principles take; who at the same timethat they would resent unto death the imputation of being capable oftelling an untruth to a man, will not scruple to break through the mostsolemn oaths and promises to a woman. I must assure you, Mr. Lovelace,that I always made a conscience of my vows and promises.

  Lovel. You did right, Colonel. But let me tell you, Sir, that you knownot the man you talk to, if you imagine he is not able to rise to aproper resentment, when he sees his generous confessions taken for a markof base-spiritedness.

  Col. (warmly, and with a sneer,) Far be it from me, Mr. Lovelace, toimpute to you the baseness of spirit you speak of; for what would that bebut to imagine that a man, who has done a very flagrant injury, is notready to show his bravery in defending it--

  Mowbr. This is d----d severe, Colonel. I
t is, by Jove. I could nottake so much at the hands of any man breathing as Mr. Lovelace beforethis took at your's.

  Col. Who are you, Sir? What pretence have you to interpose in a causewhere there is an acknowledged guilt on one side, and the honour of aconsiderable family wounded in the tenderest part by that guilt on theother?

  Mowbr. (whispering to the Colonel) My dear child, you will oblige mehighly if you will give me the opportunity of answering your question.And was going out.

  The Colonel was held in by my Lord. And I brought in Mowbray.

  Col. Pray, my good Lord, let me attend this officious gentleman, Ibeseech you do. I will wait upon your Lordship in three minutes, dependupon it.

  Lovel. Mowbray, is this acting like a friend by me, to suppose meincapable of answering for myself? And shall a man of honour andbravery, as I know Colonel Morden to be, (rash as perhaps in this visithe has shown himself,) have it to say, that he comes to my Lord M.'shouse, in a manner naked as to attendants and friends, and shall not forthat reason be rather borne with than insulted? This moment, my dearMowbray, leave us. You have really no concern in this business; and ifyou are my friend, I desire you'll ask the Colonel pardon for interferingin it in the manner you have done.

  Mowbr. Well, well, Bob.; thou shalt be arbiter in this matter; I know Ihave no business in it--and, Colonel, (holding out his hand,) I leave youto one who knows how to defend his own cause as well as any man inEngland.

  Col. (taking Mowbray's hand, at Lord M.'s request,) You need not tellme that, Mr. Mowbray. I have no doubt of Mr. Lovelace's ability todefend his own cause, were it a cause to be defended. And let me tellyou, Mr. Lovelace, that I am astonished to think that a brave man, and agenerous man, as you have appeared to be in two or three instances thatyou have given in the little knowledge I have of you, should be capableof acting as you have done by the most excellent of her sex.

  Lord M. Well, but, gentlemen, now Mr. Mowbray is gone, and you haveboth shown instances of courage and generosity to boot, let me desire youto lay your heads together amicably, and think whether there be any thingto be done to make all end happily for the lady?

  Lovel. But hold, my Lord, let me say one thing, now Mowbray is gone;and that is, that I think a gentleman ought not to put up tamely one ortwo severe things that the Colonel has said.

  Lord M. What the devil canst thou mean? I thought all had been over.Why thou hast nothing to do but to confirm to the Colonel that thou artwilling to marry Miss Harlowe, if she will have thee.

  Col. Mr. Lovelace will not scruple to say that, I suppose,notwithstanding all that has passed: but if you think, Mr. Lovelace, Ihave said any thing I should not have said, I suppose it is this, thatthe man who has shown so little of the thing honour, to a defencelessunprotected woman, ought not to stand so nicely upon the empty name ofit, with a man who is expostulating with him upon it. I am sorry to havecause to say this, Mr. Lovelace; but I would, on the same occasion,repeat it to a king upon his throne, and surrounded by all his guards.

  Lord M. But what is all this, but more sacks upon the mill? more coalsupon the fire? You have a mind to quarrel both of you, I see that. Areyou not willing, Nephew, are you not most willing, to marry this lady, ifshe can be prevailed upon to have you?

  Lovel. D---n me, my Lord, if I'd marry my empress upon such treatmentas this.

  Lord M. Why now, Bob., thou art more choleric than the Colonel. It washis turn just now. And now you see he is cool, you are all gunpowder.

  Lovel. I own the Colonel has many advantages over me; but, perhaps,there is one advantage he has not, if it were put to the trial.

  Col. I came not hither, as I said before, to seek the occasion: but ifit were offered me, I won't refuse it--and since we find we disturb mygood Lord M. I'll take my leave, and will go home by the way of St.Alban's.

  Lovel. I'll see you part of the way, with all my heart, Colonel.

  Col. I accept your civility very cheerfully, Mr. Lovelace.

  Lord M. (interposing again, as we were both for going out,) And whatwill this do, gentlemen? Suppose you kill one another, will the matterbe bettered or worsted by that? Will the lady be made happier orunhappier, do you think, by either or both of your deaths? Yourcharacters are too well known to make fresh instances of the courage ofeither needful. And, I think, if the honour of the lady is your view,Colonel, it can by no other way so effectually promoted as by marriage.And, Sir, if you would use your interest with her, it is very probablethat you may succeed, though nobody else can.

  Lovel. I think, my Lord, I have said all that a man can say, (sincewhat is passed cannot be recalled:) and you see Colonel Morden rises inproportion to my coolness, till it is necessary for me to assert myself,or even he would despise me.

  Lord M. Let me ask you, Colonel, have you any way, any method, that youthink reasonable and honourable to propose, to bring about areconciliation with the lady? That is what we all wish for. And I cantell you, Sir, it is not a little owing to her family, and to theirimplacable usage of her, that her resentments are heightened against mykinsman; who, however, has used her vilely; but is willing to repair herwrongs.--

  Lovel. Not, my Lord, for the sake of her family; nor for thisgentleman's haughty behaviour; but for her own sake, and in full sense ofthe wrongs I have done her.

  Col. As to my haughty behaviour, as you call it, Sir, I am mistaken ifyou would not have gone beyond it in the like case of a relation someritorious, and so unworthily injured. And, Sir, let me tell you, thatif your motives are not love, honour, and justice, and if they have theleast tincture of mean compassion for her, or of an uncheerful assent onyour part, I am sure it will neither be desired or accepted by a personof my cousin's merit and sense; nor shall I wish that it should.

  Lovel. Don't think, Colonel, that I am meanly compounding off a debate,that I should as willingly go through with you as to eat or drink, if Ihave the occasion given me for it: but thus much I will tell you, that myLord, that Lady Sarah Sadleir, Lady Betty Lawrance, my two cousinsMontague, and myself, have written to her in the most solemn and sinceremanner, to offer her such terms as no one but herself would refuse, andthis long enough before Colonel Morden's arrival was dreamt of.

  Col. What reason, Sir, may I ask, does she give, against listening toso powerful a mediation, and to such offers?

  Lovel. It looks like capitulating, or else--

  Col. It looks not like any such thing to me, Mr. Lovelace, who have asgood an opinion of your spirit as man can have. And what, pray, is thepart I act, and my motives for it? Are they not, in desiring thatjustice may be done to my Cousin Clarissa Harlowe, that I seek toestablish the honour of Mrs. Lovelace, if matters can once be brought tobear?

  Lovel. Were she to honour me with her acceptance of that name, Mr.Morden, I should not want you or any man to assert the honour of Mrs.Lovelace.

  Col. I believe it. But still she has honoured you with thatacceptance, she is nearer to me than to you, Mr. Lovelace. And I speakthis, only to show you that, in the part I take, I mean rather to deserveyour thanks than your displeasure, though against yourself, were thereoccasion. Nor ought you take it amiss, if you rightly weigh the matter:For, Sir, whom does a lady want protection against but her injurers? Andwho has been her greatest injurer?--Till, therefore, she becomes entitledto your protection, as your wife, you yourself cannot refuse me somemerit in wishing to have justice done my cousin. But, Sir, you weregoing to say, that if it were not to look like capitulating, you wouldhint the reasons my cousin gives against accepting such an honourablemediation?

  I then told him of my sincere offers of marriage: 'I made no difficulty,I said, to own my apprehensions, that my unhappy behaviour to her hadgreatly affected her: but that it was the implacableness of her friendsthat had thrown her into despair, and given her a contempt for life.' Itold him, 'that she had been so good as to send me a letter to divert mefrom a visit my heart was set upon making her: a letter on which I bu
iltgreat hopes, because she assured me that in it she was going to herfather's; and that I might see her there, when she was received, if itwere not my own fault.

  Col. Is it possible? And were you, Sir, thus earnest? And did shesend you such a letter?

  Lord M. confirmed both; and also, that, in obedience to her desires, andthat intimation, I had come down without the satisfaction I had proposedto myself in seeing her.

  It is very true, Colonel, said I: and I should have told you this before:but your heat made me decline it; for, as I said, it had an appearance ofmeanly capitulating with you. An abjectness of heart, of which, had Ibeen capable, I should have despised myself as much as I might haveexpected you would despise me.

  Lord M. proposed to enter into the proof of all this. He said, in hisphraseological way, That one story was good till another was heard; andthat the Harlowe family and I, 'twas true, had behaved like so manyOrsons to one another; and that they had been very free with all ourfamily besides: that nevertheless, for the lady's sake, more than fortheir's, or even for mine, (he could tell me,) he would do greater thingsfor me than they could ask, if she could be brought to have me: and thatthis he wanted to declare, and would sooner have declared, if he couldhave brought us sooner to patience, and a good understanding.

  The Colonel made excuses for his warmth, on the score of his affection tohis cousin.

  My regard for her made me readily admit them: and so a fresh bottle ofBurgundy, and another of Champagne, being put upon the table, we sat downin good humour, after all this blustering, in order to enter closer intothe particulars of the case: which I undertook, at both their desires, todo.

  But these things must be the subject of another letter, which shallimmediately follow this, if it do not accompany it.

  Mean time you will observe that a bad cause gives a man greatdisadvantages: for I myself thing that the interrogatories put to me withso much spirit by the Colonel made me look cursedly mean; at the sametime that it gave him a superiority which I know not how to allow to thebest man in Europe. So that, literally speaking, as a good man wouldinfer, guilt is its own punisher: in that it makes the most lofty spiritlook like the miscreant he is--a good man, I say: So, Jack, prolepticallyI add, thou hast no right to make the observation.