LETTER XVII
TO MISS HARLOWE
Now may you, my dear Arabella, unrestrained by the severity of yourvirtue, let fall a pitying tear on the past faults and sufferings ofyour late unhappy sister; since, now, she can never offend you more.The Divine mercy, which first inspired her with repentance (an earlyrepentance it was; since it preceded her sufferings) for an error whichshe offers not to extenuate, although perhaps it were capable of someextenuation, has now, as the instant that you are reading this, as Ihumbly hope, blessed her with the fruits of it.
Thus already, even while she writes, in imagination purified and exalted,she the more fearlessly writes to her sister; and now is assured ofpardon for all those little occasions of displeasure which her forwarderyouth might give you; and for the disgrace which her fall has fastenedupon you, and upon her family.
May you, my Sister, continue to bless those dear and honoured relations,whose indulgence so well deserves your utmost gratitude, with thosecheerful instances of duty and obedience which have hitherto been soacceptable to them, and praise-worthy in you! And may you, when asuitable proposal shall offer, fill up more worthily that chasm, whichthe loss they have sustained in me has made in the family!
Thus, my Arabella! my only sister! and for many happy years, my friend!most fervently prays that sister, whose affection for you, no acts, nounkindness, no misconstruction of her conduct, could cancel! And whoNOW, made perfect (as she hopes) through sufferings, styles herself,
The happyCLARISSA HARLOWE.