Clarissa Harlowe; or the history of a young lady — Volume 6

  LETTER V

  MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.SUNDAY AFTERNOON.

  O Belford! what a hair's-breadth escape have I had!--Such a one, that Itremble between terror and joy, at the thought of what might havehappened, and did not.

  What a perverse girl is this, to contend with her fate; yet has reasonto think, that her very stars fight against her! I am the luckiest ofme!--But my breath almost fails me, when I reflect upon what a slenderthread my destiny hung.

  But not to keep thee in suspense; I have, within this half-hour, obtainedpossession of the expected letter from Miss Howe--and by such anaccident! But here, with the former, I dispatch this; thy messengerwaiting.