LETTER LXXVI
MISS MONTAGUE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE[IN ANSWER TO HER'S OF AUG. 3. SEE LETTER LXVIII. OF THIS VOLUME.]MONDAY, AUG. 7.
DEAR MADAM,
We were all of opinion, before your letter came, that Mr. Lovelace wasutterly unworthy of you, and deserved condign punishment, rather than tobe blessed with such a wife: and hoped far more from your kindconsideration for us, than any we supposed you could have for so base aninjurer. For we were all determined to love you, and admire you, let hisbehaviour to you be what it would.
But, after your letter, what can be said?
I am, however, commanded to write in all the subscribing names, to letyou know how greatly your sufferings have affected us: to tell you thatmy Lord M. has forbid him ever more to enter the doors of the apartmentswhere he shall be: and as you labour under the unhappy effects of yourfriends' displeasure, which may subject you to inconveniencies, hisLordship, and Lady Sarah, and Lady Betty, beg of you to accept, for yourlife, or, at least, till you are admitted to enjoy your own estate, ofone hundred guineas per quarter, which will be regularly brought you byan especial hand, and of the enclosed bank-bill for a beginning. And donot, dearest Madam, we all beseech you, do not think you are beholden(for this token of Lord M.'s, and Lady Sarah's, and Lady Betty's, love toyou) to the friends of this vile man; for he has not one friend leftamong us.
We each of us desire to be favoured with a place in your esteem; and tobe considered upon the same foot of relationship as if what once was somuch our pleasure to hope would be, had been. And it shall be our unitedprayer, that you may recover health and spirits, and live to see manyhappy years: and, since this wretch can no more be pleaded for, that,when he is gone abroad, as he now is preparing to do, we may be permittedthe honour of a personal acquaintance with a lady who has no equal.These are the earnest requests, dearest young lady, of
Your affectionate friends,and most faithful servants,M.SARAH SADLEIR.ELIZ. LAWRANCE.CHARL. MONTAGUE.MARTH. MONTAGUE.
You will break the hearts of the three first-named more particularly, if you refuse them your acceptance. Dearest young lady, punish not them for his crimes. We send by a particular hand, which will bring us, we hope, your accepting favour.
Mr. Lovelace writes by the same hand; but he knows nothing of our letter, nor we of his: for we shun each other; and one part of the house holds us, another him, the remotest from each other.