***
Thou seest how seasonably this letter comes. I hope my Lord will write nothing but what I may show to my beloved. I have actually sent her up this letter of Charlotte's, and hope for happy effects from it.
R.L. ***
[The Lady, in her next letter, gives Miss Howe an account of what passed
between Mr. Lovelace and herself. She resents his behaviour with her
usual dignity. But when she comes to mention Mr. Mennell's letter,
she re-urges Miss Howe to perfect her scheme for her deliverance;
being resolved to leave him. But, dating again, on his sending up to
her Miss Montague's letter, she alters her mind, and desires her to
suspend for the present her application to Mrs. Townsend.]
I had begun, says she, to suspect all he had said of Mrs. Fretchville and her house; and even Mr. Mennell himself, though so well-appearing a man. But now that I find Mr. Lovelace has apprized his relations of his intent to take it, and had engaged some of the ladies to visit me there, I could hardly forbear blaming myself for censuring him as capable of so vile an imposture. But may he not thank himself for acting so very unaccountably, and taking such needlessly-awry steps, as he had done, embarrassing, as I told him, his own meanings, if they were good?
LETTER L
MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ. WEDNESDAY, MAY 24.
[He gives his friend an account of their interview that morning; and of
the happy effects of his cousin Montague's letter in his favour. Her
reserves, however, he tells him, are not absolutely banished. But
this he imputes to form.]
It is not in the power of woman, says he, to be altogether sincere on these occasions. But why?—Do they think it so great a disgrace to be found out to be really what they are?