The Diftreffes that may attend the MrsCONDUCT "In Relation to MARRIAGE. VOL. VIII. THE SIXTH EDITION. LONDON: Printed for J. and F. RIVINGTON, R. BALDWIN, S. CROWDER, 6.33. THE HISTORY O F CLARISSA HARLOWE. I VOL. VIII. LETTER I. Mr. BELFORD, TO ROBERT LOVELACE, Ef Thursday Night. MAY as well try to write; fince, were I to go to bed, I fhall not fleep. I never had fuch a weight of grief upon my mind in my life, as upon the demife of this admirable woman; whofe foul is now rejoicing in the regions of light. You may be glad to know the particulars of her happy Exit. I will try to proceed; for all is hufh and ftill, the family retired; but not one of them, and leaft of all her poor Coufin, I dare fay, to reft. At four o'clock, as I mentioned in my laft, I was fent for down; and, as thou usedft to like my defcrip tions, I will give thee the woeful scene that presented itfelf to me, as I approached the bed. The Colonel was the first that took my attention, kneeling on the fide of the bed, the Lady's right-hand in both his, which his face covered, bathing it with his tears; altho' fhe had been comforting him, as the women fince told me, in elevated strains, but broken accents. On the other fide of the bed fat the good Widow; her face overwhelmed with tears, leaning her head against the bed's head in a moft difconfolate manner; and turning her face to me, as foon as the faw me, O Mr. Belford, cried fhe, with folded hands-The dear Lady-A heavy fob permitted her not to fay more. Mrs. Smith, with clafped fingers, and uplifted eyes, as if imploring help from the Only Power which could give it, was kneeling down at the bed's feet, tears in large drops trickling down her cheeks. Her Nurfe was kneeling between the Widow and Mrs. Smith, her arms extended. In one hand fhe held an ineffectual cordial, which she had just been offering to her dying miftrefs; her face was fwoln with weeping (tho' ufed to fuch scenes as this); and fhe turned her eyes towards me, as if the called upon me by them to join in the helplefs forrow; a fresh ftream bursting from them as I approached the bed. The Maid of the houfe, with her face upon her folded arms, as the ftood leaning against the wainscot, more audibly expreffed her grief than any of the others. The Lady had been filent a few minutes, and fpeechlefs as they thought, moving her lips without uttering a word; one hand, as I faid, in her Coufin's. But when Mrs. Lovick on my approach pronounced my name, Oh!. Mr. Belford, faid fhe, with a faint inward voice, but very diftinct neverthelefs--Now! -Now! [in broken periods fhe fpoke]-I blefs God for his mercies to his poor creature-will all foon be over-A few-A very few moments-will end this Arife And I fhall be happy! Comfort Comfort here, Sir-turning her head to the Colonel -Comfort my Coufin-See-the blame-able kindness-He would not with me to be happy-fo foon! Here the ftopt, for two or three minutes, earnestly looking upon him: Then refuming, My deareft Coufin, faid the, be comforted-What is dying but the common lot? The mortal frame may feem to labour-But that is all! It is not fo hard to die, as I believed it to be!-The Preparation is the difficulty-I blefs God, I have had time for That-The reftis worse to beholders, than to me!-I am all bleffed hope-Hope itself. She looked what the faid, a fweet smile beaming over her countenance. After a fhort filence, Once more, my dear Coufin, faid fhe, but ftill in broken accents commend me most dutifully to my Father and Mother-There the ftopt And then proceeding To my Sifter, To my Brother, To my Uncles-And tell them, I blefs them with my parting breath for all their goodnefs to me-Even for their difpleasure, I blefs them-Most happy has been to me my punishment here! Happy indeed! She was filent for a few moments, lifting up her eyes, and the hand her Coufin held not between his. Then, O death! faid fhe, where is thy fting! [The words I remember to have heard in the Burial-fervice read over my Uncle and poor Belton]. And after a paufe-It is good for me that I was afflicted! Words of Scripture, Lfuppofe. Then turning towards us, who were loft in speechlefs forrow-O dear, dear gentlemen, faid the, you' know not what foretastes---what affurances-And there fhe again ftopt, and looked up, as if in a thankful rapture, fweetly fmiling. Then turning her head towards me---Do you, Sir, tell your friend, that I forgive him! And I pray to God to forgive him!--- Again paufing, and lifting up her eyes, as if praying that He would. Let him know how happily I die :---And that fuch as my own, I with to be his last hour. B3 She |