A letter from Miss Howe to Clarissa falls into his hands; which, had it
come to her's, would have laid open and detected all his designs. In it
she acquits Clarissa of prudery, coquetry, and undue reserve. Admires,
applauds, blesses her for the example she has set for her sex, and for
the credit she has done it, by her conduct in the most difficult
situations.

[This letter may be considered as a kind of summary of Clarissa's trials,
her persecutions, and exemplary conduct hitherto; and of Mr. Lovelace's
intrigues, plots, and views, so far as Miss Howe could be supposed to
know them, or to guess at them.]

A letter from Lovelace, which farther shows the fertility of his
contriving genius.

LETTER XXI. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Informs her of Lovelace's villany, and of her escape. Her only concern,
what. The course she intends to pursue.

LETTER XXII. Lovelace to Belford.--
Exults on hearing, from his man Will., that the lady has refuged herself
at Hampstead. Observations in a style of levity on some passages in the
letter she left behind her. Intimates that Tomlinson is arrived to aid
his purposes. The chariot is come; and now, dressed like a bridegroom,
attended by a footman she never saw, he is already, he says, at
Hampstead.

LETTER XXIII. XXIV. Lovelace to Belford.--
Exults on his contrivances.--By what means he gets into the lady's
presence at Mrs. Moore's. Her terrors, fits, exclamations. His