thought, by her accent: but I heard not the words.

Such a strange perseverance in a measure so unreasonable!--But my
brother and sister are continually misrepresenting all I say and do;
and I am deprived of the opportunity of defending myself!--My sister
says,* that had they thought me such a championess, they you not have
engaged with me: and now, not knowing how to reconcile my supposed
obstinacy with my general character and natural temper, they seem to
hope to tire me out, and resolve to vary their measures accordingly.
My brother, you see,** is determined to carry this point, or to
abandon Harlowe-place, and never to see it more. So they are to lose
a son, or to conquer a daughter--the perversest and most ungrateful
that ever parents had!--This is the light he places things in: and has
undertaken, it seems, to subdue me, if his advice should be followed.
It will be farther tried; of that I am convinced; and what will be
their next measure, who can divine?


* See Letter XLII. of Vol. I.
** Ibid.


I shall dispatch, with this, my answer to your's of Sunday last, begun
on Monday;* but which is not yet quite finished. It is too long to
copy: I have not time for it. In it I have been very free with you,
my dear, in more places than one. I cannot say that I am pleased with
all I have written--yet will not now alter it. My mind is not at ease
enough for the subject. Don't be angry with me. Yet, if you can excuse
one or two passages, it will be because they were written by