LETTER III

MISS HOWE, TO MISS CLARISSA HARLOWE
TUESDAY MORN. 7 O'CLOCK


My mother and cousin are already gone off in our chariot and four,
attended by their doughty 'squire on horseback, and he by two of his
own servants, and one of my mother's. They both love parade when they
go abroad, at least in compliment to one another; which shews, that
each thinks the other does. Robin is your servant and mine, and
nobody's else--and the day is all my own.

I must begin with blaming you, my dear, for your resolution not to
litigate for your right, if occasion were to be given you. Justice is
due to ourselves, as well as to every body else. Still more must I
blame you for declaring to your aunt and sister, that you will not:
since (as they will tell it to your father and brother) the
declaration must needs give advantage to spirits who have so little of
that generosity for which you are so much distinguished.

There never was a spirit in the world that would insult where it
dared, but it would creep and cringe where it dared not. Let me
remind you of a sentence of your own, the occasion for which I have
forgotten: 'That little spirits will always accommodate themselves to
the temper of those they would work upon: will fawn upon a sturdy-
tempered person: will insult the meek:'--And another given to Miss
Biddulph, upon an occasion you cannot forget:--'If we assume a dignity
in what we say and do, and take care not to disgrace by arrogance our
own assumption, every body will treat us with respect and deference.'