family of a man at enmity with her own, on the other. Her emotions
behind the yew-hedge on seeing her father going into the garden.
Grieved at what she hears him say. Dutiful message to her mother.
Harshly answered. She censures Mr. Lovelace for his rash threatenings
to rescue her. Justifies her friends for resenting them; and condemns
herself for corresponding with him at first.

LETTER XXXVII. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
Is vexed at the heart to be obliged to tell her that her mother
refuses to receive and protect her. Offers to go away privately with
her.

LETTER XXXVIII. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Her disinterested arguments in Mrs. Howe's favour, on her refusal to
receive her. All her consolation is, that her unhappy situation is
not owing to her own inadvertence of folly. Is afraid she is singled
out, either for her own faults, or for those of her family, or perhaps
for the faults of both, to be a very unhappy creature. Justifies the
ways of Providence, let what will befal her: and argues with exemplary
greatness of mind on this subject. Warmly discourages Miss Howe's
motion to accompany her in her flight.

LETTER XXXIX. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Further instances of her impartiality in condemning Lovelace, and
reasoning for her parents. Overhears her brother and sister exulting
in the success of their schemes; and undertaking, the one to keep his
father up to his resentment on occasion of Lovelace's menaces, the
other her mother. Exasperated at this, and at what her aunt Hervey
tells her, she writes to Lovelace, that she will meet him the
following Monday, and throw herself into the protection of the ladies