Farther triumphs over the Harlowes. Similitude of the spider and fly. Is
for having separate churches as well as separate boarding-schools for the
sexes. The women ought to love him, he says: and why. Prides himself that
they do.

LETTER XV. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Particulars of an angry conference with Lovelace. Seeing her sincerely
displeased, he begs the ceremony may immediately pass. He construes her
bashful silence into anger, and vows a sacred regard to her injunctions.

LETTER XVI. XVII. XVIII. Lovelace to Belford.--
The pleasure of a difficult chace. Triumphs in the distress and
perplexity he gave her by his artful and parading offer of marriage. His
reasons for and against doing her justice. Resolves to try her to the
utmost. The honour of the whole sex concerned in the issue of her trial.
Matrimony, he sees, is in his power, now she is.

LETTER XIX. Miss Howe to Clarissa.--
Will not obey her mother in her prohibition of their correspondence: and
why. Is charmed with her spirit.

LETTER XX. Clarissa to Miss Howe.--
Knows not what she can do with Lovelace. He may thank himself for the
trouble he has had on her account. Did she ever, she asks, make him any
promises? Did she ever receive him as a lover?

LETTER XXI. XXII. From the same.--
She calls upon Lovelace to give her a faithful account of the noise and
voices she heard at the garden-door, which frightened her away with him.
His confession, and daring hints in relation to Solmes, and her brother,