Works of Samuel Richardson (Volume 4, PT. 1); The History of Clarissa Harlowe (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1883. Excerpt: ... LETTER XXX. Miss Clarissa Harlowe to Miss Howe. Sunday Night, March 12. This man, this Lovelace, gives me great uneasiness. He is extremely bold and rash. He was this afternoon at our church--in hopes to see me, I. suppose: and yet, if he had such hopes, his usual intelligence must have failed him. Shorey was at church; and a principal part of her observation was upon his haughty and proud behaviour when he turned round in the pew where he sat to our family pew. My father and both my uncles were there; so were my mother and sister. My brother happily was not.-- They all came home in disorder. Nor did the congregation mind anybody but him; it being his first appearance there since the unhappy rencounter. What did the man come for, if he intended to look challenge and defiance, as Shorey says he did, and as others, it seems, thought he did, as well as she? Did he come for my sake? and by behaving in such a manner to those present of my family, imagine he was doing me either service or pleasure ?--He knows how they hate him: nor will he take pains, would pains do, to obviate their hatred. You and I, my dear, have often taken notice of his pride; and you have rallied him upon it; and instead of exculpating himself, he has owned it: and by owning it he has thought he has done enough. For my own part, I thought pride in his case an improper subject for raillery.--People of birth and fortune to be proud, is so needless, so mean a vice --If they deserve respect, they will have it, without requiring it. In other words, for persons to endeavour to gain respect by a haughty behaviour, is to give a proof that they mistrust their own merit: to make confession that they know that their actions will not attract it.--Distinction or quality may be prided in by those to whom distinction or quality is...