MihaElla ’s Reviews > Clarissa, or, The History of a Young Lady > Status Update

No wonder, while able, that she was always writing, since thus only of late could she employ that time, which heretofore, from the long days she made, caused so many beautiful works to spring from her fingers. It is my opinion, that there never was a woman so young, who wrote so much, and with such celerity.

“I never heard of such a woman in my life. What great matters has she suffered, that grief should kill her thus?
I wish the poor fellow had never known her. From first to last, what troubles she has cost him! The charming fellow has been half lost to us ever since he pursued her. And what is there in one woman more than another, for matter of that?”

And now, sir, when I survey this long letter, [Note: And here, by way of note, permit me to say, that no sermon I ever composed cost me half the pains that this letter hath done—but I knew your great appetite after, as well as admiration of, the ancient wisdom, which you so justly prefer to the modern—and indeed I join with you to think, that the modern is only borrowed, (as the moon doth its light from the sun)

“I pretend to be (now by use) the swiftest shorthand writer in England, next to yourself. But were matter to arise every hour to write upon, and I had nothing else to do, I cannot write so fast as you expect. And let it be remembered, that your servants cannot bring letters or messages before they are written or sent.

J. Belford.”

“There is something owing to constitution, I own; and that this is the laughing-time of my life. For what a woe must that be, which for an hour together can mortify a man of six or seven-and-twenty, in high blood and spirits, of a naturally gay disposition; who can sing, dance, and scribble, and take and give delight in them all?”

“The dear soul used to love humour. I remember the time that she knew how to smile at a piece of a-propos humour. And, let me tell thee, a smile upon the lips, or a sparkling in the eye, must have had its correspondent cheerfulness in a heart so sincere as hers.”

“A jest I call all that has passed between her and me; a mere jest to die for—For has not her triumph over me, from first to last, been infinitely greater than her sufferings from me?”

“While I waited for a chair, Mrs Smith came down, and told me that there were devices and inscriptions upon the lid. Lord bless me! is a coffin a proper subject to display fancy upon?—But these great minds cannot avoid doing extraordinary things!”

I, in a manner, am stunned 😳 know not why, except, at the unusualness of the thing

“I love to do everything for myself that I can do. I ever did.”

Wow! This young lady outdid herself: she ordered a coffin and they brought it to her room during day time. A shocking scene to all… Well, I guess that’s a very extensive meaning for “I love to do everything for myself that I can do…”!

[…] She is to send me a letter after she is in Heaven, is she? The devil take such allegories, and the devil take thee for calling this absurdity an innocent artifice!