The Moonstone Page 32
CHAPTER VI
(1.) "Miss Clack presents her compliments to Mr. Franklin Blake; and, insending him the fifth chapter of her humble narrative, begs to say thatshe feels quite unequal to enlarge as she could wish on an event soawful, under the circumstances, as Lady Verinder's death. She has,therefore, attached to her own manuscripts, copious Extracts fromprecious publications in her possession, all bearing on this terriblesubject. And may those Extracts (Miss Clack fervently hopes) soundas the blast of a trumpet in the ears of her respected kinsman, Mr.Franklin Blake."
(2.) "Mr. Franklin Blake presents his compliments to Miss Clack, andbegs to thank her for the fifth chapter of her narrative. In returningthe extracts sent with it, he will refrain from mentioning any personalobjection which he may entertain to this species of literature, andwill merely say that the proposed additions to the manuscript are notnecessary to the fulfilment of the purpose that he has in view."
(3.) "Miss Clack begs to acknowledge the return of her Extracts. Sheaffectionately reminds Mr. Franklin Blake that she is a Christian, andthat it is, therefore, quite impossible for him to offend her. MissC. persists in feeling the deepest interest in Mr. Blake, and pledgesherself, on the first occasion when sickness may lay him low, to offerhim the use of her Extracts for the second time. In the meanwhileshe would be glad to know, before beginning the final chapters of hernarrative, whether she may be permitted to make her humble contributioncomplete, by availing herself of the light which later discoveries havethrown on the mystery of the Moonstone."
(4.) "Mr. Franklin Blake is sorry to disappoint Miss Clack. He can onlyrepeat the instructions which he had the honour of giving her whenshe began her narrative. She is requested to limit herself to her ownindividual experience of persons and events, as recorded in her diary.Later discoveries she will be good enough to leave to the pens of thosepersons who can write in the capacity of actual witnesses."
(5.) "Miss Clack is extremely sorry to trouble Mr. Franklin Blake withanother letter. Her Extracts have been returned, and the expression ofher matured views on the subject of the Moonstone has been forbidden.Miss Clack is painfully conscious that she ought (in the worldly phrase)to feel herself put down. But, no--Miss C. has learnt Perseverance inthe School of Adversity. Her object in writing is to know whether Mr.Blake (who prohibits everything else) prohibits the appearance of thepresent correspondence in Miss Clack's narrative? Some explanation ofthe position in which Mr. Blake's interference has placed her as anauthoress, seems due on the ground of common justice. And Miss Clack, onher side, is most anxious that her letters should be produced to speakfor themselves."
(6.) "Mr. Franklin Blake agrees to Miss Clack's proposal, on theunderstanding that she will kindly consider this intimation of hisconsent as closing the correspondence between them."
(7.) "Miss Clack feels it an act of Christian duty (before thecorrespondence closes) to inform Mr. Franklin Blake that his lastletter--evidently intended to offend her--has not succeeded inaccomplishing the object of the writer. She affectionately requests Mr.Blake to retire to the privacy of his own room, and to consider withhimself whether the training which can thus elevate a poor weak womanabove the reach of insult, be not worthy of greater admiration than heis now disposed to feel for it. On being favoured with an intimation tothat effect, Miss C. solemnly pledges herself to send back the completeseries of her Extracts to Mr. Franklin Blake."
[To this letter no answer was received. Comment is needless.
(Signed) DRUSILLA CLACK.]