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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/946-0.txt b/946-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9e13c0d --- /dev/null +++ b/946-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2548 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 946 *** + + + + +LADY SUSAN + +by Jane Austen + + + + +CONTENTS + + I + II + III + IV + V + VI + VII + VIII + IX + X + XI + XII + XIII + XIV + XV + XVI + XVII + XVIII + XIX + XX + XXI + XXII + XXIII + XXIV + XXV + XXVI + XXVII + XXVIII + XXIX + XXX + XXXI + XXXII + XXXIII + XXXIV + XXXV + XXXVI + XXXVII + XXXVIII + XXXIX + XL + XLI + CONCLUSION + + + + +I + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mr. Vernon._ + + +Langford, Dec. + + +MY DEAR BROTHER,—I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure of +profiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of spending some +weeks with you at Churchhill, and, therefore, if quite convenient to +you and Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few +days to be introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be +acquainted with. My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent +with me to prolong my stay, but their hospitable and cheerful +dispositions lead them too much into society for my present situation +and state of mind; and I impatiently look forward to the hour when I +shall be admitted into your delightful retirement. + +I long to be made known to your dear little children, in whose hearts I +shall be very eager to secure an interest. I shall soon have need for +all my fortitude, as I am on the point of separation from my own +daughter. The long illness of her dear father prevented my paying her +that attention which duty and affection equally dictated, and I have +too much reason to fear that the governess to whose care I consigned +her was unequal to the charge. I have therefore resolved on placing her +at one of the best private schools in town, where I shall have an +opportunity of leaving her myself in my way to you. I am determined, +you see, not to be denied admittance at Churchhill. It would indeed +give me most painful sensations to know that it were not in your power +to receive me. + +Your most obliged and affectionate sister, +S. VERNON. + + + + +II + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Langford. + + +You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing me fixed at this place +for the rest of the winter: it grieves me to say how greatly you were +mistaken, for I have seldom spent three months more agreeably than +those which have just flown away. At present, nothing goes smoothly; +the females of the family are united against me. You foretold how it +would be when I first came to Langford, and Mainwaring is so uncommonly +pleasing that I was not without apprehensions for myself. I remember +saying to myself, as I drove to the house, “I like this man, pray +Heaven no harm come of it!” But I was determined to be discreet, to +bear in mind my being only four months a widow, and to be as quiet as +possible: and I have been so, my dear creature; I have admitted no +one’s attentions but Mainwaring’s. I have avoided all general +flirtation whatever; I have distinguished no creature besides, of all +the numbers resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on whom I +bestowed a little notice, in order to detach him from Miss Mainwaring; +but, if the world could know my motive _there_ they would honour me. I +have been called an unkind mother, but it was the sacred impulse of +maternal affection, it was the advantage of my daughter that led me on; +and if that daughter were not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might +have been rewarded for my exertions as I ought. + +Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica; but Frederica, who +was born to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so +violently against the match that I thought it better to lay aside the +scheme for the present. I have more than once repented that I did not +marry him myself; and were he but one degree less contemptibly weak I +certainly should: but I must own myself rather romantic in that +respect, and that riches only will not satisfy me. The event of all +this is very provoking: Sir James is gone, Maria highly incensed, and +Mrs. Mainwaring insupportably jealous; so jealous, in short, and so +enraged against me, that, in the fury of her temper, I should not be +surprized at her appealing to her guardian, if she had the liberty of +addressing him: but there your husband stands my friend; and the +kindest, most amiable action of his life was his throwing her off for +ever on her marriage. Keep up his resentment, therefore, I charge you. +We are now in a sad state; no house was ever more altered; the whole +party are at war, and Mainwaring scarcely dares speak to me. It is time +for me to be gone; I have therefore determined on leaving them, and +shall spend, I hope, a comfortable day with you in town within this +week. If I am as little in favour with Mr. Johnson as ever, you must +come to me at 10 Wigmore street; but I hope this may not be the case, +for as Mr. Johnson, with all his faults, is a man to whom that great +word “respectable” is always given, and I am known to be so intimate +with his wife, his slighting me has an awkward look. + +I take London in my way to that insupportable spot, a country village; +for I am really going to Churchhill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is +my last resource. Were there another place in England open to me I +would prefer it. Charles Vernon is my aversion; and I am afraid of his +wife. At Churchhill, however, I must remain till I have something +better in view. My young lady accompanies me to town, where I shall +deposit her under the care of Miss Summers, in Wigmore street, till she +becomes a little more reasonable. She will made good connections there, +as the girls are all of the best families. The price is immense, and +much beyond what I can ever attempt to pay. + +Adieu, I will send you a line as soon as I arrive in town. + +Yours ever, +S. VERNON. + + + + +III + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,—I am very sorry to tell you that it will not be in our +power to keep our promise of spending our Christmas with you; and we +are prevented that happiness by a circumstance which is not likely to +make us any amends. Lady Susan, in a letter to her brother-in-law, has +declared her intention of visiting us almost immediately; and as such a +visit is in all probability merely an affair of convenience, it is +impossible to conjecture its length. I was by no means prepared for +such an event, nor can I now account for her ladyship’s conduct; +Langford appeared so exactly the place for her in every respect, as +well from the elegant and expensive style of living there, as from her +particular attachment to Mr. Mainwaring, that I was very far from +expecting so speedy a distinction, though I always imagined from her +increasing friendship for us since her husband’s death that we should, +at some future period, be obliged to receive her. Mr. Vernon, I think, +was a great deal too kind to her when he was in Staffordshire; her +behaviour to him, independent of her general character, has been so +inexcusably artful and ungenerous since our marriage was first in +agitation that no one less amiable and mild than himself could have +overlooked it all; and though, as his brother’s widow, and in narrow +circumstances, it was proper to render her pecuniary assistance, I +cannot help thinking his pressing invitation to her to visit us at +Churchhill perfectly unnecessary. Disposed, however, as he always is to +think the best of everyone, her display of grief, and professions of +regret, and general resolutions of prudence, were sufficient to soften +his heart and make him really confide in her sincerity; but, as for +myself, I am still unconvinced, and plausibly as her ladyship has now +written, I cannot make up my mind till I better understand her real +meaning in coming to us. You may guess, therefore, my dear madam, with +what feelings I look forward to her arrival. She will have occasion for +all those attractive powers for which she is celebrated to gain any +share of my regard; and I shall certainly endeavour to guard myself +against their influence, if not accompanied by something more +substantial. She expresses a most eager desire of being acquainted with +me, and makes very gracious mention of my children but I am not quite +weak enough to suppose a woman who has behaved with inattention, if not +with unkindness, to her own child, should be attached to any of mine. +Miss Vernon is to be placed at a school in London before her mother +comes to us which I am glad of, for her sake and my own. It must be to +her advantage to be separated from her mother, and a girl of sixteen +who has received so wretched an education, could not be a very +desirable companion here. Reginald has long wished, I know, to see the +captivating Lady Susan, and we shall depend on his joining our party +soon. I am glad to hear that my father continues so well; and am, with +best love, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + +IV + + +_Mr. De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon._ + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Sister,—I congratulate you and Mr. Vernon on being about to +receive into your family the most accomplished coquette in England. As +a very distinguished flirt I have always been taught to consider her, +but it has lately fallen in my way to hear some particulars of her +conduct at Langford: which prove that she does not confine herself to +that sort of honest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires +to the more delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable. +By her behaviour to Mr. Mainwaring she gave jealousy and wretchedness +to his wife, and by her attentions to a young man previously attached +to Mr. Mainwaring’s sister deprived an amiable girl of her lover. + +I learnt all this from Mr. Smith, now in this neighbourhood (I have +dined with him, at Hurst and Wilford), who is just come from Langford +where he was a fortnight with her ladyship, and who is therefore well +qualified to make the communication. + +What a woman she must be! I long to see her, and shall certainly accept +your kind invitation, that I may form some idea of those bewitching +powers which can do so much—engaging at the same time, and in the same +house, the affections of two men, who were neither of them at liberty +to bestow them—and all this without the charm of youth! I am glad to +find Miss Vernon does not accompany her mother to Churchhill, as she +has not even manners to recommend her; and, according to Mr. Smith’s +account, is equally dull and proud. Where pride and stupidity unite +there can be no dissimulation worthy notice, and Miss Vernon shall be +consigned to unrelenting contempt; but by all that I can gather Lady +Susan possesses a degree of captivating deceit which it must be +pleasing to witness and detect. I shall be with you very soon, and am +ever, + +Your affectionate brother, +R. DE COURCY. + + + + +V + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +I received your note, my dear Alicia, just before I left town, and +rejoice to be assured that Mr. Johnson suspected nothing of your +engagement the evening before. It is undoubtedly better to deceive him +entirely, and since he will be stubborn he must be tricked. I arrived +here in safety, and have no reason to complain of my reception from Mr. +Vernon; but I confess myself not equally satisfied with the behaviour +of his lady. She is perfectly well-bred, indeed, and has the air of a +woman of fashion, but her manners are not such as can persuade me of +her being prepossessed in my favour. I wanted her to be delighted at +seeing me. I was as amiable as possible on the occasion, but all in +vain. She does not like me. To be sure, when we consider that I _did_ +take some pains to prevent my brother-in-law’s marrying her, this want +of cordiality is not very surprizing, and yet it shows an illiberal and +vindictive spirit to resent a project which influenced me six years +ago, and which never succeeded at last. + +I am sometimes disposed to repent that I did not let Charles buy Vernon +Castle, when we were obliged to sell it; but it was a trying +circumstance, especially as the sale took place exactly at the time of +his marriage; and everybody ought to respect the delicacy of those +feelings which could not endure that my husband’s dignity should be +lessened by his younger brother’s having possession of the family +estate. Could matters have been so arranged as to prevent the necessity +of our leaving the castle, could we have lived with Charles and kept +him single, I should have been very far from persuading my husband to +dispose of it elsewhere; but Charles was on the point of marrying Miss +De Courcy, and the event has justified me. Here are children in +abundance, and what benefit could have accrued to me from his +purchasing Vernon? My having prevented it may perhaps have given his +wife an unfavourable impression, but where there is a disposition to +dislike, a motive will never be wanting; and as to money matters it has +not withheld him from being very useful to me. I really have a regard +for him, he is so easily imposed upon! The house is a good one, the +furniture fashionable, and everything announces plenty and elegance. +Charles is very rich I am sure; when a man has once got his name in a +banking-house he rolls in money; but they do not know what to do with +it, keep very little company, and never go to London but on business. +We shall be as stupid as possible. I mean to win my sister-in-law’s +heart through the children; I know all their names already, and am +going to attach myself with the greatest sensibility to one in +particular, a young Frederic, whom I take on my lap and sigh over for +his dear uncle’s sake. + +Poor Mainwaring! I need not tell you how much I miss him, how +perpetually he is in my thoughts. I found a dismal letter from him on +my arrival here, full of complaints of his wife and sister, and +lamentations on the cruelty of his fate. I passed off the letter as his +wife’s, to the Vernons, and when I write to him it must be under cover +to you. + +Ever yours, +S. VERNON. + + + + +VI + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Mr. De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +Well, my dear Reginald, I have seen this dangerous creature, and must +give you some description of her, though I hope you will soon be able +to form your own judgment. She is really excessively pretty; however +you may choose to question the allurements of a lady no longer young, I +must, for my own part, declare that I have seldom seen so lovely a +woman as Lady Susan. She is delicately fair, with fine grey eyes and +dark eyelashes; and from her appearance one would not suppose her more +than five and twenty, though she must in fact be ten years older. I was +certainly not disposed to admire her, though always hearing she was +beautiful; but I cannot help feeling that she possesses an uncommon +union of symmetry, brilliancy, and grace. Her address to me was so +gentle, frank, and even affectionate, that, if I had not known how much +she has always disliked me for marrying Mr. Vernon, and that we had +never met before, I should have imagined her an attached friend. One is +apt, I believe, to connect assurance of manner with coquetry, and to +expect that an impudent address will naturally attend an impudent mind; +at least I was myself prepared for an improper degree of confidence in +Lady Susan; but her countenance is absolutely sweet, and her voice and +manner winningly mild. I am sorry it is so, for what is this but +deceit? Unfortunately, one knows her too well. She is clever and +agreeable, has all that knowledge of the world which makes conversation +easy, and talks very well, with a happy command of language, which is +too often used, I believe, to make black appear white. She has already +almost persuaded me of her being warmly attached to her daughter, +though I have been so long convinced to the contrary. She speaks of her +with so much tenderness and anxiety, lamenting so bitterly the neglect +of her education, which she represents however as wholly unavoidable, +that I am forced to recollect how many successive springs her ladyship +spent in town, while her daughter was left in Staffordshire to the care +of servants, or a governess very little better, to prevent my believing +what she says. + +If her manners have so great an influence on my resentful heart, you +may judge how much more strongly they operate on Mr. Vernon’s generous +temper. I wish I could be as well satisfied as he is, that it was +really her choice to leave Langford for Churchhill; and if she had not +stayed there for months before she discovered that her friend’s manner +of living did not suit her situation or feelings, I might have believed +that concern for the loss of such a husband as Mr. Vernon, to whom her +own behaviour was far from unexceptionable, might for a time make her +wish for retirement. But I cannot forget the length of her visit to the +Mainwarings, and when I reflect on the different mode of life which she +led with them from that to which she must now submit, I can only +suppose that the wish of establishing her reputation by following +though late the path of propriety, occasioned her removal from a family +where she must in reality have been particularly happy. Your friend Mr. +Smith’s story, however, cannot be quite correct, as she corresponds +regularly with Mrs. Mainwaring. At any rate it must be exaggerated. It +is scarcely possible that two men should be so grossly deceived by her +at once. + +Yours, &c., +CATHERINE VERNON + + + + +VII + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Alicia,—You are very good in taking notice of Frederica, and I +am grateful for it as a mark of your friendship; but as I cannot have +any doubt of the warmth of your affection, I am far from exacting so +heavy a sacrifice. She is a stupid girl, and has nothing to recommend +her. I would not, therefore, on my account, have you encumber one +moment of your precious time by sending for her to Edward Street, +especially as every visit is so much deducted from the grand affair of +education, which I really wish to have attended to while she remains at +Miss Summers’s. I want her to play and sing with some portion of taste +and a good deal of assurance, as she has my hand and arm and a +tolerable voice. I was so much indulged in my infant years that I was +never obliged to attend to anything, and consequently am without the +accomplishments which are now necessary to finish a pretty woman. Not +that I am an advocate for the prevailing fashion of acquiring a perfect +knowledge of all languages, arts, and sciences. It is throwing time +away to be mistress of French, Italian, and German: music, singing, and +drawing, &c., will gain a woman some applause, but will not add one +lover to her list—grace and manner, after all, are of the greatest +importance. I do not mean, therefore, that Frederica’s acquirements +should be more than superficial, and I flatter myself that she will not +remain long enough at school to understand anything thoroughly. I hope +to see her the wife of Sir James within a twelvemonth. You know on what +I ground my hope, and it is certainly a good foundation, for school +must be very humiliating to a girl of Frederica’s age. And, by-the-by, +you had better not invite her any more on that account, as I wish her +to find her situation as unpleasant as possible. I am sure of Sir James +at any time, and could make him renew his application by a line. I +shall trouble you meanwhile to prevent his forming any other attachment +when he comes to town. Ask him to your house occasionally, and talk to +him of Frederica, that he may not forget her. Upon the whole, I commend +my own conduct in this affair extremely, and regard it as a very happy +instance of circumspection and tenderness. Some mothers would have +insisted on their daughter’s accepting so good an offer on the first +overture; but I could not reconcile it to myself to force Frederica +into a marriage from which her heart revolted, and instead of adopting +so harsh a measure merely propose to make it her own choice, by +rendering her thoroughly uncomfortable till she does accept him—but +enough of this tiresome girl. You may well wonder how I contrive to +pass my time here, and for the first week it was insufferably dull. +Now, however, we begin to mend, our party is enlarged by Mrs. Vernon’s +brother, a handsome young man, who promises me some amusement. There is +something about him which rather interests me, a sort of sauciness and +familiarity which I shall teach him to correct. He is lively, and seems +clever, and when I have inspired him with greater respect for me than +his sister’s kind offices have implanted, he may be an agreeable flirt. +There is exquisite pleasure in subduing an insolent spirit, in making a +person predetermined to dislike acknowledge one’s superiority. I have +disconcerted him already by my calm reserve, and it shall be my +endeavour to humble the pride of these self important De Courcys still +lower, to convince Mrs. Vernon that her sisterly cautions have been +bestowed in vain, and to persuade Reginald that she has scandalously +belied me. This project will serve at least to amuse me, and prevent my +feeling so acutely this dreadful separation from you and all whom I +love. + +Yours ever, +S. VERNON. + + + + +VIII + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,—You must not expect Reginald back again for some time. +He desires me to tell you that the present open weather induces him to +accept Mr. Vernon’s invitation to prolong his stay in Sussex, that they +may have some hunting together. He means to send for his horses +immediately, and it is impossible to say when you may see him in Kent. +I will not disguise my sentiments on this change from you, my dear +mother, though I think you had better not communicate them to my +father, whose excessive anxiety about Reginald would subject him to an +alarm which might seriously affect his health and spirits. Lady Susan +has certainly contrived, in the space of a fortnight, to make my +brother like her. In short, I am persuaded that his continuing here +beyond the time originally fixed for his return is occasioned as much +by a degree of fascination towards her, as by the wish of hunting with +Mr. Vernon, and of course I cannot receive that pleasure from the +length of his visit which my brother’s company would otherwise give me. +I am, indeed, provoked at the artifice of this unprincipled woman; what +stronger proof of her dangerous abilities can be given than this +perversion of Reginald’s judgment, which when he entered the house was +so decidedly against her! In his last letter he actually gave me some +particulars of her behaviour at Langford, such as he received from a +gentleman who knew her perfectly well, which, if true, must raise +abhorrence against her, and which Reginald himself was entirely +disposed to credit. His opinion of her, I am sure, was as low as of any +woman in England; and when he first came it was evident that he +considered her as one entitled neither to delicacy nor respect, and +that he felt she would be delighted with the attentions of any man +inclined to flirt with her. Her behaviour, I confess, has been +calculated to do away with such an idea; I have not detected the +smallest impropriety in it—nothing of vanity, of pretension, of levity; +and she is altogether so attractive that I should not wonder at his +being delighted with her, had he known nothing of her previous to this +personal acquaintance; but, against reason, against conviction, to be +so well pleased with her, as I am sure he is, does really astonish me. +His admiration was at first very strong, but no more than was natural, +and I did not wonder at his being much struck by the gentleness and +delicacy of her manners; but when he has mentioned her of late it has +been in terms of more extraordinary praise; and yesterday he actually +said that he could not be surprised at any effect produced on the heart +of man by such loveliness and such abilities; and when I lamented, in +reply, the badness of her disposition, he observed that whatever might +have been her errors they were to be imputed to her neglected education +and early marriage, and that she was altogether a wonderful woman. This +tendency to excuse her conduct or to forget it, in the warmth of +admiration, vexes me; and if I did not know that Reginald is too much +at home at Churchhill to need an invitation for lengthening his visit, +I should regret Mr. Vernon’s giving him any. Lady Susan’s intentions +are of course those of absolute coquetry, or a desire of universal +admiration; I cannot for a moment imagine that she has anything more +serious in view; but it mortifies me to see a young man of Reginald’s +sense duped by her at all. + +I am, &c., +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + +IX + + +_Mrs. Johnson to Lady S. Vernon._ + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,—I congratulate you on Mr. De Courcy’s arrival, and I +advise you by all means to marry him; his father’s estate is, we know, +considerable, and I believe certainly entailed. Sir Reginald is very +infirm, and not likely to stand in your way long. I hear the young man +well spoken of; and though no one can really deserve you, my dearest +Susan, Mr. De Courcy may be worth having. Mainwaring will storm of +course, but you easily pacify him; besides, the most scrupulous point +of honour could not require you to wait for _his_ emancipation. I have +seen Sir James; he came to town for a few days last week, and called +several times in Edward Street. I talked to him about you and your +daughter, and he is so far from having forgotten you, that I am sure he +would marry either of you with pleasure. I gave him hopes of +Frederica’s relenting, and told him a great deal of her improvements. I +scolded him for making love to Maria Mainwaring; he protested that he +had been only in joke, and we both laughed heartily at her +disappointment; and, in short, were very agreeable. He is as silly as +ever. + +Yours faithfully, +ALICIA. + + + + +X + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +I am much obliged to you, my dear Friend, for your advice respecting +Mr. De Courcy, which I know was given with the full conviction of its +expediency, though I am not quite determined on following it. I cannot +easily resolve on anything so serious as marriage; especially as I am +not at present in want of money, and might perhaps, till the old +gentleman’s death, be very little benefited by the match. It is true +that I am vain enough to believe it within my reach. I have made him +sensible of my power, and can now enjoy the pleasure of triumphing over +a mind prepared to dislike me, and prejudiced against all my past +actions. His sister, too, is, I hope, convinced how little the +ungenerous representations of anyone to the disadvantage of another +will avail when opposed by the immediate influence of intellect and +manner. I see plainly that she is uneasy at my progress in the good +opinion of her brother, and conclude that nothing will be wanting on +her part to counteract me; but having once made him doubt the justice +of her opinion of me, I think I may defy her. It has been delightful to +me to watch his advances towards intimacy, especially to observe his +altered manner in consequence of my repressing by the cool dignity of +my deportment his insolent approach to direct familiarity. My conduct +has been equally guarded from the first, and I never behaved less like +a coquette in the whole course of my life, though perhaps my desire of +dominion was never more decided. I have subdued him entirely by +sentiment and serious conversation, and made him, I may venture to say, +at least half in love with me, without the semblance of the most +commonplace flirtation. Mrs. Vernon’s consciousness of deserving every +sort of revenge that it can be in my power to inflict for her +ill-offices could alone enable her to perceive that I am actuated by +any design in behaviour so gentle and unpretending. Let her think and +act as she chooses, however. I have never yet found that the advice of +a sister could prevent a young man’s being in love if he chose. We are +advancing now to some kind of confidence, and in short are likely to be +engaged in a sort of platonic friendship. On my side you may be sure of +its never being more, for if I were not attached to another person as +much as I can be to anyone, I should make a point of not bestowing my +affection on a man who had dared to think so meanly of me. Reginald has +a good figure and is not unworthy the praise you have heard given him, +but is still greatly inferior to our friend at Langford. He is less +polished, less insinuating than Mainwaring, and is comparatively +deficient in the power of saying those delightful things which put one +in good humour with oneself and all the world. He is quite agreeable +enough, however, to afford me amusement, and to make many of those +hours pass very pleasantly which would otherwise be spent in +endeavouring to overcome my sister-in-law’s reserve, and listening to +the insipid talk of her husband. Your account of Sir James is most +satisfactory, and I mean to give Miss Frederica a hint of my intentions +very soon. + +Yours, &c., +S. VERNON. + + + + +XI + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill + + +I really grow quite uneasy, my dearest mother, about Reginald, from +witnessing the very rapid increase of Lady Susan’s influence. They are +now on terms of the most particular friendship, frequently engaged in +long conversations together; and she has contrived by the most artful +coquetry to subdue his judgment to her own purposes. It is impossible +to see the intimacy between them so very soon established without some +alarm, though I can hardly suppose that Lady Susan’s plans extend to +marriage. I wish you could get Reginald home again on any plausible +pretence; he is not at all disposed to leave us, and I have given him +as many hints of my father’s precarious state of health as common +decency will allow me to do in my own house. Her power over him must +now be boundless, as she has entirely effaced all his former +ill-opinion, and persuaded him not merely to forget but to justify her +conduct. Mr. Smith’s account of her proceedings at Langford, where he +accused her of having made Mr. Mainwaring and a young man engaged to +Miss Mainwaring distractedly in love with her, which Reginald firmly +believed when he came here, is now, he is persuaded, only a scandalous +invention. He has told me so with a warmth of manner which spoke his +regret at having believed the contrary himself. How sincerely do I +grieve that she ever entered this house! I always looked forward to her +coming with uneasiness; but very far was it from originating in anxiety +for Reginald. I expected a most disagreeable companion for myself, but +could not imagine that my brother would be in the smallest danger of +being captivated by a woman with whose principles he was so well +acquainted, and whose character he so heartily despised. If you can get +him away it will be a good thing. + +Yours, &c., +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + +XII + + +_Sir Reginald De Courcy to his Son._ + + +Parklands. + + +I know that young men in general do not admit of any enquiry even from +their nearest relations into affairs of the heart, but I hope, my dear +Reginald, that you will be superior to such as allow nothing for a +father’s anxiety, and think themselves privileged to refuse him their +confidence and slight his advice. You must be sensible that as an only +son, and the representative of an ancient family, your conduct in life +is most interesting to your connections; and in the very important +concern of marriage especially, there is everything at stake—your own +happiness, that of your parents, and the credit of your name. I do not +suppose that you would deliberately form an absolute engagement of that +nature without acquainting your mother and myself, or at least, without +being convinced that we should approve of your choice; but I cannot +help fearing that you may be drawn in, by the lady who has lately +attached you, to a marriage which the whole of your family, far and +near, must highly reprobate. Lady Susan’s age is itself a material +objection, but her want of character is one so much more serious, that +the difference of even twelve years becomes in comparison of small +amount. Were you not blinded by a sort of fascination, it would be +ridiculous in me to repeat the instances of great misconduct on her +side so very generally known. + +Her neglect of her husband, her encouragement of other men, her +extravagance and dissipation, were so gross and notorious that no one +could be ignorant of them at the time, nor can now have forgotten them. +To our family she has always been represented in softened colours by +the benevolence of Mr. Charles Vernon, and yet, in spite of his +generous endeavours to excuse her, we know that she did, from the most +selfish motives, take all possible pains to prevent his marriage with +Catherine. + +My years and increasing infirmities make me very desirous of seeing you +settled in the world. To the fortune of a wife, the goodness of my own +will make me indifferent, but her family and character must be equally +unexceptionable. When your choice is fixed so that no objection can be +made to it, then I can promise you a ready and cheerful consent; but it +is my duty to oppose a match which deep art only could render possible, +and must in the end make wretched. It is possible her behaviour may +arise only from vanity, or the wish of gaining the admiration of a man +whom she must imagine to be particularly prejudiced against her; but it +is more likely that she should aim at something further. She is poor, +and may naturally seek an alliance which must be advantageous to +herself; you know your own rights, and that it is out of my power to +prevent your inheriting the family estate. My ability of distressing +you during my life would be a species of revenge to which I could +hardly stoop under any circumstances. + +I honestly tell you my sentiments and intentions: I do not wish to work +on your fears, but on your sense and affection. It would destroy every +comfort of my life to know that you were married to Lady Susan Vernon; +it would be the death of that honest pride with which I have hitherto +considered my son; I should blush to see him, to hear of him, to think +of him. I may perhaps do no good but that of relieving my own mind by +this letter, but I felt it my duty to tell you that your partiality for +Lady Susan is no secret to your friends, and to warn you against her. I +should be glad to hear your reasons for disbelieving Mr. Smith’s +intelligence; you had no doubt of its authenticity a month ago. If you +can give me your assurance of having no design beyond enjoying the +conversation of a clever woman for a short period, and of yielding +admiration only to her beauty and abilities, without being blinded by +them to her faults, you will restore me to happiness; but, if you +cannot do this, explain to me, at least, what has occasioned so great +an alteration in your opinion of her. + +I am, &c., &c, +REGINALD DE COURCY + + + + +XIII + + +_Lady De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon._ + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Catherine,—Unluckily I was confined to my room when your last +letter came, by a cold which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my +reading it myself, so I could not refuse your father when he offered to +read it to me, by which means he became acquainted, to my great +vexation, with all your fears about your brother. I had intended to +write to Reginald myself as soon as my eyes would let me, to point out, +as well as I could, the danger of an intimate acquaintance, with so +artful a woman as Lady Susan, to a young man of his age, and high +expectations. I meant, moreover, to have reminded him of our being +quite alone now, and very much in need of him to keep up our spirits +these long winter evenings. Whether it would have done any good can +never be settled now, but I am excessively vexed that Sir Reginald +should know anything of a matter which we foresaw would make him so +uneasy. He caught all your fears the moment he had read your letter, +and I am sure he has not had the business out of his head since. He +wrote by the same post to Reginald a long letter full of it all, and +particularly asking an explanation of what he may have heard from Lady +Susan to contradict the late shocking reports. His answer came this +morning, which I shall enclose to you, as I think you will like to see +it. I wish it was more satisfactory; but it seems written with such a +determination to think well of Lady Susan, that his assurances as to +marriage, &c., do not set my heart at ease. I say all I can, however, +to satisfy your father, and he is certainly less uneasy since +Reginald’s letter. How provoking it is, my dear Catherine, that this +unwelcome guest of yours should not only prevent our meeting this +Christmas, but be the occasion of so much vexation and trouble! Kiss +the dear children for me. + +Your affectionate mother, +C. DE COURCY. + + + + +XIV + + +_Mr. De Courcy to Sir Reginald._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Sir,—I have this moment received your letter, which has given +me more astonishment than I ever felt before. I am to thank my sister, +I suppose, for having represented me in such a light as to injure me in +your opinion, and give you all this alarm. I know not why she should +choose to make herself and her family uneasy by apprehending an event +which no one but herself, I can affirm, would ever have thought +possible. To impute such a design to Lady Susan would be taking from +her every claim to that excellent understanding which her bitterest +enemies have never denied her; and equally low must sink my pretensions +to common sense if I am suspected of matrimonial views in my behaviour +to her. Our difference of age must be an insuperable objection, and I +entreat you, my dear father, to quiet your mind, and no longer harbour +a suspicion which cannot be more injurious to your own peace than to +our understandings. I can have no other view in remaining with Lady +Susan, than to enjoy for a short time (as you have yourself expressed +it) the conversation of a woman of high intellectual powers. If Mrs. +Vernon would allow something to my affection for herself and her +husband in the length of my visit, she would do more justice to us all; +but my sister is unhappily prejudiced beyond the hope of conviction +against Lady Susan. From an attachment to her husband, which in itself +does honour to both, she cannot forgive the endeavours at preventing +their union, which have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan; +but in this case, as well as in many others, the world has most grossly +injured that lady, by supposing the worst where the motives of her +conduct have been doubtful. Lady Susan had heard something so +materially to the disadvantage of my sister as to persuade her that the +happiness of Mr. Vernon, to whom she was always much attached, would be +wholly destroyed by the marriage. And this circumstance, while it +explains the true motives of Lady Susan’s conduct, and removes all the +blame which has been so lavished on her, may also convince us how +little the general report of anyone ought to be credited; since no +character, however upright, can escape the malevolence of slander. If +my sister, in the security of retirement, with as little opportunity as +inclination to do evil, could not avoid censure, we must not rashly +condemn those who, living in the world and surrounded with temptations, +should be accused of errors which they are known to have the power of +committing. + +I blame myself severely for having so easily believed the slanderous +tales invented by Charles Smith to the prejudice of Lady Susan, as I am +now convinced how greatly they have traduced her. As to Mrs. +Mainwaring’s jealousy it was totally his own invention, and his account +of her attaching Miss Mainwaring’s lover was scarcely better founded. +Sir James Martin had been drawn in by that young lady to pay her some +attention; and as he is a man of fortune, it was easy to see _her_ +views extended to marriage. It is well known that Miss M. is absolutely +on the catch for a husband, and no one therefore can pity her for +losing, by the superior attractions of another woman, the chance of +being able to make a worthy man completely wretched. Lady Susan was far +from intending such a conquest, and on finding how warmly Miss +Mainwaring resented her lover’s defection, determined, in spite of Mr. +and Mrs. Mainwaring’s most urgent entreaties, to leave the family. I +have reason to imagine she did receive serious proposals from Sir +James, but her removing from Langford immediately on the discovery of +his attachment, must acquit her on that article with any mind of common +candour. You will, I am sure, my dear Sir, feel the truth of this, and +will hereby learn to do justice to the character of a very injured +woman. I know that Lady Susan in coming to Churchhill was governed only +by the most honourable and amiable intentions; her prudence and economy +are exemplary, her regard for Mr. Vernon equal even to _his_ deserts; +and her wish of obtaining my sister’s good opinion merits a better +return than it has received. As a mother she is unexceptionable; her +solid affection for her child is shown by placing her in hands where +her education will be properly attended to; but because she has not the +blind and weak partiality of most mothers, she is accused of wanting +maternal tenderness. Every person of sense, however, will know how to +value and commend her well-directed affection, and will join me in +wishing that Frederica Vernon may prove more worthy than she has yet +done of her mother’s tender care. I have now, my dear father, written +my real sentiments of Lady Susan; you will know from this letter how +highly I admire her abilities, and esteem her character; but if you are +not equally convinced by my full and solemn assurance that your fears +have been most idly created, you will deeply mortify and distress me. + +I am, &c., &c., +R. DE COURCY. + + + + +XV + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill + + +My dear Mother,—I return you Reginald’s letter, and rejoice with all my +heart that my father is made easy by it: tell him so, with my +congratulations; but, between ourselves, I must own it has only +convinced _me_ of my brother’s having no _present_ intention of +marrying Lady Susan, not that he is in no danger of doing so three +months hence. He gives a very plausible account of her behaviour at +Langford; I wish it may be true, but his intelligence must come from +herself, and I am less disposed to believe it than to lament the degree +of intimacy subsisting between them, implied by the discussion of such +a subject. I am sorry to have incurred his displeasure, but can expect +nothing better while he is so very eager in Lady Susan’s justification. +He is very severe against me indeed, and yet I hope I have not been +hasty in my judgment of her. Poor woman! though I have reasons enough +for my dislike, I cannot help pitying her at present, as she is in real +distress, and with too much cause. She had this morning a letter from +the lady with whom she has placed her daughter, to request that Miss +Vernon might be immediately removed, as she had been detected in an +attempt to run away. Why, or whither she intended to go, does not +appear; but, as her situation seems to have been unexceptionable, it is +a sad thing, and of course highly distressing to Lady Susan. Frederica +must be as much as sixteen, and ought to know better; but from what her +mother insinuates, I am afraid she is a perverse girl. She has been +sadly neglected, however, and her mother ought to remember it. Mr. +Vernon set off for London as soon as she had determined what should be +done. He is, if possible, to prevail on Miss Summers to let Frederica +continue with her; and if he cannot succeed, to bring her to Churchhill +for the present, till some other situation can be found for her. Her +ladyship is comforting herself meanwhile by strolling along the +shrubbery with Reginald, calling forth all his tender feelings, I +suppose, on this distressing occasion. She has been talking a great +deal about it to me. She talks vastly well; I am afraid of being +ungenerous, or I should say, _too_ well to feel so very deeply; but I +will not look for her faults; she may be Reginald’s wife! Heaven forbid +it! but why should I be quicker-sighted than anyone else? Mr. Vernon +declares that he never saw deeper distress than hers, on the receipt of +the letter; and is his judgment inferior to mine? She was very +unwilling that Frederica should be allowed to come to Churchhill, and +justly enough, as it seems a sort of reward to behaviour deserving very +differently; but it was impossible to take her anywhere else, and she +is not to remain here long. “It will be absolutely necessary,” said +she, “as you, my dear sister, must be sensible, to treat my daughter +with some severity while she is here; a most painful necessity, but I +will _endeavour_ to submit to it. I am afraid I have often been too +indulgent, but my poor Frederica’s temper could never bear opposition +well: you must support and encourage me; you must urge the necessity of +reproof if you see me too lenient.” All this sounds very reasonable. +Reginald is so incensed against the poor silly girl! Surely it is not +to Lady Susan’s credit that he should be so bitter against her +daughter; his idea of her must be drawn from the mother’s description. +Well, whatever may be his fate, we have the comfort of knowing that we +have done our utmost to save him. We must commit the event to a higher +power. + +Yours ever, &c., +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + +XVI + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +Never, my dearest Alicia, was I so provoked in my life as by a letter +this morning from Miss Summers. That horrid girl of mine has been +trying to run away. I had not a notion of her being such a little devil +before, she seemed to have all the Vernon milkiness; but on receiving +the letter in which I declared my intention about Sir James, she +actually attempted to elope; at least, I cannot otherwise account for +her doing it. She meant, I suppose, to go to the Clarkes in +Staffordshire, for she has no other acquaintances. But she shall be +punished, she shall have him. I have sent Charles to town to make +matters up if he can, for I do not by any means want her here. If Miss +Summers will not keep her, you must find me out another school, unless +we can get her married immediately. Miss S. writes word that she could +not get the young lady to assign any cause for her extraordinary +conduct, which confirms me in my own previous explanation of it. +Frederica is too shy, I think, and too much in awe of me to tell tales, +but if the mildness of her uncle should get anything out of her, I am +not afraid. I trust I shall be able to make my story as good as hers. +If I am vain of anything, it is of my eloquence. Consideration and +esteem as surely follow command of language as admiration waits on +beauty, and here I have opportunity enough for the exercise of my +talent, as the chief of my time is spent in conversation. + +Reginald is never easy unless we are by ourselves, and when the weather +is tolerable, we pace the shrubbery for hours together. I like him on +the whole very well; he is clever and has a good deal to say, but he is +sometimes impertinent and troublesome. There is a sort of ridiculous +delicacy about him which requires the fullest explanation of whatever +he may have heard to my disadvantage, and is never satisfied till he +thinks he has ascertained the beginning and end of everything. This is +one sort of love, but I confess it does not particularly recommend +itself to me. I infinitely prefer the tender and liberal spirit of +Mainwaring, which, impressed with the deepest conviction of my merit, +is satisfied that whatever I do must be right; and look with a degree +of contempt on the inquisitive and doubtful fancies of that heart which +seems always debating on the reasonableness of its emotions. Mainwaring +is indeed, beyond all compare, superior to Reginald—superior in +everything but the power of being with me! Poor fellow! he is much +distracted by jealousy, which I am not sorry for, as I know no better +support of love. He has been teazing me to allow of his coming into +this country, and lodging somewhere near _incog_.; but I forbade +everything of the kind. Those women are inexcusable who forget what is +due to themselves, and the opinion of the world. + +Yours ever, +S. VERNON. + + + + +XVII + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,—Mr. Vernon returned on Thursday night, bringing his +niece with him. Lady Susan had received a line from him by that day’s +post, informing her that Miss Summers had absolutely refused to allow +of Miss Vernon’s continuance in her academy; we were therefore prepared +for her arrival, and expected them impatiently the whole evening. They +came while we were at tea, and I never saw any creature look so +frightened as Frederica when she entered the room. Lady Susan, who had +been shedding tears before, and showing great agitation at the idea of +the meeting, received her with perfect self-command, and without +betraying the least tenderness of spirit. She hardly spoke to her, and +on Frederica’s bursting into tears as soon as we were seated, took her +out of the room, and did not return for some time. When she did, her +eyes looked very red and she was as much agitated as before. We saw no +more of her daughter. Poor Reginald was beyond measure concerned to see +his fair friend in such distress, and watched her with so much tender +solicitude, that I, who occasionally caught her observing his +countenance with exultation, was quite out of patience. This pathetic +representation lasted the whole evening, and so ostentatious and artful +a display has entirely convinced me that she did in fact feel nothing. +I am more angry with her than ever since I have seen her daughter; the +poor girl looks so unhappy that my heart aches for her. Lady Susan is +surely too severe, for Frederica does not seem to have the sort of +temper to make severity necessary. She looks perfectly timid, dejected, +and penitent. She is very pretty, though not so handsome as her mother, +nor at all like her. Her complexion is delicate, but neither so fair +nor so blooming as Lady Susan’s, and she has quite the Vernon cast of +countenance, the oval face and mild dark eyes, and there is peculiar +sweetness in her look when she speaks either to her uncle or me, for as +we behave kindly to her we have of course engaged her gratitude. + +Her mother has insinuated that her temper is intractable, but I never +saw a face less indicative of any evil disposition than hers; and from +what I can see of the behaviour of each to the other, the invariable +severity of Lady Susan and the silent dejection of Frederica, I am led +to believe as heretofore that the former has no real love for her +daughter, and has never done her justice or treated her affectionately. +I have not been able to have any conversation with my niece; she is +shy, and I think I can see that some pains are taken to prevent her +being much with me. Nothing satisfactory transpires as to her reason +for running away. Her kind-hearted uncle, you may be sure, was too +fearful of distressing her to ask many questions as they travelled. I +wish it had been possible for me to fetch her instead of him. I think I +should have discovered the truth in the course of a thirty-mile +journey. The small pianoforte has been removed within these few days, +at Lady Susan’s request, into her dressing-room, and Frederica spends +great part of the day there, practising as it is called; but I seldom +hear any noise when I pass that way; what she does with herself there I +do not know. There are plenty of books, but it is not every girl who +has been running wild the first fifteen years of her life, that can or +will read. Poor creature! the prospect from her window is not very +instructive, for that room overlooks the lawn, you know, with the +shrubbery on one side, where she may see her mother walking for an hour +together in earnest conversation with Reginald. A girl of Frederica’s +age must be childish indeed, if such things do not strike her. Is it +not inexcusable to give such an example to a daughter? Yet Reginald +still thinks Lady Susan the best of mothers, and still condemns +Frederica as a worthless girl! He is convinced that her attempt to run +away proceeded from no justifiable cause, and had no provocation. I am +sure I cannot say that it _had_, but while Miss Summers declares that +Miss Vernon showed no signs of obstinacy or perverseness during her +whole stay in Wigmore Street, till she was detected in this scheme, I +cannot so readily credit what Lady Susan has made him, and wants to +make me believe, that it was merely an impatience of restraint and a +desire of escaping from the tuition of masters which brought on the +plan of an elopement. O Reginald, how is your judgment enslaved! He +scarcely dares even allow her to be handsome, and when I speak of her +beauty, replies only that her eyes have no brilliancy! Sometimes he is +sure she is deficient in understanding, and at others that her temper +only is in fault. In short, when a person is always to deceive, it is +impossible to be consistent. Lady Susan finds it necessary that +Frederica should be to blame, and probably has sometimes judged it +expedient to accuse her of ill-nature and sometimes to lament her want +of sense. Reginald is only repeating after her ladyship. + +I remain, &c., &c., +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + +XVIII + + +_From the same to the same._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,—I am very glad to find that my description of Frederica +Vernon has interested you, for I do believe her truly deserving of your +regard; and when I have communicated a notion which has recently struck +me, your kind impressions in her favour will, I am sure, be heightened. +I cannot help fancying that she is growing partial to my brother. I so +very often see her eyes fixed on his face with a remarkable expression +of pensive admiration. He is certainly very handsome; and yet more, +there is an openness in his manner that must be highly prepossessing, +and I am sure she feels it so. Thoughtful and pensive in general, her +countenance always brightens into a smile when Reginald says anything +amusing; and, let the subject be ever so serious that he may be +conversing on, I am much mistaken if a syllable of his uttering escapes +her. I want to make him sensible of all this, for we know the power of +gratitude on such a heart as his; and could Frederica’s artless +affection detach him from her mother, we might bless the day which +brought her to Churchhill. I think, my dear mother, you would not +disapprove of her as a daughter. She is extremely young, to be sure, +has had a wretched education, and a dreadful example of levity in her +mother; but yet I can pronounce her disposition to be excellent, and +her natural abilities very good. Though totally without +accomplishments, she is by no means so ignorant as one might expect to +find her, being fond of books and spending the chief of her time in +reading. Her mother leaves her more to herself than she did, and I have +her with me as much as possible, and have taken great pains to overcome +her timidity. We are very good friends, and though she never opens her +lips before her mother, she talks enough when alone with me to make it +clear that, if properly treated by Lady Susan, she would always appear +to much greater advantage. There cannot be a more gentle, affectionate +heart; or more obliging manners, when acting without restraint; and her +little cousins are all very fond of her. + +Your affectionate daughter, +C. VERNON + + + + +XIX + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +You will be eager, I know, to hear something further of Frederica, and +perhaps may think me negligent for not writing before. She arrived with +her uncle last Thursday fortnight, when, of course, I lost no time in +demanding the cause of her behaviour; and soon found myself to have +been perfectly right in attributing it to my own letter. The prospect +of it frightened her so thoroughly, that, with a mixture of true +girlish perverseness and folly, she resolved on getting out of the +house and proceeding directly by the stage to her friends, the Clarkes; +and had really got as far as the length of two streets in her journey +when she was fortunately missed, pursued, and overtaken. Such was the +first distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica Vernon; and, if we +consider that it was achieved at the tender age of sixteen, we shall +have room for the most flattering prognostics of her future renown. I +am excessively provoked, however, at the parade of propriety which +prevented Miss Summers from keeping the girl; and it seems so +extraordinary a piece of nicety, considering my daughter’s family +connections, that I can only suppose the lady to be governed by the +fear of never getting her money. Be that as it may, however, Frederica +is returned on my hands; and, having nothing else to employ her, is +busy in pursuing the plan of romance begun at Langford. She is actually +falling in love with Reginald De Courcy! To disobey her mother by +refusing an unexceptionable offer is not enough; her affections must +also be given without her mother’s approbation. I never saw a girl of +her age bid fairer to be the sport of mankind. Her feelings are +tolerably acute, and she is so charmingly artless in their display as +to afford the most reasonable hope of her being ridiculous, and +despised by every man who sees her. + +Artlessness will never do in love matters; and that girl is born a +simpleton who has it either by nature or affectation. I am not yet +certain that Reginald sees what she is about, nor is it of much +consequence. She is now an object of indifference to him, and she would +be one of contempt were he to understand her emotions. Her beauty is +much admired by the Vernons, but it has no effect on him. She is in +high favour with her aunt altogether, because she is so little like +myself, of course. She is exactly the companion for Mrs. Vernon, who +dearly loves to be firm, and to have all the sense and all the wit of +the conversation to herself: Frederica will never eclipse her. When she +first came I was at some pains to prevent her seeing much of her aunt; +but I have relaxed, as I believe I may depend on her observing the +rules I have laid down for their discourse. But do not imagine that +with all this lenity I have for a moment given up my plan of her +marriage. No; I am unalterably fixed on this point, though I have not +yet quite decided on the manner of bringing it about. I should not +chuse to have the business brought on here, and canvassed by the wise +heads of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon; and I cannot just now afford to go to +town. Miss Frederica must therefore wait a little. + +Yours ever, +S. VERNON. + + + + +XX + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill + + +We have a very unexpected guest with us at present, my dear Mother: he +arrived yesterday. I heard a carriage at the door, as I was sitting +with my children while they dined; and supposing I should be wanted, +left the nursery soon afterwards, and was half-way downstairs, when +Frederica, as pale as ashes, came running up, and rushed by me into her +own room. I instantly followed, and asked her what was the matter. +“Oh!” said she, “he is come—Sir James is come, and what shall I do?” +This was no explanation; I begged her to tell me what she meant. At +that moment we were interrupted by a knock at the door: it was +Reginald, who came, by Lady Susan’s direction, to call Frederica down. +“It is Mr. De Courcy!” said she, colouring violently. “Mamma has sent +for me; I must go.” We all three went down together; and I saw my +brother examining the terrified face of Frederica with surprize. In the +breakfast-room we found Lady Susan, and a young man of gentlemanlike +appearance, whom she introduced by the name of Sir James Martin—the +very person, as you may remember, whom it was said she had been at +pains to detach from Miss Mainwaring; but the conquest, it seems, was +not designed for herself, or she has since transferred it to her +daughter; for Sir James is now desperately in love with Frederica, and +with full encouragement from mamma. The poor girl, however, I am sure, +dislikes him; and though his person and address are very well, he +appears, both to Mr. Vernon and me, a very weak young man. Frederica +looked so shy, so confused, when we entered the room, that I felt for +her exceedingly. Lady Susan behaved with great attention to her +visitor; and yet I thought I could perceive that she had no particular +pleasure in seeing him. Sir James talked a great deal, and made many +civil excuses to me for the liberty he had taken in coming to +Churchhill—mixing more frequent laughter with his discourse than the +subject required—said many things over and over again, and told Lady +Susan three times that he had seen Mrs. Johnson a few evenings before. +He now and then addressed Frederica, but more frequently her mother. +The poor girl sat all this time without opening her lips—her eyes cast +down, and her colour varying every instant; while Reginald observed all +that passed in perfect silence. At length Lady Susan, weary, I believe, +of her situation, proposed walking; and we left the two gentlemen +together, to put on our pelisses. As we went upstairs Lady Susan begged +permission to attend me for a few moments in my dressing-room, as she +was anxious to speak with me in private. I led her thither accordingly, +and as soon as the door was closed, she said: “I was never more +surprized in my life than by Sir James’s arrival, and the suddenness of +it requires some apology to you, my dear sister; though to _me_, as a +mother, it is highly flattering. He is so extremely attached to my +daughter that he could not exist longer without seeing her. Sir James +is a young man of an amiable disposition and excellent character; a +little too much of the rattle, perhaps, but a year or two will rectify +_that:_ and he is in other respects so very eligible a match for +Frederica, that I have always observed his attachment with the greatest +pleasure; and am persuaded that you and my brother will give the +alliance your hearty approbation. I have never before mentioned the +likelihood of its taking place to anyone, because I thought that whilst +Frederica continued at school it had better not be known to exist; but +now, as I am convinced that Frederica is too old ever to submit to +school confinement, and have, therefore, begun to consider her union +with Sir James as not very distant, I had intended within a few days to +acquaint yourself and Mr. Vernon with the whole business. I am sure, my +dear sister, you will excuse my remaining silent so long, and agree +with me that such circumstances, while they continue from any cause in +suspense, cannot be too cautiously concealed. When you have the +happiness of bestowing your sweet little Catherine, some years hence, +on a man who in connection and character is alike unexceptionable, you +will know what I feel now; though, thank Heaven, you cannot have all my +reasons for rejoicing in such an event. Catherine will be amply +provided for, and not, like my Frederica, indebted to a fortunate +establishment for the comforts of life.” She concluded by demanding my +congratulations. I gave them somewhat awkwardly, I believe; for, in +fact, the sudden disclosure of so important a matter took from me the +power of speaking with any clearness. She thanked me, however, most +affectionately, for my kind concern in the welfare of herself and +daughter; and then said: “I am not apt to deal in professions, my dear +Mrs. Vernon, and I never had the convenient talent of affecting +sensations foreign to my heart; and therefore I trust you will believe +me when I declare, that much as I had heard in your praise before I +knew you, I had no idea that I should ever love you as I now do; and I +must further say that your friendship towards me is more particularly +gratifying because I have reason to believe that some attempts were +made to prejudice you against me. I only wish that they, whoever they +are, to whom I am indebted for such kind intentions, could see the +terms on which we now are together, and understand the real affection +we feel for each other; but I will not detain you any longer. God bless +you, for your goodness to me and my girl, and continue to you all your +present happiness.” What can one say of such a woman, my dear mother? +Such earnestness, such solemnity of expression! and yet I cannot help +suspecting the truth of everything she says. As for Reginald, I believe +he does not know what to make of the matter. When Sir James came, he +appeared all astonishment and perplexity; the folly of the young man +and the confusion of Frederica entirely engrossed him; and though a +little private discourse with Lady Susan has since had its effect, he +is still hurt, I am sure, at her allowing of such a man’s attentions to +her daughter. Sir James invited himself with great composure to remain +here a few days—hoped we would not think it odd, was aware of its being +very impertinent, but he took the liberty of a relation; and concluded +by wishing, with a laugh, that he might be really one very soon. Even +Lady Susan seemed a little disconcerted by this forwardness; in her +heart I am persuaded she sincerely wished him gone. But something must +be done for this poor girl, if her feelings are such as both I and her +uncle believe them to be. She must not be sacrificed to policy or +ambition, and she must not be left to suffer from the dread of it. The +girl whose heart can distinguish Reginald De Courcy, deserves, however +he may slight her, a better fate than to be Sir James Martin’s wife. As +soon as I can get her alone, I will discover the real truth; but she +seems to wish to avoid me. I hope this does not proceed from anything +wrong, and that I shall not find out I have thought too well of her. +Her behaviour to Sir James certainly speaks the greatest consciousness +and embarrassment, but I see nothing in it more like encouragement. +Adieu, my dear mother. + +Yours, &c., +C. VERNON. + + + + +XXI + + +_Miss Vernon to Mr. De Courcy._ + + +Sir,—I hope you will excuse this liberty; I am forced upon it by the +greatest distress, or I should be ashamed to trouble you. I am very +miserable about Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the world of +helping myself but by writing to you, for I am forbidden even speaking +to my uncle and aunt on the subject; and this being the case, I am +afraid my applying to you will appear no better than equivocation, and +as if I attended to the letter and not the spirit of mamma’s commands. +But if you do not take my part and persuade her to break it off, I +shall be half distracted, for I cannot bear him. No human being but +_you_ could have any chance of prevailing with her. If you will, +therefore, have the unspeakably great kindness of taking my part with +her, and persuading her to send Sir James away, I shall be more obliged +to you than it is possible for me to express. I always disliked him +from the first: it is not a sudden fancy, I assure you, sir; I always +thought him silly and impertinent and disagreeable, and now he is grown +worse than ever. I would rather work for my bread than marry him. I do +not know how to apologize enough for this letter; I know it is taking +so great a liberty. I am aware how dreadfully angry it will make mamma, +but I remember the risk. + +I am, Sir, your most humble servant, +F. S. V. + + + + +XXII + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +This is insufferable! My dearest friend, I was never so enraged before, +and must relieve myself by writing to you, who I know will enter into +all my feelings. Who should come on Tuesday but Sir James Martin! Guess +my astonishment, and vexation—for, as you well know, I never wished him +to be seen at Churchhill. What a pity that you should not have known +his intentions! Not content with coming, he actually invited himself to +remain here a few days. I could have poisoned him! I made the best of +it, however, and told my story with great success to Mrs. Vernon, who, +whatever might be her real sentiments, said nothing in opposition to +mine. I made a point also of Frederica’s behaving civilly to Sir James, +and gave her to understand that I was absolutely determined on her +marrying him. She said something of her misery, but that was all. I +have for some time been more particularly resolved on the match from +seeing the rapid increase of her affection for Reginald, and from not +feeling secure that a knowledge of such affection might not in the end +awaken a return. Contemptible as a regard founded only on compassion +must make them both in my eyes, I felt by no means assured that such +might not be the consequence. It is true that Reginald had not in any +degree grown cool towards me; but yet he has lately mentioned Frederica +spontaneously and unnecessarily, and once said something in praise of +her person. _He_ was all astonishment at the appearance of my visitor, +and at first observed Sir James with an attention which I was pleased +to see not unmixed with jealousy; but unluckily it was impossible for +me really to torment him, as Sir James, though extremely gallant to me, +very soon made the whole party understand that his heart was devoted to +my daughter. I had no great difficulty in convincing De Courcy, when we +were alone, that I was perfectly justified, all things considered, in +desiring the match; and the whole business seemed most comfortably +arranged. They could none of them help perceiving that Sir James was no +Solomon; but I had positively forbidden Frederica complaining to +Charles Vernon or his wife, and they had therefore no pretence for +interference; though my impertinent sister, I believe, wanted only +opportunity for doing so. Everything, however, was going on calmly and +quietly; and, though I counted the hours of Sir James’s stay, my mind +was entirely satisfied with the posture of affairs. Guess, then, what I +must feel at the sudden disturbance of all my schemes; and that, too, +from a quarter where I had least reason to expect it. Reginald came +this morning into my dressing-room with a very unusual solemnity of +countenance, and after some preface informed me in so many words that +he wished to reason with me on the impropriety and unkindness of +allowing Sir James Martin to address my daughter contrary to her +inclinations. I was all amazement. When I found that he was not to be +laughed out of his design, I calmly begged an explanation, and desired +to know by what he was impelled, and by whom commissioned, to reprimand +me. He then told me, mixing in his speech a few insolent compliments +and ill-timed expressions of tenderness, to which I listened with +perfect indifference, that my daughter had acquainted him with some +circumstances concerning herself, Sir James, and me which had given him +great uneasiness. In short, I found that she had in the first place +actually written to him to request his interference, and that, on +receiving her letter, he had conversed with her on the subject of it, +in order to understand the particulars, and to assure himself of her +real wishes. I have not a doubt but that the girl took this opportunity +of making downright love to him. I am convinced of it by the manner in +which he spoke of her. Much good may such love do him! I shall ever +despise the man who can be gratified by the passion which he never +wished to inspire, nor solicited the avowal of. I shall always detest +them both. He can have no true regard for me, or he would not have +listened to her; and _she_, with her little rebellious heart and +indelicate feelings, to throw herself into the protection of a young +man with whom she has scarcely ever exchanged two words before! I am +equally confounded at _her_ impudence and _his_ credulity. How dared he +believe what she told him in my disfavour! Ought he not to have felt +assured that I must have unanswerable motives for all that I had done? +Where was his reliance on my sense and goodness then? Where the +resentment which true love would have dictated against the person +defaming me—that person, too, a chit, a child, without talent or +education, whom he had been always taught to despise? I was calm for +some time; but the greatest degree of forbearance may be overcome, and +I hope I was afterwards sufficiently keen. He endeavoured, long +endeavoured, to soften my resentment; but that woman is a fool indeed +who, while insulted by accusation, can be worked on by compliments. At +length he left me, as deeply provoked as myself; and he showed his +anger more. I was quite cool, but he gave way to the most violent +indignation; I may therefore expect it will the sooner subside, and +perhaps his may be vanished for ever, while mine will be found still +fresh and implacable. He is now shut up in his apartment, whither I +heard him go on leaving mine. How unpleasant, one would think, must be +his reflections! but some people’s feelings are incomprehensible. I +have not yet tranquillised myself enough to see Frederica. _She_ shall +not soon forget the occurrences of this day; she shall find that she +has poured forth her tender tale of love in vain, and exposed herself +for ever to the contempt of the whole world, and the severest +resentment of her injured mother. + +Your affectionate +S. VERNON. + + + + +XXIII + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +Let me congratulate you, my dearest Mother! The affair which has given +us so much anxiety is drawing to a happy conclusion. Our prospect is +most delightful, and since matters have now taken so favourable a turn, +I am quite sorry that I ever imparted my apprehensions to you; for the +pleasure of learning that the danger is over is perhaps dearly +purchased by all that you have previously suffered. I am so much +agitated by delight that I can scarcely hold a pen; but am determined +to send you a few short lines by James, that you may have some +explanation of what must so greatly astonish you, as that Reginald +should be returning to Parklands. I was sitting about half an hour ago +with Sir James in the breakfast parlour, when my brother called me out +of the room. I instantly saw that something was the matter; his +complexion was raised, and he spoke with great emotion; you know his +eager manner, my dear mother, when his mind is interested. “Catherine,” +said he, “I am going home to-day; I am sorry to leave you, but I must +go: it is a great while since I have seen my father and mother. I am +going to send James forward with my hunters immediately; if you have +any letter, therefore, he can take it. I shall not be at home myself +till Wednesday or Thursday, as I shall go through London, where I have +business; but before I leave you,” he continued, speaking in a lower +tone, and with still greater energy, “I must warn you of one thing—do +not let Frederica Vernon be made unhappy by that Martin. He wants to +marry her; her mother promotes the match, but she cannot endure the +idea of it. Be assured that I speak from the fullest conviction of the +truth of what I say; I know that Frederica is made wretched by Sir +James’s continuing here. She is a sweet girl, and deserves a better +fate. Send him away immediately; he is only a fool: but what her mother +can mean, Heaven only knows! Good bye,” he added, shaking my hand with +earnestness; “I do not know when you will see me again; but remember +what I tell you of Frederica; you _must_ make it your business to see +justice done her. She is an amiable girl, and has a very superior mind +to what we have given her credit for.” He then left me, and ran +upstairs. I would not try to stop him, for I knew what his feelings +must be. The nature of mine, as I listened to him, I need not attempt +to describe; for a minute or two I remained in the same spot, +overpowered by wonder of a most agreeable sort indeed; yet it required +some consideration to be tranquilly happy. In about ten minutes after +my return to the parlour Lady Susan entered the room. I concluded, of +course, that she and Reginald had been quarrelling; and looked with +anxious curiosity for a confirmation of my belief in her face. Mistress +of deceit, however, she appeared perfectly unconcerned, and after +chatting on indifferent subjects for a short time, said to me, “I find +from Wilson that we are going to lose Mr. De Courcy—is it true that he +leaves Churchhill this morning?” I replied that it was. “He told us +nothing of all this last night,” said she, laughing, “or even this +morning at breakfast; but perhaps he did not know it himself. Young men +are often hasty in their resolutions, and not more sudden in forming +than unsteady in keeping them. I should not be surprised if he were to +change his mind at last, and not go.” She soon afterwards left the +room. I trust, however, my dear mother, that we have no reason to fear +an alteration of his present plan; things have gone too far. They must +have quarrelled, and about Frederica, too. Her calmness astonishes me. +What delight will be yours in seeing him again; in seeing him still +worthy your esteem, still capable of forming your happiness! When I +next write I shall be able to tell you that Sir James is gone, Lady +Susan vanquished, and Frederica at peace. We have much to do, but it +shall be done. I am all impatience to hear how this astonishing change +was effected. I finish as I began, with the warmest congratulations. + +Yours ever, &c., +CATH. VERNON. + + + + +XXIV + + +_From the same to the same._ + + +Churchhill. + + +Little did I imagine, my dear Mother, when I sent off my last letter, +that the delightful perturbation of spirits I was then in would undergo +so speedy, so melancholy a reverse. I never can sufficiently regret +that I wrote to you at all. Yet who could have foreseen what has +happened? My dear mother, every hope which made me so happy only two +hours ago has vanished. The quarrel between Lady Susan and Reginald is +made up, and we are all as we were before. One point only is gained. +Sir James Martin is dismissed. What are we now to look forward to? I am +indeed disappointed; Reginald was all but gone, his horse was ordered +and all but brought to the door; who would not have felt safe? For half +an hour I was in momentary expectation of his departure. After I had +sent off my letter to you, I went to Mr. Vernon, and sat with him in +his room talking over the whole matter, and then determined to look for +Frederica, whom I had not seen since breakfast. I met her on the +stairs, and saw that she was crying. “My dear aunt,” said she, “he is +going—Mr. De Courcy is going, and it is all my fault. I am afraid you +will be very angry with me, but indeed I had no idea it would end so.” +“My love,” I replied, “do not think it necessary to apologize to me on +that account. I shall feel myself under an obligation to anyone who is +the means of sending my brother home, because,” recollecting myself, “I +know my father wants very much to see him. But what is it you have done +to occasion all this?” She blushed deeply as she answered: “I was so +unhappy about Sir James that I could not help—I have done something +very wrong, I know; but you have not an idea of the misery I have been +in: and mamma had ordered me never to speak to you or my uncle about +it, and—” “You therefore spoke to my brother to engage his +interference,” said I, to save her the explanation. “No, but I wrote to +him—I did indeed, I got up this morning before it was light, and was +two hours about it; and when my letter was done I thought I never +should have courage to give it. After breakfast however, as I was going +to my room, I met him in the passage, and then, as I knew that +everything must depend on that moment, I forced myself to give it. He +was so good as to take it immediately. I dared not look at him, and ran +away directly. I was in such a fright I could hardly breathe. My dear +aunt, you do not know how miserable I have been.” “Frederica” said I, +“you ought to have told me all your distresses. You would have found in +me a friend always ready to assist you. Do you think that your uncle or +I should not have espoused your cause as warmly as my brother?” +“Indeed, I did not doubt your kindness,” said she, colouring again, +“but I thought Mr. De Courcy could do anything with my mother; but I +was mistaken: they have had a dreadful quarrel about it, and he is +going away. Mamma will never forgive me, and I shall be worse off than +ever.” “No, you shall not,” I replied; “in such a point as this your +mother’s prohibition ought not to have prevented your speaking to me on +the subject. She has no right to make you unhappy, and she shall _not_ +do it. Your applying, however, to Reginald can be productive only of +good to all parties. I believe it is best as it is. Depend upon it that +you shall not be made unhappy any longer.” At that moment how great was +my astonishment at seeing Reginald come out of Lady Susan’s +dressing-room. My heart misgave me instantly. His confusion at seeing +me was very evident. Frederica immediately disappeared. “Are you +going?” I said; “you will find Mr. Vernon in his own room.” “No, +Catherine,” he replied, “I am not going. Will you let me speak to you a +moment?” We went into my room. “I find,” he continued, his confusion +increasing as he spoke, “that I have been acting with my usual foolish +impetuosity. I have entirely misunderstood Lady Susan, and was on the +point of leaving the house under a false impression of her conduct. +There has been some very great mistake; we have been all mistaken, I +fancy. Frederica does not know her mother. Lady Susan means nothing but +her good, but she will not make a friend of her. Lady Susan does not +always know, therefore, what will make her daughter happy. Besides, I +could have no right to interfere. Miss Vernon was mistaken in applying +to me. In short, Catherine, everything has gone wrong, but it is now +all happily settled. Lady Susan, I believe, wishes to speak to you +about it, if you are at leisure.” “Certainly,” I replied, deeply +sighing at the recital of so lame a story. I made no comments, however, +for words would have been vain. + +Reginald was glad to get away, and I went to Lady Susan, curious, +indeed, to hear her account of it. “Did I not tell you,” said she with +a smile, “that your brother would not leave us after all?” “You did, +indeed,” replied I very gravely; “but I flattered myself you would be +mistaken.” “I should not have hazarded such an opinion,” returned she, +“if it had not at that moment occurred to me that his resolution of +going might be occasioned by a conversation in which we had been this +morning engaged, and which had ended very much to his dissatisfaction, +from our not rightly understanding each other’s meaning. This idea +struck me at the moment, and I instantly determined that an accidental +dispute, in which I might probably be as much to blame as himself, +should not deprive you of your brother. If you remember, I left the +room almost immediately. I was resolved to lose no time in clearing up +those mistakes as far as I could. The case was this—Frederica had set +herself violently against marrying Sir James.” “And can your ladyship +wonder that she should?” cried I with some warmth; “Frederica has an +excellent understanding, and Sir James has none.” “I am at least very +far from regretting it, my dear sister,” said she; “on the contrary, I +am grateful for so favourable a sign of my daughter’s sense. Sir James +is certainly below par (his boyish manners make him appear worse); and +had Frederica possessed the penetration and the abilities which I could +have wished in my daughter, or had I even known her to possess as much +as she does, I should not have been anxious for the match.” “It is odd +that you should alone be ignorant of your daughter’s sense!” “Frederica +never does justice to herself; her manners are shy and childish, and +besides she is afraid of me. During her poor father’s life she was a +spoilt child; the severity which it has since been necessary for me to +show has alienated her affection; neither has she any of that +brilliancy of intellect, that genius or vigour of mind which will force +itself forward.” “Say rather that she has been unfortunate in her +education!” “Heaven knows, my dearest Mrs. Vernon, how fully I am aware +of that; but I would wish to forget every circumstance that might throw +blame on the memory of one whose name is sacred with me.” Here she +pretended to cry; I was out of patience with her. “But what,” said I, +“was your ladyship going to tell me about your disagreement with my +brother?” “It originated in an action of my daughter’s, which equally +marks her want of judgment and the unfortunate dread of me I have been +mentioning—she wrote to Mr. De Courcy.” “I know she did; you had +forbidden her speaking to Mr. Vernon or to me on the cause of her +distress; what could she do, therefore, but apply to my brother?” “Good +God!” she exclaimed, “what an opinion you must have of me! Can you +possibly suppose that I was aware of her unhappiness! that it was my +object to make my own child miserable, and that I had forbidden her +speaking to you on the subject from a fear of your interrupting the +diabolical scheme? Do you think me destitute of every honest, every +natural feeling? Am I capable of consigning _her_ to everlasting misery +whose welfare it is my first earthly duty to promote? The idea is +horrible!” “What, then, was your intention when you insisted on her +silence?” “Of what use, my dear sister, could be any application to +you, however the affair might stand? Why should I subject you to +entreaties which I refused to attend to myself? Neither for your sake +nor for hers, nor for my own, could such a thing be desirable. When my +own resolution was taken I could not wish for the interference, however +friendly, of another person. I was mistaken, it is true, but I believed +myself right.” “But what was this mistake to which your ladyship so +often alludes? from whence arose so astonishing a misconception of your +daughter’s feelings? Did you not know that she disliked Sir James?” “I +knew that he was not absolutely the man she would have chosen, but I +was persuaded that her objections to him did not arise from any +perception of his deficiency. You must not question me, however, my +dear sister, too minutely on this point,” continued she, taking me +affectionately by the hand; “I honestly own that there is something to +conceal. Frederica makes me very unhappy! Her applying to Mr. De Courcy +hurt me particularly.” “What is it you mean to infer,” said I, “by this +appearance of mystery? If you think your daughter at all attached to +Reginald, her objecting to Sir James could not less deserve to be +attended to than if the cause of her objecting had been a consciousness +of his folly; and why should your ladyship, at any rate, quarrel with +my brother for an interference which, you must know, it is not in his +nature to refuse when urged in such a manner?” + +“His disposition, you know, is warm, and he came to expostulate with +me; his compassion all alive for this ill-used girl, this heroine in +distress! We misunderstood each other: he believed me more to blame +than I really was; I considered his interference less excusable than I +now find it. I have a real regard for him, and was beyond expression +mortified to find it, as I thought, so ill bestowed. We were both warm, +and of course both to blame. His resolution of leaving Churchhill is +consistent with his general eagerness. When I understood his intention, +however, and at the same time began to think that we had been perhaps +equally mistaken in each other’s meaning, I resolved to have an +explanation before it was too late. For any member of your family I +must always feel a degree of affection, and I own it would have +sensibly hurt me if my acquaintance with Mr. De Courcy had ended so +gloomily. I have now only to say further, that as I am convinced of +Frederica’s having a reasonable dislike to Sir James, I shall instantly +inform him that he must give up all hope of her. I reproach myself for +having, even though innocently, made her unhappy on that score. She +shall have all the retribution in my power to make; if she value her +own happiness as much as I do, if she judge wisely, and command herself +as she ought, she may now be easy. Excuse me, my dearest sister, for +thus trespassing on your time, but I owe it to my own character; and +after this explanation I trust I am in no danger of sinking in your +opinion.” I could have said, “Not much, indeed!” but I left her almost +in silence. It was the greatest stretch of forbearance I could +practise. I could not have stopped myself had I begun. Her assurance! +her deceit! but I will not allow myself to dwell on them; they will +strike you sufficiently. My heart sickens within me. As soon as I was +tolerably composed I returned to the parlour. Sir James’s carriage was +at the door, and he, merry as usual, soon afterwards took his leave. +How easily does her ladyship encourage or dismiss a lover! In spite of +this release, Frederica still looks unhappy: still fearful, perhaps, of +her mother’s anger; and though dreading my brother’s departure, +jealous, it may be, of his staying. I see how closely she observes him +and Lady Susan, poor girl! I have now no hope for her. There is not a +chance of her affection being returned. He thinks very differently of +her from what he used to do; he does her some justice, but his +reconciliation with her mother precludes every dearer hope. Prepare, my +dear mother, for the worst! The probability of their marrying is surely +heightened! He is more securely hers than ever. When that wretched +event takes place, Frederica must belong wholly to us. I am thankful +that my last letter will precede this by so little, as every moment +that you can be saved from feeling a joy which leads only to +disappointment is of consequence. + +Yours ever, &c., +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + +XXV + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +I call on you, dear Alicia, for congratulations: I am my own self, gay +and triumphant! When I wrote to you the other day I was, in truth, in +high irritation, and with ample cause. Nay, I know not whether I ought +to be quite tranquil now, for I have had more trouble in restoring +peace than I ever intended to submit to—a spirit, too, resulting from a +fancied sense of superior integrity, which is peculiarly insolent! I +shall not easily forgive him, I assure you. He was actually on the +point of leaving Churchhill! I had scarcely concluded my last, when +Wilson brought me word of it. I found, therefore, that something must +be done; for I did not choose to leave my character at the mercy of a +man whose passions are so violent and so revengeful. It would have been +trifling with my reputation to allow of his departing with such an +impression in my disfavour; in this light, condescension was necessary. +I sent Wilson to say that I desired to speak with him before he went; +he came immediately. The angry emotions which had marked every feature +when we last parted were partially subdued. He seemed astonished at the +summons, and looked as if half wishing and half fearing to be softened +by what I might say. If my countenance expressed what I aimed at, it +was composed and dignified; and yet, with a degree of pensiveness which +might convince him that I was not quite happy. “I beg your pardon, sir, +for the liberty I have taken in sending for you,” said I; “but as I +have just learnt your intention of leaving this place to-day, I feel it +my duty to entreat that you will not on my account shorten your visit +here even an hour. I am perfectly aware that after what has passed +between us it would ill suit the feelings of either to remain longer in +the same house: so very great, so total a change from the intimacy of +friendship must render any future intercourse the severest punishment; +and your resolution of quitting Churchhill is undoubtedly in unison +with our situation, and with those lively feelings which I know you to +possess. But, at the same time, it is not for me to suffer such a +sacrifice as it must be to leave relations to whom you are so much +attached, and are so dear. My remaining here cannot give that pleasure +to Mr. and Mrs. Vernon which your society must; and my visit has +already perhaps been too long. My removal, therefore, which must, at +any rate, take place soon, may, with perfect convenience, be hastened; +and I make it my particular request that I may not in any way be +instrumental in separating a family so affectionately attached to each +other. Where I go is of no consequence to anyone; of very little to +myself; but you are of importance to all your connections.” Here I +concluded, and I hope you will be satisfied with my speech. Its effect +on Reginald justifies some portion of vanity, for it was no less +favourable than instantaneous. Oh, how delightful it was to watch the +variations of his countenance while I spoke! to see the struggle +between returning tenderness and the remains of displeasure. There is +something agreeable in feelings so easily worked on; not that I envy +him their possession, nor would, for the world, have such myself; but +they are very convenient when one wishes to influence the passions of +another. And yet this Reginald, whom a very few words from me softened +at once into the utmost submission, and rendered more tractable, more +attached, more devoted than ever, would have left me in the first angry +swelling of his proud heart without deigning to seek an explanation. +Humbled as he now is, I cannot forgive him such an instance of pride, +and am doubtful whether I ought not to punish him by dismissing him at +once after this reconciliation, or by marrying and teazing him for +ever. But these measures are each too violent to be adopted without +some deliberation; at present my thoughts are fluctuating between +various schemes. I have many things to compass: I must punish +Frederica, and pretty severely too, for her application to Reginald; I +must punish him for receiving it so favourably, and for the rest of his +conduct. I must torment my sister-in-law for the insolent triumph of +her look and manner since Sir James has been dismissed; for, in +reconciling Reginald to me, I was not able to save that ill-fated young +man; and I must make myself amends for the humiliation to which I have +stooped within these few days. To effect all this I have various plans. +I have also an idea of being soon in town; and whatever may be my +determination as to the rest, I shall probably put _that_ project in +execution; for London will be always the fairest field of action, +however my views may be directed; and at any rate I shall there be +rewarded by your society, and a little dissipation, for a ten weeks’ +penance at Churchhill. I believe I owe it to my character to complete +the match between my daughter and Sir James after having so long +intended it. Let me know your opinion on this point. Flexibility of +mind, a disposition easily biassed by others, is an attribute which you +know I am not very desirous of obtaining; nor has Frederica any claim +to the indulgence of her notions at the expense of her mother’s +inclinations. Her idle love for Reginald, too! It is surely my duty to +discourage such romantic nonsense. All things considered, therefore, it +seems incumbent on me to take her to town and marry her immediately to +Sir James. When my own will is effected contrary to his, I shall have +some credit in being on good terms with Reginald, which at present, in +fact, I have not; for though he is still in my power, I have given up +the very article by which our quarrel was produced, and at best the +honour of victory is doubtful. Send me your opinion on all these +matters, my dear Alicia, and let me know whether you can get lodgings +to suit me within a short distance of you. + +Your most attached +S. VERNON. + + + + +XXVI + + +_Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan._ + + +Edward Street. + + +I am gratified by your reference, and this is my advice: that you come +to town yourself, without loss of time, but that you leave Frederica +behind. It would surely be much more to the purpose to get yourself +well established by marrying Mr. De Courcy, than to irritate him and +the rest of his family by making her marry Sir James. You should think +more of yourself and less of your daughter. She is not of a disposition +to do you credit in the world, and seems precisely in her proper place +at Churchhill, with the Vernons. But you are fitted for society, and it +is shameful to have you exiled from it. Leave Frederica, therefore, to +punish herself for the plague she has given you, by indulging that +romantic tender-heartedness which will always ensure her misery enough, +and come to London as soon as you can. I have another reason for urging +this: Mainwaring came to town last week, and has contrived, in spite of +Mr. Johnson, to make opportunities of seeing me. He is absolutely +miserable about you, and jealous to such a degree of De Courcy that it +would be highly unadvisable for them to meet at present. And yet, if +you do not allow him to see you here, I cannot answer for his not +committing some great imprudence—such as going to Churchhill, for +instance, which would be dreadful! Besides, if you take my advice, and +resolve to marry De Courcy, it will be indispensably necessary to you +to get Mainwaring out of the way; and you only can have influence +enough to send him back to his wife. I have still another motive for +your coming: Mr. Johnson leaves London next Tuesday; he is going for +his health to Bath, where, if the waters are favourable to his +constitution and my wishes, he will be laid up with the gout many +weeks. During his absence we shall be able to chuse our own society, +and to have true enjoyment. I would ask you to Edward Street, but that +once he forced from me a kind of promise never to invite you to my +house; nothing but my being in the utmost distress for money should +have extorted it from me. I can get you, however, a nice drawing-room +apartment in Upper Seymour Street, and we may be always together there +or here; for I consider my promise to Mr. Johnson as comprehending only +(at least in his absence) your not sleeping in the house. Poor +Mainwaring gives me such histories of his wife’s jealousy. Silly woman +to expect constancy from so charming a man! but she always was +silly—intolerably so in marrying him at all, she the heiress of a large +fortune and he without a shilling: one title, I know, she might have +had, besides baronets. Her folly in forming the connection was so great +that, though Mr. Johnson was her guardian, and I do not in general +share _his_ feelings, I never can forgive her. + +Adieu. Yours ever, +ALICIA. + + + + +XXVII + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +This letter, my dear Mother, will be brought you by Reginald. His long +visit is about to be concluded at last, but I fear the separation takes +place too late to do us any good. She is going to London to see her +particular friend, Mrs. Johnson. It was at first her intention that +Frederica should accompany her, for the benefit of masters, but we +overruled her there. Frederica was wretched in the idea of going, and I +could not bear to have her at the mercy of her mother; not all the +masters in London could compensate for the ruin of her comfort. I +should have feared, too, for her health, and for everything but her +principles—there I believe she is not to be injured by her mother, or +her mother’s friends; but with those friends she must have mixed (a +very bad set, I doubt not), or have been left in total solitude, and I +can hardly tell which would have been worse for her. If she is with her +mother, moreover, she must, alas! in all probability be with Reginald, +and that would be the greatest evil of all. Here we shall in time be in +peace, and our regular employments, our books and conversations, with +exercise, the children, and every domestic pleasure in my power to +procure her, will, I trust, gradually overcome this youthful +attachment. I should not have a doubt of it were she slighted for any +other woman in the world than her own mother. How long Lady Susan will +be in town, or whether she returns here again, I know not. I could not +be cordial in my invitation, but if she chuses to come no want of +cordiality on my part will keep her away. I could not help asking +Reginald if he intended being in London this winter, as soon as I found +her ladyship’s steps would be bent thither; and though he professed +himself quite undetermined, there was something in his look and voice +as he spoke which contradicted his words. I have done with lamentation; +I look upon the event as so far decided that I resign myself to it in +despair. If he leaves you soon for London everything will be concluded. + +Your affectionate, &c., +C. VERNON. + + + + +XXVIII + + +_Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan._ + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,—I write in the greatest distress; the most +unfortunate event has just taken place. Mr. Johnson has hit on the most +effectual manner of plaguing us all. He had heard, I imagine, by some +means or other, that you were soon to be in London, and immediately +contrived to have such an attack of the gout as must at least delay his +journey to Bath, if not wholly prevent it. I am persuaded the gout is +brought on or kept off at pleasure; it was the same when I wanted to +join the Hamiltons to the Lakes; and three years ago, when _I_ had a +fancy for Bath, nothing could induce him to have a gouty symptom. + +I am pleased to find that my letter had so much effect on you, and that +De Courcy is certainly your own. Let me hear from you as soon as you +arrive, and in particular tell me what you mean to do with Mainwaring. +It is impossible to say when I shall be able to come to you; my +confinement must be great. It is such an abominable trick to be ill +here instead of at Bath that I can scarcely command myself at all. At +Bath his old aunts would have nursed him, but here it all falls upon +me; and he bears pain with such patience that I have not the common +excuse for losing my temper. + +Yours ever, +ALICIA. + + + + +XXIX + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Alicia,—There needed not this last fit of the gout to make me +detest Mr. Johnson, but now the extent of my aversion is not to be +estimated. To have you confined as nurse in his apartment! My dear +Alicia, of what a mistake were you guilty in marrying a man of his age! +just old enough to be formal, ungovernable, and to have the gout; too +old to be agreeable, too young to die. I arrived last night about five, +had scarcely swallowed my dinner when Mainwaring made his appearance. I +will not dissemble what real pleasure his sight afforded me, nor how +strongly I felt the contrast between his person and manners and those +of Reginald, to the infinite disadvantage of the latter. For an hour or +two I was even staggered in my resolution of marrying him, and though +this was too idle and nonsensical an idea to remain long on my mind, I +do not feel very eager for the conclusion of my marriage, nor look +forward with much impatience to the time when Reginald, according to +our agreement, is to be in town. I shall probably put off his arrival +under some pretence or other. He must not come till Mainwaring is gone. +I am still doubtful at times as to marrying; if the old man would die I +might not hesitate, but a state of dependance on the caprice of Sir +Reginald will not suit the freedom of my spirit; and if I resolve to +wait for that event, I shall have excuse enough at present in having +been scarcely ten months a widow. I have not given Mainwaring any hint +of my intention, or allowed him to consider my acquaintance with +Reginald as more than the commonest flirtation, and he is tolerably +appeased. Adieu, till we meet; I am enchanted with my lodgings. + +Yours ever, +S. VERNON. + + + + +XXX + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mr. De Courcy._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I have received your letter, and though I do not attempt to conceal +that I am gratified by your impatience for the hour of meeting, I yet +feel myself under the necessity of delaying that hour beyond the time +originally fixed. Do not think me unkind for such an exercise of my +power, nor accuse me of instability without first hearing my reasons. +In the course of my journey from Churchhill I had ample leisure for +reflection on the present state of our affairs, and every review has +served to convince me that they require a delicacy and cautiousness of +conduct to which we have hitherto been too little attentive. We have +been hurried on by our feelings to a degree of precipitation which ill +accords with the claims of our friends or the opinion of the world. We +have been unguarded in forming this hasty engagement, but we must not +complete the imprudence by ratifying it while there is so much reason +to fear the connection would be opposed by those friends on whom you +depend. It is not for us to blame any expectations on your father’s +side of your marrying to advantage; where possessions are so extensive +as those of your family, the wish of increasing them, if not strictly +reasonable, is too common to excite surprize or resentment. He has a +right to require a woman of fortune in his daughter-in-law, and I am +sometimes quarrelling with myself for suffering you to form a +connection so imprudent; but the influence of reason is often +acknowledged too late by those who feel like me. I have now been but a +few months a widow, and, however little indebted to my husband’s memory +for any happiness derived from him during a union of some years, I +cannot forget that the indelicacy of so early a second marriage must +subject me to the censure of the world, and incur, what would be still +more insupportable, the displeasure of Mr. Vernon. I might perhaps +harden myself in time against the injustice of general reproach, but +the loss of _his_ valued esteem I am, as you well know, ill-fitted to +endure; and when to this may be added the consciousness of having +injured you with your family, how am I to support myself? With feelings +so poignant as mine, the conviction of having divided the son from his +parents would make me, even with you, the most miserable of beings. It +will surely, therefore, be advisable to delay our union—to delay it +till appearances are more promising—till affairs have taken a more +favourable turn. To assist us in such a resolution I feel that absence +will be necessary. We must not meet. Cruel as this sentence may appear, +the necessity of pronouncing it, which can alone reconcile it to +myself, will be evident to you when you have considered our situation +in the light in which I have found myself imperiously obliged to place +it. You may be—you must be—well assured that nothing but the strongest +conviction of duty could induce me to wound my own feelings by urging a +lengthened separation, and of insensibility to yours you will hardly +suspect me. Again, therefore, I say that we ought not, we must not, yet +meet. By a removal for some months from each other we shall +tranquillise the sisterly fears of Mrs. Vernon, who, accustomed herself +to the enjoyment of riches, considers fortune as necessary everywhere, +and whose sensibilities are not of a nature to comprehend ours. Let me +hear from you soon—very soon. Tell me that you submit to my arguments, +and do not reproach me for using such. I cannot bear reproaches: my +spirits are not so high as to need being repressed. I must endeavour to +seek amusement, and fortunately many of my friends are in town; amongst +them the Mainwarings; you know how sincerely I regard both husband and +wife. + +I am, very faithfully yours, +S. VERNON + + + + +XXXI + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Friend,—That tormenting creature, Reginald, is here. My letter, +which was intended to keep him longer in the country, has hastened him +to town. Much as I wish him away, however, I cannot help being pleased +with such a proof of attachment. He is devoted to me, heart and soul. +He will carry this note himself, which is to serve as an introduction +to you, with whom he longs to be acquainted. Allow him to spend the +evening with you, that I may be in no danger of his returning here. I +have told him that I am not quite well, and must be alone; and should +he call again there might be confusion, for it is impossible to be sure +of servants. Keep him, therefore, I entreat you, in Edward Street. You +will not find him a heavy companion, and I allow you to flirt with him +as much as you like. At the same time, do not forget my real interest; +say all that you can to convince him that I shall be quite wretched if +he remains here; you know my reasons—propriety, and so forth. I would +urge them more myself, but that I am impatient to be rid of him, as +Mainwaring comes within half an hour. Adieu! + +S. VERNON. + + + + +XXXII + + +_Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan._ + + +Edward Street. + + +My dear Creature,—I am in agonies, and know not what to do. Mr. De +Courcy arrived just when he should not. Mrs. Mainwaring had that +instant entered the house, and forced herself into her guardian’s +presence, though I did not know a syllable of it till afterwards, for I +was out when both she and Reginald came, or I should have sent him away +at all events; but she was shut up with Mr. Johnson, while he waited in +the drawing-room for me. She arrived yesterday in pursuit of her +husband, but perhaps you know this already from himself. She came to +this house to entreat my husband’s interference, and before I could be +aware of it, everything that you could wish to be concealed was known +to him, and unluckily she had wormed out of Mainwaring’s servant that +he had visited you every day since your being in town, and had just +watched him to your door herself! What could I do! Facts are such +horrid things! All is by this time known to De Courcy, who is now alone +with Mr. Johnson. Do not accuse me; indeed, it was impossible to +prevent it. Mr. Johnson has for some time suspected De Courcy of +intending to marry you, and would speak with him alone as soon as he +knew him to be in the house. That detestable Mrs. Mainwaring, who, for +your comfort, has fretted herself thinner and uglier than ever, is +still here, and they have been all closeted together. What can be done? +At any rate, I hope he will plague his wife more than ever. With +anxious wishes, + +Yours faithfully, +ALICIA. + + + + +XXXIII + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +This _éclaircissement_ is rather provoking. How unlucky that you should +have been from home! I thought myself sure of you at seven! I am +undismayed however. Do not torment yourself with fears on my account; +depend on it, I can make my story good with Reginald. Mainwaring is +just gone; he brought me the news of his wife’s arrival. Silly woman, +what does she expect by such manoeuvres? Yet I wish she had stayed +quietly at Langford. Reginald will be a little enraged at first, but by +to-morrow’s dinner, everything will be well again. + +Adieu! +S. V. + + + + +XXXIV + + +_Mr. De Courcy to Lady Susan._ + + +—— Hotel. + + +I write only to bid you farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as +you are. Since we parted yesterday, I have received from indisputable +authority such a history of you as must bring the most mortifying +conviction of the imposition I have been under, and the absolute +necessity of an immediate and eternal separation from you. You cannot +doubt to what I allude. Langford! Langford! that word will be +sufficient. I received my information in Mr. Johnson’s house, from Mrs. +Mainwaring herself. You know how I have loved you; you can intimately +judge of my present feelings, but I am not so weak as to find +indulgence in describing them to a woman who will glory in having +excited their anguish, but whose affection they have never been able to +gain. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + +XXXV + + +_Lady Susan to Mr. De Courcy._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I will not attempt to describe my astonishment in reading the note this +moment received from you. I am bewildered in my endeavours to form some +rational conjecture of what Mrs. Mainwaring can have told you to +occasion so extraordinary a change in your sentiments. Have I not +explained everything to you with respect to myself which could bear a +doubtful meaning, and which the ill-nature of the world had interpreted +to my discredit? What can you now have heard to stagger your esteem for +me? Have I ever had a concealment from you? Reginald, you agitate me +beyond expression, I cannot suppose that the old story of Mrs. +Mainwaring’s jealousy can be revived again, or at least be _listened_ +to again. Come to me immediately, and explain what is at present +absolutely incomprehensible. Believe me, the single word of _Langford_ +is not of such potent intelligence as to supersede the necessity of +more. If we _are_ to part, it will at least be handsome to take your +personal leave—but I have little heart to jest; in truth, I am serious +enough; for to be sunk, though but for an hour, in your esteem is a +humiliation to which I know not how to submit. I shall count every +minute till your arrival. + +S. V. + + + + +XXXVI + + +_Mr. De Courcy to Lady Susan._ + + +—— Hotel. + + +Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars? But, since +it must be so, I am obliged to declare that all the accounts of your +misconduct during the life, and since the death of Mr. Vernon, which +had reached me, in common with the world in general, and gained my +entire belief before I saw you, but which you, by the exertion of your +perverted abilities, had made me resolved to disallow, have been +unanswerably proved to me; nay more, I am assured that a connection, of +which I had never before entertained a thought, has for some time +existed, and still continues to exist, between you and the man whose +family you robbed of its peace in return for the hospitality with which +you were received into it; that you have corresponded with him ever +since your leaving Langford; not with his wife, but with him, and that +he now visits you every day. Can you, dare you deny it? and all this at +the time when I was an encouraged, an accepted lover! From what have I +not escaped! I have only to be grateful. Far from me be all complaint, +every sigh of regret. My own folly had endangered me, my preservation I +owe to the kindness, the integrity of another; but the unfortunate Mrs. +Mainwaring, whose agonies while she related the past seemed to threaten +her reason, how is _she_ to be consoled! After such a discovery as +this, you will scarcely affect further wonder at my meaning in bidding +you adieu. My understanding is at length restored, and teaches no less +to abhor the artifices which had subdued me than to despise myself for +the weakness on which their strength was founded. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + +XXXVII + + +_Lady Susan to Mr. De Courcy._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I am satisfied, and will trouble you no more when these few lines are +dismissed. The engagement which you were eager to form a fortnight ago +is no longer compatible with your views, and I rejoice to find that the +prudent advice of your parents has not been given in vain. Your +restoration to peace will, I doubt not, speedily follow this act of +filial obedience, and I flatter myself with the hope of surviving my +share in this disappointment. + +S. V. + + + + +XXXVIII + + +_Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan Vernon._ + + +Edward Street + + +I am grieved, though I cannot be astonished at your rupture with Mr. De +Courcy; he has just informed Mr. Johnson of it by letter. He leaves +London, he says, to-day. Be assured that I partake in all your +feelings, and do not be angry if I say that our intercourse, even by +letter, must soon be given up. It makes me miserable; but Mr. Johnson +vows that if I persist in the connection, he will settle in the country +for the rest of his life, and you know it is impossible to submit to +such an extremity while any other alternative remains. You have heard +of course that the Mainwarings are to part, and I am afraid Mrs. M. +will come home to us again; but she is still so fond of her husband, +and frets so much about him, that perhaps she may not live long. Miss +Mainwaring is just come to town to be with her aunt, and they say that +she declares she will have Sir James Martin before she leaves London +again. If I were you, I would certainly get him myself. I had almost +forgot to give you my opinion of Mr. De Courcy; I am really delighted +with him; he is full as handsome, I think, as Mainwaring, and with such +an open, good-humoured countenance, that one cannot help loving him at +first sight. Mr. Johnson and he are the greatest friends in the world. +Adieu, my dearest Susan, I wish matters did not go so perversely. That +unlucky visit to Langford! but I dare say you did all for the best, and +there is no defying destiny. + +Your sincerely attached, +ALICIA. + + + + +XXXIX + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Alicia,—I yield to the necessity which parts us. Under such +circumstances you could not act otherwise. Our friendship cannot be +impaired by it, and in happier times, when your situation is as +independent as mine, it will unite us again in the same intimacy as +ever. For this I shall impatiently wait, and meanwhile can safely +assure you that I never was more at ease, or better satisfied with +myself and everything about me than at the present hour. Your husband I +abhor, Reginald I despise, and I am secure of never seeing either +again. Have I not reason to rejoice? Mainwaring is more devoted to me +than ever; and were we at liberty, I doubt if I could resist even +matrimony offered by _him_. This event, if his wife live with you, it +may be in your power to hasten. The violence of her feelings, which +must wear her out, may be easily kept in irritation. I rely on your +friendship for this. I am now satisfied that I never could have brought +myself to marry Reginald, and am equally determined that Frederica +never _shall_. To-morrow, I shall fetch her from Churchhill, and let +Maria Mainwaring tremble for the consequence. Frederica shall be Sir +James’s wife before she quits my house, and _she_ may whimper, and the +Vernons may storm, I regard them not. I am tired of submitting my will +to the caprices of others; of resigning my own judgment in deference to +those to whom I owe no duty, and for whom I feel no respect. I have +given up too much, have been too easily worked on, but Frederica shall +now feel the difference. Adieu, dearest of friends; may the next gouty +attack be more favourable! and may you always regard me as unalterably +yours, + +S. VERNON + + + + +XL + + +_Lady De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon._ + + +My dear Catherine,—I have charming news for you, and if I had not sent +off my letter this morning you might have been spared the vexation of +knowing of Reginald’s being gone to London, for he is returned. +Reginald is returned, not to ask our consent to his marrying Lady +Susan, but to tell us they are parted for ever. He has been only an +hour in the house, and I have not been able to learn particulars, for +he is so very low that I have not the heart to ask questions, but I +hope we shall soon know all. This is the most joyful hour he has ever +given us since the day of his birth. Nothing is wanting but to have you +here, and it is our particular wish and entreaty that you would come to +us as soon as you can. You have owed us a visit many long weeks; I hope +nothing will make it inconvenient to Mr. Vernon; and pray bring all my +grand-children; and your dear niece is included, of course; I long to +see her. It has been a sad, heavy winter hitherto, without Reginald, +and seeing nobody from Churchhill. I never found the season so dreary +before; but this happy meeting will make us young again. Frederica runs +much in my thoughts, and when Reginald has recovered his usual good +spirits (as I trust he soon will) we will try to rob him of his heart +once more, and I am full of hopes of seeing their hands joined at no +great distance. + +Your affectionate mother, +C. DE COURCY. + + + + +XLI + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,—Your letter has surprized me beyond measure! Can it be +true that they are really separated—and for ever? I should be overjoyed +if I dared depend on it, but after all that I have seen how can one be +secure? And Reginald really with you! My surprize is the greater +because on Wednesday, the very day of his coming to Parklands, we had a +most unexpected and unwelcome visit from Lady Susan, looking all +cheerfulness and good-humour, and seeming more as if she were to marry +him when she got to London than as if parted from him for ever. She +stayed nearly two hours, was as affectionate and agreeable as ever, and +not a syllable, not a hint was dropped, of any disagreement or coolness +between them. I asked her whether she had seen my brother since his +arrival in town; not, as you may suppose, with any doubt of the fact, +but merely to see how she looked. She immediately answered, without any +embarrassment, that he had been kind enough to call on her on Monday; +but she believed he had already returned home, which I was very far +from crediting. Your kind invitation is accepted by us with pleasure, +and on Thursday next we and our little ones will be with you. Pray +heaven, Reginald may not be in town again by that time! I wish we could +bring dear Frederica too, but I am sorry to say that her mother’s +errand hither was to fetch her away; and, miserable as it made the poor +girl, it was impossible to detain her. I was thoroughly unwilling to +let her go, and so was her uncle; and all that could be urged we did +urge; but Lady Susan declared that as she was now about to fix herself +in London for several months, she could not be easy if her daughter +were not with her for masters, &c. Her manner, to be sure, was very +kind and proper, and Mr. Vernon believes that Frederica will now be +treated with affection. I wish I could think so too. The poor girl’s +heart was almost broke at taking leave of us. I charged her to write to +me very often, and to remember that if she were in any distress we +should be always her friends. I took care to see her alone, that I +might say all this, and I hope made her a little more comfortable; but +I shall not be easy till I can go to town and judge of her situation +myself. I wish there were a better prospect than now appears of the +match which the conclusion of your letter declares your expectations +of. At present, it is not very likely. + +Yours ever, &c., +C. VERNON. + + + + +CONCLUSION + + +This correspondence, by a meeting between some of the parties, and a +separation between the others, could not, to the great detriment of the +Post Office revenue, be continued any longer. Very little assistance to +the State could be derived from the epistolary intercourse of Mrs. +Vernon and her niece; for the former soon perceived, by the style of +Frederica’s letters, that they were written under her mother’s +inspection! and therefore, deferring all particular enquiry till she +could make it personally in London, ceased writing minutely or often. +Having learnt enough, in the meanwhile, from her open-hearted brother, +of what had passed between him and Lady Susan to sink the latter lower +than ever in her opinion, she was proportionably more anxious to get +Frederica removed from such a mother, and placed under her own care; +and, though with little hope of success, was resolved to leave nothing +unattempted that might offer a chance of obtaining her sister-in-law’s +consent to it. Her anxiety on the subject made her press for an early +visit to London; and Mr. Vernon, who, as it must already have appeared, +lived only to do whatever he was desired, soon found some accommodating +business to call him thither. With a heart full of the matter, Mrs. +Vernon waited on Lady Susan shortly after her arrival in town, and was +met with such an easy and cheerful affection, as made her almost turn +from her with horror. No remembrance of Reginald, no consciousness of +guilt, gave one look of embarrassment; she was in excellent spirits, +and seemed eager to show at once by every possible attention to her +brother and sister her sense of their kindness, and her pleasure in +their society. Frederica was no more altered than Lady Susan; the same +restrained manners, the same timid look in the presence of her mother +as heretofore, assured her aunt of her situation being uncomfortable, +and confirmed her in the plan of altering it. No unkindness, however, +on the part of Lady Susan appeared. Persecution on the subject of Sir +James was entirely at an end; his name merely mentioned to say that he +was not in London; and indeed, in all her conversation, she was +solicitous only for the welfare and improvement of her daughter, +acknowledging, in terms of grateful delight, that Frederica was now +growing every day more and more what a parent could desire. Mrs. +Vernon, surprized and incredulous, knew not what to suspect, and, +without any change in her own views, only feared greater difficulty in +accomplishing them. The first hope of anything better was derived from +Lady Susan’s asking her whether she thought Frederica looked quite as +well as she had done at Churchhill, as she must confess herself to have +sometimes an anxious doubt of London’s perfectly agreeing with her. +Mrs. Vernon, encouraging the doubt, directly proposed her niece’s +returning with them into the country. Lady Susan was unable to express +her sense of such kindness, yet knew not, from a variety of reasons, +how to part with her daughter; and as, though her own plans were not +yet wholly fixed, she trusted it would ere long be in her power to take +Frederica into the country herself, concluded by declining entirely to +profit by such unexampled attention. Mrs. Vernon persevered, however, +in the offer of it, and though Lady Susan continued to resist, her +resistance in the course of a few days seemed somewhat less formidable. +The lucky alarm of an influenza decided what might not have been +decided quite so soon. Lady Susan’s maternal fears were then too much +awakened for her to think of anything but Frederica’s removal from the +risk of infection; above all disorders in the world she most dreaded +the influenza for her daughter’s constitution! + +Frederica returned to Churchhill with her uncle and aunt; and three +weeks afterwards, Lady Susan announced her being married to Sir James +Martin. Mrs. Vernon was then convinced of what she had only suspected +before, that she might have spared herself all the trouble of urging a +removal which Lady Susan had doubtless resolved on from the first. +Frederica’s visit was nominally for six weeks, but her mother, though +inviting her to return in one or two affectionate letters, was very +ready to oblige the whole party by consenting to a prolongation of her +stay, and in the course of two months ceased to write of her absence, +and in the course of two more to write to her at all. Frederica was +therefore fixed in the family of her uncle and aunt till such time as +Reginald De Courcy could be talked, flattered, and finessed into an +affection for her which, allowing leisure for the conquest of his +attachment to her mother, for his abjuring all future attachments, and +detesting the sex, might be reasonably looked for in the course of a +twelvemonth. Three months might have done it in general, but Reginald’s +feelings were no less lasting than lively. Whether Lady Susan was or +was not happy in her second choice, I do not see how it can ever be +ascertained; for who would take her assurance of it on either side of +the question? The world must judge from probabilities; she had nothing +against her but her husband, and her conscience. Sir James may seem to +have drawn a harder lot than mere folly merited; I leave him, +therefore, to all the pity that anybody can give him. For myself, I +confess that _I_ can pity only Miss Mainwaring; who, coming to town, +and putting herself to an expense in clothes which impoverished her for +two years, on purpose to secure him, was defrauded of her due by a +woman ten years older than herself. + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 946 *** diff --git a/946-h/946-h.htm b/946-h/946-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8120260 --- /dev/null +++ b/946-h/946-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2904 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" +"http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> +<head> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8" /> +<meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> +<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Lady Susan, by Jane Austen</title> + +<style type="text/css" xml:space="preserve"> + +body { margin-left: 20%; + margin-right: 20%; + text-align: justify; } + +h1, h2, h3, h4, h5 {text-align: center; font-style: normal; font-weight: +normal; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: .5em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + +h1 {font-size: 300%; + margin-top: 0.6em; + margin-bottom: 0.6em; + letter-spacing: 0.12em; + word-spacing: 0.2em; + text-indent: 0em;} +h2 {font-size: 150%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} +h3 {font-size: 130%; margin-top: 1em;} +h4 {font-size: 120%;} +h5 {font-size: 110%;} + +.no-break {page-break-before: avoid;} /* for epubs */ + +div.chapter {page-break-before: always; margin-top: 4em;} + +hr {width: 80%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + +p {text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: 0.25em; + margin-bottom: 0.25em; } + +p.center {text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +p.right {text-align: right; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; } + +a:link {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:visited {color:blue; text-decoration:none} +a:hover {color:red} + +</style> +</head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 946 ***</div> + +<h1>LADY SUSAN</h1> + +<h2 class="no-break">by Jane Austen</h2> + +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0001">I</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0002">II</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0003">III</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0004">IV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0005">V</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0006">VI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0007">VII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0008">VIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0009">IX</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0010">X</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0011">XI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0012">XII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0013">XIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0014">XIV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0015">XV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0016">XVI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0017">XVII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0018">XVIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0019">XIX</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0020">XX</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0021">XXI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0022">XXII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0023">XXIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0024">XXIV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0025">XXV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0026">XXVI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0027">XXVII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0028">XXVIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0029">XXIX</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0030">XXX</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0031">XXXI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0032">XXXII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0033">XXXIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0034">XXXIV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0035">XXXV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0036">XXXVI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0037">XXXVII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0038">XXXVIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0039">XXXIX</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0040">XL</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0041">XLI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_CONC">CONCLUSION</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0001"></a> +I</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mr. Vernon.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Langford, Dec. +</p> + +<p> +M<small>Y DEAR</small> B<small>ROTHER</small>,—I can no longer refuse +myself the pleasure of profiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of +spending some weeks with you at Churchhill, and, therefore, if quite convenient +to you and Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few days +to be introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be acquainted with. +My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent with me to prolong my stay, +but their hospitable and cheerful dispositions lead them too much into society +for my present situation and state of mind; and I impatiently look forward to +the hour when I shall be admitted into your delightful retirement. +</p> + +<p> +I long to be made known to your dear little children, in whose hearts I shall +be very eager to secure an interest. I shall soon have need for all my +fortitude, as I am on the point of separation from my own daughter. The long +illness of her dear father prevented my paying her that attention which duty +and affection equally dictated, and I have too much reason to fear that the +governess to whose care I consigned her was unequal to the charge. I have +therefore resolved on placing her at one of the best private schools in town, +where I shall have an opportunity of leaving her myself in my way to you. I am +determined, you see, not to be denied admittance at Churchhill. It would indeed +give me most painful sensations to know that it were not in your power to +receive me. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your most obliged and affectionate sister,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0002"></a> +II</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Langford. +</p> + +<p> +You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing me fixed at this place for the +rest of the winter: it grieves me to say how greatly you were mistaken, for I +have seldom spent three months more agreeably than those which have just flown +away. At present, nothing goes smoothly; the females of the family are united +against me. You foretold how it would be when I first came to Langford, and +Mainwaring is so uncommonly pleasing that I was not without apprehensions for +myself. I remember saying to myself, as I drove to the house, “I like +this man, pray Heaven no harm come of it!” But I was determined to be +discreet, to bear in mind my being only four months a widow, and to be as quiet +as possible: and I have been so, my dear creature; I have admitted no +one’s attentions but Mainwaring’s. I have avoided all general +flirtation whatever; I have distinguished no creature besides, of all the +numbers resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on whom I bestowed a little +notice, in order to detach him from Miss Mainwaring; but, if the world could +know my motive <i>there</i> they would honour me. I have been called an unkind +mother, but it was the sacred impulse of maternal affection, it was the +advantage of my daughter that led me on; and if that daughter were not the +greatest simpleton on earth, I might have been rewarded for my exertions as I +ought. +</p> + +<p> +Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica; but Frederica, who was born +to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so violently against the +match that I thought it better to lay aside the scheme for the present. I have +more than once repented that I did not marry him myself; and were he but one +degree less contemptibly weak I certainly should: but I must own myself rather +romantic in that respect, and that riches only will not satisfy me. The event +of all this is very provoking: Sir James is gone, Maria highly incensed, and +Mrs. Mainwaring insupportably jealous; so jealous, in short, and so enraged +against me, that, in the fury of her temper, I should not be surprized at her +appealing to her guardian, if she had the liberty of addressing him: but there +your husband stands my friend; and the kindest, most amiable action of his life +was his throwing her off for ever on her marriage. Keep up his resentment, +therefore, I charge you. We are now in a sad state; no house was ever more +altered; the whole party are at war, and Mainwaring scarcely dares speak to me. +It is time for me to be gone; I have therefore determined on leaving them, and +shall spend, I hope, a comfortable day with you in town within this week. If I +am as little in favour with Mr. Johnson as ever, you must come to me at 10 +Wigmore street; but I hope this may not be the case, for as Mr. Johnson, with +all his faults, is a man to whom that great word “respectable” is +always given, and I am known to be so intimate with his wife, his slighting me +has an awkward look. +</p> + +<p> +I take London in my way to that insupportable spot, a country village; for I am +really going to Churchhill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is my last resource. +Were there another place in England open to me I would prefer it. Charles +Vernon is my aversion; and I am afraid of his wife. At Churchhill, however, I +must remain till I have something better in view. My young lady accompanies me +to town, where I shall deposit her under the care of Miss Summers, in Wigmore +street, till she becomes a little more reasonable. She will made good +connections there, as the girls are all of the best families. The price is +immense, and much beyond what I can ever attempt to pay. +</p> + +<p> +Adieu, I will send you a line as soon as I arrive in town. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0003"></a> +III</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Mother,—I am very sorry to tell you that it will not be in our +power to keep our promise of spending our Christmas with you; and we are +prevented that happiness by a circumstance which is not likely to make us any +amends. Lady Susan, in a letter to her brother-in-law, has declared her +intention of visiting us almost immediately; and as such a visit is in all +probability merely an affair of convenience, it is impossible to conjecture its +length. I was by no means prepared for such an event, nor can I now account for +her ladyship’s conduct; Langford appeared so exactly the place for her in +every respect, as well from the elegant and expensive style of living there, as +from her particular attachment to Mr. Mainwaring, that I was very far from +expecting so speedy a distinction, though I always imagined from her increasing +friendship for us since her husband’s death that we should, at some +future period, be obliged to receive her. Mr. Vernon, I think, was a great deal +too kind to her when he was in Staffordshire; her behaviour to him, independent +of her general character, has been so inexcusably artful and ungenerous since +our marriage was first in agitation that no one less amiable and mild than +himself could have overlooked it all; and though, as his brother’s widow, +and in narrow circumstances, it was proper to render her pecuniary assistance, +I cannot help thinking his pressing invitation to her to visit us at Churchhill +perfectly unnecessary. Disposed, however, as he always is to think the best of +everyone, her display of grief, and professions of regret, and general +resolutions of prudence, were sufficient to soften his heart and make him +really confide in her sincerity; but, as for myself, I am still unconvinced, +and plausibly as her ladyship has now written, I cannot make up my mind till I +better understand her real meaning in coming to us. You may guess, therefore, +my dear madam, with what feelings I look forward to her arrival. She will have +occasion for all those attractive powers for which she is celebrated to gain +any share of my regard; and I shall certainly endeavour to guard myself against +their influence, if not accompanied by something more substantial. She +expresses a most eager desire of being acquainted with me, and makes very +gracious mention of my children but I am not quite weak enough to suppose a +woman who has behaved with inattention, if not with unkindness, to her own +child, should be attached to any of mine. Miss Vernon is to be placed at a +school in London before her mother comes to us which I am glad of, for her sake +and my own. It must be to her advantage to be separated from her mother, and a +girl of sixteen who has received so wretched an education, could not be a very +desirable companion here. Reginald has long wished, I know, to see the +captivating Lady Susan, and we shall depend on his joining our party soon. I am +glad to hear that my father continues so well; and am, with best love, &c., +</p> + +<p class="right"> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0004"></a> +IV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mr. De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Parklands. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Sister,—I congratulate you and Mr. Vernon on being about to +receive into your family the most accomplished coquette in England. As a very +distinguished flirt I have always been taught to consider her, but it has +lately fallen in my way to hear some particulars of her conduct at Langford: +which prove that she does not confine herself to that sort of honest flirtation +which satisfies most people, but aspires to the more delicious gratification of +making a whole family miserable. By her behaviour to Mr. Mainwaring she gave +jealousy and wretchedness to his wife, and by her attentions to a young man +previously attached to Mr. Mainwaring’s sister deprived an amiable girl +of her lover. +</p> + +<p> +I learnt all this from Mr. Smith, now in this neighbourhood (I have dined with +him, at Hurst and Wilford), who is just come from Langford where he was a +fortnight with her ladyship, and who is therefore well qualified to make the +communication. +</p> + +<p> +What a woman she must be! I long to see her, and shall certainly accept your +kind invitation, that I may form some idea of those bewitching powers which can +do so much—engaging at the same time, and in the same house, the +affections of two men, who were neither of them at liberty to bestow +them—and all this without the charm of youth! I am glad to find Miss +Vernon does not accompany her mother to Churchhill, as she has not even manners +to recommend her; and, according to Mr. Smith’s account, is equally dull +and proud. Where pride and stupidity unite there can be no dissimulation worthy +notice, and Miss Vernon shall be consigned to unrelenting contempt; but by all +that I can gather Lady Susan possesses a degree of captivating deceit which it +must be pleasing to witness and detect. I shall be with you very soon, and am +ever, +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your affectionate brother,<br/> +R. <small>DE</small> C<small>OURCY</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0005"></a> +V</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +I received your note, my dear Alicia, just before I left town, and rejoice to +be assured that Mr. Johnson suspected nothing of your engagement the evening +before. It is undoubtedly better to deceive him entirely, and since he will be +stubborn he must be tricked. I arrived here in safety, and have no reason to +complain of my reception from Mr. Vernon; but I confess myself not equally +satisfied with the behaviour of his lady. She is perfectly well-bred, indeed, +and has the air of a woman of fashion, but her manners are not such as can +persuade me of her being prepossessed in my favour. I wanted her to be +delighted at seeing me. I was as amiable as possible on the occasion, but all +in vain. She does not like me. To be sure, when we consider that I <i>did</i> +take some pains to prevent my brother-in-law’s marrying her, this want of +cordiality is not very surprizing, and yet it shows an illiberal and vindictive +spirit to resent a project which influenced me six years ago, and which never +succeeded at last. +</p> + +<p> +I am sometimes disposed to repent that I did not let Charles buy Vernon Castle, +when we were obliged to sell it; but it was a trying circumstance, especially +as the sale took place exactly at the time of his marriage; and everybody ought +to respect the delicacy of those feelings which could not endure that my +husband’s dignity should be lessened by his younger brother’s +having possession of the family estate. Could matters have been so arranged as +to prevent the necessity of our leaving the castle, could we have lived with +Charles and kept him single, I should have been very far from persuading my +husband to dispose of it elsewhere; but Charles was on the point of marrying +Miss De Courcy, and the event has justified me. Here are children in abundance, +and what benefit could have accrued to me from his purchasing Vernon? My having +prevented it may perhaps have given his wife an unfavourable impression, but +where there is a disposition to dislike, a motive will never be wanting; and as +to money matters it has not withheld him from being very useful to me. I really +have a regard for him, he is so easily imposed upon! The house is a good one, +the furniture fashionable, and everything announces plenty and elegance. +Charles is very rich I am sure; when a man has once got his name in a +banking-house he rolls in money; but they do not know what to do with it, keep +very little company, and never go to London but on business. We shall be as +stupid as possible. I mean to win my sister-in-law’s heart through the +children; I know all their names already, and am going to attach myself with +the greatest sensibility to one in particular, a young Frederic, whom I take on +my lap and sigh over for his dear uncle’s sake. +</p> + +<p> +Poor Mainwaring! I need not tell you how much I miss him, how perpetually he is +in my thoughts. I found a dismal letter from him on my arrival here, full of +complaints of his wife and sister, and lamentations on the cruelty of his fate. +I passed off the letter as his wife’s, to the Vernons, and when I write +to him it must be under cover to you. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Ever yours,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0006"></a> +VI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Mr. De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +Well, my dear Reginald, I have seen this dangerous creature, and must give you +some description of her, though I hope you will soon be able to form your own +judgment. She is really excessively pretty; however you may choose to question +the allurements of a lady no longer young, I must, for my own part, declare +that I have seldom seen so lovely a woman as Lady Susan. She is delicately +fair, with fine grey eyes and dark eyelashes; and from her appearance one would +not suppose her more than five and twenty, though she must in fact be ten years +older. I was certainly not disposed to admire her, though always hearing she +was beautiful; but I cannot help feeling that she possesses an uncommon union +of symmetry, brilliancy, and grace. Her address to me was so gentle, frank, and +even affectionate, that, if I had not known how much she has always disliked me +for marrying Mr. Vernon, and that we had never met before, I should have +imagined her an attached friend. One is apt, I believe, to connect assurance of +manner with coquetry, and to expect that an impudent address will naturally +attend an impudent mind; at least I was myself prepared for an improper degree +of confidence in Lady Susan; but her countenance is absolutely sweet, and her +voice and manner winningly mild. I am sorry it is so, for what is this but +deceit? Unfortunately, one knows her too well. She is clever and agreeable, has +all that knowledge of the world which makes conversation easy, and talks very +well, with a happy command of language, which is too often used, I believe, to +make black appear white. She has already almost persuaded me of her being +warmly attached to her daughter, though I have been so long convinced to the +contrary. She speaks of her with so much tenderness and anxiety, lamenting so +bitterly the neglect of her education, which she represents however as wholly +unavoidable, that I am forced to recollect how many successive springs her +ladyship spent in town, while her daughter was left in Staffordshire to the +care of servants, or a governess very little better, to prevent my believing +what she says. +</p> + +<p> +If her manners have so great an influence on my resentful heart, you may judge +how much more strongly they operate on Mr. Vernon’s generous temper. I +wish I could be as well satisfied as he is, that it was really her choice to +leave Langford for Churchhill; and if she had not stayed there for months +before she discovered that her friend’s manner of living did not suit her +situation or feelings, I might have believed that concern for the loss of such +a husband as Mr. Vernon, to whom her own behaviour was far from +unexceptionable, might for a time make her wish for retirement. But I cannot +forget the length of her visit to the Mainwarings, and when I reflect on the +different mode of life which she led with them from that to which she must now +submit, I can only suppose that the wish of establishing her reputation by +following though late the path of propriety, occasioned her removal from a +family where she must in reality have been particularly happy. Your friend Mr. +Smith’s story, however, cannot be quite correct, as she corresponds +regularly with Mrs. Mainwaring. At any rate it must be exaggerated. It is +scarcely possible that two men should be so grossly deceived by her at once. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours, &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small> +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0007"></a> +VII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Alicia,—You are very good in taking notice of Frederica, and I am +grateful for it as a mark of your friendship; but as I cannot have any doubt of +the warmth of your affection, I am far from exacting so heavy a sacrifice. She +is a stupid girl, and has nothing to recommend her. I would not, therefore, on +my account, have you encumber one moment of your precious time by sending for +her to Edward Street, especially as every visit is so much deducted from the +grand affair of education, which I really wish to have attended to while she +remains at Miss Summers’s. I want her to play and sing with some portion +of taste and a good deal of assurance, as she has my hand and arm and a +tolerable voice. I was so much indulged in my infant years that I was never +obliged to attend to anything, and consequently am without the accomplishments +which are now necessary to finish a pretty woman. Not that I am an advocate for +the prevailing fashion of acquiring a perfect knowledge of all languages, arts, +and sciences. It is throwing time away to be mistress of French, Italian, and +German: music, singing, and drawing, &c., will gain a woman some applause, +but will not add one lover to her list—grace and manner, after all, are +of the greatest importance. I do not mean, therefore, that Frederica’s +acquirements should be more than superficial, and I flatter myself that she +will not remain long enough at school to understand anything thoroughly. I hope +to see her the wife of Sir James within a twelvemonth. You know on what I +ground my hope, and it is certainly a good foundation, for school must be very +humiliating to a girl of Frederica’s age. And, by-the-by, you had better +not invite her any more on that account, as I wish her to find her situation as +unpleasant as possible. I am sure of Sir James at any time, and could make him +renew his application by a line. I shall trouble you meanwhile to prevent his +forming any other attachment when he comes to town. Ask him to your house +occasionally, and talk to him of Frederica, that he may not forget her. Upon +the whole, I commend my own conduct in this affair extremely, and regard it as +a very happy instance of circumspection and tenderness. Some mothers would have +insisted on their daughter’s accepting so good an offer on the first +overture; but I could not reconcile it to myself to force Frederica into a +marriage from which her heart revolted, and instead of adopting so harsh a +measure merely propose to make it her own choice, by rendering her thoroughly +uncomfortable till she does accept him—but enough of this tiresome girl. +You may well wonder how I contrive to pass my time here, and for the first week +it was insufferably dull. Now, however, we begin to mend, our party is enlarged +by Mrs. Vernon’s brother, a handsome young man, who promises me some +amusement. There is something about him which rather interests me, a sort of +sauciness and familiarity which I shall teach him to correct. He is lively, and +seems clever, and when I have inspired him with greater respect for me than his +sister’s kind offices have implanted, he may be an agreeable flirt. There +is exquisite pleasure in subduing an insolent spirit, in making a person +predetermined to dislike acknowledge one’s superiority. I have +disconcerted him already by my calm reserve, and it shall be my endeavour to +humble the pride of these self important De Courcys still lower, to convince +Mrs. Vernon that her sisterly cautions have been bestowed in vain, and to +persuade Reginald that she has scandalously belied me. This project will serve +at least to amuse me, and prevent my feeling so acutely this dreadful +separation from you and all whom I love. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0008"></a> +VIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Mother,—You must not expect Reginald back again for some time. He +desires me to tell you that the present open weather induces him to accept Mr. +Vernon’s invitation to prolong his stay in Sussex, that they may have +some hunting together. He means to send for his horses immediately, and it is +impossible to say when you may see him in Kent. I will not disguise my +sentiments on this change from you, my dear mother, though I think you had +better not communicate them to my father, whose excessive anxiety about +Reginald would subject him to an alarm which might seriously affect his health +and spirits. Lady Susan has certainly contrived, in the space of a fortnight, +to make my brother like her. In short, I am persuaded that his continuing here +beyond the time originally fixed for his return is occasioned as much by a +degree of fascination towards her, as by the wish of hunting with Mr. Vernon, +and of course I cannot receive that pleasure from the length of his visit which +my brother’s company would otherwise give me. I am, indeed, provoked at +the artifice of this unprincipled woman; what stronger proof of her dangerous +abilities can be given than this perversion of Reginald’s judgment, which +when he entered the house was so decidedly against her! In his last letter he +actually gave me some particulars of her behaviour at Langford, such as he +received from a gentleman who knew her perfectly well, which, if true, must +raise abhorrence against her, and which Reginald himself was entirely disposed +to credit. His opinion of her, I am sure, was as low as of any woman in +England; and when he first came it was evident that he considered her as one +entitled neither to delicacy nor respect, and that he felt she would be +delighted with the attentions of any man inclined to flirt with her. Her +behaviour, I confess, has been calculated to do away with such an idea; I have +not detected the smallest impropriety in it—nothing of vanity, of +pretension, of levity; and she is altogether so attractive that I should not +wonder at his being delighted with her, had he known nothing of her previous to +this personal acquaintance; but, against reason, against conviction, to be so +well pleased with her, as I am sure he is, does really astonish me. His +admiration was at first very strong, but no more than was natural, and I did +not wonder at his being much struck by the gentleness and delicacy of her +manners; but when he has mentioned her of late it has been in terms of more +extraordinary praise; and yesterday he actually said that he could not be +surprised at any effect produced on the heart of man by such loveliness and +such abilities; and when I lamented, in reply, the badness of her disposition, +he observed that whatever might have been her errors they were to be imputed to +her neglected education and early marriage, and that she was altogether a +wonderful woman. This tendency to excuse her conduct or to forget it, in the +warmth of admiration, vexes me; and if I did not know that Reginald is too much +at home at Churchhill to need an invitation for lengthening his visit, I should +regret Mr. Vernon’s giving him any. Lady Susan’s intentions are of +course those of absolute coquetry, or a desire of universal admiration; I +cannot for a moment imagine that she has anything more serious in view; but it +mortifies me to see a young man of Reginald’s sense duped by her at all. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +I am, &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0009"></a> +IX</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Johnson to Lady S. Vernon.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Edward Street. +</p> + +<p> +My dearest Friend,—I congratulate you on Mr. De Courcy’s arrival, +and I advise you by all means to marry him; his father’s estate is, we +know, considerable, and I believe certainly entailed. Sir Reginald is very +infirm, and not likely to stand in your way long. I hear the young man well +spoken of; and though no one can really deserve you, my dearest Susan, Mr. De +Courcy may be worth having. Mainwaring will storm of course, but you easily +pacify him; besides, the most scrupulous point of honour could not require you +to wait for <i>his</i> emancipation. I have seen Sir James; he came to town for +a few days last week, and called several times in Edward Street. I talked to +him about you and your daughter, and he is so far from having forgotten you, +that I am sure he would marry either of you with pleasure. I gave him hopes of +Frederica’s relenting, and told him a great deal of her improvements. I +scolded him for making love to Maria Mainwaring; he protested that he had been +only in joke, and we both laughed heartily at her disappointment; and, in +short, were very agreeable. He is as silly as ever. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours faithfully,<br/> +A<small>LICIA</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0010"></a> +X</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +I am much obliged to you, my dear Friend, for your advice respecting Mr. De +Courcy, which I know was given with the full conviction of its expediency, +though I am not quite determined on following it. I cannot easily resolve on +anything so serious as marriage; especially as I am not at present in want of +money, and might perhaps, till the old gentleman’s death, be very little +benefited by the match. It is true that I am vain enough to believe it within +my reach. I have made him sensible of my power, and can now enjoy the pleasure +of triumphing over a mind prepared to dislike me, and prejudiced against all my +past actions. His sister, too, is, I hope, convinced how little the ungenerous +representations of anyone to the disadvantage of another will avail when +opposed by the immediate influence of intellect and manner. I see plainly that +she is uneasy at my progress in the good opinion of her brother, and conclude +that nothing will be wanting on her part to counteract me; but having once made +him doubt the justice of her opinion of me, I think I may defy her. It has been +delightful to me to watch his advances towards intimacy, especially to observe +his altered manner in consequence of my repressing by the cool dignity of my +deportment his insolent approach to direct familiarity. My conduct has been +equally guarded from the first, and I never behaved less like a coquette in the +whole course of my life, though perhaps my desire of dominion was never more +decided. I have subdued him entirely by sentiment and serious conversation, and +made him, I may venture to say, at least half in love with me, without the +semblance of the most commonplace flirtation. Mrs. Vernon’s consciousness +of deserving every sort of revenge that it can be in my power to inflict for +her ill-offices could alone enable her to perceive that I am actuated by any +design in behaviour so gentle and unpretending. Let her think and act as she +chooses, however. I have never yet found that the advice of a sister could +prevent a young man’s being in love if he chose. We are advancing now to +some kind of confidence, and in short are likely to be engaged in a sort of +platonic friendship. On my side you may be sure of its never being more, for if +I were not attached to another person as much as I can be to anyone, I should +make a point of not bestowing my affection on a man who had dared to think so +meanly of me. Reginald has a good figure and is not unworthy the praise you +have heard given him, but is still greatly inferior to our friend at Langford. +He is less polished, less insinuating than Mainwaring, and is comparatively +deficient in the power of saying those delightful things which put one in good +humour with oneself and all the world. He is quite agreeable enough, however, +to afford me amusement, and to make many of those hours pass very pleasantly +which would otherwise be spent in endeavouring to overcome my +sister-in-law’s reserve, and listening to the insipid talk of her +husband. Your account of Sir James is most satisfactory, and I mean to give +Miss Frederica a hint of my intentions very soon. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours, &c.,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0011"></a> +XI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill +</p> + +<p> +I really grow quite uneasy, my dearest mother, about Reginald, from witnessing +the very rapid increase of Lady Susan’s influence. They are now on terms +of the most particular friendship, frequently engaged in long conversations +together; and she has contrived by the most artful coquetry to subdue his +judgment to her own purposes. It is impossible to see the intimacy between them +so very soon established without some alarm, though I can hardly suppose that +Lady Susan’s plans extend to marriage. I wish you could get Reginald home +again on any plausible pretence; he is not at all disposed to leave us, and I +have given him as many hints of my father’s precarious state of health as +common decency will allow me to do in my own house. Her power over him must now +be boundless, as she has entirely effaced all his former ill-opinion, and +persuaded him not merely to forget but to justify her conduct. Mr. +Smith’s account of her proceedings at Langford, where he accused her of +having made Mr. Mainwaring and a young man engaged to Miss Mainwaring +distractedly in love with her, which Reginald firmly believed when he came +here, is now, he is persuaded, only a scandalous invention. He has told me so +with a warmth of manner which spoke his regret at having believed the contrary +himself. How sincerely do I grieve that she ever entered this house! I always +looked forward to her coming with uneasiness; but very far was it from +originating in anxiety for Reginald. I expected a most disagreeable companion +for myself, but could not imagine that my brother would be in the smallest +danger of being captivated by a woman with whose principles he was so well +acquainted, and whose character he so heartily despised. If you can get him +away it will be a good thing. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours, &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0012"></a> +XII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Sir Reginald De Courcy to his Son.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Parklands. +</p> + +<p> +I know that young men in general do not admit of any enquiry even from their +nearest relations into affairs of the heart, but I hope, my dear Reginald, that +you will be superior to such as allow nothing for a father’s anxiety, and +think themselves privileged to refuse him their confidence and slight his +advice. You must be sensible that as an only son, and the representative of an +ancient family, your conduct in life is most interesting to your connections; +and in the very important concern of marriage especially, there is everything +at stake—your own happiness, that of your parents, and the credit of your +name. I do not suppose that you would deliberately form an absolute engagement +of that nature without acquainting your mother and myself, or at least, without +being convinced that we should approve of your choice; but I cannot help +fearing that you may be drawn in, by the lady who has lately attached you, to a +marriage which the whole of your family, far and near, must highly reprobate. +Lady Susan’s age is itself a material objection, but her want of +character is one so much more serious, that the difference of even twelve years +becomes in comparison of small amount. Were you not blinded by a sort of +fascination, it would be ridiculous in me to repeat the instances of great +misconduct on her side so very generally known. +</p> + +<p> +Her neglect of her husband, her encouragement of other men, her extravagance +and dissipation, were so gross and notorious that no one could be ignorant of +them at the time, nor can now have forgotten them. To our family she has always +been represented in softened colours by the benevolence of Mr. Charles Vernon, +and yet, in spite of his generous endeavours to excuse her, we know that she +did, from the most selfish motives, take all possible pains to prevent his +marriage with Catherine. +</p> + +<p> +My years and increasing infirmities make me very desirous of seeing you settled +in the world. To the fortune of a wife, the goodness of my own will make me +indifferent, but her family and character must be equally unexceptionable. When +your choice is fixed so that no objection can be made to it, then I can promise +you a ready and cheerful consent; but it is my duty to oppose a match which +deep art only could render possible, and must in the end make wretched. It is +possible her behaviour may arise only from vanity, or the wish of gaining the +admiration of a man whom she must imagine to be particularly prejudiced against +her; but it is more likely that she should aim at something further. She is +poor, and may naturally seek an alliance which must be advantageous to herself; +you know your own rights, and that it is out of my power to prevent your +inheriting the family estate. My ability of distressing you during my life +would be a species of revenge to which I could hardly stoop under any +circumstances. +</p> + +<p> +I honestly tell you my sentiments and intentions: I do not wish to work on your +fears, but on your sense and affection. It would destroy every comfort of my +life to know that you were married to Lady Susan Vernon; it would be the death +of that honest pride with which I have hitherto considered my son; I should +blush to see him, to hear of him, to think of him. I may perhaps do no good but +that of relieving my own mind by this letter, but I felt it my duty to tell you +that your partiality for Lady Susan is no secret to your friends, and to warn +you against her. I should be glad to hear your reasons for disbelieving Mr. +Smith’s intelligence; you had no doubt of its authenticity a month ago. +If you can give me your assurance of having no design beyond enjoying the +conversation of a clever woman for a short period, and of yielding admiration +only to her beauty and abilities, without being blinded by them to her faults, +you will restore me to happiness; but, if you cannot do this, explain to me, at +least, what has occasioned so great an alteration in your opinion of her. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +I am, &c., &c,<br/> +R<small>EGINALD</small> D<small>E</small> C<small>OURCY</small> +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0013"></a> +XIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Parklands. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Catherine,—Unluckily I was confined to my room when your last +letter came, by a cold which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my reading +it myself, so I could not refuse your father when he offered to read it to me, +by which means he became acquainted, to my great vexation, with all your fears +about your brother. I had intended to write to Reginald myself as soon as my +eyes would let me, to point out, as well as I could, the danger of an intimate +acquaintance, with so artful a woman as Lady Susan, to a young man of his age, +and high expectations. I meant, moreover, to have reminded him of our being +quite alone now, and very much in need of him to keep up our spirits these long +winter evenings. Whether it would have done any good can never be settled now, +but I am excessively vexed that Sir Reginald should know anything of a matter +which we foresaw would make him so uneasy. He caught all your fears the moment +he had read your letter, and I am sure he has not had the business out of his +head since. He wrote by the same post to Reginald a long letter full of it all, +and particularly asking an explanation of what he may have heard from Lady +Susan to contradict the late shocking reports. His answer came this morning, +which I shall enclose to you, as I think you will like to see it. I wish it was +more satisfactory; but it seems written with such a determination to think well +of Lady Susan, that his assurances as to marriage, &c., do not set my heart +at ease. I say all I can, however, to satisfy your father, and he is certainly +less uneasy since Reginald’s letter. How provoking it is, my dear +Catherine, that this unwelcome guest of yours should not only prevent our +meeting this Christmas, but be the occasion of so much vexation and trouble! +Kiss the dear children for me. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your affectionate mother,<br/> +C. D<small>E</small> C<small>OURCY</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0014"></a> +XIV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mr. De Courcy to Sir Reginald.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Sir,—I have this moment received your letter, which has given me +more astonishment than I ever felt before. I am to thank my sister, I suppose, +for having represented me in such a light as to injure me in your opinion, and +give you all this alarm. I know not why she should choose to make herself and +her family uneasy by apprehending an event which no one but herself, I can +affirm, would ever have thought possible. To impute such a design to Lady Susan +would be taking from her every claim to that excellent understanding which her +bitterest enemies have never denied her; and equally low must sink my +pretensions to common sense if I am suspected of matrimonial views in my +behaviour to her. Our difference of age must be an insuperable objection, and I +entreat you, my dear father, to quiet your mind, and no longer harbour a +suspicion which cannot be more injurious to your own peace than to our +understandings. I can have no other view in remaining with Lady Susan, than to +enjoy for a short time (as you have yourself expressed it) the conversation of +a woman of high intellectual powers. If Mrs. Vernon would allow something to my +affection for herself and her husband in the length of my visit, she would do +more justice to us all; but my sister is unhappily prejudiced beyond the hope +of conviction against Lady Susan. From an attachment to her husband, which in +itself does honour to both, she cannot forgive the endeavours at preventing +their union, which have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan; but in +this case, as well as in many others, the world has most grossly injured that +lady, by supposing the worst where the motives of her conduct have been +doubtful. Lady Susan had heard something so materially to the disadvantage of +my sister as to persuade her that the happiness of Mr. Vernon, to whom she was +always much attached, would be wholly destroyed by the marriage. And this +circumstance, while it explains the true motives of Lady Susan’s conduct, +and removes all the blame which has been so lavished on her, may also convince +us how little the general report of anyone ought to be credited; since no +character, however upright, can escape the malevolence of slander. If my +sister, in the security of retirement, with as little opportunity as +inclination to do evil, could not avoid censure, we must not rashly condemn +those who, living in the world and surrounded with temptations, should be +accused of errors which they are known to have the power of committing. +</p> + +<p> +I blame myself severely for having so easily believed the slanderous tales +invented by Charles Smith to the prejudice of Lady Susan, as I am now convinced +how greatly they have traduced her. As to Mrs. Mainwaring’s jealousy it +was totally his own invention, and his account of her attaching Miss +Mainwaring’s lover was scarcely better founded. Sir James Martin had been +drawn in by that young lady to pay her some attention; and as he is a man of +fortune, it was easy to see <i>her</i> views extended to marriage. It is well +known that Miss M. is absolutely on the catch for a husband, and no one +therefore can pity her for losing, by the superior attractions of another +woman, the chance of being able to make a worthy man completely wretched. Lady +Susan was far from intending such a conquest, and on finding how warmly Miss +Mainwaring resented her lover’s defection, determined, in spite of Mr. +and Mrs. Mainwaring’s most urgent entreaties, to leave the family. I have +reason to imagine she did receive serious proposals from Sir James, but her +removing from Langford immediately on the discovery of his attachment, must +acquit her on that article with any mind of common candour. You will, I am +sure, my dear Sir, feel the truth of this, and will hereby learn to do justice +to the character of a very injured woman. I know that Lady Susan in coming to +Churchhill was governed only by the most honourable and amiable intentions; her +prudence and economy are exemplary, her regard for Mr. Vernon equal even to +<i>his</i> deserts; and her wish of obtaining my sister’s good opinion +merits a better return than it has received. As a mother she is +unexceptionable; her solid affection for her child is shown by placing her in +hands where her education will be properly attended to; but because she has not +the blind and weak partiality of most mothers, she is accused of wanting +maternal tenderness. Every person of sense, however, will know how to value and +commend her well-directed affection, and will join me in wishing that Frederica +Vernon may prove more worthy than she has yet done of her mother’s tender +care. I have now, my dear father, written my real sentiments of Lady Susan; you +will know from this letter how highly I admire her abilities, and esteem her +character; but if you are not equally convinced by my full and solemn assurance +that your fears have been most idly created, you will deeply mortify and +distress me. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +I am, &c., &c.,<br/> +R. D<small>E</small> C<small>OURCY</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0015"></a> +XV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill +</p> + +<p> +My dear Mother,—I return you Reginald’s letter, and rejoice with +all my heart that my father is made easy by it: tell him so, with my +congratulations; but, between ourselves, I must own it has only convinced +<i>me</i> of my brother’s having no <i>present</i> intention of marrying +Lady Susan, not that he is in no danger of doing so three months hence. He +gives a very plausible account of her behaviour at Langford; I wish it may be +true, but his intelligence must come from herself, and I am less disposed to +believe it than to lament the degree of intimacy subsisting between them, +implied by the discussion of such a subject. I am sorry to have incurred his +displeasure, but can expect nothing better while he is so very eager in Lady +Susan’s justification. He is very severe against me indeed, and yet I +hope I have not been hasty in my judgment of her. Poor woman! though I have +reasons enough for my dislike, I cannot help pitying her at present, as she is +in real distress, and with too much cause. She had this morning a letter from +the lady with whom she has placed her daughter, to request that Miss Vernon +might be immediately removed, as she had been detected in an attempt to run +away. Why, or whither she intended to go, does not appear; but, as her +situation seems to have been unexceptionable, it is a sad thing, and of course +highly distressing to Lady Susan. Frederica must be as much as sixteen, and +ought to know better; but from what her mother insinuates, I am afraid she is a +perverse girl. She has been sadly neglected, however, and her mother ought to +remember it. Mr. Vernon set off for London as soon as she had determined what +should be done. He is, if possible, to prevail on Miss Summers to let Frederica +continue with her; and if he cannot succeed, to bring her to Churchhill for the +present, till some other situation can be found for her. Her ladyship is +comforting herself meanwhile by strolling along the shrubbery with Reginald, +calling forth all his tender feelings, I suppose, on this distressing occasion. +She has been talking a great deal about it to me. She talks vastly well; I am +afraid of being ungenerous, or I should say, <i>too</i> well to feel so very +deeply; but I will not look for her faults; she may be Reginald’s wife! +Heaven forbid it! but why should I be quicker-sighted than anyone else? Mr. +Vernon declares that he never saw deeper distress than hers, on the receipt of +the letter; and is his judgment inferior to mine? She was very unwilling that +Frederica should be allowed to come to Churchhill, and justly enough, as it +seems a sort of reward to behaviour deserving very differently; but it was +impossible to take her anywhere else, and she is not to remain here long. +“It will be absolutely necessary,” said she, “as you, my dear +sister, must be sensible, to treat my daughter with some severity while she is +here; a most painful necessity, but I will <i>endeavour</i> to submit to it. I +am afraid I have often been too indulgent, but my poor Frederica’s temper +could never bear opposition well: you must support and encourage me; you must +urge the necessity of reproof if you see me too lenient.” All this sounds +very reasonable. Reginald is so incensed against the poor silly girl! Surely it +is not to Lady Susan’s credit that he should be so bitter against her +daughter; his idea of her must be drawn from the mother’s description. +Well, whatever may be his fate, we have the comfort of knowing that we have +done our utmost to save him. We must commit the event to a higher power. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever, &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0016"></a> +XVI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +Never, my dearest Alicia, was I so provoked in my life as by a letter this +morning from Miss Summers. That horrid girl of mine has been trying to run +away. I had not a notion of her being such a little devil before, she seemed to +have all the Vernon milkiness; but on receiving the letter in which I declared +my intention about Sir James, she actually attempted to elope; at least, I +cannot otherwise account for her doing it. She meant, I suppose, to go to the +Clarkes in Staffordshire, for she has no other acquaintances. But she shall be +punished, she shall have him. I have sent Charles to town to make matters up if +he can, for I do not by any means want her here. If Miss Summers will not keep +her, you must find me out another school, unless we can get her married +immediately. Miss S. writes word that she could not get the young lady to +assign any cause for her extraordinary conduct, which confirms me in my own +previous explanation of it. Frederica is too shy, I think, and too much in awe +of me to tell tales, but if the mildness of her uncle should get anything out +of her, I am not afraid. I trust I shall be able to make my story as good as +hers. If I am vain of anything, it is of my eloquence. Consideration and esteem +as surely follow command of language as admiration waits on beauty, and here I +have opportunity enough for the exercise of my talent, as the chief of my time +is spent in conversation. +</p> + +<p> +Reginald is never easy unless we are by ourselves, and when the weather is +tolerable, we pace the shrubbery for hours together. I like him on the whole +very well; he is clever and has a good deal to say, but he is sometimes +impertinent and troublesome. There is a sort of ridiculous delicacy about him +which requires the fullest explanation of whatever he may have heard to my +disadvantage, and is never satisfied till he thinks he has ascertained the +beginning and end of everything. This is one sort of love, but I confess it +does not particularly recommend itself to me. I infinitely prefer the tender +and liberal spirit of Mainwaring, which, impressed with the deepest conviction +of my merit, is satisfied that whatever I do must be right; and look with a +degree of contempt on the inquisitive and doubtful fancies of that heart which +seems always debating on the reasonableness of its emotions. Mainwaring is +indeed, beyond all compare, superior to Reginald—superior in everything +but the power of being with me! Poor fellow! he is much distracted by jealousy, +which I am not sorry for, as I know no better support of love. He has been +teazing me to allow of his coming into this country, and lodging somewhere near +<i>incog</i>.; but I forbade everything of the kind. Those women are +inexcusable who forget what is due to themselves, and the opinion of the world. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0017"></a> +XVII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Mother,—Mr. Vernon returned on Thursday night, bringing his niece +with him. Lady Susan had received a line from him by that day’s post, +informing her that Miss Summers had absolutely refused to allow of Miss +Vernon’s continuance in her academy; we were therefore prepared for her +arrival, and expected them impatiently the whole evening. They came while we +were at tea, and I never saw any creature look so frightened as Frederica when +she entered the room. Lady Susan, who had been shedding tears before, and +showing great agitation at the idea of the meeting, received her with perfect +self-command, and without betraying the least tenderness of spirit. She hardly +spoke to her, and on Frederica’s bursting into tears as soon as we were +seated, took her out of the room, and did not return for some time. When she +did, her eyes looked very red and she was as much agitated as before. We saw no +more of her daughter. Poor Reginald was beyond measure concerned to see his +fair friend in such distress, and watched her with so much tender solicitude, +that I, who occasionally caught her observing his countenance with exultation, +was quite out of patience. This pathetic representation lasted the whole +evening, and so ostentatious and artful a display has entirely convinced me +that she did in fact feel nothing. I am more angry with her than ever since I +have seen her daughter; the poor girl looks so unhappy that my heart aches for +her. Lady Susan is surely too severe, for Frederica does not seem to have the +sort of temper to make severity necessary. She looks perfectly timid, dejected, +and penitent. She is very pretty, though not so handsome as her mother, nor at +all like her. Her complexion is delicate, but neither so fair nor so blooming +as Lady Susan’s, and she has quite the Vernon cast of countenance, the +oval face and mild dark eyes, and there is peculiar sweetness in her look when +she speaks either to her uncle or me, for as we behave kindly to her we have of +course engaged her gratitude. +</p> + +<p> +Her mother has insinuated that her temper is intractable, but I never saw a +face less indicative of any evil disposition than hers; and from what I can see +of the behaviour of each to the other, the invariable severity of Lady Susan +and the silent dejection of Frederica, I am led to believe as heretofore that +the former has no real love for her daughter, and has never done her justice or +treated her affectionately. I have not been able to have any conversation with +my niece; she is shy, and I think I can see that some pains are taken to +prevent her being much with me. Nothing satisfactory transpires as to her +reason for running away. Her kind-hearted uncle, you may be sure, was too +fearful of distressing her to ask many questions as they travelled. I wish it +had been possible for me to fetch her instead of him. I think I should have +discovered the truth in the course of a thirty-mile journey. The small +pianoforte has been removed within these few days, at Lady Susan’s +request, into her dressing-room, and Frederica spends great part of the day +there, practising as it is called; but I seldom hear any noise when I pass that +way; what she does with herself there I do not know. There are plenty of books, +but it is not every girl who has been running wild the first fifteen years of +her life, that can or will read. Poor creature! the prospect from her window is +not very instructive, for that room overlooks the lawn, you know, with the +shrubbery on one side, where she may see her mother walking for an hour +together in earnest conversation with Reginald. A girl of Frederica’s age +must be childish indeed, if such things do not strike her. Is it not +inexcusable to give such an example to a daughter? Yet Reginald still thinks +Lady Susan the best of mothers, and still condemns Frederica as a worthless +girl! He is convinced that her attempt to run away proceeded from no +justifiable cause, and had no provocation. I am sure I cannot say that it +<i>had</i>, but while Miss Summers declares that Miss Vernon showed no signs of +obstinacy or perverseness during her whole stay in Wigmore Street, till she was +detected in this scheme, I cannot so readily credit what Lady Susan has made +him, and wants to make me believe, that it was merely an impatience of +restraint and a desire of escaping from the tuition of masters which brought on +the plan of an elopement. O Reginald, how is your judgment enslaved! He +scarcely dares even allow her to be handsome, and when I speak of her beauty, +replies only that her eyes have no brilliancy! Sometimes he is sure she is +deficient in understanding, and at others that her temper only is in fault. In +short, when a person is always to deceive, it is impossible to be consistent. +Lady Susan finds it necessary that Frederica should be to blame, and probably +has sometimes judged it expedient to accuse her of ill-nature and sometimes to +lament her want of sense. Reginald is only repeating after her ladyship. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +I remain, &c., &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0018"></a> +XVIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>From the same to the same.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Mother,—I am very glad to find that my description of Frederica +Vernon has interested you, for I do believe her truly deserving of your regard; +and when I have communicated a notion which has recently struck me, your kind +impressions in her favour will, I am sure, be heightened. I cannot help +fancying that she is growing partial to my brother. I so very often see her +eyes fixed on his face with a remarkable expression of pensive admiration. He +is certainly very handsome; and yet more, there is an openness in his manner +that must be highly prepossessing, and I am sure she feels it so. Thoughtful +and pensive in general, her countenance always brightens into a smile when +Reginald says anything amusing; and, let the subject be ever so serious that he +may be conversing on, I am much mistaken if a syllable of his uttering escapes +her. I want to make him sensible of all this, for we know the power of +gratitude on such a heart as his; and could Frederica’s artless affection +detach him from her mother, we might bless the day which brought her to +Churchhill. I think, my dear mother, you would not disapprove of her as a +daughter. She is extremely young, to be sure, has had a wretched education, and +a dreadful example of levity in her mother; but yet I can pronounce her +disposition to be excellent, and her natural abilities very good. Though +totally without accomplishments, she is by no means so ignorant as one might +expect to find her, being fond of books and spending the chief of her time in +reading. Her mother leaves her more to herself than she did, and I have her +with me as much as possible, and have taken great pains to overcome her +timidity. We are very good friends, and though she never opens her lips before +her mother, she talks enough when alone with me to make it clear that, if +properly treated by Lady Susan, she would always appear to much greater +advantage. There cannot be a more gentle, affectionate heart; or more obliging +manners, when acting without restraint; and her little cousins are all very +fond of her. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your affectionate daughter,<br/> +C. V<small>ERNON</small> +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0019"></a> +XIX</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +You will be eager, I know, to hear something further of Frederica, and perhaps +may think me negligent for not writing before. She arrived with her uncle last +Thursday fortnight, when, of course, I lost no time in demanding the cause of +her behaviour; and soon found myself to have been perfectly right in +attributing it to my own letter. The prospect of it frightened her so +thoroughly, that, with a mixture of true girlish perverseness and folly, she +resolved on getting out of the house and proceeding directly by the stage to +her friends, the Clarkes; and had really got as far as the length of two +streets in her journey when she was fortunately missed, pursued, and overtaken. +Such was the first distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica Vernon; and, if we +consider that it was achieved at the tender age of sixteen, we shall have room +for the most flattering prognostics of her future renown. I am excessively +provoked, however, at the parade of propriety which prevented Miss Summers from +keeping the girl; and it seems so extraordinary a piece of nicety, considering +my daughter’s family connections, that I can only suppose the lady to be +governed by the fear of never getting her money. Be that as it may, however, +Frederica is returned on my hands; and, having nothing else to employ her, is +busy in pursuing the plan of romance begun at Langford. She is actually falling +in love with Reginald De Courcy! To disobey her mother by refusing an +unexceptionable offer is not enough; her affections must also be given without +her mother’s approbation. I never saw a girl of her age bid fairer to be +the sport of mankind. Her feelings are tolerably acute, and she is so +charmingly artless in their display as to afford the most reasonable hope of +her being ridiculous, and despised by every man who sees her. +</p> + +<p> +Artlessness will never do in love matters; and that girl is born a simpleton +who has it either by nature or affectation. I am not yet certain that Reginald +sees what she is about, nor is it of much consequence. She is now an object of +indifference to him, and she would be one of contempt were he to understand her +emotions. Her beauty is much admired by the Vernons, but it has no effect on +him. She is in high favour with her aunt altogether, because she is so little +like myself, of course. She is exactly the companion for Mrs. Vernon, who +dearly loves to be firm, and to have all the sense and all the wit of the +conversation to herself: Frederica will never eclipse her. When she first came +I was at some pains to prevent her seeing much of her aunt; but I have relaxed, +as I believe I may depend on her observing the rules I have laid down for their +discourse. But do not imagine that with all this lenity I have for a moment +given up my plan of her marriage. No; I am unalterably fixed on this point, +though I have not yet quite decided on the manner of bringing it about. I +should not chuse to have the business brought on here, and canvassed by the +wise heads of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon; and I cannot just now afford to go to town. +Miss Frederica must therefore wait a little. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0020"></a> +XX</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill +</p> + +<p> +We have a very unexpected guest with us at present, my dear Mother: he arrived +yesterday. I heard a carriage at the door, as I was sitting with my children +while they dined; and supposing I should be wanted, left the nursery soon +afterwards, and was half-way downstairs, when Frederica, as pale as ashes, came +running up, and rushed by me into her own room. I instantly followed, and asked +her what was the matter. “Oh!” said she, “he is +come—Sir James is come, and what shall I do?” This was no +explanation; I begged her to tell me what she meant. At that moment we were +interrupted by a knock at the door: it was Reginald, who came, by Lady +Susan’s direction, to call Frederica down. “It is Mr. De +Courcy!” said she, colouring violently. “Mamma has sent for me; I +must go.” We all three went down together; and I saw my brother examining +the terrified face of Frederica with surprize. In the breakfast-room we found +Lady Susan, and a young man of gentlemanlike appearance, whom she introduced by +the name of Sir James Martin—the very person, as you may remember, whom +it was said she had been at pains to detach from Miss Mainwaring; but the +conquest, it seems, was not designed for herself, or she has since transferred +it to her daughter; for Sir James is now desperately in love with Frederica, +and with full encouragement from mamma. The poor girl, however, I am sure, +dislikes him; and though his person and address are very well, he appears, both +to Mr. Vernon and me, a very weak young man. Frederica looked so shy, so +confused, when we entered the room, that I felt for her exceedingly. Lady Susan +behaved with great attention to her visitor; and yet I thought I could perceive +that she had no particular pleasure in seeing him. Sir James talked a great +deal, and made many civil excuses to me for the liberty he had taken in coming +to Churchhill—mixing more frequent laughter with his discourse than the +subject required—said many things over and over again, and told Lady +Susan three times that he had seen Mrs. Johnson a few evenings before. He now +and then addressed Frederica, but more frequently her mother. The poor girl sat +all this time without opening her lips—her eyes cast down, and her colour +varying every instant; while Reginald observed all that passed in perfect +silence. At length Lady Susan, weary, I believe, of her situation, proposed +walking; and we left the two gentlemen together, to put on our pelisses. As we +went upstairs Lady Susan begged permission to attend me for a few moments in my +dressing-room, as she was anxious to speak with me in private. I led her +thither accordingly, and as soon as the door was closed, she said: “I was +never more surprized in my life than by Sir James’s arrival, and the +suddenness of it requires some apology to you, my dear sister; though to +<i>me</i>, as a mother, it is highly flattering. He is so extremely attached to +my daughter that he could not exist longer without seeing her. Sir James is a +young man of an amiable disposition and excellent character; a little too much +of the rattle, perhaps, but a year or two will rectify <i>that:</i> and he is +in other respects so very eligible a match for Frederica, that I have always +observed his attachment with the greatest pleasure; and am persuaded that you +and my brother will give the alliance your hearty approbation. I have never +before mentioned the likelihood of its taking place to anyone, because I +thought that whilst Frederica continued at school it had better not be known to +exist; but now, as I am convinced that Frederica is too old ever to submit to +school confinement, and have, therefore, begun to consider her union with Sir +James as not very distant, I had intended within a few days to acquaint +yourself and Mr. Vernon with the whole business. I am sure, my dear sister, you +will excuse my remaining silent so long, and agree with me that such +circumstances, while they continue from any cause in suspense, cannot be too +cautiously concealed. When you have the happiness of bestowing your sweet +little Catherine, some years hence, on a man who in connection and character is +alike unexceptionable, you will know what I feel now; though, thank Heaven, you +cannot have all my reasons for rejoicing in such an event. Catherine will be +amply provided for, and not, like my Frederica, indebted to a fortunate +establishment for the comforts of life.” She concluded by demanding my +congratulations. I gave them somewhat awkwardly, I believe; for, in fact, the +sudden disclosure of so important a matter took from me the power of speaking +with any clearness. She thanked me, however, most affectionately, for my kind +concern in the welfare of herself and daughter; and then said: “I am not +apt to deal in professions, my dear Mrs. Vernon, and I never had the convenient +talent of affecting sensations foreign to my heart; and therefore I trust you +will believe me when I declare, that much as I had heard in your praise before +I knew you, I had no idea that I should ever love you as I now do; and I must +further say that your friendship towards me is more particularly gratifying +because I have reason to believe that some attempts were made to prejudice you +against me. I only wish that they, whoever they are, to whom I am indebted for +such kind intentions, could see the terms on which we now are together, and +understand the real affection we feel for each other; but I will not detain you +any longer. God bless you, for your goodness to me and my girl, and continue to +you all your present happiness.” What can one say of such a woman, my +dear mother? Such earnestness, such solemnity of expression! and yet I cannot +help suspecting the truth of everything she says. As for Reginald, I believe he +does not know what to make of the matter. When Sir James came, he appeared all +astonishment and perplexity; the folly of the young man and the confusion of +Frederica entirely engrossed him; and though a little private discourse with +Lady Susan has since had its effect, he is still hurt, I am sure, at her +allowing of such a man’s attentions to her daughter. Sir James invited +himself with great composure to remain here a few days—hoped we would not +think it odd, was aware of its being very impertinent, but he took the liberty +of a relation; and concluded by wishing, with a laugh, that he might be really +one very soon. Even Lady Susan seemed a little disconcerted by this +forwardness; in her heart I am persuaded she sincerely wished him gone. But +something must be done for this poor girl, if her feelings are such as both I +and her uncle believe them to be. She must not be sacrificed to policy or +ambition, and she must not be left to suffer from the dread of it. The girl +whose heart can distinguish Reginald De Courcy, deserves, however he may slight +her, a better fate than to be Sir James Martin’s wife. As soon as I can +get her alone, I will discover the real truth; but she seems to wish to avoid +me. I hope this does not proceed from anything wrong, and that I shall not find +out I have thought too well of her. Her behaviour to Sir James certainly speaks +the greatest consciousness and embarrassment, but I see nothing in it more like +encouragement. Adieu, my dear mother. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours, &c.,<br/> +C. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0021"></a> +XXI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Miss Vernon to Mr. De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p> +Sir,—I hope you will excuse this liberty; I am forced upon it by the +greatest distress, or I should be ashamed to trouble you. I am very miserable +about Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the world of helping myself +but by writing to you, for I am forbidden even speaking to my uncle and aunt on +the subject; and this being the case, I am afraid my applying to you will +appear no better than equivocation, and as if I attended to the letter and not +the spirit of mamma’s commands. But if you do not take my part and +persuade her to break it off, I shall be half distracted, for I cannot bear +him. No human being but <i>you</i> could have any chance of prevailing with +her. If you will, therefore, have the unspeakably great kindness of taking my +part with her, and persuading her to send Sir James away, I shall be more +obliged to you than it is possible for me to express. I always disliked him +from the first: it is not a sudden fancy, I assure you, sir; I always thought +him silly and impertinent and disagreeable, and now he is grown worse than +ever. I would rather work for my bread than marry him. I do not know how to +apologize enough for this letter; I know it is taking so great a liberty. I am +aware how dreadfully angry it will make mamma, but I remember the risk. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +I am, Sir, your most humble servant,<br/> +F. S. V. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0022"></a> +XXII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +This is insufferable! My dearest friend, I was never so enraged before, and +must relieve myself by writing to you, who I know will enter into all my +feelings. Who should come on Tuesday but Sir James Martin! Guess my +astonishment, and vexation—for, as you well know, I never wished him to +be seen at Churchhill. What a pity that you should not have known his +intentions! Not content with coming, he actually invited himself to remain here +a few days. I could have poisoned him! I made the best of it, however, and told +my story with great success to Mrs. Vernon, who, whatever might be her real +sentiments, said nothing in opposition to mine. I made a point also of +Frederica’s behaving civilly to Sir James, and gave her to understand +that I was absolutely determined on her marrying him. She said something of her +misery, but that was all. I have for some time been more particularly resolved +on the match from seeing the rapid increase of her affection for Reginald, and +from not feeling secure that a knowledge of such affection might not in the end +awaken a return. Contemptible as a regard founded only on compassion must make +them both in my eyes, I felt by no means assured that such might not be the +consequence. It is true that Reginald had not in any degree grown cool towards +me; but yet he has lately mentioned Frederica spontaneously and unnecessarily, +and once said something in praise of her person. <i>He</i> was all astonishment +at the appearance of my visitor, and at first observed Sir James with an +attention which I was pleased to see not unmixed with jealousy; but unluckily +it was impossible for me really to torment him, as Sir James, though extremely +gallant to me, very soon made the whole party understand that his heart was +devoted to my daughter. I had no great difficulty in convincing De Courcy, when +we were alone, that I was perfectly justified, all things considered, in +desiring the match; and the whole business seemed most comfortably arranged. +They could none of them help perceiving that Sir James was no Solomon; but I +had positively forbidden Frederica complaining to Charles Vernon or his wife, +and they had therefore no pretence for interference; though my impertinent +sister, I believe, wanted only opportunity for doing so. Everything, however, +was going on calmly and quietly; and, though I counted the hours of Sir +James’s stay, my mind was entirely satisfied with the posture of affairs. +Guess, then, what I must feel at the sudden disturbance of all my schemes; and +that, too, from a quarter where I had least reason to expect it. Reginald came +this morning into my dressing-room with a very unusual solemnity of +countenance, and after some preface informed me in so many words that he wished +to reason with me on the impropriety and unkindness of allowing Sir James +Martin to address my daughter contrary to her inclinations. I was all +amazement. When I found that he was not to be laughed out of his design, I +calmly begged an explanation, and desired to know by what he was impelled, and +by whom commissioned, to reprimand me. He then told me, mixing in his speech a +few insolent compliments and ill-timed expressions of tenderness, to which I +listened with perfect indifference, that my daughter had acquainted him with +some circumstances concerning herself, Sir James, and me which had given him +great uneasiness. In short, I found that she had in the first place actually +written to him to request his interference, and that, on receiving her letter, +he had conversed with her on the subject of it, in order to understand the +particulars, and to assure himself of her real wishes. I have not a doubt but +that the girl took this opportunity of making downright love to him. I am +convinced of it by the manner in which he spoke of her. Much good may such love +do him! I shall ever despise the man who can be gratified by the passion which +he never wished to inspire, nor solicited the avowal of. I shall always detest +them both. He can have no true regard for me, or he would not have listened to +her; and <i>she</i>, with her little rebellious heart and indelicate feelings, +to throw herself into the protection of a young man with whom she has scarcely +ever exchanged two words before! I am equally confounded at <i>her</i> +impudence and <i>his</i> credulity. How dared he believe what she told him in +my disfavour! Ought he not to have felt assured that I must have unanswerable +motives for all that I had done? Where was his reliance on my sense and +goodness then? Where the resentment which true love would have dictated against +the person defaming me—that person, too, a chit, a child, without talent +or education, whom he had been always taught to despise? I was calm for some +time; but the greatest degree of forbearance may be overcome, and I hope I was +afterwards sufficiently keen. He endeavoured, long endeavoured, to soften my +resentment; but that woman is a fool indeed who, while insulted by accusation, +can be worked on by compliments. At length he left me, as deeply provoked as +myself; and he showed his anger more. I was quite cool, but he gave way to the +most violent indignation; I may therefore expect it will the sooner subside, +and perhaps his may be vanished for ever, while mine will be found still fresh +and implacable. He is now shut up in his apartment, whither I heard him go on +leaving mine. How unpleasant, one would think, must be his reflections! but +some people’s feelings are incomprehensible. I have not yet tranquillised +myself enough to see Frederica. <i>She</i> shall not soon forget the +occurrences of this day; she shall find that she has poured forth her tender +tale of love in vain, and exposed herself for ever to the contempt of the whole +world, and the severest resentment of her injured mother. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your affectionate<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0023"></a> +XXIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +Let me congratulate you, my dearest Mother! The affair which has given us so +much anxiety is drawing to a happy conclusion. Our prospect is most delightful, +and since matters have now taken so favourable a turn, I am quite sorry that I +ever imparted my apprehensions to you; for the pleasure of learning that the +danger is over is perhaps dearly purchased by all that you have previously +suffered. I am so much agitated by delight that I can scarcely hold a pen; but +am determined to send you a few short lines by James, that you may have some +explanation of what must so greatly astonish you, as that Reginald should be +returning to Parklands. I was sitting about half an hour ago with Sir James in +the breakfast parlour, when my brother called me out of the room. I instantly +saw that something was the matter; his complexion was raised, and he spoke with +great emotion; you know his eager manner, my dear mother, when his mind is +interested. “Catherine,” said he, “I am going home to-day; I +am sorry to leave you, but I must go: it is a great while since I have seen my +father and mother. I am going to send James forward with my hunters +immediately; if you have any letter, therefore, he can take it. I shall not be +at home myself till Wednesday or Thursday, as I shall go through London, where +I have business; but before I leave you,” he continued, speaking in a +lower tone, and with still greater energy, “I must warn you of one +thing—do not let Frederica Vernon be made unhappy by that Martin. He +wants to marry her; her mother promotes the match, but she cannot endure the +idea of it. Be assured that I speak from the fullest conviction of the truth of +what I say; I know that Frederica is made wretched by Sir James’s +continuing here. She is a sweet girl, and deserves a better fate. Send him away +immediately; he is only a fool: but what her mother can mean, Heaven only +knows! Good bye,” he added, shaking my hand with earnestness; “I do +not know when you will see me again; but remember what I tell you of Frederica; +you <i>must</i> make it your business to see justice done her. She is an +amiable girl, and has a very superior mind to what we have given her credit +for.” He then left me, and ran upstairs. I would not try to stop him, for +I knew what his feelings must be. The nature of mine, as I listened to him, I +need not attempt to describe; for a minute or two I remained in the same spot, +overpowered by wonder of a most agreeable sort indeed; yet it required some +consideration to be tranquilly happy. In about ten minutes after my return to +the parlour Lady Susan entered the room. I concluded, of course, that she and +Reginald had been quarrelling; and looked with anxious curiosity for a +confirmation of my belief in her face. Mistress of deceit, however, she +appeared perfectly unconcerned, and after chatting on indifferent subjects for +a short time, said to me, “I find from Wilson that we are going to lose +Mr. De Courcy—is it true that he leaves Churchhill this morning?” I +replied that it was. “He told us nothing of all this last night,” +said she, laughing, “or even this morning at breakfast; but perhaps he +did not know it himself. Young men are often hasty in their resolutions, and +not more sudden in forming than unsteady in keeping them. I should not be +surprised if he were to change his mind at last, and not go.” She soon +afterwards left the room. I trust, however, my dear mother, that we have no +reason to fear an alteration of his present plan; things have gone too far. +They must have quarrelled, and about Frederica, too. Her calmness astonishes +me. What delight will be yours in seeing him again; in seeing him still worthy +your esteem, still capable of forming your happiness! When I next write I shall +be able to tell you that Sir James is gone, Lady Susan vanquished, and +Frederica at peace. We have much to do, but it shall be done. I am all +impatience to hear how this astonishing change was effected. I finish as I +began, with the warmest congratulations. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever, &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATH</small>. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0024"></a> +XXIV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>From the same to the same.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +Little did I imagine, my dear Mother, when I sent off my last letter, that the +delightful perturbation of spirits I was then in would undergo so speedy, so +melancholy a reverse. I never can sufficiently regret that I wrote to you at +all. Yet who could have foreseen what has happened? My dear mother, every hope +which made me so happy only two hours ago has vanished. The quarrel between +Lady Susan and Reginald is made up, and we are all as we were before. One point +only is gained. Sir James Martin is dismissed. What are we now to look forward +to? I am indeed disappointed; Reginald was all but gone, his horse was ordered +and all but brought to the door; who would not have felt safe? For half an hour +I was in momentary expectation of his departure. After I had sent off my letter +to you, I went to Mr. Vernon, and sat with him in his room talking over the +whole matter, and then determined to look for Frederica, whom I had not seen +since breakfast. I met her on the stairs, and saw that she was crying. +“My dear aunt,” said she, “he is going—Mr. De Courcy is +going, and it is all my fault. I am afraid you will be very angry with me, but +indeed I had no idea it would end so.” “My love,” I replied, +“do not think it necessary to apologize to me on that account. I shall +feel myself under an obligation to anyone who is the means of sending my +brother home, because,” recollecting myself, “I know my father +wants very much to see him. But what is it you have done to occasion all +this?” She blushed deeply as she answered: “I was so unhappy about +Sir James that I could not help—I have done something very wrong, I know; +but you have not an idea of the misery I have been in: and mamma had ordered me +never to speak to you or my uncle about it, and—” “You +therefore spoke to my brother to engage his interference,” said I, to +save her the explanation. “No, but I wrote to him—I did indeed, I +got up this morning before it was light, and was two hours about it; and when +my letter was done I thought I never should have courage to give it. After +breakfast however, as I was going to my room, I met him in the passage, and +then, as I knew that everything must depend on that moment, I forced myself to +give it. He was so good as to take it immediately. I dared not look at him, and +ran away directly. I was in such a fright I could hardly breathe. My dear aunt, +you do not know how miserable I have been.” “Frederica” said +I, “you ought to have told me all your distresses. You would have found +in me a friend always ready to assist you. Do you think that your uncle or I +should not have espoused your cause as warmly as my brother?” +“Indeed, I did not doubt your kindness,” said she, colouring again, +“but I thought Mr. De Courcy could do anything with my mother; but I was +mistaken: they have had a dreadful quarrel about it, and he is going away. +Mamma will never forgive me, and I shall be worse off than ever.” +“No, you shall not,” I replied; “in such a point as this your +mother’s prohibition ought not to have prevented your speaking to me on +the subject. She has no right to make you unhappy, and she shall <i>not</i> do +it. Your applying, however, to Reginald can be productive only of good to all +parties. I believe it is best as it is. Depend upon it that you shall not be +made unhappy any longer.” At that moment how great was my astonishment at +seeing Reginald come out of Lady Susan’s dressing-room. My heart misgave +me instantly. His confusion at seeing me was very evident. Frederica +immediately disappeared. “Are you going?” I said; “you will +find Mr. Vernon in his own room.” “No, Catherine,” he +replied, “I am not going. Will you let me speak to you a moment?” +We went into my room. “I find,” he continued, his confusion +increasing as he spoke, “that I have been acting with my usual foolish +impetuosity. I have entirely misunderstood Lady Susan, and was on the point of +leaving the house under a false impression of her conduct. There has been some +very great mistake; we have been all mistaken, I fancy. Frederica does not know +her mother. Lady Susan means nothing but her good, but she will not make a +friend of her. Lady Susan does not always know, therefore, what will make her +daughter happy. Besides, I could have no right to interfere. Miss Vernon was +mistaken in applying to me. In short, Catherine, everything has gone wrong, but +it is now all happily settled. Lady Susan, I believe, wishes to speak to you +about it, if you are at leisure.” “Certainly,” I replied, +deeply sighing at the recital of so lame a story. I made no comments, however, +for words would have been vain. +</p> + +<p> +Reginald was glad to get away, and I went to Lady Susan, curious, indeed, to +hear her account of it. “Did I not tell you,” said she with a +smile, “that your brother would not leave us after all?” “You +did, indeed,” replied I very gravely; “but I flattered myself you +would be mistaken.” “I should not have hazarded such an +opinion,” returned she, “if it had not at that moment occurred to +me that his resolution of going might be occasioned by a conversation in which +we had been this morning engaged, and which had ended very much to his +dissatisfaction, from our not rightly understanding each other’s meaning. +This idea struck me at the moment, and I instantly determined that an +accidental dispute, in which I might probably be as much to blame as himself, +should not deprive you of your brother. If you remember, I left the room almost +immediately. I was resolved to lose no time in clearing up those mistakes as +far as I could. The case was this—Frederica had set herself violently +against marrying Sir James.” “And can your ladyship wonder that she +should?” cried I with some warmth; “Frederica has an excellent +understanding, and Sir James has none.” “I am at least very far +from regretting it, my dear sister,” said she; “on the contrary, I +am grateful for so favourable a sign of my daughter’s sense. Sir James is +certainly below par (his boyish manners make him appear worse); and had +Frederica possessed the penetration and the abilities which I could have wished +in my daughter, or had I even known her to possess as much as she does, I +should not have been anxious for the match.” “It is odd that you +should alone be ignorant of your daughter’s sense!” +“Frederica never does justice to herself; her manners are shy and +childish, and besides she is afraid of me. During her poor father’s life +she was a spoilt child; the severity which it has since been necessary for me +to show has alienated her affection; neither has she any of that brilliancy of +intellect, that genius or vigour of mind which will force itself +forward.” “Say rather that she has been unfortunate in her +education!” “Heaven knows, my dearest Mrs. Vernon, how fully I am +aware of that; but I would wish to forget every circumstance that might throw +blame on the memory of one whose name is sacred with me.” Here she +pretended to cry; I was out of patience with her. “But what,” said +I, “was your ladyship going to tell me about your disagreement with my +brother?” “It originated in an action of my daughter’s, which +equally marks her want of judgment and the unfortunate dread of me I have been +mentioning—she wrote to Mr. De Courcy.” “I know she did; you +had forbidden her speaking to Mr. Vernon or to me on the cause of her distress; +what could she do, therefore, but apply to my brother?” “Good +God!” she exclaimed, “what an opinion you must have of me! Can you +possibly suppose that I was aware of her unhappiness! that it was my object to +make my own child miserable, and that I had forbidden her speaking to you on +the subject from a fear of your interrupting the diabolical scheme? Do you +think me destitute of every honest, every natural feeling? Am I capable of +consigning <i>her</i> to everlasting misery whose welfare it is my first +earthly duty to promote? The idea is horrible!” “What, then, was +your intention when you insisted on her silence?” “Of what use, my +dear sister, could be any application to you, however the affair might stand? +Why should I subject you to entreaties which I refused to attend to myself? +Neither for your sake nor for hers, nor for my own, could such a thing be +desirable. When my own resolution was taken I could not wish for the +interference, however friendly, of another person. I was mistaken, it is true, +but I believed myself right.” “But what was this mistake to which +your ladyship so often alludes? from whence arose so astonishing a +misconception of your daughter’s feelings? Did you not know that she +disliked Sir James?” “I knew that he was not absolutely the man she +would have chosen, but I was persuaded that her objections to him did not arise +from any perception of his deficiency. You must not question me, however, my +dear sister, too minutely on this point,” continued she, taking me +affectionately by the hand; “I honestly own that there is something to +conceal. Frederica makes me very unhappy! Her applying to Mr. De Courcy hurt me +particularly.” “What is it you mean to infer,” said I, +“by this appearance of mystery? If you think your daughter at all +attached to Reginald, her objecting to Sir James could not less deserve to be +attended to than if the cause of her objecting had been a consciousness of his +folly; and why should your ladyship, at any rate, quarrel with my brother for +an interference which, you must know, it is not in his nature to refuse when +urged in such a manner?” +</p> + +<p> +“His disposition, you know, is warm, and he came to expostulate with me; +his compassion all alive for this ill-used girl, this heroine in distress! We +misunderstood each other: he believed me more to blame than I really was; I +considered his interference less excusable than I now find it. I have a real +regard for him, and was beyond expression mortified to find it, as I thought, +so ill bestowed. We were both warm, and of course both to blame. His resolution +of leaving Churchhill is consistent with his general eagerness. When I +understood his intention, however, and at the same time began to think that we +had been perhaps equally mistaken in each other’s meaning, I resolved to +have an explanation before it was too late. For any member of your family I +must always feel a degree of affection, and I own it would have sensibly hurt +me if my acquaintance with Mr. De Courcy had ended so gloomily. I have now only +to say further, that as I am convinced of Frederica’s having a reasonable +dislike to Sir James, I shall instantly inform him that he must give up all +hope of her. I reproach myself for having, even though innocently, made her +unhappy on that score. She shall have all the retribution in my power to make; +if she value her own happiness as much as I do, if she judge wisely, and +command herself as she ought, she may now be easy. Excuse me, my dearest +sister, for thus trespassing on your time, but I owe it to my own character; +and after this explanation I trust I am in no danger of sinking in your +opinion.” I could have said, “Not much, indeed!” but I left +her almost in silence. It was the greatest stretch of forbearance I could +practise. I could not have stopped myself had I begun. Her assurance! her +deceit! but I will not allow myself to dwell on them; they will strike you +sufficiently. My heart sickens within me. As soon as I was tolerably composed I +returned to the parlour. Sir James’s carriage was at the door, and he, +merry as usual, soon afterwards took his leave. How easily does her ladyship +encourage or dismiss a lover! In spite of this release, Frederica still looks +unhappy: still fearful, perhaps, of her mother’s anger; and though +dreading my brother’s departure, jealous, it may be, of his staying. I +see how closely she observes him and Lady Susan, poor girl! I have now no hope +for her. There is not a chance of her affection being returned. He thinks very +differently of her from what he used to do; he does her some justice, but his +reconciliation with her mother precludes every dearer hope. Prepare, my dear +mother, for the worst! The probability of their marrying is surely heightened! +He is more securely hers than ever. When that wretched event takes place, +Frederica must belong wholly to us. I am thankful that my last letter will +precede this by so little, as every moment that you can be saved from feeling a +joy which leads only to disappointment is of consequence. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever, &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0025"></a> +XXV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +I call on you, dear Alicia, for congratulations: I am my own self, gay and +triumphant! When I wrote to you the other day I was, in truth, in high +irritation, and with ample cause. Nay, I know not whether I ought to be quite +tranquil now, for I have had more trouble in restoring peace than I ever +intended to submit to—a spirit, too, resulting from a fancied sense of +superior integrity, which is peculiarly insolent! I shall not easily forgive +him, I assure you. He was actually on the point of leaving Churchhill! I had +scarcely concluded my last, when Wilson brought me word of it. I found, +therefore, that something must be done; for I did not choose to leave my +character at the mercy of a man whose passions are so violent and so +revengeful. It would have been trifling with my reputation to allow of his +departing with such an impression in my disfavour; in this light, condescension +was necessary. I sent Wilson to say that I desired to speak with him before he +went; he came immediately. The angry emotions which had marked every feature +when we last parted were partially subdued. He seemed astonished at the +summons, and looked as if half wishing and half fearing to be softened by what +I might say. If my countenance expressed what I aimed at, it was composed and +dignified; and yet, with a degree of pensiveness which might convince him that +I was not quite happy. “I beg your pardon, sir, for the liberty I have +taken in sending for you,” said I; “but as I have just learnt your +intention of leaving this place to-day, I feel it my duty to entreat that you +will not on my account shorten your visit here even an hour. I am perfectly +aware that after what has passed between us it would ill suit the feelings of +either to remain longer in the same house: so very great, so total a change +from the intimacy of friendship must render any future intercourse the severest +punishment; and your resolution of quitting Churchhill is undoubtedly in unison +with our situation, and with those lively feelings which I know you to possess. +But, at the same time, it is not for me to suffer such a sacrifice as it must +be to leave relations to whom you are so much attached, and are so dear. My +remaining here cannot give that pleasure to Mr. and Mrs. Vernon which your +society must; and my visit has already perhaps been too long. My removal, +therefore, which must, at any rate, take place soon, may, with perfect +convenience, be hastened; and I make it my particular request that I may not in +any way be instrumental in separating a family so affectionately attached to +each other. Where I go is of no consequence to anyone; of very little to +myself; but you are of importance to all your connections.” Here I +concluded, and I hope you will be satisfied with my speech. Its effect on +Reginald justifies some portion of vanity, for it was no less favourable than +instantaneous. Oh, how delightful it was to watch the variations of his +countenance while I spoke! to see the struggle between returning tenderness and +the remains of displeasure. There is something agreeable in feelings so easily +worked on; not that I envy him their possession, nor would, for the world, have +such myself; but they are very convenient when one wishes to influence the +passions of another. And yet this Reginald, whom a very few words from me +softened at once into the utmost submission, and rendered more tractable, more +attached, more devoted than ever, would have left me in the first angry +swelling of his proud heart without deigning to seek an explanation. Humbled as +he now is, I cannot forgive him such an instance of pride, and am doubtful +whether I ought not to punish him by dismissing him at once after this +reconciliation, or by marrying and teazing him for ever. But these measures are +each too violent to be adopted without some deliberation; at present my +thoughts are fluctuating between various schemes. I have many things to +compass: I must punish Frederica, and pretty severely too, for her application +to Reginald; I must punish him for receiving it so favourably, and for the rest +of his conduct. I must torment my sister-in-law for the insolent triumph of her +look and manner since Sir James has been dismissed; for, in reconciling +Reginald to me, I was not able to save that ill-fated young man; and I must +make myself amends for the humiliation to which I have stooped within these few +days. To effect all this I have various plans. I have also an idea of being +soon in town; and whatever may be my determination as to the rest, I shall +probably put <i>that</i> project in execution; for London will be always the +fairest field of action, however my views may be directed; and at any rate I +shall there be rewarded by your society, and a little dissipation, for a ten +weeks’ penance at Churchhill. I believe I owe it to my character to +complete the match between my daughter and Sir James after having so long +intended it. Let me know your opinion on this point. Flexibility of mind, a +disposition easily biassed by others, is an attribute which you know I am not +very desirous of obtaining; nor has Frederica any claim to the indulgence of +her notions at the expense of her mother’s inclinations. Her idle love +for Reginald, too! It is surely my duty to discourage such romantic nonsense. +All things considered, therefore, it seems incumbent on me to take her to town +and marry her immediately to Sir James. When my own will is effected contrary +to his, I shall have some credit in being on good terms with Reginald, which at +present, in fact, I have not; for though he is still in my power, I have given +up the very article by which our quarrel was produced, and at best the honour +of victory is doubtful. Send me your opinion on all these matters, my dear +Alicia, and let me know whether you can get lodgings to suit me within a short +distance of you. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your most attached<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0026"></a> +XXVI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Edward Street. +</p> + +<p> +I am gratified by your reference, and this is my advice: that you come to town +yourself, without loss of time, but that you leave Frederica behind. It would +surely be much more to the purpose to get yourself well established by marrying +Mr. De Courcy, than to irritate him and the rest of his family by making her +marry Sir James. You should think more of yourself and less of your daughter. +She is not of a disposition to do you credit in the world, and seems precisely +in her proper place at Churchhill, with the Vernons. But you are fitted for +society, and it is shameful to have you exiled from it. Leave Frederica, +therefore, to punish herself for the plague she has given you, by indulging +that romantic tender-heartedness which will always ensure her misery enough, +and come to London as soon as you can. I have another reason for urging this: +Mainwaring came to town last week, and has contrived, in spite of Mr. Johnson, +to make opportunities of seeing me. He is absolutely miserable about you, and +jealous to such a degree of De Courcy that it would be highly unadvisable for +them to meet at present. And yet, if you do not allow him to see you here, I +cannot answer for his not committing some great imprudence—such as going +to Churchhill, for instance, which would be dreadful! Besides, if you take my +advice, and resolve to marry De Courcy, it will be indispensably necessary to +you to get Mainwaring out of the way; and you only can have influence enough to +send him back to his wife. I have still another motive for your coming: Mr. +Johnson leaves London next Tuesday; he is going for his health to Bath, where, +if the waters are favourable to his constitution and my wishes, he will be laid +up with the gout many weeks. During his absence we shall be able to chuse our +own society, and to have true enjoyment. I would ask you to Edward Street, but +that once he forced from me a kind of promise never to invite you to my house; +nothing but my being in the utmost distress for money should have extorted it +from me. I can get you, however, a nice drawing-room apartment in Upper Seymour +Street, and we may be always together there or here; for I consider my promise +to Mr. Johnson as comprehending only (at least in his absence) your not +sleeping in the house. Poor Mainwaring gives me such histories of his +wife’s jealousy. Silly woman to expect constancy from so charming a man! +but she always was silly—intolerably so in marrying him at all, she the +heiress of a large fortune and he without a shilling: one title, I know, she +might have had, besides baronets. Her folly in forming the connection was so +great that, though Mr. Johnson was her guardian, and I do not in general share +<i>his</i> feelings, I never can forgive her. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Adieu. Yours ever,<br/> +A<small>LICIA</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0027"></a> +XXVII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +This letter, my dear Mother, will be brought you by Reginald. His long visit is +about to be concluded at last, but I fear the separation takes place too late +to do us any good. She is going to London to see her particular friend, Mrs. +Johnson. It was at first her intention that Frederica should accompany her, for +the benefit of masters, but we overruled her there. Frederica was wretched in +the idea of going, and I could not bear to have her at the mercy of her mother; +not all the masters in London could compensate for the ruin of her comfort. I +should have feared, too, for her health, and for everything but her +principles—there I believe she is not to be injured by her mother, or her +mother’s friends; but with those friends she must have mixed (a very bad +set, I doubt not), or have been left in total solitude, and I can hardly tell +which would have been worse for her. If she is with her mother, moreover, she +must, alas! in all probability be with Reginald, and that would be the greatest +evil of all. Here we shall in time be in peace, and our regular employments, +our books and conversations, with exercise, the children, and every domestic +pleasure in my power to procure her, will, I trust, gradually overcome this +youthful attachment. I should not have a doubt of it were she slighted for any +other woman in the world than her own mother. How long Lady Susan will be in +town, or whether she returns here again, I know not. I could not be cordial in +my invitation, but if she chuses to come no want of cordiality on my part will +keep her away. I could not help asking Reginald if he intended being in London +this winter, as soon as I found her ladyship’s steps would be bent +thither; and though he professed himself quite undetermined, there was +something in his look and voice as he spoke which contradicted his words. I +have done with lamentation; I look upon the event as so far decided that I +resign myself to it in despair. If he leaves you soon for London everything +will be concluded. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your affectionate, &c.,<br/> +C. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0028"></a> +XXVIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Edward Street. +</p> + +<p> +My dearest Friend,—I write in the greatest distress; the most unfortunate +event has just taken place. Mr. Johnson has hit on the most effectual manner of +plaguing us all. He had heard, I imagine, by some means or other, that you were +soon to be in London, and immediately contrived to have such an attack of the +gout as must at least delay his journey to Bath, if not wholly prevent it. I am +persuaded the gout is brought on or kept off at pleasure; it was the same when +I wanted to join the Hamiltons to the Lakes; and three years ago, when <i>I</i> +had a fancy for Bath, nothing could induce him to have a gouty symptom. +</p> + +<p> +I am pleased to find that my letter had so much effect on you, and that De +Courcy is certainly your own. Let me hear from you as soon as you arrive, and +in particular tell me what you mean to do with Mainwaring. It is impossible to +say when I shall be able to come to you; my confinement must be great. It is +such an abominable trick to be ill here instead of at Bath that I can scarcely +command myself at all. At Bath his old aunts would have nursed him, but here it +all falls upon me; and he bears pain with such patience that I have not the +common excuse for losing my temper. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever,<br/> +A<small>LICIA</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0029"></a> +XXIX</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Alicia,—There needed not this last fit of the gout to make me +detest Mr. Johnson, but now the extent of my aversion is not to be estimated. +To have you confined as nurse in his apartment! My dear Alicia, of what a +mistake were you guilty in marrying a man of his age! just old enough to be +formal, ungovernable, and to have the gout; too old to be agreeable, too young +to die. I arrived last night about five, had scarcely swallowed my dinner when +Mainwaring made his appearance. I will not dissemble what real pleasure his +sight afforded me, nor how strongly I felt the contrast between his person and +manners and those of Reginald, to the infinite disadvantage of the latter. For +an hour or two I was even staggered in my resolution of marrying him, and +though this was too idle and nonsensical an idea to remain long on my mind, I +do not feel very eager for the conclusion of my marriage, nor look forward with +much impatience to the time when Reginald, according to our agreement, is to be +in town. I shall probably put off his arrival under some pretence or other. He +must not come till Mainwaring is gone. I am still doubtful at times as to +marrying; if the old man would die I might not hesitate, but a state of +dependance on the caprice of Sir Reginald will not suit the freedom of my +spirit; and if I resolve to wait for that event, I shall have excuse enough at +present in having been scarcely ten months a widow. I have not given Mainwaring +any hint of my intention, or allowed him to consider my acquaintance with +Reginald as more than the commonest flirtation, and he is tolerably appeased. +Adieu, till we meet; I am enchanted with my lodgings. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0030"></a> +XXX</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mr. De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +I have received your letter, and though I do not attempt to conceal that I am +gratified by your impatience for the hour of meeting, I yet feel myself under +the necessity of delaying that hour beyond the time originally fixed. Do not +think me unkind for such an exercise of my power, nor accuse me of instability +without first hearing my reasons. In the course of my journey from Churchhill I +had ample leisure for reflection on the present state of our affairs, and every +review has served to convince me that they require a delicacy and cautiousness +of conduct to which we have hitherto been too little attentive. We have been +hurried on by our feelings to a degree of precipitation which ill accords with +the claims of our friends or the opinion of the world. We have been unguarded +in forming this hasty engagement, but we must not complete the imprudence by +ratifying it while there is so much reason to fear the connection would be +opposed by those friends on whom you depend. It is not for us to blame any +expectations on your father’s side of your marrying to advantage; where +possessions are so extensive as those of your family, the wish of increasing +them, if not strictly reasonable, is too common to excite surprize or +resentment. He has a right to require a woman of fortune in his +daughter-in-law, and I am sometimes quarrelling with myself for suffering you +to form a connection so imprudent; but the influence of reason is often +acknowledged too late by those who feel like me. I have now been but a few +months a widow, and, however little indebted to my husband’s memory for +any happiness derived from him during a union of some years, I cannot forget +that the indelicacy of so early a second marriage must subject me to the +censure of the world, and incur, what would be still more insupportable, the +displeasure of Mr. Vernon. I might perhaps harden myself in time against the +injustice of general reproach, but the loss of <i>his</i> valued esteem I am, +as you well know, ill-fitted to endure; and when to this may be added the +consciousness of having injured you with your family, how am I to support +myself? With feelings so poignant as mine, the conviction of having divided the +son from his parents would make me, even with you, the most miserable of +beings. It will surely, therefore, be advisable to delay our union—to +delay it till appearances are more promising—till affairs have taken a +more favourable turn. To assist us in such a resolution I feel that absence +will be necessary. We must not meet. Cruel as this sentence may appear, the +necessity of pronouncing it, which can alone reconcile it to myself, will be +evident to you when you have considered our situation in the light in which I +have found myself imperiously obliged to place it. You may be—you must +be—well assured that nothing but the strongest conviction of duty could +induce me to wound my own feelings by urging a lengthened separation, and of +insensibility to yours you will hardly suspect me. Again, therefore, I say that +we ought not, we must not, yet meet. By a removal for some months from each +other we shall tranquillise the sisterly fears of Mrs. Vernon, who, accustomed +herself to the enjoyment of riches, considers fortune as necessary everywhere, +and whose sensibilities are not of a nature to comprehend ours. Let me hear +from you soon—very soon. Tell me that you submit to my arguments, and do +not reproach me for using such. I cannot bear reproaches: my spirits are not so +high as to need being repressed. I must endeavour to seek amusement, and +fortunately many of my friends are in town; amongst them the Mainwarings; you +know how sincerely I regard both husband and wife. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +I am, very faithfully yours,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small> +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0031"></a> +XXXI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Friend,—That tormenting creature, Reginald, is here. My letter, +which was intended to keep him longer in the country, has hastened him to town. +Much as I wish him away, however, I cannot help being pleased with such a proof +of attachment. He is devoted to me, heart and soul. He will carry this note +himself, which is to serve as an introduction to you, with whom he longs to be +acquainted. Allow him to spend the evening with you, that I may be in no danger +of his returning here. I have told him that I am not quite well, and must be +alone; and should he call again there might be confusion, for it is impossible +to be sure of servants. Keep him, therefore, I entreat you, in Edward Street. +You will not find him a heavy companion, and I allow you to flirt with him as +much as you like. At the same time, do not forget my real interest; say all +that you can to convince him that I shall be quite wretched if he remains here; +you know my reasons—propriety, and so forth. I would urge them more +myself, but that I am impatient to be rid of him, as Mainwaring comes within +half an hour. Adieu! +</p> + +<p class="right"> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0032"></a> +XXXII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Edward Street. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Creature,—I am in agonies, and know not what to do. Mr. De Courcy +arrived just when he should not. Mrs. Mainwaring had that instant entered the +house, and forced herself into her guardian’s presence, though I did not +know a syllable of it till afterwards, for I was out when both she and Reginald +came, or I should have sent him away at all events; but she was shut up with +Mr. Johnson, while he waited in the drawing-room for me. She arrived yesterday +in pursuit of her husband, but perhaps you know this already from himself. She +came to this house to entreat my husband’s interference, and before I +could be aware of it, everything that you could wish to be concealed was known +to him, and unluckily she had wormed out of Mainwaring’s servant that he +had visited you every day since your being in town, and had just watched him to +your door herself! What could I do! Facts are such horrid things! All is by +this time known to De Courcy, who is now alone with Mr. Johnson. Do not accuse +me; indeed, it was impossible to prevent it. Mr. Johnson has for some time +suspected De Courcy of intending to marry you, and would speak with him alone +as soon as he knew him to be in the house. That detestable Mrs. Mainwaring, +who, for your comfort, has fretted herself thinner and uglier than ever, is +still here, and they have been all closeted together. What can be done? At any +rate, I hope he will plague his wife more than ever. With anxious wishes, +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours faithfully,<br/> +A<small>LICIA</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0033"></a> +XXXIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +This <i>éclaircissement</i> is rather provoking. How unlucky that you should +have been from home! I thought myself sure of you at seven! I am undismayed +however. Do not torment yourself with fears on my account; depend on it, I can +make my story good with Reginald. Mainwaring is just gone; he brought me the +news of his wife’s arrival. Silly woman, what does she expect by such +manoeuvres? Yet I wish she had stayed quietly at Langford. Reginald will be a +little enraged at first, but by to-morrow’s dinner, everything will be +well again. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Adieu!<br/> +S. V. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0034"></a> +XXXIV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mr. De Courcy to Lady Susan.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +—— Hotel. +</p> + +<p> +I write only to bid you farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as you are. +Since we parted yesterday, I have received from indisputable authority such a +history of you as must bring the most mortifying conviction of the imposition I +have been under, and the absolute necessity of an immediate and eternal +separation from you. You cannot doubt to what I allude. Langford! Langford! +that word will be sufficient. I received my information in Mr. Johnson’s +house, from Mrs. Mainwaring herself. You know how I have loved you; you can +intimately judge of my present feelings, but I am not so weak as to find +indulgence in describing them to a woman who will glory in having excited their +anguish, but whose affection they have never been able to gain. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +R. D<small>E</small> C<small>OURCY</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0035"></a> +XXXV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mr. De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +I will not attempt to describe my astonishment in reading the note this moment +received from you. I am bewildered in my endeavours to form some rational +conjecture of what Mrs. Mainwaring can have told you to occasion so +extraordinary a change in your sentiments. Have I not explained everything to +you with respect to myself which could bear a doubtful meaning, and which the +ill-nature of the world had interpreted to my discredit? What can you now have +heard to stagger your esteem for me? Have I ever had a concealment from you? +Reginald, you agitate me beyond expression, I cannot suppose that the old story +of Mrs. Mainwaring’s jealousy can be revived again, or at least be +<i>listened</i> to again. Come to me immediately, and explain what is at +present absolutely incomprehensible. Believe me, the single word of +<i>Langford</i> is not of such potent intelligence as to supersede the +necessity of more. If we <i>are</i> to part, it will at least be handsome to +take your personal leave—but I have little heart to jest; in truth, I am +serious enough; for to be sunk, though but for an hour, in your esteem is a +humiliation to which I know not how to submit. I shall count every minute till +your arrival. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +S. V. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0036"></a> +XXXVI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mr. De Courcy to Lady Susan.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +—— Hotel. +</p> + +<p> +Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars? But, since it must +be so, I am obliged to declare that all the accounts of your misconduct during +the life, and since the death of Mr. Vernon, which had reached me, in common +with the world in general, and gained my entire belief before I saw you, but +which you, by the exertion of your perverted abilities, had made me resolved to +disallow, have been unanswerably proved to me; nay more, I am assured that a +connection, of which I had never before entertained a thought, has for some +time existed, and still continues to exist, between you and the man whose +family you robbed of its peace in return for the hospitality with which you +were received into it; that you have corresponded with him ever since your +leaving Langford; not with his wife, but with him, and that he now visits you +every day. Can you, dare you deny it? and all this at the time when I was an +encouraged, an accepted lover! From what have I not escaped! I have only to be +grateful. Far from me be all complaint, every sigh of regret. My own folly had +endangered me, my preservation I owe to the kindness, the integrity of another; +but the unfortunate Mrs. Mainwaring, whose agonies while she related the past +seemed to threaten her reason, how is <i>she</i> to be consoled! After such a +discovery as this, you will scarcely affect further wonder at my meaning in +bidding you adieu. My understanding is at length restored, and teaches no less +to abhor the artifices which had subdued me than to despise myself for the +weakness on which their strength was founded. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +R. D<small>E</small> C<small>OURCY</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0037"></a> +XXXVII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mr. De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +I am satisfied, and will trouble you no more when these few lines are +dismissed. The engagement which you were eager to form a fortnight ago is no +longer compatible with your views, and I rejoice to find that the prudent +advice of your parents has not been given in vain. Your restoration to peace +will, I doubt not, speedily follow this act of filial obedience, and I flatter +myself with the hope of surviving my share in this disappointment. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +S. V. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0038"></a> +XXXVIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan Vernon.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Edward Street +</p> + +<p> +I am grieved, though I cannot be astonished at your rupture with Mr. De Courcy; +he has just informed Mr. Johnson of it by letter. He leaves London, he says, +to-day. Be assured that I partake in all your feelings, and do not be angry if +I say that our intercourse, even by letter, must soon be given up. It makes me +miserable; but Mr. Johnson vows that if I persist in the connection, he will +settle in the country for the rest of his life, and you know it is impossible +to submit to such an extremity while any other alternative remains. You have +heard of course that the Mainwarings are to part, and I am afraid Mrs. M. will +come home to us again; but she is still so fond of her husband, and frets so +much about him, that perhaps she may not live long. Miss Mainwaring is just +come to town to be with her aunt, and they say that she declares she will have +Sir James Martin before she leaves London again. If I were you, I would +certainly get him myself. I had almost forgot to give you my opinion of Mr. De +Courcy; I am really delighted with him; he is full as handsome, I think, as +Mainwaring, and with such an open, good-humoured countenance, that one cannot +help loving him at first sight. Mr. Johnson and he are the greatest friends in +the world. Adieu, my dearest Susan, I wish matters did not go so perversely. +That unlucky visit to Langford! but I dare say you did all for the best, and +there is no defying destiny. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your sincerely attached,<br/> +A<small>LICIA</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0039"></a> +XXXIX</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Alicia,—I yield to the necessity which parts us. Under such +circumstances you could not act otherwise. Our friendship cannot be impaired by +it, and in happier times, when your situation is as independent as mine, it +will unite us again in the same intimacy as ever. For this I shall impatiently +wait, and meanwhile can safely assure you that I never was more at ease, or +better satisfied with myself and everything about me than at the present hour. +Your husband I abhor, Reginald I despise, and I am secure of never seeing +either again. Have I not reason to rejoice? Mainwaring is more devoted to me +than ever; and were we at liberty, I doubt if I could resist even matrimony +offered by <i>him</i>. This event, if his wife live with you, it may be in your +power to hasten. The violence of her feelings, which must wear her out, may be +easily kept in irritation. I rely on your friendship for this. I am now +satisfied that I never could have brought myself to marry Reginald, and am +equally determined that Frederica never <i>shall</i>. To-morrow, I shall fetch +her from Churchhill, and let Maria Mainwaring tremble for the consequence. +Frederica shall be Sir James’s wife before she quits my house, and +<i>she</i> may whimper, and the Vernons may storm, I regard them not. I am +tired of submitting my will to the caprices of others; of resigning my own +judgment in deference to those to whom I owe no duty, and for whom I feel no +respect. I have given up too much, have been too easily worked on, but +Frederica shall now feel the difference. Adieu, dearest of friends; may the +next gouty attack be more favourable! and may you always regard me as +unalterably yours, +</p> + +<p class="right"> +S. V<small>ERNON</small> +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0040"></a> +XL</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon.</i> +</p> + +<p> +My dear Catherine,—I have charming news for you, and if I had not sent +off my letter this morning you might have been spared the vexation of knowing +of Reginald’s being gone to London, for he is returned. Reginald is +returned, not to ask our consent to his marrying Lady Susan, but to tell us +they are parted for ever. He has been only an hour in the house, and I have not +been able to learn particulars, for he is so very low that I have not the heart +to ask questions, but I hope we shall soon know all. This is the most joyful +hour he has ever given us since the day of his birth. Nothing is wanting but to +have you here, and it is our particular wish and entreaty that you would come +to us as soon as you can. You have owed us a visit many long weeks; I hope +nothing will make it inconvenient to Mr. Vernon; and pray bring all my +grand-children; and your dear niece is included, of course; I long to see her. +It has been a sad, heavy winter hitherto, without Reginald, and seeing nobody +from Churchhill. I never found the season so dreary before; but this happy +meeting will make us young again. Frederica runs much in my thoughts, and when +Reginald has recovered his usual good spirits (as I trust he soon will) we will +try to rob him of his heart once more, and I am full of hopes of seeing their +hands joined at no great distance. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your affectionate mother,<br/> +C. D<small>E</small> C<small>OURCY</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0041"></a> +XLI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Mother,—Your letter has surprized me beyond measure! Can it be +true that they are really separated—and for ever? I should be overjoyed +if I dared depend on it, but after all that I have seen how can one be secure? +And Reginald really with you! My surprize is the greater because on Wednesday, +the very day of his coming to Parklands, we had a most unexpected and unwelcome +visit from Lady Susan, looking all cheerfulness and good-humour, and seeming +more as if she were to marry him when she got to London than as if parted from +him for ever. She stayed nearly two hours, was as affectionate and agreeable as +ever, and not a syllable, not a hint was dropped, of any disagreement or +coolness between them. I asked her whether she had seen my brother since his +arrival in town; not, as you may suppose, with any doubt of the fact, but +merely to see how she looked. She immediately answered, without any +embarrassment, that he had been kind enough to call on her on Monday; but she +believed he had already returned home, which I was very far from crediting. +Your kind invitation is accepted by us with pleasure, and on Thursday next we +and our little ones will be with you. Pray heaven, Reginald may not be in town +again by that time! I wish we could bring dear Frederica too, but I am sorry to +say that her mother’s errand hither was to fetch her away; and, miserable +as it made the poor girl, it was impossible to detain her. I was thoroughly +unwilling to let her go, and so was her uncle; and all that could be urged we +did urge; but Lady Susan declared that as she was now about to fix herself in +London for several months, she could not be easy if her daughter were not with +her for masters, &c. Her manner, to be sure, was very kind and proper, and +Mr. Vernon believes that Frederica will now be treated with affection. I wish I +could think so too. The poor girl’s heart was almost broke at taking +leave of us. I charged her to write to me very often, and to remember that if +she were in any distress we should be always her friends. I took care to see +her alone, that I might say all this, and I hope made her a little more +comfortable; but I shall not be easy till I can go to town and judge of her +situation myself. I wish there were a better prospect than now appears of the +match which the conclusion of your letter declares your expectations of. At +present, it is not very likely. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever, &c.,<br/> +C. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_CONC"></a> +CONCLUSION</h2> + +<p> +This correspondence, by a meeting between some of the parties, and a separation +between the others, could not, to the great detriment of the Post Office +revenue, be continued any longer. Very little assistance to the State could be +derived from the epistolary intercourse of Mrs. Vernon and her niece; for the +former soon perceived, by the style of Frederica’s letters, that they +were written under her mother’s inspection! and therefore, deferring all +particular enquiry till she could make it personally in London, ceased writing +minutely or often. Having learnt enough, in the meanwhile, from her +open-hearted brother, of what had passed between him and Lady Susan to sink the +latter lower than ever in her opinion, she was proportionably more anxious to +get Frederica removed from such a mother, and placed under her own care; and, +though with little hope of success, was resolved to leave nothing unattempted +that might offer a chance of obtaining her sister-in-law’s consent to it. +Her anxiety on the subject made her press for an early visit to London; and Mr. +Vernon, who, as it must already have appeared, lived only to do whatever he was +desired, soon found some accommodating business to call him thither. With a +heart full of the matter, Mrs. Vernon waited on Lady Susan shortly after her +arrival in town, and was met with such an easy and cheerful affection, as made +her almost turn from her with horror. No remembrance of Reginald, no +consciousness of guilt, gave one look of embarrassment; she was in excellent +spirits, and seemed eager to show at once by every possible attention to her +brother and sister her sense of their kindness, and her pleasure in their +society. Frederica was no more altered than Lady Susan; the same restrained +manners, the same timid look in the presence of her mother as heretofore, +assured her aunt of her situation being uncomfortable, and confirmed her in the +plan of altering it. No unkindness, however, on the part of Lady Susan +appeared. Persecution on the subject of Sir James was entirely at an end; his +name merely mentioned to say that he was not in London; and indeed, in all her +conversation, she was solicitous only for the welfare and improvement of her +daughter, acknowledging, in terms of grateful delight, that Frederica was now +growing every day more and more what a parent could desire. Mrs. Vernon, +surprized and incredulous, knew not what to suspect, and, without any change in +her own views, only feared greater difficulty in accomplishing them. The first +hope of anything better was derived from Lady Susan’s asking her whether +she thought Frederica looked quite as well as she had done at Churchhill, as +she must confess herself to have sometimes an anxious doubt of London’s +perfectly agreeing with her. Mrs. Vernon, encouraging the doubt, directly +proposed her niece’s returning with them into the country. Lady Susan was +unable to express her sense of such kindness, yet knew not, from a variety of +reasons, how to part with her daughter; and as, though her own plans were not +yet wholly fixed, she trusted it would ere long be in her power to take +Frederica into the country herself, concluded by declining entirely to profit +by such unexampled attention. Mrs. Vernon persevered, however, in the offer of +it, and though Lady Susan continued to resist, her resistance in the course of +a few days seemed somewhat less formidable. The lucky alarm of an influenza +decided what might not have been decided quite so soon. Lady Susan’s +maternal fears were then too much awakened for her to think of anything but +Frederica’s removal from the risk of infection; above all disorders in +the world she most dreaded the influenza for her daughter’s constitution! +</p> + +<p> +Frederica returned to Churchhill with her uncle and aunt; and three weeks +afterwards, Lady Susan announced her being married to Sir James Martin. Mrs. +Vernon was then convinced of what she had only suspected before, that she might +have spared herself all the trouble of urging a removal which Lady Susan had +doubtless resolved on from the first. Frederica’s visit was nominally for +six weeks, but her mother, though inviting her to return in one or two +affectionate letters, was very ready to oblige the whole party by consenting to +a prolongation of her stay, and in the course of two months ceased to write of +her absence, and in the course of two more to write to her at all. Frederica +was therefore fixed in the family of her uncle and aunt till such time as +Reginald De Courcy could be talked, flattered, and finessed into an affection +for her which, allowing leisure for the conquest of his attachment to her +mother, for his abjuring all future attachments, and detesting the sex, might +be reasonably looked for in the course of a twelvemonth. Three months might +have done it in general, but Reginald’s feelings were no less lasting +than lively. Whether Lady Susan was or was not happy in her second choice, I do +not see how it can ever be ascertained; for who would take her assurance of it +on either side of the question? The world must judge from probabilities; she +had nothing against her but her husband, and her conscience. Sir James may seem +to have drawn a harder lot than mere folly merited; I leave him, therefore, to +all the pity that anybody can give him. For myself, I confess that <i>I</i> can +pity only Miss Mainwaring; who, coming to town, and putting herself to an +expense in clothes which impoverished her for two years, on purpose to secure +him, was defrauded of her due by a woman ten years older than herself. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 946 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..8297e5e --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #946 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/946) diff --git a/old/946.txt b/old/946.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e582c40 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/946.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2922 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Lady Susan, by Jane Austen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Lady Susan + +Author: Jane Austen + +Posting Date: July 27, 2008 [EBook #946] +Release Date: June 1997 +[Last updated: June 10, 2012] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY SUSAN *** + + + + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer + + + + + +LADY SUSAN + +by Jane Austen + + + + +I + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. VERNON + + +Langford, Dec. + +MY DEAR BROTHER,--I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure of +profiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of spending some +weeks with you at Churchhill, and, therefore, if quite convenient to you +and Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few +days to be introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be +acquainted with. My kind friends here are most affectionately +urgent with me to prolong my stay, but their hospitable and cheerful +dispositions lead them too much into society for my present situation +and state of mind; and I impatiently look forward to the hour when I +shall be admitted into your delightful retirement. + +I long to be made known to your dear little children, in whose hearts I +shall be very eager to secure an interest I shall soon have need for all +my fortitude, as I am on the point of separation from my own daughter. +The long illness of her dear father prevented my paying her that +attention which duty and affection equally dictated, and I have too +much reason to fear that the governess to whose care I consigned her was +unequal to the charge. I have therefore resolved on placing her at one +of the best private schools in town, where I shall have an opportunity +of leaving her myself in my way to you. I am determined, you see, not to +be denied admittance at Churchhill. It would indeed give me most painful +sensations to know that it were not in your power to receive me. + +Your most obliged and affectionate sister, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +II + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Langford. + + +You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing me fixed at this place +for the rest of the winter: it grieves me to say how greatly you were +mistaken, for I have seldom spent three months more agreeably than +those which have just flown away. At present, nothing goes smoothly; the +females of the family are united against me. You foretold how it would +be when I first came to Langford, and Mainwaring is so uncommonly +pleasing that I was not without apprehensions for myself. I remember +saying to myself, as I drove to the house, "I like this man, pray Heaven +no harm come of it!" But I was determined to be discreet, to bear in +mind my being only four months a widow, and to be as quiet as possible: +and I have been so, my dear creature; I have admitted no one's +attentions but Mainwaring's. I have avoided all general flirtation +whatever; I have distinguished no creature besides, of all the numbers +resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on whom I bestowed a little +notice, in order to detach him from Miss Mainwaring; but, if the world +could know my motive THERE they would honour me. I have been called an +unkind mother, but it was the sacred impulse of maternal affection, it +was the advantage of my daughter that led me on; and if that daughter +were not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might have been rewarded for +my exertions as I ought. + +Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica; but Frederica, who +was born to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so violently +against the match that I thought it better to lay aside the scheme for +the present. I have more than once repented that I did not marry him +myself; and were he but one degree less contemptibly weak I certainly +should: but I must own myself rather romantic in that respect, and +that riches only will not satisfy me. The event of all this is very +provoking: Sir James is gone, Maria highly incensed, and Mrs. Mainwaring +insupportably jealous; so jealous, in short, and so enraged against +me, that, in the fury of her temper, I should not be surprized at her +appealing to her guardian, if she had the liberty of addressing him: +but there your husband stands my friend; and the kindest, most amiable +action of his life was his throwing her off for ever on her marriage. +Keep up his resentment, therefore, I charge you. We are now in a sad +state; no house was ever more altered; the whole party are at war, and +Mainwaring scarcely dares speak to me. It is time for me to be gone; I +have therefore determined on leaving them, and shall spend, I hope, a +comfortable day with you in town within this week. If I am as little +in favour with Mr. Johnson as ever, you must come to me at 10 Wigmore +street; but I hope this may not be the case, for as Mr. Johnson, with +all his faults, is a man to whom that great word "respectable" is always +given, and I am known to be so intimate with his wife, his slighting me +has an awkward look. + +I take London in my way to that insupportable spot, a country village; +for I am really going to Churchhill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is +my last resource. Were there another place in England open to me I would +prefer it. Charles Vernon is my aversion; and I am afraid of his wife. +At Churchhill, however, I must remain till I have something better in +view. My young lady accompanies me to town, where I shall deposit her +under the care of Miss Summers, in Wigmore street, till she becomes a +little more reasonable. She will made good connections there, as the +girls are all of the best families. The price is immense, and much +beyond what I can ever attempt to pay. + +Adieu, I will send you a line as soon as I arrive in town. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + +III + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--I am very sorry to tell you that it will not be in our +power to keep our promise of spending our Christmas with you; and we are +prevented that happiness by a circumstance which is not likely to +make us any amends. Lady Susan, in a letter to her brother-in-law, has +declared her intention of visiting us almost immediately; and as such +a visit is in all probability merely an affair of convenience, it is +impossible to conjecture its length. I was by no means prepared for such +an event, nor can I now account for her ladyship's conduct; Langford +appeared so exactly the place for her in every respect, as well from +the elegant and expensive style of living there, as from her particular +attachment to Mr. Mainwaring, that I was very far from expecting so +speedy a distinction, though I always imagined from her increasing +friendship for us since her husband's death that we should, at some +future period, be obliged to receive her. Mr. Vernon, I think, was a +great deal too kind to her when he was in Staffordshire; her behaviour +to him, independent of her general character, has been so inexcusably +artful and ungenerous since our marriage was first in agitation that no +one less amiable and mild than himself could have overlooked it all; +and though, as his brother's widow, and in narrow circumstances, it was +proper to render her pecuniary assistance, I cannot help thinking +his pressing invitation to her to visit us at Churchhill perfectly +unnecessary. Disposed, however, as he always is to think the best of +everyone, her display of grief, and professions of regret, and general +resolutions of prudence, were sufficient to soften his heart and make +him really confide in her sincerity; but, as for myself, I am still +unconvinced, and plausibly as her ladyship has now written, I cannot +make up my mind till I better understand her real meaning in coming to +us. You may guess, therefore, my dear madam, with what feelings I look +forward to her arrival. She will have occasion for all those attractive +powers for which she is celebrated to gain any share of my regard; and +I shall certainly endeavour to guard myself against their influence, +if not accompanied by something more substantial. She expresses a +most eager desire of being acquainted with me, and makes very gracious +mention of my children but I am not quite weak enough to suppose a woman +who has behaved with inattention, if not with unkindness, to her own +child, should be attached to any of mine. Miss Vernon is to be placed at +a school in London before her mother comes to us which I am glad of, for +her sake and my own. It must be to her advantage to be separated from +her mother, and a girl of sixteen who has received so wretched an +education, could not be a very desirable companion here. Reginald has +long wished, I know, to see the captivating Lady Susan, and we shall +depend on his joining our party soon. I am glad to hear that my father +continues so well; and am, with best love, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +IV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Sister,--I congratulate you and Mr. Vernon on being about to +receive into your family the most accomplished coquette in England. As a +very distinguished flirt I have always been taught to consider her, but +it has lately fallen in my way to hear some particulars of her conduct +at Langford: which prove that she does not confine herself to that sort +of honest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires to the +more delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable. By her +behaviour to Mr. Mainwaring she gave jealousy and wretchedness to his +wife, and by her attentions to a young man previously attached to Mr. +Mainwaring's sister deprived an amiable girl of her lover. + +I learnt all this from Mr. Smith, now in this neighbourhood (I have +dined with him, at Hurst and Wilford), who is just come from Langford +where he was a fortnight with her ladyship, and who is therefore well +qualified to make the communication. + +What a woman she must be! I long to see her, and shall certainly accept +your kind invitation, that I may form some idea of those bewitching +powers which can do so much--engaging at the same time, and in the same +house, the affections of two men, who were neither of them at liberty to +bestow them--and all this without the charm of youth! I am glad to find +Miss Vernon does not accompany her mother to Churchhill, as she has not +even manners to recommend her; and, according to Mr. Smith's account, is +equally dull and proud. Where pride and stupidity unite there can be +no dissimulation worthy notice, and Miss Vernon shall be consigned to +unrelenting contempt; but by all that I can gather Lady Susan possesses +a degree of captivating deceit which it must be pleasing to witness and +detect. I shall be with you very soon, and am ever, + +Your affectionate brother, + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + +V + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I received your note, my dear Alicia, just before I left town, and +rejoice to be assured that Mr. Johnson suspected nothing of your +engagement the evening before. It is undoubtedly better to deceive him +entirely, and since he will be stubborn he must be tricked. I arrived +here in safety, and have no reason to complain of my reception from Mr. +Vernon; but I confess myself not equally satisfied with the behaviour of +his lady. She is perfectly well-bred, indeed, and has the air of a woman +of fashion, but her manners are not such as can persuade me of her being +prepossessed in my favour. I wanted her to be delighted at seeing me. +I was as amiable as possible on the occasion, but all in vain. She does +not like me. To be sure when we consider that I DID take some pains to +prevent my brother-in-law's marrying her, this want of cordiality is not +very surprizing, and yet it shows an illiberal and vindictive spirit +to resent a project which influenced me six years ago, and which never +succeeded at last. + +I am sometimes disposed to repent that I did not let Charles buy +Vernon Castle, when we were obliged to sell it; but it was a trying +circumstance, especially as the sale took place exactly at the time +of his marriage; and everybody ought to respect the delicacy of those +feelings which could not endure that my husband's dignity should be +lessened by his younger brother's having possession of the family +estate. Could matters have been so arranged as to prevent the necessity +of our leaving the castle, could we have lived with Charles and kept +him single, I should have been very far from persuading my husband to +dispose of it elsewhere; but Charles was on the point of marrying +Miss De Courcy, and the event has justified me. Here are children in +abundance, and what benefit could have accrued to me from his purchasing +Vernon? My having prevented it may perhaps have given his wife an +unfavourable impression, but where there is a disposition to dislike, +a motive will never be wanting; and as to money matters it has not +withheld him from being very useful to me. I really have a regard +for him, he is so easily imposed upon! The house is a good one, the +furniture fashionable, and everything announces plenty and elegance. +Charles is very rich I am sure; when a man has once got his name in a +banking-house he rolls in money; but they do not know what to do with +it, keep very little company, and never go to London but on business. We +shall be as stupid as possible. I mean to win my sister-in-law's heart +through the children; I know all their names already, and am going to +attach myself with the greatest sensibility to one in particular, a +young Frederic, whom I take on my lap and sigh over for his dear uncle's +sake. + +Poor Mainwaring! I need not tell you how much I miss him, how +perpetually he is in my thoughts. I found a dismal letter from him on +my arrival here, full of complaints of his wife and sister, and +lamentations on the cruelty of his fate. I passed off the letter as his +wife's, to the Vernons, and when I write to him it must be under cover +to you. + +Ever yours, S. VERNON. + + + + + +VI + + +MRS. VERNON TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +Well, my dear Reginald, I have seen this dangerous creature, and must +give you some description of her, though I hope you will soon be able to +form your own judgment. She is really excessively pretty; however you may +choose to question the allurements of a lady no longer young, I must, +for my own part, declare that I have seldom seen so lovely a woman +as Lady Susan. She is delicately fair, with fine grey eyes and dark +eyelashes; and from her appearance one would not suppose her more than +five and twenty, though she must in fact be ten years older, I was +certainly not disposed to admire her, though always hearing she was +beautiful; but I cannot help feeling that she possesses an uncommon +union of symmetry, brilliancy, and grace. Her address to me was so +gentle, frank, and even affectionate, that, if I had not known how much +she has always disliked me for marrying Mr. Vernon, and that we had +never met before, I should have imagined her an attached friend. One +is apt, I believe, to connect assurance of manner with coquetry, and to +expect that an impudent address will naturally attend an impudent mind; +at least I was myself prepared for an improper degree of confidence in +Lady Susan; but her countenance is absolutely sweet, and her voice and +manner winningly mild. I am sorry it is so, for what is this but deceit? +Unfortunately, one knows her too well. She is clever and agreeable, has +all that knowledge of the world which makes conversation easy, and talks +very well, with a happy command of language, which is too often used, I +believe, to make black appear white. She has already almost persuaded me +of her being warmly attached to her daughter, though I have been so long +convinced to the contrary. She speaks of her with so much tenderness and +anxiety, lamenting so bitterly the neglect of her education, which she +represents however as wholly unavoidable, that I am forced to recollect +how many successive springs her ladyship spent in town, while her +daughter was left in Staffordshire to the care of servants, or a +governess very little better, to prevent my believing what she says. + +If her manners have so great an influence on my resentful heart, you +may judge how much more strongly they operate on Mr. Vernon's generous +temper. I wish I could be as well satisfied as he is, that it was really +her choice to leave Langford for Churchhill; and if she had not stayed +there for months before she discovered that her friend's manner of +living did not suit her situation or feelings, I might have believed +that concern for the loss of such a husband as Mr. Vernon, to whom her +own behaviour was far from unexceptionable, might for a time make her +wish for retirement. But I cannot forget the length of her visit to the +Mainwarings, and when I reflect on the different mode of life which she +led with them from that to which she must now submit, I can only suppose +that the wish of establishing her reputation by following though late +the path of propriety, occasioned her removal from a family where she +must in reality have been particularly happy. Your friend Mr. Smith's +story, however, cannot be quite correct, as she corresponds regularly +with Mrs. Mainwaring. At any rate it must be exaggerated. It is scarcely +possible that two men should be so grossly deceived by her at once. + +Yours, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON + + + + + +VII + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Alicia,--You are very good in taking notice of Frederica, and +I am grateful for it as a mark of your friendship; but as I cannot have +any doubt of the warmth of your affection, I am far from exacting so +heavy a sacrifice. She is a stupid girl, and has nothing to recommend +her. I would not, therefore, on my account, have you encumber one moment +of your precious time by sending for her to Edward Street, especially +as every visit is so much deducted from the grand affair of education, +which I really wish to have attended to while she remains at Miss +Summers's. I want her to play and sing with some portion of taste and +a good deal of assurance, as she has my hand and arm and a tolerable +voice. I was so much indulged in my infant years that I was never +obliged to attend to anything, and consequently am without the +accomplishments which are now necessary to finish a pretty woman. Not +that I am an advocate for the prevailing fashion of acquiring a perfect +knowledge of all languages, arts, and sciences. It is throwing time +away to be mistress of French, Italian, and German: music, singing, +and drawing, &c., will gain a woman some applause, but will not add +one lover to her list--grace and manner, after all, are of the greatest +importance. I do not mean, therefore, that Frederica's acquirements +should be more than superficial, and I flatter myself that she will not +remain long enough at school to understand anything thoroughly. I hope +to see her the wife of Sir James within a twelvemonth. You know on what +I ground my hope, and it is certainly a good foundation, for school must +be very humiliating to a girl of Frederica's age. And, by-the-by, you +had better not invite her any more on that account, as I wish her to +find her situation as unpleasant as possible. I am sure of Sir James at +any time, and could make him renew his application by a line. I shall +trouble you meanwhile to prevent his forming any other attachment when +he comes to town. Ask him to your house occasionally, and talk to him of +Frederica, that he may not forget her. Upon the whole, I commend my own +conduct in this affair extremely, and regard it as a very happy instance +of circumspection and tenderness. Some mothers would have insisted on +their daughter's accepting so good an offer on the first overture; but I +could not reconcile it to myself to force Frederica into a marriage from +which her heart revolted, and instead of adopting so harsh a measure +merely propose to make it her own choice, by rendering her thoroughly +uncomfortable till she does accept him--but enough of this tiresome +girl. You may well wonder how I contrive to pass my time here, and for +the first week it was insufferably dull. Now, however, we begin to mend, +our party is enlarged by Mrs. Vernon's brother, a handsome young man, +who promises me some amusement. There is something about him which +rather interests me, a sort of sauciness and familiarity which I shall +teach him to correct. He is lively, and seems clever, and when I have +inspired him with greater respect for me than his sister's kind offices +have implanted, he may be an agreeable flirt. There is exquisite +pleasure in subduing an insolent spirit, in making a person +predetermined to dislike acknowledge one's superiority. I have +disconcerted him already by my calm reserve, and it shall be my +endeavour to humble the pride of these self important De Courcys still +lower, to convince Mrs. Vernon that her sisterly cautions have been +bestowed in vain, and to persuade Reginald that she has scandalously +belied me. This project will serve at least to amuse me, and prevent +my feeling so acutely this dreadful separation from you and all whom I +love. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +VIII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--You must not expect Reginald back again for some time. +He desires me to tell you that the present open weather induces him to +accept Mr. Vernon's invitation to prolong his stay in Sussex, that +they may have some hunting together. He means to send for his horses +immediately, and it is impossible to say when you may see him in Kent. I +will not disguise my sentiments on this change from you, my dear mother, +though I think you had better not communicate them to my father, whose +excessive anxiety about Reginald would subject him to an alarm which +might seriously affect his health and spirits. Lady Susan has certainly +contrived, in the space of a fortnight, to make my brother like her. +In short, I am persuaded that his continuing here beyond the time +originally fixed for his return is occasioned as much by a degree of +fascination towards her, as by the wish of hunting with Mr. Vernon, and +of course I cannot receive that pleasure from the length of his visit +which my brother's company would otherwise give me. I am, indeed, +provoked at the artifice of this unprincipled woman; what stronger +proof of her dangerous abilities can be given than this perversion of +Reginald's judgment, which when he entered the house was so decidedly +against her! In his last letter he actually gave me some particulars of +her behaviour at Langford, such as he received from a gentleman who knew +her perfectly well, which, if true, must raise abhorrence against her, +and which Reginald himself was entirely disposed to credit. His opinion +of her, I am sure, was as low as of any woman in England; and when he +first came it was evident that he considered her as one entitled neither +to delicacy nor respect, and that he felt she would be delighted with +the attentions of any man inclined to flirt with her. Her behaviour, I +confess, has been calculated to do away with such an idea; I have +not detected the smallest impropriety in it--nothing of vanity, of +pretension, of levity; and she is altogether so attractive that I should +not wonder at his being delighted with her, had he known nothing of her +previous to this personal acquaintance; but, against reason, against +conviction, to be so well pleased with her, as I am sure he is, does +really astonish me. His admiration was at first very strong, but no more +than was natural, and I did not wonder at his being much struck by the +gentleness and delicacy of her manners; but when he has mentioned her of +late it has been in terms of more extraordinary praise; and yesterday he +actually said that he could not be surprised at any effect produced +on the heart of man by such loveliness and such abilities; and when I +lamented, in reply, the badness of her disposition, he observed that +whatever might have been her errors they were to be imputed to her +neglected education and early marriage, and that she was altogether a +wonderful woman. This tendency to excuse her conduct or to forget it, in +the warmth of admiration, vexes me; and if I did not know that Reginald +is too much at home at Churchhill to need an invitation for lengthening +his visit, I should regret Mr. Vernon's giving him any. Lady Susan's +intentions are of course those of absolute coquetry, or a desire +of universal admiration; I cannot for a moment imagine that she has +anything more serious in view; but it mortifies me to see a young man of +Reginald's sense duped by her at all. + +I am, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +IX + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY S. VERNON + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,--I congratulate you on Mr. De Courcy's arrival, and +I advise you by all means to marry him; his father's estate is, we know, +considerable, and I believe certainly entailed. Sir Reginald is very +infirm, and not likely to stand in your way long. I hear the young man +well spoken of; and though no one can really deserve you, my dearest +Susan, Mr. De Courcy may be worth having. Mainwaring will storm of +course, but you easily pacify him; besides, the most scrupulous point of +honour could not require you to wait for HIS emancipation. I have seen +Sir James; he came to town for a few days last week, and called several +times in Edward Street. I talked to him about you and your daughter, and +he is so far from having forgotten you, that I am sure he would marry +either of you with pleasure. I gave him hopes of Frederica's relenting, +and told him a great deal of her improvements. I scolded him for making +love to Maria Mainwaring; he protested that he had been only in joke, +and we both laughed heartily at her disappointment; and, in short, were +very agreeable. He is as silly as ever. + +Yours faithfully, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +X + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I am much obliged to you, my dear Friend, for your advice respecting +Mr. De Courcy, which I know was given with the full conviction of its +expediency, though I am not quite determined on following it. I cannot +easily resolve on anything so serious as marriage; especially as I +am not at present in want of money, and might perhaps, till the old +gentleman's death, be very little benefited by the match. It is true +that I am vain enough to believe it within my reach. I have made him +sensible of my power, and can now enjoy the pleasure of triumphing +over a mind prepared to dislike me, and prejudiced against all my +past actions. His sister, too, is, I hope, convinced how little the +ungenerous representations of anyone to the disadvantage of another will +avail when opposed by the immediate influence of intellect and manner. I +see plainly that she is uneasy at my progress in the good opinion of +her brother, and conclude that nothing will be wanting on her part to +counteract me; but having once made him doubt the justice of her opinion +of me, I think I may defy her. It has been delightful to me to watch +his advances towards intimacy, especially to observe his altered manner +in consequence of my repressing by the cool dignity of my deportment +his insolent approach to direct familiarity. My conduct has been equally +guarded from the first, and I never behaved less like a coquette in the +whole course of my life, though perhaps my desire of dominion was never +more decided. I have subdued him entirely by sentiment and serious +conversation, and made him, I may venture to say, at least half in love +with me, without the semblance of the most commonplace flirtation. Mrs. +Vernon's consciousness of deserving every sort of revenge that it can +be in my power to inflict for her ill-offices could alone enable her +to perceive that I am actuated by any design in behaviour so gentle +and unpretending. Let her think and act as she chooses, however. I have +never yet found that the advice of a sister could prevent a young +man's being in love if he chose. We are advancing now to some kind of +confidence, and in short are likely to be engaged in a sort of platonic +friendship. On my side you may be sure of its never being more, for if +I were not attached to another person as much as I can be to anyone, I +should make a point of not bestowing my affection on a man who had dared +to think so meanly of me. Reginald has a good figure and is not unworthy +the praise you have heard given him, but is still greatly inferior +to our friend at Langford. He is less polished, less insinuating than +Mainwaring, and is comparatively deficient in the power of saying those +delightful things which put one in good humour with oneself and all the +world. He is quite agreeable enough, however, to afford me amusement, +and to make many of those hours pass very pleasantly which would +otherwise be spent in endeavouring to overcome my sister-in-law's +reserve, and listening to the insipid talk of her husband. Your account +of Sir James is most satisfactory, and I mean to give Miss Frederica a +hint of my intentions very soon. + +Yours, &c., + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XI + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +I really grow quite uneasy, my dearest mother, about Reginald, from +witnessing the very rapid increase of Lady Susan's influence. They are +now on terms of the most particular friendship, frequently engaged in +long conversations together; and she has contrived by the most artful +coquetry to subdue his judgment to her own purposes. It is impossible +to see the intimacy between them so very soon established without some +alarm, though I can hardly suppose that Lady Susan's plans extend to +marriage. I wish you could get Reginald home again on any plausible +pretence; he is not at all disposed to leave us, and I have given him as +many hints of my father's precarious state of health as common decency +will allow me to do in my own house. Her power over him must now be +boundless, as she has entirely effaced all his former ill-opinion, +and persuaded him not merely to forget but to justify her conduct. Mr. +Smith's account of her proceedings at Langford, where he accused her of +having made Mr. Mainwaring and a young man engaged to Miss Mainwaring +distractedly in love with her, which Reginald firmly believed when he +came here, is now, he is persuaded, only a scandalous invention. He +has told me so with a warmth of manner which spoke his regret at having +believed the contrary himself. How sincerely do I grieve that she +ever entered this house! I always looked forward to her coming with +uneasiness; but very far was it from originating in anxiety for +Reginald. I expected a most disagreeable companion for myself, but could +not imagine that my brother would be in the smallest danger of being +captivated by a woman with whose principles he was so well acquainted, +and whose character he so heartily despised. If you can get him away it +will be a good thing. + +Yours, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XII + + +SIR REGINALD DE COURCY TO HIS SON + + +Parklands. + + +I know that young men in general do not admit of any enquiry even from +their nearest relations into affairs of the heart, but I hope, my dear +Reginald, that you will be superior to such as allow nothing for a +father's anxiety, and think themselves privileged to refuse him their +confidence and slight his advice. You must be sensible that as an only +son, and the representative of an ancient family, your conduct in life +is most interesting to your connections; and in the very important +concern of marriage especially, there is everything at stake--your own +happiness, that of your parents, and the credit of your name. I do not +suppose that you would deliberately form an absolute engagement of that +nature without acquainting your mother and myself, or at least, without +being convinced that we should approve of your choice; but I cannot help +fearing that you may be drawn in, by the lady who has lately attached +you, to a marriage which the whole of your family, far and near, must +highly reprobate. Lady Susan's age is itself a material objection, but +her want of character is one so much more serious, that the difference +of even twelve years becomes in comparison of small amount. Were you not +blinded by a sort of fascination, it would be ridiculous in me to repeat +the instances of great misconduct on her side so very generally known. + +Her neglect of her husband, her encouragement of other men, her +extravagance and dissipation, were so gross and notorious that no one +could be ignorant of them at the time, nor can now have forgotten them. +To our family she has always been represented in softened colours by +the benevolence of Mr. Charles Vernon, and yet, in spite of his generous +endeavours to excuse her, we know that she did, from the most selfish +motives, take all possible pains to prevent his marriage with Catherine. + +My years and increasing infirmities make me very desirous of seeing you +settled in the world. To the fortune of a wife, the goodness of my own +will make me indifferent, but her family and character must be equally +unexceptionable. When your choice is fixed so that no objection can be +made to it, then I can promise you a ready and cheerful consent; but it +is my duty to oppose a match which deep art only could render possible, +and must in the end make wretched. It is possible her behaviour may +arise only from vanity, or the wish of gaining the admiration of a man +whom she must imagine to be particularly prejudiced against her; but it +is more likely that she should aim at something further. She is poor, +and may naturally seek an alliance which must be advantageous to +herself; you know your own rights, and that it is out of my power to +prevent your inheriting the family estate. My ability of distressing +you during my life would be a species of revenge to which I could hardly +stoop under any circumstances. + +I honestly tell you my sentiments and intentions: I do not wish to work +on your fears, but on your sense and affection. It would destroy every +comfort of my life to know that you were married to Lady Susan Vernon; +it would be the death of that honest pride with which I have hitherto +considered my son; I should blush to see him, to hear of him, to think +of him. I may perhaps do no good but that of relieving my own mind by +this letter, but I felt it my duty to tell you that your partiality for +Lady Susan is no secret to your friends, and to warn you against her. +I should be glad to hear your reasons for disbelieving Mr. Smith's +intelligence; you had no doubt of its authenticity a month ago. If +you can give me your assurance of having no design beyond enjoying +the conversation of a clever woman for a short period, and of yielding +admiration only to her beauty and abilities, without being blinded by +them to her faults, you will restore me to happiness; but, if you cannot +do this, explain to me, at least, what has occasioned so great an +alteration in your opinion of her. + +I am, &c., &c, + +REGINALD DE COURCY + + + + + +XIII + + +LADY DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Catherine,--Unluckily I was confined to my room when your last +letter came, by a cold which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my +reading it myself, so I could not refuse your father when he offered +to read it to me, by which means he became acquainted, to my great +vexation, with all your fears about your brother. I had intended to +write to Reginald myself as soon as my eyes would let me, to point out, +as well as I could, the danger of an intimate acquaintance, with so +artful a woman as Lady Susan, to a young man of his age, and high +expectations. I meant, moreover, to have reminded him of our being quite +alone now, and very much in need of him to keep up our spirits these +long winter evenings. Whether it would have done any good can never be +settled now, but I am excessively vexed that Sir Reginald should know +anything of a matter which we foresaw would make him so uneasy. He +caught all your fears the moment he had read your letter, and I am sure +he has not had the business out of his head since. He wrote by the same +post to Reginald a long letter full of it all, and particularly asking +an explanation of what he may have heard from Lady Susan to contradict +the late shocking reports. His answer came this morning, which I shall +enclose to you, as I think you will like to see it. I wish it was more +satisfactory; but it seems written with such a determination to think +well of Lady Susan, that his assurances as to marriage, &c., do not set +my heart at ease. I say all I can, however, to satisfy your father, and +he is certainly less uneasy since Reginald's letter. How provoking it +is, my dear Catherine, that this unwelcome guest of yours should not +only prevent our meeting this Christmas, but be the occasion of so much +vexation and trouble! Kiss the dear children for me. + +Your affectionate mother, + +C. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XIV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO SIR REGINALD + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Sir,--I have this moment received your letter, which has given +me more astonishment than I ever felt before. I am to thank my sister, +I suppose, for having represented me in such a light as to injure me +in your opinion, and give you all this alarm. I know not why she should +choose to make herself and her family uneasy by apprehending an +event which no one but herself, I can affirm, would ever have thought +possible. To impute such a design to Lady Susan would be taking from her +every claim to that excellent understanding which her bitterest enemies +have never denied her; and equally low must sink my pretensions to +common sense if I am suspected of matrimonial views in my behaviour +to her. Our difference of age must be an insuperable objection, and I +entreat you, my dear father, to quiet your mind, and no longer harbour +a suspicion which cannot be more injurious to your own peace than to our +understandings. I can have no other view in remaining with Lady Susan, +than to enjoy for a short time (as you have yourself expressed it) the +conversation of a woman of high intellectual powers. If Mrs. Vernon +would allow something to my affection for herself and her husband in the +length of my visit, she would do more justice to us all; but my sister +is unhappily prejudiced beyond the hope of conviction against Lady +Susan. From an attachment to her husband, which in itself does honour to +both, she cannot forgive the endeavours at preventing their union, which +have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan; but in this case, as +well as in many others, the world has most grossly injured that lady, by +supposing the worst where the motives of her conduct have been doubtful. +Lady Susan had heard something so materially to the disadvantage of my +sister as to persuade her that the happiness of Mr. Vernon, to whom she +was always much attached, would be wholly destroyed by the marriage. And +this circumstance, while it explains the true motives of Lady Susan's +conduct, and removes all the blame which has been so lavished on her, +may also convince us how little the general report of anyone ought to +be credited; since no character, however upright, can escape the +malevolence of slander. If my sister, in the security of retirement, +with as little opportunity as inclination to do evil, could not avoid +censure, we must not rashly condemn those who, living in the world and +surrounded with temptations, should be accused of errors which they are +known to have the power of committing. + +I blame myself severely for having so easily believed the slanderous +tales invented by Charles Smith to the prejudice of Lady Susan, as I +am now convinced how greatly they have traduced her. As to Mrs. +Mainwaring's jealousy it was totally his own invention, and his account +of her attaching Miss Mainwaring's lover was scarcely better founded. +Sir James Martin had been drawn in by that young lady to pay her some +attention; and as he is a man of fortune, it was easy to see HER views +extended to marriage. It is well known that Miss M. is absolutely on the +catch for a husband, and no one therefore can pity her for losing, by +the superior attractions of another woman, the chance of being able to +make a worthy man completely wretched. Lady Susan was far from intending +such a conquest, and on finding how warmly Miss Mainwaring resented her +lover's defection, determined, in spite of Mr. and Mrs. Mainwaring's +most urgent entreaties, to leave the family. I have reason to imagine +she did receive serious proposals from Sir James, but her removing to +Langford immediately on the discovery of his attachment, must acquit her +on that article with any mind of common candour. You will, I am sure, my +dear Sir, feel the truth of this, and will hereby learn to do justice to +the character of a very injured woman. I know that Lady Susan in coming +to Churchhill was governed only by the most honourable and amiable +intentions; her prudence and economy are exemplary, her regard for Mr. +Vernon equal even to HIS deserts; and her wish of obtaining my sister's +good opinion merits a better return than it has received. As a mother +she is unexceptionable; her solid affection for her child is shown by +placing her in hands where her education will be properly attended to; +but because she has not the blind and weak partiality of most mothers, +she is accused of wanting maternal tenderness. Every person of sense, +however, will know how to value and commend her well-directed affection, +and will join me in wishing that Frederica Vernon may prove more worthy +than she has yet done of her mother's tender care. I have now, my dear +father, written my real sentiments of Lady Susan; you will know from +this letter how highly I admire her abilities, and esteem her character; +but if you are not equally convinced by my full and solemn assurance +that your fears have been most idly created, you will deeply mortify and +distress me. + +I am, &c., &c., + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XV + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +My dear Mother,--I return you Reginald's letter, and rejoice with all +my heart that my father is made easy by it: tell him so, with my +congratulations; but, between ourselves, I must own it has only +convinced ME of my brother's having no PRESENT intention of marrying +Lady Susan, not that he is in no danger of doing so three months hence. +He gives a very plausible account of her behaviour at Langford; I wish +it may be true, but his intelligence must come from herself, and I +am less disposed to believe it than to lament the degree of intimacy +subsisting between them, implied by the discussion of such a subject. I +am sorry to have incurred his displeasure, but can expect nothing better +while he is so very eager in Lady Susan's justification. He is very +severe against me indeed, and yet I hope I have not been hasty in +my judgment of her. Poor woman! though I have reasons enough for +my dislike, I cannot help pitying her at present, as she is in real +distress, and with too much cause. She had this morning a letter from +the lady with whom she has placed her daughter, to request that Miss +Vernon might be immediately removed, as she had been detected in an +attempt to run away. Why, or whither she intended to go, does not +appear; but, as her situation seems to have been unexceptionable, it is +a sad thing, and of course highly distressing to Lady Susan. Frederica +must be as much as sixteen, and ought to know better; but from what +her mother insinuates, I am afraid she is a perverse girl. She has +been sadly neglected, however, and her mother ought to remember it. Mr. +Vernon set off for London as soon as she had determined what should be +done. He is, if possible, to prevail on Miss Summers to let Frederica +continue with her; and if he cannot succeed, to bring her to Churchhill +for the present, till some other situation can be found for her. +Her ladyship is comforting herself meanwhile by strolling along the +shrubbery with Reginald, calling forth all his tender feelings, I +suppose, on this distressing occasion. She has been talking a great deal +about it to me. She talks vastly well; I am afraid of being ungenerous, +or I should say, TOO well to feel so very deeply; but I will not look +for her faults; she may be Reginald's wife! Heaven forbid it! but why +should I be quicker-sighted than anyone else? Mr. Vernon declares that +he never saw deeper distress than hers, on the receipt of the letter; +and is his judgment inferior to mine? She was very unwilling that +Frederica should be allowed to come to Churchhill, and justly enough, as +it seems a sort of reward to behaviour deserving very differently; but +it was impossible to take her anywhere else, and she is not to remain +here long. "It will be absolutely necessary," said she, "as you, my dear +sister, must be sensible, to treat my daughter with some severity while +she is here; a most painful necessity, but I will ENDEAVOUR to submit to +it. I am afraid I have often been too indulgent, but my poor Frederica's +temper could never bear opposition well: you must support and encourage +me; you must urge the necessity of reproof if you see me too lenient." +All this sounds very reasonable. Reginald is so incensed against the +poor silly girl. Surely it is not to Lady Susan's credit that he should +be so bitter against her daughter; his idea of her must be drawn from +the mother's description. Well, whatever may be his fate, we have the +comfort of knowing that we have done our utmost to save him. We must +commit the event to a higher power. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XVI + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +Never, my dearest Alicia, was I so provoked in my life as by a letter +this morning from Miss Summers. That horrid girl of mine has been trying +to run away. I had not a notion of her being such a little devil before, +she seemed to have all the Vernon milkiness; but on receiving the letter +in which I declared my intention about Sir James, she actually attempted +to elope; at least, I cannot otherwise account for her doing it. She +meant, I suppose, to go to the Clarkes in Staffordshire, for she has no +other acquaintances. But she shall be punished, she shall have him. I +have sent Charles to town to make matters up if he can, for I do not +by any means want her here. If Miss Summers will not keep her, you must +find me out another school, unless we can get her married immediately. +Miss S. writes word that she could not get the young lady to assign +any cause for her extraordinary conduct, which confirms me in my own +previous explanation of it. Frederica is too shy, I think, and too much +in awe of me to tell tales, but if the mildness of her uncle should get +anything out of her, I am not afraid. I trust I shall be able to make my +story as good as hers. If I am vain of anything, it is of my eloquence. +Consideration and esteem as surely follow command of language as +admiration waits on beauty, and here I have opportunity enough for the +exercise of my talent, as the chief of my time is spent in conversation. + +Reginald is never easy unless we are by ourselves, and when the weather +is tolerable, we pace the shrubbery for hours together. I like him on +the whole very well; he is clever and has a good deal to say, but he +is sometimes impertinent and troublesome. There is a sort of ridiculous +delicacy about him which requires the fullest explanation of whatever he +may have heard to my disadvantage, and is never satisfied till he thinks +he has ascertained the beginning and end of everything. This is one sort +of love, but I confess it does not particularly recommend itself to me. +I infinitely prefer the tender and liberal spirit of Mainwaring, which, +impressed with the deepest conviction of my merit, is satisfied that +whatever I do must be right; and look with a degree of contempt on +the inquisitive and doubtful fancies of that heart which seems always +debating on the reasonableness of its emotions. Mainwaring is indeed, +beyond all compare, superior to Reginald--superior in everything but the +power of being with me! Poor fellow! he is much distracted by jealousy, +which I am not sorry for, as I know no better support of love. He has +been teazing me to allow of his coming into this country, and lodging +somewhere near INCOG.; but I forbade everything of the kind. Those women +are inexcusable who forget what is due to themselves, and the opinion of +the world. + +Yours ever, S. VERNON. + + + + + +XVII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--Mr. Vernon returned on Thursday night, bringing his +niece with him. Lady Susan had received a line from him by that day's +post, informing her that Miss Summers had absolutely refused to allow of +Miss Vernon's continuance in her academy; we were therefore prepared for +her arrival, and expected them impatiently the whole evening. They came +while we were at tea, and I never saw any creature look so frightened as +Frederica when she entered the room. Lady Susan, who had been shedding +tears before, and showing great agitation at the idea of the meeting, +received her with perfect self-command, and without betraying the +least tenderness of spirit. She hardly spoke to her, and on Frederica's +bursting into tears as soon as we were seated, took her out of the room, +and did not return for some time. When she did, her eyes looked very red +and she was as much agitated as before. We saw no more of her daughter. +Poor Reginald was beyond measure concerned to see his fair friend in +such distress, and watched her with so much tender solicitude, that I, +who occasionally caught her observing his countenance with exultation, +was quite out of patience. This pathetic representation lasted the whole +evening, and so ostentatious and artful a display has entirely convinced +me that she did in fact feel nothing. I am more angry with her than ever +since I have seen her daughter; the poor girl looks so unhappy that my +heart aches for her. Lady Susan is surely too severe, for Frederica +does not seem to have the sort of temper to make severity necessary. +She looks perfectly timid, dejected, and penitent. She is very +pretty, though not so handsome as her mother, nor at all like her. Her +complexion is delicate, but neither so fair nor so blooming as Lady +Susan's, and she has quite the Vernon cast of countenance, the oval face +and mild dark eyes, and there is peculiar sweetness in her look when she +speaks either to her uncle or me, for as we behave kindly to her we have +of course engaged her gratitude. + +Her mother has insinuated that her temper is intractable, but I never +saw a face less indicative of any evil disposition than hers; and from +what I can see of the behaviour of each to the other, the invariable +severity of Lady Susan and the silent dejection of Frederica, I am +led to believe as heretofore that the former has no real love for her +daughter, and has never done her justice or treated her affectionately. +I have not been able to have any conversation with my niece; she is shy, +and I think I can see that some pains are taken to prevent her being +much with me. Nothing satisfactory transpires as to her reason for +running away. Her kind-hearted uncle, you may be sure, was too fearful +of distressing her to ask many questions as they travelled. I wish it +had been possible for me to fetch her instead of him. I think I should +have discovered the truth in the course of a thirty-mile journey. The +small pianoforte has been removed within these few days, at Lady Susan's +request, into her dressing-room, and Frederica spends great part of the +day there, practising as it is called; but I seldom hear any noise when +I pass that way; what she does with herself there I do not know. There +are plenty of books, but it is not every girl who has been running +wild the first fifteen years of her life, that can or will read. Poor +creature! the prospect from her window is not very instructive, for that +room overlooks the lawn, you know, with the shrubbery on one side, +where she may see her mother walking for an hour together in earnest +conversation with Reginald. A girl of Frederica's age must be childish +indeed, if such things do not strike her. Is it not inexcusable to give +such an example to a daughter? Yet Reginald still thinks Lady Susan the +best of mothers, and still condemns Frederica as a worthless girl! He +is convinced that her attempt to run away proceeded from no, justifiable +cause, and had no provocation. I am sure I cannot say that it HAD, +but while Miss Summers declares that Miss Vernon showed no signs of +obstinacy or perverseness during her whole stay in Wigmore Street, till +she was detected in this scheme, I cannot so readily credit what Lady +Susan has made him, and wants to make me believe, that it was merely +an impatience of restraint and a desire of escaping from the tuition of +masters which brought on the plan of an elopement. O Reginald, how is +your judgment enslaved! He scarcely dares even allow her to be handsome, +and when I speak of her beauty, replies only that her eyes have no +brilliancy! Sometimes he is sure she is deficient in understanding, and +at others that her temper only is in fault. In short, when a person is +always to deceive, it is impossible to be consistent. Lady Susan +finds it necessary that Frederica should be to blame, and probably has +sometimes judged it expedient to excuse her of ill-nature and sometimes +to lament her want of sense. Reginald is only repeating after her +ladyship. + +I remain, &c., &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XVIII + + +FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--I am very glad to find that my description of Frederica +Vernon has interested you, for I do believe her truly deserving of your +regard; and when I have communicated a notion which has recently struck +me, your kind impressions in her favour will, I am sure, be heightened. +I cannot help fancying that she is growing partial to my brother. I so +very often see her eyes fixed on his face with a remarkable expression +of pensive admiration. He is certainly very handsome; and yet more, +there is an openness in his manner that must be highly prepossessing, +and I am sure she feels it so. Thoughtful and pensive in general, her +countenance always brightens into a smile when Reginald says anything +amusing; and, let the subject be ever so serious that he may be +conversing on, I am much mistaken if a syllable of his uttering escapes +her. I want to make him sensible of all this, for we know the power +of gratitude on such a heart as his; and could Frederica's artless +affection detach him from her mother, we might bless the day which +brought her to Churchhill. I think, my dear mother, you would not +disapprove of her as a daughter. She is extremely young, to be sure, +has had a wretched education, and a dreadful example of levity in her +mother; but yet I can pronounce her disposition to be excellent, and her +natural abilities very good. Though totally without accomplishments, she +is by no means so ignorant as one might expect to find her, being fond +of books and spending the chief of her time in reading. Her mother +leaves her more to herself than she did, and I have her with me as much +as possible, and have taken great pains to overcome her timidity. We +are very good friends, and though she never opens her lips before her +mother, she talks enough when alone with me to make it clear that, if +properly treated by Lady Susan, she would always appear to much greater +advantage. There cannot be a more gentle, affectionate heart; or more +obliging manners, when acting without restraint; and her little cousins +are all very fond of her. + +Your affectionate daughter, + +C. VERNON + + + + + +XIX + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +You will be eager, I know, to hear something further of Frederica, and +perhaps may think me negligent for not writing before. She arrived with +her uncle last Thursday fortnight, when, of course, I lost no time in +demanding the cause of her behaviour; and soon found myself to have been +perfectly right in attributing it to my own letter. The prospect of +it frightened her so thoroughly, that, with a mixture of true girlish +perverseness and folly, she resolved on getting out of the house and +proceeding directly by the stage to her friends, the Clarkes; and had +really got as far as the length of two streets in her journey when +she was fortunately missed, pursued, and overtaken. Such was the first +distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica Vernon; and, if we consider that +it was achieved at the tender age of sixteen, we shall have room for +the most flattering prognostics of her future renown. I am excessively +provoked, however, at the parade of propriety which prevented Miss +Summers from keeping the girl; and it seems so extraordinary a piece of +nicety, considering my daughter's family connections, that I can only +suppose the lady to be governed by the fear of never getting her money. +Be that as it may, however, Frederica is returned on my hands; and, +having nothing else to employ her, is busy in pursuing the plan of +romance begun at Langford. She is actually falling in love with Reginald +De Courcy! To disobey her mother by refusing an unexceptionable offer +is not enough; her affections must also be given without her mother's +approbation. I never saw a girl of her age bid fairer to be the sport +of mankind. Her feelings are tolerably acute, and she is so charmingly +artless in their display as to afford the most reasonable hope of her +being ridiculous, and despised by every man who sees her. + +Artlessness will never do in love matters; and that girl is born a +simpleton who has it either by nature or affectation. I am not yet +certain that Reginald sees what she is about, nor is it of much +consequence. She is now an object of indifference to him, and she would +be one of contempt were he to understand her emotions. Her beauty is +much admired by the Vernons, but it has no effect on him. She is in high +favour with her aunt altogether, because she is so little like myself, +of course. She is exactly the companion for Mrs. Vernon, who dearly +loves to be firm, and to have all the sense and all the wit of the +conversation to herself: Frederica will never eclipse her. When she +first came I was at some pains to prevent her seeing much of her aunt; +but I have relaxed, as I believe I may depend on her observing the rules +I have laid down for their discourse. But do not imagine that with all +this lenity I have for a moment given up my plan of her marriage. No; I +am unalterably fixed on this point, though I have not yet quite decided +on the manner of bringing it about. I should not chuse to have the +business brought on here, and canvassed by the wise heads of Mr. and +Mrs. Vernon; and I cannot just now afford to go to town. Miss Frederica +must therefore wait a little. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XX + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +We have a very unexpected guest with us at present, my dear Mother: he +arrived yesterday. I heard a carriage at the door, as I was sitting with +my children while they dined; and supposing I should be wanted, left the +nursery soon afterwards, and was half-way downstairs, when Frederica, +as pale as ashes, came running up, and rushed by me into her own room. +I instantly followed, and asked her what was the matter. "Oh!" said +she, "he is come--Sir James is come, and what shall I do?" This was no +explanation; I begged her to tell me what she meant. At that moment we +were interrupted by a knock at the door: it was Reginald, who came, by +Lady Susan's direction, to call Frederica down. "It is Mr. De Courcy!" +said she, colouring violently. "Mamma has sent for me; I must go." +We all three went down together; and I saw my brother examining the +terrified face of Frederica with surprize. In the breakfast-room we +found Lady Susan, and a young man of gentlemanlike appearance, whom she +introduced by the name of Sir James Martin--the very person, as you may +remember, whom it was said she had been at pains to detach from Miss +Mainwaring; but the conquest, it seems, was not designed for herself, +or she has since transferred it to her daughter; for Sir James is now +desperately in love with Frederica, and with full encouragement from +mamma. The poor girl, however, I am sure, dislikes him; and though his +person and address are very well, he appears, both to Mr. Vernon and +me, a very weak young man. Frederica looked so shy, so confused, when +we entered the room, that I felt for her exceedingly. Lady Susan behaved +with great attention to her visitor; and yet I thought I could perceive +that she had no particular pleasure in seeing him. Sir James talked a +great deal, and made many civil excuses to me for the liberty he had +taken in coming to Churchhill--mixing more frequent laughter with his +discourse than the subject required--said many things over and over +again, and told Lady Susan three times that he had seen Mrs. Johnson +a few evenings before. He now and then addressed Frederica, but more +frequently her mother. The poor girl sat all this time without opening +her lips--her eyes cast down, and her colour varying every instant; +while Reginald observed all that passed in perfect silence. At length +Lady Susan, weary, I believe, of her situation, proposed walking; and +we left the two gentlemen together, to put on our pelisses. As we went +upstairs Lady Susan begged permission to attend me for a few moments in +my dressing-room, as she was anxious to speak with me in private. I led +her thither accordingly, and as soon as the door was closed, she said: +"I was never more surprized in my life than by Sir James's arrival, +and the suddenness of it requires some apology to you, my dear sister; +though to ME, as a mother, it is highly flattering. He is so extremely +attached to my daughter that he could not exist longer without seeing +her. Sir James is a young man of an amiable disposition and excellent +character; a little too much of the rattle, perhaps, but a year or two +will rectify THAT: and he is in other respects so very eligible a match +for Frederica, that I have always observed his attachment with the +greatest pleasure; and am persuaded that you and my brother will give +the alliance your hearty approbation. I have never before mentioned the +likelihood of its taking place to anyone, because I thought that whilst +Frederica continued at school it had better not be known to exist; +but now, as I am convinced that Frederica is too old ever to submit to +school confinement, and have, therefore, begun to consider her union +with Sir James as not very distant, I had intended within a few days to +acquaint yourself and Mr. Vernon with the whole business. I am sure, my +dear sister, you will excuse my remaining silent so long, and agree +with me that such circumstances, while they continue from any cause +in suspense, cannot be too cautiously concealed. When you have the +happiness of bestowing your sweet little Catherine, some years hence, on +a man who in connection and character is alike unexceptionable, you +will know what I feel now; though, thank Heaven, you cannot have all my +reasons for rejoicing in such an event. Catherine will be amply provided +for, and not, like my Frederica, indebted to a fortunate +establishment for the comforts of life." She concluded by demanding +my congratulations. I gave them somewhat awkwardly, I believe; for, in +fact, the sudden disclosure of so important a matter took from me the +power of speaking with any clearness. She thanked me, however, most +affectionately, for my kind concern in the welfare of herself and +daughter; and then said: "I am not apt to deal in professions, my +dear Mrs. Vernon, and I never had the convenient talent of affecting +sensations foreign to my heart; and therefore I trust you will believe +me when I declare, that much as I had heard in your praise before I knew +you, I had no idea that I should ever love you as I now do; and I +must further say that your friendship towards me is more particularly +gratifying because I have reason to believe that some attempts were made +to prejudice you against me. I only wish that they, whoever they are, +to whom I am indebted for such kind intentions, could see the terms on +which we now are together, and understand the real affection we feel +for each other; but I will not detain you any longer. God bless you, for +your goodness to me and my girl, and continue to you all your present +happiness." What can one say of such a woman, my dear mother? Such +earnestness such solemnity of expression! and yet I cannot help +suspecting the truth of everything she says. As for Reginald, I believe +he does not know what to make of the matter. When Sir James came, he +appeared all astonishment and perplexity; the folly of the young man and +the confusion of Frederica entirely engrossed him; and though a little +private discourse with Lady Susan has since had its effect, he is still +hurt, I am sure, at her allowing of such a man's attentions to her +daughter. Sir James invited himself with great composure to remain here +a few days--hoped we would not think it odd, was aware of its being very +impertinent, but he took the liberty of a relation; and concluded by +wishing, with a laugh, that he might be really one very soon. Even Lady +Susan seemed a little disconcerted by this forwardness; in her heart I +am persuaded she sincerely wished him gone. But something must be done +for this poor girl, if her feelings are such as both I and her uncle +believe them to be. She must not be sacrificed to policy or ambition, +and she must not be left to suffer from the dread of it. The girl whose +heart can distinguish Reginald De Courcy, deserves, however he may +slight her, a better fate than to be Sir James Martin's wife. As soon +as I can get her alone, I will discover the real truth; but she seems to +wish to avoid me. I hope this does not proceed from anything wrong, and +that I shall not find out I have thought too well of her. Her +behaviour to Sir James certainly speaks the greatest consciousness and +embarrassment, but I see nothing in it more like encouragement. Adieu, +my dear mother. + +Yours, &c., + +C. VERNON. + + + + + +XXI + + +MISS VERNON TO MR DE COURCY + + +Sir,--I hope you will excuse this liberty; I am forced upon it by the +greatest distress, or I should be ashamed to trouble you. I am very +miserable about Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the world of +helping myself but by writing to you, for I am forbidden even speaking +to my uncle and aunt on the subject; and this being the case, I am +afraid my applying to you will appear no better than equivocation, and +as if I attended to the letter and not the spirit of mamma's commands. +But if you do not take my part and persuade her to break it off, I shall +be half distracted, for I cannot bear him. No human being but YOU could +have any chance of prevailing with her. If you will, therefore, have the +unspeakably great kindness of taking my part with her, and persuading +her to send Sir James away, I shall be more obliged to you than it is +possible for me to express. I always disliked him from the first: it is +not a sudden fancy, I assure you, sir; I always thought him silly and +impertinent and disagreeable, and now he is grown worse than ever. I +would rather work for my bread than marry him. I do not know how +to apologize enough for this letter; I know it is taking so great a +liberty. I am aware how dreadfully angry it will make mamma, but I +remember the risk. + +I am, Sir, your most humble servant, + +F. S. V. + + + + + +XXII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +This is insufferable! My dearest friend, I was never so enraged before, +and must relieve myself by writing to you, who I know will enter into +all my feelings. Who should come on Tuesday but Sir James Martin! Guess +my astonishment, and vexation--for, as you well know, I never wished him +to be seen at Churchhill. What a pity that you should not have known +his intentions! Not content with coming, he actually invited himself to +remain here a few days. I could have poisoned him! I made the best of +it, however, and told my story with great success to Mrs. Vernon, who, +whatever might be her real sentiments, said nothing in opposition to +mine. I made a point also of Frederica's behaving civilly to Sir James, +and gave her to understand that I was absolutely determined on her +marrying him. She said something of her misery, but that was all. I have +for some time been more particularly resolved on the match from seeing +the rapid increase of her affection for Reginald, and from not feeling +secure that a knowledge of such affection might not in the end awaken +a return. Contemptible as a regard founded only on compassion must make +them both in my eyes, I felt by no means assured that such might not be +the consequence. It is true that Reginald had not in any degree grown +cool towards me; but yet he has lately mentioned Frederica spontaneously +and unnecessarily, and once said something in praise of her person. +HE was all astonishment at the appearance of my visitor, and at first +observed Sir James with an attention which I was pleased to see not +unmixed with jealousy; but unluckily it was impossible for me really +to torment him, as Sir James, though extremely gallant to me, very +soon made the whole party understand that his heart was devoted to my +daughter. I had no great difficulty in convincing De Courcy, when we +were alone, that I was perfectly justified, all things considered, +in desiring the match; and the whole business seemed most comfortably +arranged. They could none of them help perceiving that Sir James was no +Solomon; but I had positively forbidden Frederica complaining to Charles +Vernon or his wife, and they had therefore no pretence for interference; +though my impertinent sister, I believe, wanted only opportunity for +doing so. Everything, however, was going on calmly and quietly; and, +though I counted the hours of Sir James's stay, my mind was entirely +satisfied with the posture of affairs. Guess, then, what I must feel at +the sudden disturbance of all my schemes; and that, too, from a quarter +where I had least reason to expect it. Reginald came this morning into +my dressing-room with a very unusual solemnity of countenance, and after +some preface informed me in so many words that he wished to reason with +me on the impropriety and unkindness of allowing Sir James Martin to +address my daughter contrary to her inclinations. I was all amazement. +When I found that he was not to be laughed out of his design, I calmly +begged an explanation, and desired to know by what he was impelled, and +by whom commissioned, to reprimand me. He then told me, mixing in +his speech a few insolent compliments and ill-timed expressions of +tenderness, to which I listened with perfect indifference, that my +daughter had acquainted him with some circumstances concerning herself, +Sir James, and me which had given him great uneasiness. In short, I +found that she had in the first place actually written to him to request +his interference, and that, on receiving her letter, he had conversed +with her on the subject of it, in order to understand the particulars, +and to assure himself of her real wishes. I have not a doubt but that +the girl took this opportunity of making downright love to him. I am +convinced of it by the manner in which he spoke of her. Much good may +such love do him! I shall ever despise the man who can be gratified by +the passion which he never wished to inspire, nor solicited the avowal +of. I shall always detest them both. He can have no true regard for +me, or he would not have listened to her; and SHE, with her little +rebellious heart and indelicate feelings, to throw herself into the +protection of a young man with whom she has scarcely ever exchanged +two words before! I am equally confounded at HER impudence and HIS +credulity. How dared he believe what she told him in my disfavour! Ought +he not to have felt assured that I must have unanswerable motives for +all that I had done? Where was his reliance on my sense and goodness +then? Where the resentment which true love would have dictated against +the person defaming me--that person, too, a chit, a child, without +talent or education, whom he had been always taught to despise? I +was calm for some time; but the greatest degree of forbearance may be +overcome, and I hope I was afterwards sufficiently keen. He endeavoured, +long endeavoured, to soften my resentment; but that woman is a +fool indeed who, while insulted by accusation, can be worked on by +compliments. At length he left me, as deeply provoked as myself; and +he showed his anger more. I was quite cool, but he gave way to the most +violent indignation; I may therefore expect it will the sooner subside, +and perhaps his may be vanished for ever, while mine will be found still +fresh and implacable. He is now shut up in his apartment, whither I +heard him go on leaving mine. How unpleasant, one would think, must be +his reflections! but some people's feelings are incomprehensible. I have +not yet tranquillised myself enough to see Frederica. SHE shall not soon +forget the occurrences of this day; she shall find that she has poured +forth her tender tale of love in vain, and exposed herself for ever +to the contempt of the whole world, and the severest resentment of her +injured mother. + +Your affectionate + +S. VERNON. + + + + +XXIII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +Let me congratulate you, my dearest Mother! The affair which has given +us so much anxiety is drawing to a happy conclusion. Our prospect is +most delightful, and since matters have now taken so favourable a turn, +I am quite sorry that I ever imparted my apprehensions to you; for the +pleasure of learning that the danger is over is perhaps dearly purchased +by all that you have previously suffered. I am so much agitated by +delight that I can scarcely hold a pen; but am determined to send you +a few short lines by James, that you may have some explanation of what +must so greatly astonish you, as that Reginald should be returning to +Parklands. I was sitting about half an hour ago with Sir James in +the breakfast parlour, when my brother called me out of the room. I +instantly saw that something was the matter; his complexion was raised, +and he spoke with great emotion; you know his eager manner, my dear +mother, when his mind is interested. "Catherine," said he, "I am going +home to-day; I am sorry to leave you, but I must go: it is a great while +since I have seen my father and mother. I am going to send James forward +with my hunters immediately; if you have any letter, therefore, he can +take it. I shall not be at home myself till Wednesday or Thursday, as I +shall go through London, where I have business; but before I leave you," +he continued, speaking in a lower tone, and with still greater energy, +"I must warn you of one thing--do not let Frederica Vernon be made +unhappy by that Martin. He wants to marry her; her mother promotes the +match, but she cannot endure the idea of it. Be assured that I speak +from the fullest conviction of the truth of what I say; I know that +Frederica is made wretched by Sir James's continuing here. She is a +sweet girl, and deserves a better fate. Send him away immediately; he is +only a fool: but what her mother can mean, Heaven only knows! Good bye," +he added, shaking my hand with earnestness; "I do not know when you will +see me again; but remember what I tell you of Frederica; you MUST make +it your business to see justice done her. She is an amiable girl, and +has a very superior mind to what we have given her credit for." He then +left me, and ran upstairs. I would not try to stop him, for I know what +his feelings must be. The nature of mine, as I listened to him, I need +not attempt to describe; for a minute or two I remained in the same +spot, overpowered by wonder of a most agreeable sort indeed; yet it +required some consideration to be tranquilly happy. In about ten minutes +after my return to the parlour Lady Susan entered the room. I concluded, +of course, that she and Reginald had been quarrelling; and looked with +anxious curiosity for a confirmation of my belief in her face. Mistress +of deceit, however, she appeared perfectly unconcerned, and after +chatting on indifferent subjects for a short time, said to me, "I find +from Wilson that we are going to lose Mr. De Courcy--is it true that +he leaves Churchhill this morning?" I replied that it was. "He told +us nothing of all this last night," said she, laughing, "or even this +morning at breakfast; but perhaps he did not know it himself. Young men +are often hasty in their resolutions, and not more sudden in forming +than unsteady in keeping them. I should not be surprised if he were to +change his mind at last, and not go." She soon afterwards left the room. +I trust, however, my dear mother, that we have no reason to fear an +alteration of his present plan; things have gone too far. They must have +quarrelled, and about Frederica, too. Her calmness astonishes me. What +delight will be yours in seeing him again; in seeing him still worthy +your esteem, still capable of forming your happiness! When I next +write I shall be able to tell you that Sir James is gone, Lady Susan +vanquished, and Frederica at peace. We have much to do, but it shall +be done. I am all impatience to hear how this astonishing change was +effected. I finish as I began, with the warmest congratulations. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATH. VERNON. + + + + + +XXIV + + +FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME + + +Churchhill. + + +Little did I imagine, my dear Mother, when I sent off my last letter, +that the delightful perturbation of spirits I was then in would undergo +so speedy, so melancholy a reverse. I never can sufficiently regret that +I wrote to you at all. Yet who could have foreseen what has happened? +My dear mother, every hope which made me so happy only two hours ago has +vanished. The quarrel between Lady Susan and Reginald is made up, and we +are all as we were before. One point only is gained. Sir James Martin is +dismissed. What are we now to look forward to? I am indeed disappointed; +Reginald was all but gone, his horse was ordered and all but brought +to the door; who would not have felt safe? For half an hour I was in +momentary expectation of his departure. After I had sent off my letter +to you, I went to Mr. Vernon, and sat with him in his room talking over +the whole matter, and then determined to look for Frederica, whom I had +not seen since breakfast. I met her on the stairs, and saw that she was +crying. "My dear aunt," said she, "he is going--Mr. De Courcy is going, +and it is all my fault. I am afraid you will be very angry with me, but +indeed I had no idea it would end so." "My love," I replied, "do not +think it necessary to apologize to me on that account. I shall feel +myself under an obligation to anyone who is the means of sending my +brother home, because," recollecting myself, "I know my father wants +very much to see him. But what is it you have done to occasion all +this?" She blushed deeply as she answered: "I was so unhappy about Sir +James that I could not help--I have done something very wrong, I know; +but you have not an idea of the misery I have been in: and mamma had +ordered me never to speak to you or my uncle about it, and--" "You +therefore spoke to my brother to engage his interference," said I, to +save her the explanation. "No, but I wrote to him--I did indeed, I got +up this morning before it was light, and was two hours about it; and +when my letter was done I thought I never should have courage to give +it. After breakfast however, as I was going to my room, I met him in the +passage, and then, as I knew that everything must depend on that moment, +I forced myself to give it. He was so good as to take it immediately. I +dared not look at him, and ran away directly. I was in such a fright I +could hardly breathe. My dear aunt, you do not know how miserable I +have been." "Frederica" said I, "you ought to have told me all your +distresses. You would have found in me a friend always ready to assist +you. Do you think that your uncle or I should not have espoused your +cause as warmly as my brother?" "Indeed, I did not doubt your kindness," +said she, colouring again, "but I thought Mr. De Courcy could do +anything with my mother; but I was mistaken: they have had a dreadful +quarrel about it, and he is going away. Mamma will never forgive me, +and I shall be worse off than ever." "No, you shall not," I replied; +"in such a point as this your mother's prohibition ought not to have +prevented your speaking to me on the subject. She has no right to +make you unhappy, and she shall NOT do it. Your applying, however, to +Reginald can be productive only of good to all parties. I believe it +is best as it is. Depend upon it that you shall not be made unhappy any +longer." At that moment how great was my astonishment at seeing Reginald +come out of Lady Susan's dressing-room. My heart misgave me instantly. +His confusion at seeing me was very evident. Frederica immediately +disappeared. "Are you going?" I said; "you will find Mr. Vernon in his +own room." "No, Catherine," he replied, "I am not going. Will you let +me speak to you a moment?" We went into my room. "I find," he continued, +his confusion increasing as he spoke, "that I have been acting with my +usual foolish impetuosity. I have entirely misunderstood Lady Susan, and +was on the point of leaving the house under a false impression of +her conduct. There has been some very great mistake; we have been all +mistaken, I fancy. Frederica does not know her mother. Lady Susan means +nothing but her good, but she will not make a friend of her. Lady Susan +does not always know, therefore, what will make her daughter happy. +Besides, I could have no right to interfere. Miss Vernon was mistaken in +applying to me. In short, Catherine, everything has gone wrong, but it +is now all happily settled. Lady Susan, I believe, wishes to speak to +you about it, if you are at leisure." "Certainly," I replied, deeply +sighing at the recital of so lame a story. I made no comments, however, +for words would have been vain. + +Reginald was glad to get away, and I went to Lady Susan, curious, +indeed, to hear her account of it. "Did I not tell you," said she with +a smile, "that your brother would not leave us after all?" "You did, +indeed," replied I very gravely; "but I flattered myself you would be +mistaken." "I should not have hazarded such an opinion," returned she, +"if it had not at that moment occurred to me that his resolution of +going might be occasioned by a conversation in which we had been this +morning engaged, and which had ended very much to his dissatisfaction, +from our not rightly understanding each other's meaning. This idea +struck me at the moment, and I instantly determined that an accidental +dispute, in which I might probably be as much to blame as himself, +should not deprive you of your brother. If you remember, I left the room +almost immediately. I was resolved to lose no time in clearing up those +mistakes as far as I could. The case was this--Frederica had set herself +violently against marrying Sir James." "And can your ladyship wonder +that she should?" cried I with some warmth; "Frederica has an excellent +understanding, and Sir James has none." "I am at least very far from +regretting it, my dear sister," said she; "on the contrary, I am +grateful for so favourable a sign of my daughter's sense. Sir James is +certainly below par (his boyish manners make him appear worse); and had +Frederica possessed the penetration and the abilities which I could have +wished in my daughter, or had I even known her to possess as much as she +does, I should not have been anxious for the match." "It is odd that +you should alone be ignorant of your daughter's sense!" "Frederica never +does justice to herself; her manners are shy and childish, and besides +she is afraid of me. During her poor father's life she was a spoilt +child; the severity which it has since been necessary for me to show +has alienated her affection; neither has she any of that brilliancy +of intellect, that genius or vigour of mind which will force itself +forward." "Say rather that she has been unfortunate in her education!" +"Heaven knows, my dearest Mrs. Vernon, how fully I am aware of that; but +I would wish to forget every circumstance that might throw blame on the +memory of one whose name is sacred with me." Here she pretended to cry; +I was out of patience with her. "But what," said I, "was your ladyship +going to tell me about your disagreement with my brother?" "It +originated in an action of my daughter's, which equally marks her want +of judgment and the unfortunate dread of me I have been mentioning--she +wrote to Mr. De Courcy." "I know she did; you had forbidden her speaking +to Mr. Vernon or to me on the cause of her distress; what could she do, +therefore, but apply to my brother?" "Good God!" she exclaimed, "what an +opinion you must have of me! Can you possibly suppose that I was +aware of her unhappiness! that it was my object to make my own child +miserable, and that I had forbidden her speaking to you on the subject +from a fear of your interrupting the diabolical scheme? Do you think +me destitute of every honest, every natural feeling? Am I capable of +consigning HER to everlasting misery whose welfare it is my first +earthly duty to promote? The idea is horrible!" "What, then, was your +intention when you insisted on her silence?" "Of what use, my dear +sister, could be any application to you, however the affair might stand? +Why should I subject you to entreaties which I refused to attend to +myself? Neither for your sake nor for hers, nor for my own, could such +a thing be desirable. When my own resolution was taken I could not +wish for the interference, however friendly, of another person. I was +mistaken, it is true, but I believed myself right." "But what was this +mistake to which your ladyship so often alludes! from whence arose so +astonishing a misconception of your daughter's feelings! Did you not +know that she disliked Sir James?" "I knew that he was not absolutely +the man she would have chosen, but I was persuaded that her objections +to him did not arise from any perception of his deficiency. You must +not question me, however, my dear sister, too minutely on this point," +continued she, taking me affectionately by the hand; "I honestly own +that there is something to conceal. Frederica makes me very unhappy! Her +applying to Mr. De Courcy hurt me particularly." "What is it you mean +to infer," said I, "by this appearance of mystery? If you think your +daughter at all attached to Reginald, her objecting to Sir James could +not less deserve to be attended to than if the cause of her objecting +had been a consciousness of his folly; and why should your ladyship, +at any rate, quarrel with my brother for an interference which, you must +know, it is not in his nature to refuse when urged in such a manner?" + +"His disposition, you know, is warm, and he came to expostulate with +me; his compassion all alive for this ill-used girl, this heroine in +distress! We misunderstood each other: he believed me more to blame than +I really was; I considered his interference less excusable than I +now find it. I have a real regard for him, and was beyond expression +mortified to find it, as I thought, so ill bestowed. We were both warm, +and of course both to blame. His resolution of leaving Churchhill is +consistent with his general eagerness. When I understood his intention, +however, and at the same time began to think that we had been perhaps +equally mistaken in each other's meaning, I resolved to have an +explanation before it was too late. For any member of your family I must +always feel a degree of affection, and I own it would have sensibly hurt +me if my acquaintance with Mr. De Courcy had ended so gloomily. I have +now only to say further, that as I am convinced of Frederica's having +a reasonable dislike to Sir James, I shall instantly inform him that he +must give up all hope of her. I reproach myself for having, even though +innocently, made her unhappy on that score. She shall have all the +retribution in my power to make; if she value her own happiness as much +as I do, if she judge wisely, and command herself as she ought, she may +now be easy. Excuse me, my dearest sister, for thus trespassing on your +time, but I owe it to my own character; and after this explanation I +trust I am in no danger of sinking in your opinion." I could have +said, "Not much, indeed!" but I left her almost in silence. It was +the greatest stretch of forbearance I could practise. I could not have +stopped myself had I begun. Her assurance! her deceit! but I will not +allow myself to dwell on them; they will strike you sufficiently. My +heart sickens within me. As soon as I was tolerably composed I returned +to the parlour. Sir James's carriage was at the door, and he, merry +as usual, soon afterwards took his leave. How easily does her ladyship +encourage or dismiss a lover! In spite of this release, Frederica still +looks unhappy: still fearful, perhaps, of her mother's anger; and though +dreading my brother's departure, jealous, it may be, of his staying. I +see how closely she observes him and Lady Susan, poor girl! I have now +no hope for her. There is not a chance of her affection being returned. +He thinks very differently of her from what he used to do; he does her +some justice, but his reconciliation with her mother precludes every +dearer hope. Prepare, my dear mother, for the worst! The probability of +their marrying is surely heightened! He is more securely hers than ever. +When that wretched event takes place, Frederica must belong wholly to +us. I am thankful that my last letter will precede this by so little, as +every moment that you can be saved from feeling a joy which leads only +to disappointment is of consequence. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XXV + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I call on you, dear Alicia, for congratulations: I am my own self, gay +and triumphant! When I wrote to you the other day I was, in truth, in +high irritation, and with ample cause. Nay, I know not whether I ought +to be quite tranquil now, for I have had more trouble in restoring +peace than I ever intended to submit to--a spirit, too, resulting from +a fancied sense of superior integrity, which is peculiarly insolent! I +shall not easily forgive him, I assure you. He was actually on the point +of leaving Churchhill! I had scarcely concluded my last, when Wilson +brought me word of it. I found, therefore, that something must be done; +for I did not choose to leave my character at the mercy of a man whose +passions are so violent and so revengeful. It would have been trifling +with my reputation to allow of his departing with such an impression in +my disfavour; in this light, condescension was necessary. I sent +Wilson to say that I desired to speak with him before he went; he came +immediately. The angry emotions which had marked every feature when we +last parted were partially subdued. He seemed astonished at the summons, +and looked as if half wishing and half fearing to be softened by what I +might say. If my countenance expressed what I aimed at, it was composed +and dignified; and yet, with a degree of pensiveness which might +convince him that I was not quite happy. "I beg your pardon, sir, for +the liberty I have taken in sending for you," said I; "but as I have +just learnt your intention of leaving this place to-day, I feel it my +duty to entreat that you will not on my account shorten your visit here +even an hour. I am perfectly aware that after what has passed between +us it would ill suit the feelings of either to remain longer in the same +house: so very great, so total a change from the intimacy of friendship +must render any future intercourse the severest punishment; and your +resolution of quitting Churchhill is undoubtedly in unison with our +situation, and with those lively feelings which I know you to possess. +But, at the same time, it is not for me to suffer such a sacrifice as it +must be to leave relations to whom you are so much attached, and are so +dear. My remaining here cannot give that pleasure to Mr. and Mrs. Vernon +which your society must; and my visit has already perhaps been too long. +My removal, therefore, which must, at any rate, take place soon, may, +with perfect convenience, be hastened; and I make it my particular +request that I may not in any way be instrumental in separating a +family so affectionately attached to each other. Where I go is of +no consequence to anyone; of very little to myself; but you are of +importance to all your connections." Here I concluded, and I hope you +will be satisfied with my speech. Its effect on Reginald justifies some +portion of vanity, for it was no less favourable than instantaneous. Oh, +how delightful it was to watch the variations of his countenance while I +spoke! to see the struggle between returning tenderness and the remains +of displeasure. There is something agreeable in feelings so easily +worked on; not that I envy him their possession, nor would, for the +world, have such myself; but they are very convenient when one wishes +to influence the passions of another. And yet this Reginald, whom a +very few words from me softened at once into the utmost submission, and +rendered more tractable, more attached, more devoted than ever, would +have left me in the first angry swelling of his proud heart without +deigning to seek an explanation. Humbled as he now is, I cannot forgive +him such an instance of pride, and am doubtful whether I ought not to +punish him by dismissing him at once after this reconciliation, or +by marrying and teazing him for ever. But these measures are each too +violent to be adopted without some deliberation; at present my thoughts +are fluctuating between various schemes. I have many things to compass: +I must punish Frederica, and pretty severely too, for her application to +Reginald; I must punish him for receiving it so favourably, and for the +rest of his conduct. I must torment my sister-in-law for the insolent +triumph of her look and manner since Sir James has been dismissed; for, +in reconciling Reginald to me, I was not able to save that ill-fated +young man; and I must make myself amends for the humiliation to which +I have stooped within these few days. To effect all this I have various +plans. I have also an idea of being soon in town; and whatever may be +my determination as to the rest, I shall probably put THAT project +in execution; for London will be always the fairest field of action, +however my views may be directed; and at any rate I shall there be +rewarded by your society, and a little dissipation, for a ten weeks' +penance at Churchhill. I believe I owe it to my character to complete +the match between my daughter and Sir James after having so long +intended it. Let me know your opinion on this point. Flexibility of +mind, a disposition easily biassed by others, is an attribute which you +know I am not very desirous of obtaining; nor has Frederica any claim +to the indulgence of her notions at the expense of her mother's +inclinations. Her idle love for Reginald, too! It is surely my duty to +discourage such romantic nonsense. All things considered, therefore, it +seems incumbent on me to take her to town and marry her immediately to +Sir James. When my own will is effected contrary to his, I shall have +some credit in being on good terms with Reginald, which at present, in +fact, I have not; for though he is still in my power, I have given up +the very article by which our quarrel was produced, and at best the +honour of victory is doubtful. Send me your opinion on all these +matters, my dear Alicia, and let me know whether you can get lodgings to +suit me within a short distance of you. + +Your most attached + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XXVI + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +I am gratified by your reference, and this is my advice: that you come +to town yourself, without loss of time, but that you leave Frederica +behind. It would surely be much more to the purpose to get yourself well +established by marrying Mr. De Courcy, than to irritate him and the rest +of his family by making her marry Sir James. You should think more of +yourself and less of your daughter. She is not of a disposition to do +you credit in the world, and seems precisely in her proper place at +Churchhill, with the Vernons. But you are fitted for society, and it +is shameful to have you exiled from it. Leave Frederica, therefore, +to punish herself for the plague she has given you, by indulging that +romantic tender-heartedness which will always ensure her misery enough, +and come to London as soon as you can. I have another reason for urging +this: Mainwaring came to town last week, and has contrived, in spite +of Mr. Johnson, to make opportunities of seeing me. He is absolutely +miserable about you, and jealous to such a degree of De Courcy that it +would be highly unadvisable for them to meet at present. And yet, if you +do not allow him to see you here, I cannot answer for his not committing +some great imprudence--such as going to Churchhill, for instance, which +would be dreadful! Besides, if you take my advice, and resolve to marry +De Courcy, it will be indispensably necessary to you to get Mainwaring +out of the way; and you only can have influence enough to send him back +to his wife. I have still another motive for your coming: Mr. Johnson +leaves London next Tuesday; he is going for his health to Bath, where, +if the waters are favourable to his constitution and my wishes, he will +be laid up with the gout many weeks. During his absence we shall be able +to chuse our own society, and to have true enjoyment. I would ask you to +Edward Street, but that once he forced from me a kind of promise never +to invite you to my house; nothing but my being in the utmost distress +for money should have extorted it from me. I can get you, however, +a nice drawing-room apartment in Upper Seymour Street, and we may be +always together there or here; for I consider my promise to Mr. Johnson +as comprehending only (at least in his absence) your not sleeping in the +house. Poor Mainwaring gives me such histories of his wife's jealousy. +Silly woman to expect constancy from so charming a man! but she always +was silly--intolerably so in marrying him at all, she the heiress of a +large fortune and he without a shilling: one title, I know, she might +have had, besides baronets. Her folly in forming the connection was so +great that, though Mr. Johnson was her guardian, and I do not in general +share HIS feelings, I never can forgive her. + +Adieu. Yours ever, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXVII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +This letter, my dear Mother, will be brought you by Reginald. His long +visit is about to be concluded at last, but I fear the separation takes +place too late to do us any good. She is going to London to see her +particular friend, Mrs. Johnson. It was at first her intention that +Frederica should accompany her, for the benefit of masters, but we +overruled her there. Frederica was wretched in the idea of going, and +I could not bear to have her at the mercy of her mother; not all the +masters in London could compensate for the ruin of her comfort. I +should have feared, too, for her health, and for everything but her +principles--there I believe she is not to be injured by her mother, or +her mother's friends; but with those friends she must have mixed (a very +bad set, I doubt not), or have been left in total solitude, and I can +hardly tell which would have been worse for her. If she is with her +mother, moreover, she must, alas! in all probability be with Reginald, +and that would be the greatest evil of all. Here we shall in time be in +peace, and our regular employments, our books and conversations, with +exercise, the children, and every domestic pleasure in my power to +procure her, will, I trust, gradually overcome this youthful attachment. +I should not have a doubt of it were she slighted for any other woman in +the world than her own mother. How long Lady Susan will be in town, or +whether she returns here again, I know not. I could not be cordial in my +invitation, but if she chuses to come no want of cordiality on my part +will keep her away. I could not help asking Reginald if he intended +being in London this winter, as soon as I found her ladyship's +steps would be bent thither; and though he professed himself quite +undetermined, there was something in his look and voice as he spoke +which contradicted his words. I have done with lamentation; I look upon +the event as so far decided that I resign myself to it in despair. If he +leaves you soon for London everything will be concluded. + +Your affectionate, &c., + +C. VERNON. + + + + + +XXVIII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,--I write in the greatest distress; the most +unfortunate event has just taken place. Mr. Johnson has hit on the most +effectual manner of plaguing us all. He had heard, I imagine, by some +means or other, that you were soon to be in London, and immediately +contrived to have such an attack of the gout as must at least delay his +journey to Bath, if not wholly prevent it. I am persuaded the gout is +brought on or kept off at pleasure; it was the same when I wanted to +join the Hamiltons to the Lakes; and three years ago, when I had a fancy +for Bath, nothing could induce him to have a gouty symptom. + +I am pleased to find that my letter had so much effect on you, and that +De Courcy is certainly your own. Let me hear from you as soon as you +arrive, and in particular tell me what you mean to do with Mainwaring. +It is impossible to say when I shall be able to come to you; my +confinement must be great. It is such an abominable trick to be ill here +instead of at Bath that I can scarcely command myself at all. At Bath +his old aunts would have nursed him, but here it all falls upon me; and +he bears pain with such patience that I have not the common excuse for +losing my temper. + +Yours ever, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXIX + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Alicia,--There needed not this last fit of the gout to make +me detest Mr. Johnson, but now the extent of my aversion is not to +be estimated. To have you confined as nurse in his apartment! My dear +Alicia, of what a mistake were you guilty in marrying a man of his age! +just old enough to be formal, ungovernable, and to have the gout; too +old to be agreeable, too young to die. I arrived last night about five, +had scarcely swallowed my dinner when Mainwaring made his appearance. +I will not dissemble what real pleasure his sight afforded me, nor how +strongly I felt the contrast between his person and manners and those of +Reginald, to the infinite disadvantage of the latter. For an hour or two +I was even staggered in my resolution of marrying him, and though this +was too idle and nonsensical an idea to remain long on my mind, I do not +feel very eager for the conclusion of my marriage, nor look forward with +much impatience to the time when Reginald, according to our agreement, +is to be in town. I shall probably put off his arrival under some +pretence or other. He must not come till Mainwaring is gone. I am still +doubtful at times as to marrying; if the old man would die I might not +hesitate, but a state of dependance on the caprice of Sir Reginald will +not suit the freedom of my spirit; and if I resolve to wait for that +event, I shall have excuse enough at present in having been scarcely ten +months a widow. I have not given Mainwaring any hint of my intention, or +allowed him to consider my acquaintance with Reginald as more than the +commonest flirtation, and he is tolerably appeased. Adieu, till we meet; +I am enchanted with my lodgings. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XXX + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I have received your letter, and though I do not attempt to conceal that +I am gratified by your impatience for the hour of meeting, I yet +feel myself under the necessity of delaying that hour beyond the time +originally fixed. Do not think me unkind for such an exercise of my +power, nor accuse me of instability without first hearing my reasons. +In the course of my journey from Churchhill I had ample leisure for +reflection on the present state of our affairs, and every review has +served to convince me that they require a delicacy and cautiousness of +conduct to which we have hitherto been too little attentive. We have +been hurried on by our feelings to a degree of precipitation which ill +accords with the claims of our friends or the opinion of the world. We +have been unguarded in forming this hasty engagement, but we must not +complete the imprudence by ratifying it while there is so much reason +to fear the connection would be opposed by those friends on whom you +depend. It is not for us to blame any expectations on your father's side +of your marrying to advantage; where possessions are so extensive as +those of your family, the wish of increasing them, if not strictly +reasonable, is too common to excite surprize or resentment. He has a +right to require; a woman of fortune in his daughter-in-law, and I am +sometimes quarrelling with myself for suffering you to form a connection +so imprudent; but the influence of reason is often acknowledged too late +by those who feel like me. I have now been but a few months a widow, +and, however little indebted to my husband's memory for any happiness +derived from him during a union of some years, I cannot forget that the +indelicacy of so early a second marriage must subject me to the censure +of the world, and incur, what would be still more insupportable, the +displeasure of Mr. Vernon. I might perhaps harden myself in time against +the injustice of general reproach, but the loss of HIS valued esteem +I am, as you well know, ill-fitted to endure; and when to this may be +added the consciousness of having injured you with your family, how am I +to support myself? With feelings so poignant as mine, the conviction of +having divided the son from his parents would make me, even with you, +the most miserable of beings. It will surely, therefore, be advisable to +delay our union--to delay it till appearances are more promising--till +affairs have taken a more favourable turn. To assist us in such a +resolution I feel that absence will be necessary. We must not meet. +Cruel as this sentence may appear, the necessity of pronouncing it, +which can alone reconcile it to myself, will be evident to you when you +have considered our situation in the light in which I have found myself +imperiously obliged to place it. You may be--you must be--well assured +that nothing but the strongest conviction of duty could induce me +to wound my own feelings by urging a lengthened separation, and of +insensibility to yours you will hardly suspect me. Again, therefore, +I say that we ought not, we must not, yet meet. By a removal for some +months from each other we shall tranquillise the sisterly fears of Mrs. +Vernon, who, accustomed herself to the enjoyment of riches, considers +fortune as necessary everywhere, and whose sensibilities are not of a +nature to comprehend ours. Let me hear from you soon--very soon. Tell me +that you submit to my arguments, and do not reproach me for using such. +I cannot bear reproaches: my spirits are not so high as to need being +repressed. I must endeavour to seek amusement, and fortunately many +of my friends are in town; amongst them the Mainwarings; you know how +sincerely I regard both husband and wife. + +I am, very faithfully yours, + +S. VERNON + + + + + +XXXI + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Friend,--That tormenting creature, Reginald, is here. My letter, +which was intended to keep him longer in the country, has hastened him +to town. Much as I wish him away, however, I cannot help being pleased +with such a proof of attachment. He is devoted to me, heart and soul. +He will carry this note himself, which is to serve as an introduction to +you, with whom he longs to be acquainted. Allow him to spend the evening +with you, that I may be in no danger of his returning here. I have told +him that I am not quite well, and must be alone; and should he call +again there might be confusion, for it is impossible to be sure of +servants. Keep him, therefore, I entreat you, in Edward Street. You will +not find him a heavy companion, and I allow you to flirt with him as +much as you like. At the same time, do not forget my real interest; say +all that you can to convince him that I shall be quite wretched if he +remains here; you know my reasons--propriety, and so forth. I would +urge them more myself, but that I am impatient to be rid of him, as +Mainwaring comes within half an hour. Adieu! + +S VERNON + + + + + +XXXII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +My dear Creature,--I am in agonies, and know not what to do. Mr. De +Courcy arrived just when he should not. Mrs. Mainwaring had that instant +entered the house, and forced herself into her guardian's presence, +though I did not know a syllable of it till afterwards, for I was out +when both she and Reginald came, or I should have sent him away at all +events; but she was shut up with Mr. Johnson, while he waited in the +drawing-room for me. She arrived yesterday in pursuit of her husband, +but perhaps you know this already from himself. She came to this house +to entreat my husband's interference, and before I could be aware of +it, everything that you could wish to be concealed was known to him, and +unluckily she had wormed out of Mainwaring's servant that he had visited +you every day since your being in town, and had just watched him to your +door herself! What could I do! Facts are such horrid things! All is by +this time known to De Courcy, who is now alone with Mr. Johnson. Do not +accuse me; indeed, it was impossible to prevent it. Mr. Johnson has for +some time suspected De Courcy of intending to marry you, and would +speak with him alone as soon as he knew him to be in the house. That +detestable Mrs. Mainwaring, who, for your comfort, has fretted herself +thinner and uglier than ever, is still here, and they have been all +closeted together. What can be done? At any rate, I hope he will plague +his wife more than ever. With anxious wishes, Yours faithfully, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXXIII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +This eclaircissement is rather provoking. How unlucky that you should +have been from home! I thought myself sure of you at seven! I am +undismayed however. Do not torment yourself with fears on my account; +depend on it, I can make my story good with Reginald. Mainwaring is just +gone; he brought me the news of his wife's arrival. Silly woman, what +does she expect by such manoeuvres? Yet I wish she had stayed quietly +at Langford. Reginald will be a little enraged at first, but by +to-morrow's dinner, everything will be well again. + +Adieu! + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXIV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN + + +--Hotel + + +I write only to bid you farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as +you are. Since we parted yesterday, I have received from indisputable +authority such a history of you as must bring the most mortifying +conviction of the imposition I have been under, and the absolute +necessity of an immediate and eternal separation from you. You +cannot doubt to what I allude. Langford! Langford! that word will be +sufficient. I received my information in Mr. Johnson's house, from Mrs. +Mainwaring herself. You know how I have loved you; you can intimately +judge of my present feelings, but I am not so weak as to find indulgence +in describing them to a woman who will glory in having excited their +anguish, but whose affection they have never been able to gain. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XXXV + + +LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I will not attempt to describe my astonishment in reading the note this +moment received from you. I am bewildered in my endeavours to form +some rational conjecture of what Mrs. Mainwaring can have told you +to occasion so extraordinary a change in your sentiments. Have I not +explained everything to you with respect to myself which could bear a +doubtful meaning, and which the ill-nature of the world had interpreted +to my discredit? What can you now have heard to stagger your esteem for +me? Have I ever had a concealment from you? Reginald, you agitate +me beyond expression, I cannot suppose that the old story of Mrs. +Mainwaring's jealousy can be revived again, or at least be LISTENED to +again. Come to me immediately, and explain what is at present absolutely +incomprehensible. Believe me the single word of Langford is not of such +potent intelligence as to supersede the necessity of more. If we ARE to +part, it will at least be handsome to take your personal leave--but +I have little heart to jest; in truth, I am serious enough; for to be +sunk, though but for an hour, in your esteem is a humiliation to which I +know not how to submit. I shall count every minute till your arrival. + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXVI + + +MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN + + +----Hotel. + + +Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars? But, since +it must be so, I am obliged to declare that all the accounts of your +misconduct during the life, and since the death of Mr. Vernon, which had +reached me, in common with the world in general, and gained my entire +belief before I saw you, but which you, by the exertion of your +perverted abilities, had made me resolved to disallow, have been +unanswerably proved to me; nay more, I am assured that a connection, +of which I had never before entertained a thought, has for some time +existed, and still continues to exist, between you and the man whose +family you robbed of its peace in return for the hospitality with which +you were received into it; that you have corresponded with him ever +since your leaving Langford; not with his wife, but with him, and that +he now visits you every day. Can you, dare you deny it? and all this at +the time when I was an encouraged, an accepted lover! From what have I +not escaped! I have only to be grateful. Far from me be all complaint, +every sigh of regret. My own folly had endangered me, my preservation I +owe to the kindness, the integrity of another; but the unfortunate Mrs. +Mainwaring, whose agonies while she related the past seemed to threaten +her reason, how is SHE to be consoled! After such a discovery as this, +you will scarcely affect further wonder at my meaning in bidding you +adieu. My understanding is at length restored, and teaches no less to +abhor the artifices which had subdued me than to despise myself for the +weakness on which their strength was founded. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XXXVII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I am satisfied, and will trouble you no more when these few lines are +dismissed. The engagement which you were eager to form a fortnight ago +is no longer compatible with your views, and I rejoice to find that +the prudent advice of your parents has not been given in vain. Your +restoration to peace will, I doubt not, speedily follow this act of +filial obedience, and I flatter myself with the hope of surviving my +share in this disappointment. + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXVIII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN VERNON + + +Edward Street + + +I am grieved, though I cannot be astonished at your rupture with Mr. +De Courcy; he has just informed Mr. Johnson of it by letter. He leaves +London, he says, to-day. Be assured that I partake in all your feelings, +and do not be angry if I say that our intercourse, even by letter, must +soon be given up. It makes me miserable; but Mr. Johnson vows that if I +persist in the connection, he will settle in the country for the rest of +his life, and you know it is impossible to submit to such an extremity +while any other alternative remains. You have heard of course that the +Mainwarings are to part, and I am afraid Mrs. M. will come home to us +again; but she is still so fond of her husband, and frets so much about +him, that perhaps she may not live long. Miss Mainwaring is just come to +town to be with her aunt, and they say that she declares she will have +Sir James Martin before she leaves London again. If I were you, I would +certainly get him myself. I had almost forgot to give you my opinion of +Mr. De Courcy; I am really delighted with him; he is full as handsome, I +think, as Mainwaring, and with such an open, good-humoured countenance, +that one cannot help loving him at first sight. Mr. Johnson and he +are the greatest friends in the world. Adieu, my dearest Susan, I wish +matters did not go so perversely. That unlucky visit to Langford! but I +dare say you did all for the best, and there is no defying destiny. + +Your sincerely attached + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXXIX + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + +My dear Alicia,--I yield to the necessity which parts us. Under +circumstances you could not act otherwise. Our friendship cannot +be impaired by it, and in happier times, when your situation is as +independent as mine, it will unite us again in the same intimacy as +ever. For this I shall impatiently wait, and meanwhile can safely assure +you that I never was more at ease, or better satisfied with myself and +everything about me than at the present hour. Your husband I abhor, +Reginald I despise, and I am secure of never seeing either again. Have +I not reason to rejoice? Mainwaring is more devoted to me than ever; and +were we at liberty, I doubt if I could resist even matrimony offered by +HIM. This event, if his wife live with you, it may be in your power to +hasten. The violence of her feelings, which must wear her out, may be +easily kept in irritation. I rely on your friendship for this. I am now +satisfied that I never could have brought myself to marry Reginald, and +am equally determined that Frederica never shall. To-morrow, I shall +fetch her from Churchhill, and let Maria Mainwaring tremble for the +consequence. Frederica shall be Sir James's wife before she quits my +house, and she may whimper, and the Vernons may storm, I regard them +not. I am tired of submitting my will to the caprices of others; of +resigning my own judgment in deference to those to whom I owe no duty, +and for whom I feel no respect. I have given up too much, have been too +easily worked on, but Frederica shall now feel the difference. Adieu, +dearest of friends; may the next gouty attack be more favourable! and +may you always regard me as unalterably yours, + +S. VERNON + + + + + +XL + + +LADY DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +My dear Catherine,--I have charming news for you, and if I had not sent +off my letter this morning you might have been spared the vexation of +knowing of Reginald's being gone to London, for he is returned. Reginald +is returned, not to ask our consent to his marrying Lady Susan, but to +tell us they are parted for ever. He has been only an hour in the house, +and I have not been able to learn particulars, for he is so very low +that I have not the heart to ask questions, but I hope we shall soon +know all. This is the most joyful hour he has ever given us since the +day of his birth. Nothing is wanting but to have you here, and it is our +particular wish and entreaty that you would come to us as soon as you +can. You have owed us a visit many long weeks; I hope nothing will make +it inconvenient to Mr. Vernon; and pray bring all my grand-children; and +your dear niece is included, of course; I long to see her. It has been +a sad, heavy winter hitherto, without Reginald, and seeing nobody from +Churchhill. I never found the season so dreary before; but this happy +meeting will make us young again. Frederica runs much in my thoughts, +and when Reginald has recovered his usual good spirits (as I trust he +soon will) we will try to rob him of his heart once more, and I am full +of hopes of seeing their hands joined at no great distance. + +Your affectionate mother, + +C. DE COURCY + + + + + +XLI + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--Your letter has surprized me beyond measure! Can it be +true that they are really separated--and for ever? I should be overjoyed +if I dared depend on it, but after all that I have seen how can one be +secure. And Reginald really with you! My surprize is the greater because +on Wednesday, the very day of his coming to Parklands, we had a most +unexpected and unwelcome visit from Lady Susan, looking all cheerfulness +and good-humour, and seeming more as if she were to marry him when she +got to London than as if parted from him for ever. She stayed nearly two +hours, was as affectionate and agreeable as ever, and not a syllable, +not a hint was dropped, of any disagreement or coolness between them. +I asked her whether she had seen my brother since his arrival in town; +not, as you may suppose, with any doubt of the fact, but merely to see +how she looked. She immediately answered, without any embarrassment, +that he had been kind enough to call on her on Monday; but she believed +he had already returned home, which I was very far from crediting. Your +kind invitation is accepted by us with pleasure, and on Thursday next we +and our little ones will be with you. Pray heaven, Reginald may not be +in town again by that time! I wish we could bring dear Frederica too, +but I am sorry to say that her mother's errand hither was to fetch her +away; and, miserable as it made the poor girl, it was impossible to +detain her. I was thoroughly unwilling to let her go, and so was her +uncle; and all that could be urged we did urge; but Lady Susan declared +that as she was now about to fix herself in London for several months, +she could not be easy if her daughter were not with her for masters, +&c. Her manner, to be sure, was very kind and proper, and Mr. Vernon +believes that Frederica will now be treated with affection. I wish I +could think so too. The poor girl's heart was almost broke at taking +leave of us. I charged her to write to me very often, and to remember +that if she were in any distress we should be always her friends. I took +care to see her alone, that I might say all this, and I hope made her a +little more comfortable; but I shall not be easy till I can go to town +and judge of her situation myself. I wish there were a better prospect +than now appears of the match which the conclusion of your letter +declares your expectations of. At present, it is not very likely, + +Yours ever, &c., + +C. VERNON + + + + + + +CONCLUSION + + +This correspondence, by a meeting between some of the parties, and a +separation between the others, could not, to the great detriment of the +Post Office revenue, be continued any longer. Very little assistance +to the State could be derived from the epistolary intercourse of Mrs. +Vernon and her niece; for the former soon perceived, by the style +of Frederica's letters, that they were written under her mother's +inspection! and therefore, deferring all particular enquiry till she +could make it personally in London, ceased writing minutely or often. +Having learnt enough, in the meanwhile, from her open-hearted brother, +of what had passed between him and Lady Susan to sink the latter lower +than ever in her opinion, she was proportionably more anxious to get +Frederica removed from such a mother, and placed under her own care; +and, though with little hope of success, was resolved to leave nothing +unattempted that might offer a chance of obtaining her sister-in-law's +consent to it. Her anxiety on the subject made her press for an early +visit to London; and Mr. Vernon, who, as it must already have appeared, +lived only to do whatever he was desired, soon found some accommodating +business to call him thither. With a heart full of the matter, Mrs. +Vernon waited on Lady Susan shortly after her arrival in town, and was +met with such an easy and cheerful affection, as made her almost turn +from her with horror. No remembrance of Reginald, no consciousness of +guilt, gave one look of embarrassment; she was in excellent spirits, and +seemed eager to show at once by ever possible attention to her brother +and sister her sense of their kindness, and her pleasure in their +society. Frederica was no more altered than Lady Susan; the same +restrained manners, the same timid look in the presence of her mother as +heretofore, assured her aunt of her situation being uncomfortable, and +confirmed her in the plan of altering it. No unkindness, however, on the +part of Lady Susan appeared. Persecution on the subject of Sir James was +entirely at an end; his name merely mentioned to say that he was not in +London; and indeed, in all her conversation, she was solicitous only for +the welfare and improvement of her daughter, acknowledging, in terms of +grateful delight, that Frederica was now growing every day more and more +what a parent could desire. Mrs. Vernon, surprized and incredulous, +knew not what to suspect, and, without any change in her own views, +only feared greater difficulty in accomplishing them. The first hope +of anything better was derived from Lady Susan's asking her whether she +thought Frederica looked quite as well as she had done at Churchhill, as +she must confess herself to have sometimes an anxious doubt of London's +perfectly agreeing with her. Mrs. Vernon, encouraging the doubt, +directly proposed her niece's returning with them into the country. Lady +Susan was unable to express her sense of such kindness, yet knew not, +from a variety of reasons, how to part with her daughter; and as, though +her own plans were not yet wholly fixed, she trusted it would ere long +be in her power to take Frederica into the country herself, concluded by +declining entirely to profit by such unexampled attention. Mrs. Vernon +persevered, however, in the offer of it, and though Lady Susan continued +to resist, her resistance in the course of a few days seemed somewhat +less formidable. The lucky alarm of an influenza decided what might not +have been decided quite so soon. Lady Susan's maternal fears were then +too much awakened for her to think of anything but Frederica's removal +from the risk of infection; above all disorders in the world she most +dreaded the influenza for her daughter's constitution! + +Frederica returned to Churchhill with her uncle and aunt; and three +weeks afterwards, Lady Susan announced her being married to Sir James +Martin. Mrs. Vernon was then convinced of what she had only suspected +before, that she might have spared herself all the trouble of urging +a removal which Lady Susan had doubtless resolved on from the first. +Frederica's visit was nominally for six weeks, but her mother, though +inviting her to return in one or two affectionate letters, was very +ready to oblige the whole party by consenting to a prolongation of her +stay, and in the course of two months ceased to write of her absence, +and in the course of two or more to write to her at all. Frederica was +therefore fixed in the family of her uncle and aunt till such time as +Reginald De Courcy could be talked, flattered, and finessed into an +affection for her which, allowing leisure for the conquest of his +attachment to her mother, for his abjuring all future attachments, and +detesting the sex, might be reasonably looked for in the course of a +twelvemonth. Three months might have done it in general, but Reginald's +feelings were no less lasting than lively. Whether Lady Susan was or +was not happy in her second choice, I do not see how it can ever be +ascertained; for who would take her assurance of it on either side of +the question? The world must judge from probabilities; she had nothing +against her but her husband, and her conscience. Sir James may seem to +have drawn a harder lot than mere folly merited; I leave him, therefore, +to all the pity that anybody can give him. For myself, I confess that I +can pity only Miss Mainwaring; who, coming to town, and putting herself +to an expense in clothes which impoverished her for two years, on +purpose to secure him, was defrauded of her due by a woman ten years +older than herself. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Lady Susan, by Jane Austen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY SUSAN *** + +***** This file should be named 946.txt or 946.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/9/4/946/ + +Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +LADY SUSAN + +by + +Jane Austen + + + +I + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. VERNON + + +Langford, Dec. + + +MY DEAR BROTHER,--I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure of +profiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of spending some +weeks with you at Churchhill, and, therefore, if quite convenient to you +and Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few days to +be introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be acquainted +with. My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent with me to +prolong my stay, but their hospitable and cheerful dispositions lead them +too much into society for my present situation and state of mind; and I +impatiently look forward to the hour when I shall be admitted into Your +delightful retirement. + +I long to be made known to your dear little children, in whose hearts I +shall be very eager to secure an interest I shall soon have need for all my +fortitude, as I am on the point of separation from my own daughter. The +long illness of her dear father prevented my paying her that attention +which duty and affection equally dictated, and I have too much reason to +fear that the governess to whose care I consigned her was unequal to the +charge. I have therefore resolved on placing her at one of the best +private schools in town, where I shall have an opportunity of leaving her +myself in my way to you. I am determined, you see, not to be denied +admittance at Churchhill. It would indeed give me most painful sensations +to know that it were not in your power to receive me. + +Your most obliged and affectionate sister, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +II + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Langford. + + +You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing me fixed at this place +for the rest of the winter: it grieves me to say how greatly you were +mistaken, for I have seldom spent three months more agreeably than those +which have just flown away. At present, nothing goes smoothly; the females +of the family are united against me. You foretold how it would be when I +first came to Langford, and Mainwaring is so uncommonly pleasing that I was +not without apprehensions for myself. I remember saying to myself, as I +drove to the house, "I like this man, pray Heaven no harm come of it!" But +I was determined to be discreet, to bear in mind my being only four months +a widow, and to be as quiet as possible: and I have been so, my dear +creature; I have admitted no one's attentions but Mainwaring's. I have +avoided all general flirtation whatever; I have distinguished no creature +besides, of all the numbers resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on +whom I bestowed a little notice, in order to detach him from Miss +Mainwaring; but, if the world could know my motive THERE they would honour +me. I have been called an unkind mother, but it was the sacred impulse of +maternal affection, it was the advantage of my daughter that led me on; and +if that daughter were not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might have +been rewarded for my exertions as I ought. + +Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica; but Frederica, who was +born to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so violently +against the match that I thought it better to lay aside the scheme for the +present. I have more than once repented that I did not marry him myself; +and were he but one degree less contemptibly weak I certainly should: but I +must own myself rather romantic in that respect, and that riches only will +not satisfy me. The event of all this is very provoking: Sir James is gone, +Maria highly incensed, and Mrs. Mainwaring insupportably jealous; so +jealous, in short, and so enraged against me, that, in the fury of her +temper, I should not be surprized at her appealing to her guardian, if she +had the liberty of addressing him: but there your husband stands my friend; +and the kindest, most amiable action of his life was his throwing her off +for ever on her marriage. Keep up his resentment, therefore, I charge you. +We are now in a sad state; no house was ever more altered; the whole party +are at war, and Mainwaring scarcely dares speak to me. It is time for me to +be gone; I have therefore determined on leaving them, and shall spend, I +hope, a comfortable day with you in town within this week. If I am as +little in favour with Mr. Johnson as ever, you must come to me at 10 +Wigmore street; but I hope this may not be the case, for as Mr. Johnson, +with all his faults, is a man to whom that great word "respectable" is +always given, and I am known to be so intimate with his wife, his slighting +me has an awkward look. + +I take London in my way to that insupportable spot, a country village; +for I am really going to Churchhill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is my +last resource. Were there another place in England open to me I would +prefer it. Charles Vernon is my aversion; and I am afraid of his wife. At +Churchhill, however, I must remain till I have something better in view. My +young lady accompanies me to town, where I shall deposit her under the care +of Miss Summers, in Wigmore street, till she becomes a little more +reasonable. She will made good connections there, as the girls are all +of the best families. The price is immense, and much beyond what I can ever +attempt to pay. + +Adieu, I will send you a line as soon as I arrive in town. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + +III + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--I am very sorry to tell you that it will not be in our +power to keep our promise of spending our Christmas with you; and we are +prevented that happiness by a circumstance which is not likely to make us +any amends. Lady Susan, in a letter to her brother-in-law, has declared her +intention of visiting us almost immediately; and as such a visit is in all +probability merely an affair of convenience, it is impossible to conjecture +its length. I was by no means prepared for such an event, nor can I now +account for her ladyship's conduct; Langford appeared so exactly the place +for her in every respect, as well from the elegant and expensive style of +living there, as from her particular attachment to Mr. Mainwaring, that I +was very far from expecting so speedy a distinction, though I always +imagined from her increasing friendship for us since her husband's death +that we should, at some future period, be obliged to receive her. Mr. +Vernon, I think, was a great deal too kind to her when he was in +Staffordshire; her behaviour to him, independent of her general character, +has been so inexcusably artful and ungenerous since our marriage was first +in agitation that no one less amiable and mild than himself could have +overlooked it all; and though, as his brother's widow, and in narrow +circumstances, it was proper to render her pecuniary assistance, I cannot +help thinking his pressing invitation to her to visit us at Churchhill +perfectly unnecessary. Disposed, however, as he always is to think the +best of everyone, her display of grief, and professions of regret, and +general resolutions of prudence, were sufficient to soften his heart and +make him really confide in her sincerity; but, as for myself, I am still +unconvinced, and plausibly as her ladyship has now written, I cannot make +up my mind till I better understand her real meaning in coming to us. You +may guess, therefore, my dear madam, with what feelings I look forward to +her arrival. She will have occasion for all those attractive powers for +which she is celebrated to gain any share of my regard; and I shall +certainly endeavour to guard myself against their influence, if not +accompanied by something more substantial. She expresses a most eager +desire of being acquainted with me, and makes very gracious mention of my +children but I am not quite weak enough to suppose a woman who has behaved +with inattention, if not with unkindness, to her own child, should be +attached to any of mine. Miss Vernon is to be placed at a school in London +before her mother comes to us which I am glad of, for her sake and my own. +It must be to her advantage to be separated from her mother, and a girl of +sixteen who has received so wretched an education, could not be a very +desirable companion here. Reginald has long wished, I know, to see the +captivating Lady Susan, and we shall depend on his joining our party soon. +I am glad to hear that my father continues so well; and am, with best love, +&c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +IV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Sister,--I congratulate you and Mr. Vernon on being about to +receive into your family the most accomplished coquette in England. As a +very distinguished flirt I have always been taught to consider her, but it +has lately fallen In my way to hear some particulars of her conduct at +Langford: which prove that she does not confine herself to that sort of +honest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires to the more +delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable. By her +behaviour to Mr. Mainwaring she gave jealousy and wretchedness to his wife, +and by her attentions to a young man previously attached to Mr. +Mainwaring's sister deprived an amiable girl of her lover. + +I learnt all this from Mr. Smith, now in this neighbourhood (I have +dined with him, at Hurst and Wilford), who is just come from Langford where +he was a fortnight with her ladyship, and who is therefore well qualified +to make the communication. + +What a woman she must be! I long to see her, and shall certainly accept +your kind invitation, that I may form some idea of those bewitching powers +which can do so much--engaging at the same time, and in the same house, the +affections of two men, who were neither of them at liberty to bestow them- +-and all this without the charm of youth! I am glad to find Miss Vernon +does not accompany her mother to Churchhill, as she has not even manners to +recommend her; and, according to Mr. Smith's account, is equally dull and +proud. Where pride and stupidity unite there can be no dissimulation worthy +notice, and Miss Vernon shall be consigned to unrelenting contempt; but by +all that I can gather Lady Susan possesses a degree of captivating deceit +which it must be pleasing to witness and detect. I shall be with you very +soon, and am ever, + +Your affectionate brother, + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + +V + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I received your note, my dear Alicia, just before I left town, and +rejoice to be assured that Mr. Johnson suspected nothing of your engagement +the evening before. It is undoubtedly better to deceive him entirely, and +since he will be stubborn he must be tricked. I arrived here in safety, and +have no reason to complain of my reception from Mr. Vernon; but I confess +myself not equally satisfied with the behaviour of his lady. She is +perfectly well-bred, indeed, and has the air of a woman of fashion, but her +manners are not such as can persuade me of her being prepossessed in my +favour. I wanted her to be delighted at seeing me. I was as amiable as +possible on the occasion, but all in vain. She does not like me. To be sure +when we consider that I DID take some pains to prevent my brother-in-law's +marrying her, this want of cordiality is not very surprizing, and yet it +shows an illiberal and vindictive spirit to resent a project which +influenced me six years ago, and which never succeeded at last. + +I am sometimes disposed to repent that I did not let Charles buy Vernon +Castle, when we were obliged to sell it; but it was a trying circumstance, +especially as the sale took place exactly at the time of his marriage; and +everybody ought to respect the delicacy of those feelings which could not +endure that my husband's dignity should be lessened by his younger +brother's having possession of the family estate. Could matters have been +so arranged as to prevent the necessity of our leaving the castle, could we +have lived with Charles and kept him single, I should have been very far +from persuading my husband to dispose of it elsewhere; but Charles was on +the point of marrying Miss De Courcy, and the event has justified me. Here +are children in abundance, and what benefit could have accrued to me from +his purchasing Vernon? My having prevented it may perhaps have given his +wife an unfavourable impression, but where there is a disposition to +dislike, a motive will never be wanting; and as to money matters it has not +withheld him from being very useful to me. I really have a regard for him, +he is so easily imposed upon! The house is a good one, the furniture +fashionable, and everything announces plenty and elegance. Charles is very +rich I am sure; when a man has once got his name in a banking-house he +rolls in money; but they do not know what to do with it, keep very little +company, and never go to London but on business. We shall be as stupid as +possible. I mean to win my sister-in-law's heart through the children; I +know all their names already, and am going to attach myself with the +greatest sensibility to one in particular, a young Frederic, whom I take on +my lap and sigh over for his dear uncle's sake. + +Poor Mainwaring! I need not tell you how much I miss him, how +perpetually he is in my thoughts. I found a dismal letter from him on my +arrival here, full of complaints of his wife and sister, and lamentations +on the cruelty of his fate. I passed off the letter as his wife's, to the +Vernons, and when I write to him it must be under cover to you. + +Ever yours, +S. VERNON. + + + + + +VI + + +MRS. VERNON TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +Well, my dear Reginald, I have seen this dangerous creature, and must +give you some description of her, though I hope you will soon be able to +form your own judgment she is really excessively pretty; however you may +choose to question the allurements of a lady no longer young, I must, for +my own part, declare that I have seldom seen so lovely a woman as Lady +Susan. She is delicately fair, with fine grey eyes and dark eyelashes; and +from her appearance one would not suppose her more than five and twenty, +though she must in fact be ten years older, I was certainly not disposed to +admire her, though always hearing she was beautiful; but I cannot help +feeling that she possesses an uncommon union of symmetry, brilliancy, and +grace. Her address to me was so gentle, frank, and even affectionate, that, +if I had not known how much she has always disliked me for marrying Mr. +Vernon, and that we had never met before, I should have imagined her an +attached friend. One is apt, I believe, to connect assurance of manner with +coquetry, and to expect that an impudent address will naturally attend an +impudent mind; at least I was myself prepared for an improper degree of +confidence in Lady Susan; but her countenance is absolutely sweet, and her +voice and manner winningly mild. I am sorry it is so, for what is this but +deceit? Unfortunately, one knows her too well. She is clever and agreeable, +has all that knowledge of the world which makes conversation easy, and +talks very well, with a happy command of language, which is too often used, +I believe, to make black appear white. She has already almost persuaded me +of her being warmly attached to her daughter, though I have been so long +convinced to the contrary. She speaks of her with so much tenderness and +anxiety, lamenting so bitterly the neglect of her education, which she +represents however as wholly unavoidable, that I am forced to recollect how +many successive springs her ladyship spent in town, while her daughter was +left in Staffordshire to the care of servants, or a governess very little +better, to prevent my believing what she says. + +If her manners have so great an influence on my resentful heart, you may +judge how much more strongly they operate on Mr. Vernon's generous temper. +I wish I could be as well satisfied as he is, that it was really her choice +to leave Langford for Churchhill; and if she had not stayed there for +months before she discovered that her friend's manner of living did not +suit her situation or feelings, I might have believed that concern for the +loss of such a husband as Mr. Vernon, to whom her own behaviour was far +from unexceptionable, might for a time make her wish for retirement. But +I cannot forget the length of her visit to the Mainwarings, and when I +reflect on the different mode of life which she led with them from that to +which she must now submit, I can only suppose that the wish of establishing +her reputation by following though late the path of propriety, occasioned +her removal from a family where she must in reality have been particularly +happy. Your friend Mr. Smith's story, however, cannot be quite correct, as +she corresponds regularly with Mrs. Mainwaring. At any rate it must be +exaggerated. It is scarcely possible that two men should be so grossly +deceived by her at once. + +Yours, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON + + + + + +VII + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Alicia,--You are very good in taking notice of Frederica, and I +am grateful for it as a mark of your friendship; but as I cannot have any +doubt of the warmth of your affection, I am far from exacting so heavy a +sacrifice. She is a stupid girl, and has nothing to recommend her. I would +not, therefore, on my account, have you encumber one moment of your +precious time by sending for her to Edward Street, especially as every +visit is so much deducted from the grand affair of education, which I +really wish to have attended to while she remains at Miss Summers's. I want +her to play and sing with some portion of taste and a good deal of +assurance, as she has my hand and arm and a tolerable voice. I was so much +indulged in my infant years that I was never obliged to attend to anything, +and consequently am without the accomplishments which are now necessary to +finish a pretty woman. Not that I am an advocate for the prevailing fashion +of acquiring a perfect knowledge of all languages, arts, and sciences. It +is throwing time away to be mistress of French, Italian, and German: +music, singing, and drawing, &c., will gain a woman some applause, but will +not add one lover to her list--grace and manner, after all, are of the +greatest importance. I do not mean, therefore, that Frederica's +acquirements should be more than superficial, and I flatter myself that she +will not remain long enough at school to understand anything thoroughly. I +hope to see her the wife of Sir James within a twelvemonth. You know on +what I ground my hope, and it is certainly a good foundation, for school +must be very humiliating to a girl of Frederica's age. And, by-the-by, you +had better not invite her any more on that account, as I wish her to find +her situation as unpleasant as possible. I am sure of Sir James at any +time, and could make him renew his application by a line. I shall trouble +you meanwhile to prevent his forming any other attachment when he comes to +town. Ask him to your house occasionally, and talk to him of Frederica, +that he may not forget her. Upon the whole, I commend my own conduct in +this affair extremely, and regard it as a very happy instance of +circumspection and tenderness. Some mothers would have insisted on their +daughter's accepting so good an offer on the first overture; but I could +not reconcile it to myself to force Frederica into a marriage from which +her heart revolted, and instead of adopting so harsh a measure merely +propose to make it her own choice, by rendering her thoroughly +uncomfortable till she does accept him--but enough of this tiresome girl. +You may well wonder how I contrive to pass my time here, and for the first +week it was insufferably dull. Now, however, we begin to mend, our party is +enlarged by Mrs. Vernon's brother, a handsome young man, who promises me +some amusement. There is something about him which rather interests me, a +sort of sauciness and familiarity which I shall teach him to correct. He is +lively, and seems clever, and when I have inspired him with greater respect +for me than his sister's kind offices have implanted, he may be an +agreeable flirt. There is exquisite pleasure in subduing an insolent +spirit, in making a person predetermined to dislike acknowledge one's +superiority. I have disconcerted him already by my calm reserve, and it +shall be my endeavour to humble the pride of these self important De +Courcys still lower, to convince Mrs. Vernon that her sisterly cautions +have been bestowed in vain, and to persuade Reginald that she has +scandalously belied me. This project will serve at least to amuse me, and +prevent my feeling so acutely this dreadful separation from you and all +whom I love. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +VIII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--You must not expect Reginald back again for some time. +He desires me to tell you that the present open weather induces him to +accept Mr. Vernon's invitation to prolong his stay in Sussex, that they may +have some hunting together. He means to send for his horses immediately, +and it is impossible to say when you may see him in Kent. I will not +disguise my sentiments on this change from you, my dear mother, though I +think you had better not communicate them to my father, whose excessive +anxiety about Reginald would subject him to an alarm which might seriously +affect his health and spirits. Lady Susan has certainly contrived, in the +space of a fortnight, to make my brother like her. In short, I am persuaded +that his continuing here beyond the time originally fixed for his return is +occasioned as much by a degree of fascination towards her, as by the wish +of hunting with Mr. Vernon, and of course I cannot receive that pleasure +from the length of his visit which my brother's company would otherwise +give me. I am, indeed, provoked at the artifice of this unprincipled woman; +what stronger proof of her dangerous abilities can be given than this +perversion of Reginald's judgment, which when he entered the house was so +decidedly against her! In his last letter he actually gave me some +particulars of her behaviour at Langford, such as he received from a +gentleman who knew her perfectly well, which, if true, must raise +abhorrence against her, and which Reginald himself was entirely disposed to +credit. His opinion of her, I am sure, was as low as of any woman in +England; and when he first came it was evident that he considered her as +one entitled neither to delicacy nor respect, and that he felt she would be +delighted with the attentions of any man inclined to flirt with her. Her +behaviour, I confess, has been calculated to do away with such an idea; I +have not detected the smallest impropriety in it--nothing of vanity, of +pretension, of levity; and she is altogether so attractive that I should +not wonder at his being delighted with her, had he known nothing of her +previous to this personal acquaintance; but, against reason, against +conviction, to be so well pleased with her, as I am sure he is, does really +astonish me. His admiration was at first very strong, but no more than was +natural, and I did not wonder at his being much struck by the gentleness +and delicacy of her manners; but when he has mentioned her of late it has +been in terms of more extraordinary praise; and yesterday he actually said +that he could not be surprised at any effect produced on the heart of man +by such loveliness and such abilities; and when I lamented, in reply, the +badness of her disposition, he observed that whatever might have been her +errors they were to be imputed to her neglected education and early +marriage, and that she was altogether a wonderful woman. This tendency to +excuse her conduct or to forget it, in the warmth of admiration, vexes me; +and if I did not know that Reginald is too much at home at Churchhill to +need an invitation for lengthening his visit, I should regret Mr. Vernon's +giving him any. Lady Susan's intentions are of course those of absolute +coquetry, or a desire of universal admiration; I cannot for a moment +imagine that she has anything more serious in view; but it mortifies me to +see a young man of Reginald's sense duped by her at all. + +I am, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +IX + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY S. VERNON + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,--I congratulate you on Mr. De Courcy's arrival, and I +advise you by all means to marry him; his father's estate is, we know, +considerable, and I believe certainly entailed. Sir Reginald is very +infirm, and not likely to stand in your way long. I hear the young man well +spoken of; and though no one can really deserve you, my dearest Susan, Mr. +De Courcy may be worth having. Mainwaring will storm of course, but you +easily pacify him; besides, the most scrupulous point of honour could not +require you to wait for HIS emancipation. I have seen Sir James; he came to +town for a few days last week, and called several times in Edward Street. I +talked to him about you and your daughter, and he is so far from having +forgotten you, that I am sure he would marry either of you with pleasure. I +gave him hopes of Frederica's relenting, and told him a great deal of her +improvements. I scolded him for making love to Maria Mainwaring; he +protested that he had been only in joke, and we both laughed heartily at +her disappointment; and, in short, were very agreeable. He is as silly as +ever. + +Yours faithfully, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +X + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I am much obliged to you, my dear Friend, for your advice respecting Mr. +De Courcy, which I know was given with the full conviction of its +expediency, though I am not quite determined on following it. I cannot +easily resolve on anything so serious as marriage; especially as I am not +at present in want of money, and might perhaps, till the old gentleman's +death, be very little benefited by the match. It is true that I am vain +enough to believe it within my reach. I have made him sensible of my power, +and can now enjoy the pleasure of triumphing over a mind prepared to +dislike me, and prejudiced against all my past actions. His sister, too, +is, I hope, convinced how little the ungenerous representations of anyone +to the disadvantage of another will avail when opposed by the immediate +influence of intellect and manner. I see plainly that she is uneasy at my +progress in the good opinion of her brother, and conclude that nothing will +be wanting on her part to counteract me; but having once made him doubt the +justice of her opinion of me, I think I may defy, her. It has been +delightful to me to watch his advances towards intimacy, especially to +observe his altered manner in consequence of my repressing by the cool +dignity of my deportment his insolent approach to direct familiarity. My +conduct has been equally guarded from the first, and I never behaved less +like a coquette in the whole course of my life, though perhaps my desire of +dominion was never more decided. I have subdued him entirely by sentiment +and serious conversation, and made him, I may venture to say, at least +half in love with me, without the semblance of the most commonplace +flirtation. Mrs. Vernon's consciousness of deserving every sort of revenge +that it can be in my power to inflict for her ill-offices could alone +enable her to perceive that I am actuated by any design in behaviour so +gentle and unpretending. Let her think and act as she chooses, however. I +have never yet found that the advice of a sister could prevent a young +man's being in love if he chose. We are advancing now to some kind of +confidence, and in short are likely to be engaged in a sort of platonic +friendship. On my side you may be sure of its never being more, for if I +were not attached to another person as much as I can be to anyone, I should +make a point of not bestowing my affection on a man who had dared to think +so meanly of me. Reginald has a good figure and is not unworthy the praise +you have heard given him, but is still greatly inferior to our friend at +Langford. He is less polished, less insinuating than Mainwaring, and is +comparatively deficient in the power of saying those delightful things +which put one in good humour with oneself and all the world. He is quite +agreeable enough, however, to afford me amusement, and to make many of +those hours pass very pleasantly which would otherwise be spent in +endeavouring to overcome my sister-in-law's reserve, and listening to the +insipid talk of her husband. Your account of Sir James is most +satisfactory, and I mean to give Miss Frederica a hint of my intentions +very soon. + +Yours, &c., + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XI + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +I really grow quite uneasy, my dearest mother, about Reginald, from +witnessing the very rapid increase of Lady Susan's influence. They are now +on terms of the most particular friendship, frequently engaged in long +conversations together; and she has contrived by the most artful coquetry +to subdue his judgment to her own purposes. It is impossible to see the +intimacy between them so very soon established without some alarm, though I +can hardly suppose that Lady Susan's plans extend to marriage. I wish you +could get Reginald home again on any plausible pretence; he is not at all +disposed to leave us, and I have given him as many hints of my father's +precarious state of health as common decency will allow me to do in my own +house. Her power over him must now be boundless, as she has entirely +effaced all his former ill-opinion, and persuaded him not merely to forget +but to justify her conduct. Mr. Smith's account of her proceedings at +Langford, where he accused her of having made Mr. Mainwaring and a young +man engaged to Miss Mainwaring distractedly in love with her, which +Reginald firmly believed when he came here, is now, he is persuaded, only a +scandalous invention. He has told me so with a warmth of manner which spoke +his regret at having believed the contrary himself. How sincerely do I +grieve that she ever entered this house! I always looked forward to her +coming with uneasiness; but very far was it from originating in anxiety for +Reginald. I expected a most disagreeable companion for myself, but could +not imagine that my brother would be in the smallest danger of being +captivated by a woman with whose principles he was so well acquainted, and +whose character he so heartily despised. If you can get him away it will be +a good thing. + +Yours, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XII + + +SIR REGINALD DE COURCY TO HIS SON + + +Parklands. + + +I know that young men in general do not admit of any enquiry even from +their nearest relations into affairs of the heart, but I hope, my dear +Reginald, that you will be superior to such as allow nothing for a father's +anxiety, and think themselves privileged to refuse him their confidence and +slight his advice. You must be sensible that as an only son, and the +representative of an ancient family, your conduct in life is most +interesting to your connections; and in the very important concern of +marriage especially, there is everything at stake--your own happiness, that +of your parents, and the credit of your name. I do not suppose that you +would deliberately form an absolute engagement of that nature without +acquainting your mother and myself, or at least, without being convinced +that we should approve of your choice; but I cannot help fearing that you +may be drawn in, by the lady who has lately attached you, to a marriage +which the whole of your family, far and near, must highly reprobate. Lady +Susan's age is itself a material objection, but her want of character is +one so much more serious, that the difference of even twelve years becomes +in comparison of small amount. Were you not blinded by a sort of +fascination, it would be ridiculous in me to repeat the instances of great +misconduct on her side so very generally known. + +Her neglect of her husband, her encouragement of other men, her +extravagance and dissipation, were so gross and notorious that no one could +be ignorant of them at the time, nor can now have forgotten them. To our +family she has always been represented in softened colours by the +benevolence of Mr. Charles Vernon, and yet, in spite of his generous +endeavours to excuse her, we know that she did, from the most selfish +motives, take all possible pains to prevent his marriage with Catherine. + +My years and increasing infirmities make me very desirous of seeing you +settled in the world. To the fortune of a wife, the goodness of my own will +make me indifferent, but her family and character must be equally +unexceptionable. When your choice is fixed so that no objection can be +made to it, then I can promise you a ready and cheerful consent; but it is +my duty to oppose a match which deep art only could render possible, and +must in the end make wretched. It is possible her behaviour may arise only +from vanity, or the wish of gaining the admiration of a man whom she must +imagine to be particularly prejudiced against her; but it is more likely +that she should aim at something further. She is poor, and may naturally +seek an alliance which must be advantageous to herself; you know your own +rights, and that it is out of my power to prevent your inheriting the +family estate. My ability of distressing you during my life would be a +species of revenge to which I could hardly stoop under any circumstances. + +I honestly tell you my sentiments and intentions: I do not wish to work +on your fears, but on your sense and affection. It would destroy every +comfort of my life to know that you were married to Lady Susan Vernon; it +would be the death of that honest pride with which I have hitherto +considered my son; I should blush to see him, to hear of him, to think of +him. I may perhaps do no good but that of relieving my own mind by this +letter, but I felt it my duty to tell you that your partiality for Lady +Susan is no secret to your friends, and to warn you against her. I should +be glad to hear your reasons for disbelieving Mr. Smith's intelligence; you +had no doubt of its authenticity a month ago. If you can give me your +assurance of having no design beyond enjoying the conversation of a clever +woman for a short period, and of yielding admiration only to her beauty and +abilities, without being blinded by them to her faults, you will restore me +to happiness ;but, if you cannot do this, explain to me, at least, what has +occasioned so great an alteration in your opinion of her. + +I am, &c., &c, + +REGINALD DE COURCY + + + + + +XIII + + +LADY DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Catherine,--Unluckily I was confined to my room when your last +letter came, by a cold which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my +reading it myself, so I could not refuse Your father when he offered to +read it to me, by which means he became acquainted, to my great vexation, +with all your fears about your brother. I had intended to write to Reginald +myself as soon as my eyes would let me, to point out, as well as I could, +the danger of an intimate acquaintance, with so artful a woman as Lady +Susan, to a young man of his age, and high expectations. I meant, +moreover, to have reminded him of our being quite alone now, and very much +in need of him to keep up our spirits these long winter evenings. Whether +it would have done any good can never be settled now, but I am excessively +vexed that Sir Reginald should know anything of a matter which we foresaw +would make him so uneasy. He caught all your fears the moment he had read +your letter, and I am sure he has not had the business out of his head +since. He wrote by the same post to Reginald a long letter full of it all, +and particularly asking an explanation of what he may have heard from Lady +Susan to contradict the late shocking reports. His answer came this +morning, which I shall enclose to you, as I think you will like to see it. +I wish it was more satisfactory; but it seems written with such a +determination to think well of Lady Susan, that his assurances as to +marriage, &c., do not set my heart at ease. I say all I can, however, to +satisfy your father, and he is certainly less uneasy since Reginald's +letter. How provoking it is, my dear Catherine, that this unwelcome guest +of yours should not only prevent our meeting this Christmas, but be the +occasion of so much vexation and trouble! Kiss the dear children for me. + +Your affectionate mother, + +C. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XIV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO SIR REGINALD + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Sir,--I have this moment received your letter, which has given +me more astonishment than I ever felt before. I am to thank my sister, I +suppose, for having represented me in such a light as to injure me in your +opinion, and give you all this alarm. I know not why she should choose to +make herself and her family uneasy by apprehending an event which no one +but herself, I can affirm, would ever have thought possible. To impute such +a design to Lady Susan would be taking from her every claim to that +excellent understanding which her bitterest enemies have never denied her; +and equally low must sink my pretensions to common sense if I am suspected +of matrimonial views in my behaviour to her. Our difference of age must be +an insuperable objection, and I entreat you, my dear father, to quiet your +mind, and no longer harbour a suspicion which cannot he more injurious to +your own peace than to our understandings. I can have no other view in +remaining with Lady Susan, than to enjoy for a short time (as you have +yourself expressed it) the conversation of a woman of high intellectual +powers. If Mrs. Vernon would allow something to my affection for herself +and her husband in the length of my visit, she would do more justice to us +all; but my sister is unhappily prejudiced beyond the hope of conviction +against Lady Susan. From an attachment to her husband, which in itself does +honour to both, she cannot forgive the endeavours at preventing their +union, which have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan; but in this +case, as well as in many others, the world has most grossly injured that +lady, by supposing the worst where the motives of her conduct have been +doubtful. Lady Susan had heard something so materially to the disadvantage +of my sister as to persuade her that the happiness of Mr. Vernon, to whom +she was always much attached, would be wholly destroyed by the marriage. +And this circumstance, while it explains the true motives of Lady Susan's +conduct, and removes all the blame which has been so lavished on her, may +also convince us how little the general report of anyone ought to be +credited; since no character, however upright, can escape the malevolence +of slander. If my sister, in the security of retirement, with as little +opportunity as inclination to do evil, could not avoid censure, we must not +rashly condemn those who, living in the world and surrounded with +temptations, should be accused of errors which they are known to have the +power of committing. + +I blame myself severely for having so easily believed the slanderous +tales invented by Charles Smith to the prejudice of Lady Susan, as I am now +convinced how greatly they have traduced her. As to Mrs. Mainwaring's +jealousy it was totally his own invention, and his account of her attaching +Miss Mainwaring's lover was scarcely better founded. Sir James Martin had +been drawn in by that young lady to pay her some attention; and as he is a +man of fortune, it was easy to see HER views extended to marriage. It is +well known that Miss M. is absolutely on the catch for a husband, and no +one therefore can pity her for losing, by the superior attractions of +another woman, the chance of being able to make a worthy man completely +wretched. Lady Susan was far from intending such a conquest, and on finding +how warmly Miss Mainwaring resented her lover's defection, determined, in +spite of Mr. and Mrs. Mainwaring's most urgent entreaties, to leave the +family. I have reason to imagine she did receive serious proposals from Sir +James, but her removing to Langford immediately on the discovery of his +attachment, must acquit her on that article with any mind of common +candour. You will, I am sure, my dear Sir, feel the truth of this, and will +hereby learn to do justice to the character of a very injured woman. I know +that Lady Susan in coming to Churchhill was governed only by the most +honourable and amiable intentions; her prudence and economy are exemplary, +her regard for Mr. Vernon equal even to HIS deserts; and her wish of +obtaining my sister's good opinion merits a better return than it has +received. As a mother she is unexceptionable; her solid affection for her +child is shown by placing her in hands where her education will be properly +attended to; but because she has not the blind and weak partiality of most +mothers, she is accused of wanting maternal tenderness. Every person of +sense, however, will know how to value and commend her well-directed +affection, and will join me in wishing that Frederica Vernon may prove more +worthy than she has yet done of her mother's tender care. I have now, my +dear father, written my real sentiments of Lady Susan; you will know from +this letter how highly I admire her abilities, and esteem her character; +but if you are not equally convinced by my full and solemn assurance that +your fears have been most idly created, you will deeply mortify and +distress me. + +I am, &c., &c., + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XV + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +My dear Mother,--I return you Reginald's letter, and rejoice with all my +heart that my father is made easy by it: tell him so, with my +congratulations; but, between ourselves, I must own it has only convinced +ME of my brother's having no PRESENT intention of marrying Lady Susan, not +that he is in no danger of doing so three months hence. He gives a very +plausible account of her behaviour at Langford; I wish it may be true, but +his intelligence must come from herself, and I am less disposed to believe +it than to lament the degree of intimacy subsisting, between them implied +by the discussion of such a subject. I am sorry to have incurred his +displeasure, but can expect nothing better while he is so very eager in +Lady Susan's justification. He is very severe against me indeed, and yet I +hope I have not been hasty in my judgment of her. Poor woman! though I have +reasons enough for my dislike, I cannot help pitying her at present, as she +is in real distress, and with too much cause. She had this morning a letter +from the lady with whom she has placed her daughter, to request that Miss +Vernon might be immediately removed, as she had been detected in an attempt +to run away. Why, or whither she intended to go, does not appear; but, as +her situation seems to have been unexceptionable, it is a sad thing, and of +course highly distressing to Lady Susan. Frederica must be as much as +sixteen, and ought to know better; but from what her mother insinuates, I +am afraid she is a perverse girl. She has been sadly neglected, however, +and her mother ought to remember it. Mr. Vernon set off for London as soon +as she had determined what should be done. He is, if possible, to prevail +on Miss Summers to let Frederica continue with her; and if he cannot +succeed, to bring her to Churchhill for the present, till some other +situation can be found for her. Her ladyship is comforting herself +meanwhile by strolling along the shrubbery with Reginald, calling forth all +his tender feelings, I suppose, on this distressing occasion. She has been +talking a great deal about it to me. She talks vastly well; I am afraid of +being ungenerous, or I should say, TOO well to feel so very deeply; but I +will not look for her faults; she may be Reginald's wife! Heaven forbid it! +but why should I be quicker-sighted than anyone else? Mr. Vernon declares +that he never saw deeper distress than hers, on the receipt of the letter; +and is his judgment inferior to mine? She was very unwilling that +Frederica should be allowed to come to Churchhill, and justly enough, as +it seems a sort of reward to behaviour deserving very differently; but it +was impossible to take her anywhere else, and she is not to remain here +long. "It will be absolutely necessary," said she, "as you, my dear sister, +must be sensible, to treat my daughter with some severity while she is +here; a most painful necessity, but I will ENDEAVOUR to submit to it. I am +afraid I have often been too indulgent, but my poor Frederica's temper +could never bear opposition well: you must support and encourage me; you +must urge the necessity of reproof if you see me too lenient." All this +sounds very reasonable. Reginald is so incensed against the poor silly +girl. Surely it is not to Lady Susan's credit that he should be so bitter +against her daughter; his idea of her must be drawn from the mother's +description. Well, whatever may be his fate, we have the comfort of knowing +that we have done our utmost to save him. We must commit the event to a +higher power. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XVl + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +Never, my dearest Alicia, was I so provoked in my life as by a letter +this morning from Miss Summers. That horrid girl of mine has been trying to +run away. I had not a notion of her being such a little devil before, she +seemed to have all the Vernon milkiness; but on receiving the letter in +which I declared my intention about Sir James, she actually attempted to +elope; at least, I cannot otherwise account for her doing it. She meant, I +suppose, to go to the Clarkes in Staffordshire, for she has no other +acquaintances. But she shall be punished, she shall have him. I have sent +Charles to town to make matters up if he can, for I do not by any means +want her here. If Miss Summers will not keep her, you must find me out +another school, unless we can get her married immediately. Miss S. writes +word that she could not get the young lady to assign any cause for her +extraordinary conduct, which confirms me in my own previous explanation of +it, Frederica is too shy, I think, and too much in awe of me to tell tales, +but if the mildness of her uncle should get anything out of her, I am not +afraid. I trust I shall be able to make my story as good as hers. If I am +vain of anything, it is of my eloquence. Consideration and esteem as +surely follow command of language as admiration waits on beauty, and here I +have opportunity enough for the exercise of my talent, as the chief of my +time is spent in conversation. + +Reginald is never easy unless we are by ourselves, and when the weather +is tolerable, we pace the shrubbery for hours together. I like him on the +whole very well; he is clever and has a good deal to say, but he is +sometimes impertinent and troublesome. There is a sort of ridiculous +delicacy about him which requires the fullest explanation of whatever he +may have heard to my disadvantage, and is never satisfied till he thinks he +has ascertained the beginning and end of everything. This is one sort of +love, but I confess it does not particularly recommend itself to me. I +infinitely prefer the tender and liberal spirit of Mainwaring, which, +impressed with the deepest conviction of my merit, is satisfied that +whatever I do must be right; and look with a degree of contempt on the +inquisitive and doubtful fancies of that heart which seems always debating +on the reasonableness of its emotions. Mainwaring is indeed, beyond all +compare, superior to Reginald--superior in everything but the power of +being with me! Poor fellow! he is much distracted by jealousy, which I am +not sorry for, as I know no better support of love. He has been teazing me +to allow of his coming into this country, and lodging somewhere near +INCOG.; but I forbade everything of the kind. Those women are inexcusable +who forget what is due to themselves, and the opinion of the world. + +Yours ever, +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XVII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--Mr. Vernon returned on Thursday night, bringing his +niece with him. Lady Susan had received a line from him by that day's post, +informing her that Miss Summers had absolutely refused to allow of Miss +Vernon's continuance in her academy; we were therefore prepared for her +arrival, and expected them impatiently the whole evening. They came while +we were at tea, and I never saw any creature look so frightened as +Frederica when she entered the room. Lady Susan, who had been shedding +tears before, and showing great agitation at the idea of the meeting, +received her with perfect self-command, and without betraying the least +tenderness of spirit. She hardly spoke to her, and on Frederica's bursting +into tears as soon as we were seated, took her out of the room, and did not +return for some time. When she did, her eyes looked very red and she was as +much agitated as before. We saw no more of her daughter. Poor Reginald was +beyond measure concerned to see his fair friend in such distress, and +watched her with so much tender solicitude, that I, who occasionally caught +her observing his countenance with exultation, was quite out of patience. +This pathetic representation lasted the whole evening, and so ostentatious +and artful a display has entirely convinced me that she did in fact feel +nothing. I am more angry with her than ever since I have seen her daughter; +the poor girl looks so unhappy that my heart aches for her. Lady Susan is +surely too severe, for Frederica does not seem to have the sort of temper +to make severity necessary. She looks perfectly timid, dejected, and +penitent. She is very pretty, though not so handsome as her mother, nor at +all like her. Her complexion is delicate, but neither so fair nor so +blooming as Lady Susan's, and she has quite the Vernon cast of countenance, +the oval face and mild dark eyes, and there is peculiar sweetness in her +look when she speaks either to her uncle or me, for as we behave kindly to +her we have of course engaged her gratitude. + +Her mother has insinuated that her temper is intractable, but I never +saw a face less indicative of any evil disposition than hers; and from what +I can see of the behaviour of each to the other, the invariable severity of +Lady Susan and the silent dejection of Frederica, I am led to believe as +heretofore that the former has no real love for her daughter, and has never +done her justice or treated her affectionately. I have not been able to +have any conversation with my niece; she is shy, and I think I can see that +some pains are taken to prevent her being much with me. Nothing +satisfactory transpires as to her reason for running away. Her kind-hearted +uncle, you may be sure, was too fearful of distressing her to ask many +questions as they travelled. I wish it had been possible for me to fetch +her instead of him. I think I should have discovered the truth in the +course of a thirty-mile journey. The small pianoforte has been removed +within these few days, at Lady Susan's request, into her dressing-room, and +Frederica spends great part of the day there, practising as it is called; +but I seldom hear any noise when I pass that way; what she does with +herself there I do not know. There are plenty of books, but it is not every +girl who has been running wild the first fifteen years of her life, that +can or will read. Poor creature! the prospect from her window is not very +instructive, for that room overlooks the lawn, you know, with the shrubbery +on one side, where she may see her mother walking for an hour together in +earnest conversation with Reginald. A girl of Frederica's age must be +childish indeed, if such things do not strike her. Is it not inexcusable to +give such an example to a daughter? Yet Reginald still thinks Lady Susan +the best of mothers, and still condemns Frederica as a worthless girl! He +is convinced that her attempt to run away proceeded from no, justifiable +cause, and had no provocation. I am sure I cannot say that it HAD, but +while Miss Summers declares that Miss Vernon showed no signs of obstinacy +or perverseness during her whole stay in Wigmore Street, till she was +detected in this scheme, I cannot so readily credit what Lady Susan has +made him, and wants to make me believe, that it was merely an impatience of +restraint and a desire of escaping from the tuition of masters which +brought on the plan of an elopement. O Reginald, how is your judgment +enslaved! He scarcely dares even allow her to be handsome, and when I +speak of her beauty, replies only that her eyes have no brilliancy! +Sometimes he is sure she is deficient in understanding, and at others that +her temper only is in fault. In short, when a person is always to deceive, +it is impossible to be consistent. Lady Susan finds it necessary that +Frederica should be to blame, and probably has sometimes judged it +expedient to excuse her of ill-nature and sometimes to lament her want of +sense. Reginald is only repeating after her ladyship. + +I remain, &c., &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XVIII + + +FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--I am very glad to find that my description of Frederica +Vernon has interested you, for I do believe her truly deserving of your +regard; and when I have communicated a notion which has recently struck me, +your kind impressions in her favour will, I am sure, be heightened. I +cannot help fancying that she is growing partial to my brother. I so very +often see her eyes fixed on his face with a remarkable expression of +pensive admiration. He is certainly very handsome; and yet more, there is +an openness in his manner that must be highly prepossessing, and I am sure +she feels it so. Thoughtful and pensive in general, her countenance always +brightens into a smile when Reginald says anything amusing; and, let the +subject be ever so serious that he may be conversing on, I am much mistaken +if a syllable of his uttering escapes her. I want to make him sensible of +all this, for we know the power of gratitude on such a heart as his; and +could Frederica's artless affection detach him from her mother, we might +bless the day which brought her to Churchhill. I think, my dear mother, you +would not disapprove of her as a daughter. She is extremely young, to be +sure, has had a wretched education, and a dreadful example of levity in her +mother; but yet I can pronounce her disposition to be excellent, and her +natural abilities very good. Though totally without accomplishments, she is +by no means so ignorant as one might expect to find her, being fond of +books and spending the chief of her time in reading. Her mother leaves her +more to herself than she did, and I have her with me as much as possible, +and have taken great pains to overcome her timidity. We are very good +friends, and though she never opens her lips before her mother, she talks +enough when alone with me to make it clear that, if properly treated by +Lady Susan, she would always appear to much greater advantage. There cannot +be a more gentle, affectionate heart; or more obliging manners, when acting +without restraint; and her little cousins are all very fond of her. + +Your affectionate daughter, + +C. VERNON + + + + + +XIX + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +You will be eager, I know, to hear something further of Frederica, and +perhaps may think me negligent for not writing before. She arrived with her +uncle last Thursday fortnight, when, of course, I lost no time in demanding +the cause of her behaviour; and soon found myself to have been perfectly +right in attributing it to my own letter. The prospect of it frightened her +so thoroughly, that, with a mixture of true girlish perverseness and folly, +she resolved on getting out of the house and proceeding directly by the +stage to her friends, the Clarkes; and had really got as far as the length +of two streets in her journey when she was fortunately missed, pursued, and +overtaken. Such was the first distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica +Vernon; and, if we consider that it was achieved at the tender age of +sixteen, we shall have room for the most flattering prognostics of her +future renown. I am excessively provoked, however, at the parade of +propriety which prevented Miss Summers from keeping the girl; and it seems +so extraordinary a piece of nicety, considering my daughter's family +connections, that I can only suppose the lady to be governed by the fear of +never getting her money. Be that as it may, however, Frederica is returned +on my hands; and, having nothing else to employ her, is busy in pursuing +the plan of romance begun at Langford. She is actually falling in love with +Reginald De Courcy! To disobey her mother by refusing an unexceptionable +offer is not enough; her affections must also be given without her mother's +approbation. I never saw a girl of her age bid fairer to be the sport of +mankind. Her feelings are tolerably acute, and she is so charmingly artless +in their display as to afford the most reasonable hope of her being +ridiculous, and despised by every man who sees her. + +Artlessness will never do in love matters; and that girl is born a +simpleton who has it either by nature or affectation. I am not yet certain +that Reginald sees what she is about, nor is it of much consequence. She is +now an object of indifference to him, and she would be one of contempt were +he to understand her emotions. Her beauty is much admired by the Vernons, +but it has no effect on him. She is in high favour with her aunt +altogether, because she is so little like myself, of course. She is exactly +the companion for Mrs. Vernon, who dearly loves to be firm, and to have +all the sense and all the wit of the conversation to herself: Frederica +will never eclipse her. When she first came I was at some pains to prevent +her seeing much of her aunt; but I have relaxed, as I believe I may depend +on her observing the rules I have laid down for their discourse. But do not +imagine that with all this lenity I have for a moment given up my plan of +her marriage. No; I am unalterably fixed on this point, though I have not +yet quite decided on the manner of bringing it about. I should not chuse to +have the business brought on here, and canvassed by the wise heads of Mr. +and Mrs. Vernon; and I cannot just now afford to go to town. Miss Frederica +must therefore wait a little. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XX + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +We have a very unexpected guest with us at present, my dear Mother: he +arrived yesterday. I heard a carriage at the door, as I was sitting with my +children while they dined; and supposing I should be wanted, left the +nursery soon afterwards, and was half-way downstairs, when Frederica, as +pale as ashes, came running up, and rushed by me into her own room. I +instantly followed, and asked her what was the matter. "Oh!" said she, "he +is come--Sir James is come, and what shall I do?" This was no explanation; +I begged her to tell me what she meant. At that moment we were interrupted +by a knock at the door: it was Reginald, who came, by Lady Susan's +direction, to call Frederica down. "It is Mr. De Courcy! " said she, +colouring violently. "Mamma has sent for me; I must go." We all three went +down together; and I saw my brother examining the terrified face of +Frederica with surprize. In the breakfast-room we found Lady Susan, and a +young man of gentlemanlike appearance, whom she introduced by the name of +Sir James Martin--the very person, as you may remember, whom it was said +she had been at pains to detach from Miss Mainwaring; but the conquest, it +seems, was not designed for herself, or she has since transferred it to her +daughter; for Sir James is now desperately in love with Frederica, and with +full encouragement from mamma. The poor girl, however, I am sure, dislikes +him; and though his person and address are very well, he appears, both to +Mr. Vernon and me, a very weak young man. Frederica looked so shy, so +confused, when we entered the room, that I felt for her exceedingly. Lady +Susan behaved with great attention to her visitor; and yet I thought I +could perceive that she had no particular pleasure in seeing him. Sir James +talked a great deal, and made many civil excuses to me for the liberty he +had taken in coming to Churchhill--mixing more frequent laughter with his +discourse than the subject required--said many things over and over again, +and told Lady Susan three times that he had seen Mrs. Johnson a few +evenings before. He now and then addressed Frederica, but more frequently +her mother. The poor girl sat all this time without opening her lips--her +eyes cast down, and her colour varying every instant; while Reginald +observed all that passed in perfect silence. At length Lady Susan, weary, I +believe, of her situation, proposed walking; and we left the two gentlemen +together, to put on our pelisses. As we went upstairs Lady Susan begged +permission to attend me for a few moments in my dressing-room, as she was +anxious to speak with me in private. I led her thither accordingly, and as +soon as the door was closed, she said: "I was never more surprized in my +life than by Sir James's arrival, and the suddenness of it requires some +apology to you, my dear sister; though to ME, as a mother, it is highly +flattering. He is so extremely attached to my daughter that he could not +exist longer without seeing her. Sir James is a young man of an amiable +disposition and excellent character; a little too much of the rattle, +perhaps, but a year or two will rectify THAT: and he is in other respects +so very eligible a match for Frederica, that I have always observed his +attachment with the greatest pleasure; and am persuaded that you and my +brother will give the alliance your hearty approbation. I have never +before mentioned the likelihood of its taking place to anyone, because I +thought that whilst Frederica continued at school it had better not be +known to exist; but now, as I am convinced that Frederica is too old ever +to submit to school confinement, and have, therefore, begun to consider her +union with Sir James as not very distant, I had intended within a few days +to acquaint yourself and Mr. Vernon with the whole business. I am sure, my +dear sister, you will excuse my remaining silent so long, and agree with me +that such circumstances, while they continue from any cause in suspense, +cannot be too cautiously concealed. When you have the happiness of +bestowing your sweet little Catherine, some years hence, on a man who in +connection and character is alike unexceptionable, you will know what I +feel now; though, thank Heaven, you cannot have all my reasons for +rejoicing in such an event. Catherine will be amply provided for, and not, +like my Frederica, indebted to a fortunate establishment for the comforts +of life." She concluded by demanding my congratulations. I gave them +somewhat awkwardly, I believe; for, in fact, the sudden disclosure of so +important a matter took from me the power of speaking with any clearness, +She thanked me, however, most affectionately, for my kind concern in the +welfare of herself and daughter; and then said: "I am not apt to deal in +professions, my dear Mrs. Vernon, and I never had the convenient talent of +affecting sensations foreign to my heart; and therefore I trust you will +believe me when I declare, that much as I had heard in your praise before I +knew you, I had no idea that I should ever love you as I now do; and I must +further say that your friendship towards me is more particularly gratifying +because I have reason to believe that some attempts were made to prejudice +you against me. I only wish that they, whoever they are, to whom I am +indebted for such kind intentions, could see the terms on which we now are +together, and understand the real affection we feel for each other; but I +will not detain you any longer. God bless you, for your goodness to me and +my girl, and continue to you all your present happiness." What can one say +of such a woman, my dear mother? Such earnestness such solemnity of +expression! and yet I cannot help suspecting the truth of everything she +says. As for Reginald, I believe he does not know what to make of the +matter. When Sir James came, he appeared all astonishment and perplexity; +the folly of the young man and the confusion of Frederica entirely +engrossed him; and though a little private discourse with Lady Susan has +since had its effect, he is still hurt, I am sure, at her allowing of such +a man's attentions to her daughter. Sir James invited himself with great +composure to remain here a few days--hoped we would not think it odd, was +aware of its being very impertinent, but he took the liberty of a relation; +and concluded by wishing, with a laugh, that he might be really one very +soon. Even Lady Susan seemed a little disconcerted by this forwardness; in +her heart I am persuaded she sincerely wished him gone. But something must +be done for this poor girl, if her feelings are such as both I and her +uncle believe them to be. She must not be sacrificed to policy or ambition, +and she must not be left to suffer from the dread of it. The girl whose +heart can distinguish Reginald De Courcy, deserves, however he may slight +her, a better fate than to be Sir James Martin's wife. As soon as I can get +her alone, I will discover the real truth; but she seems to wish to avoid +me. I hope this does not proceed from anything wrong, and that I shall not +find out I have thought too well of her. Her behaviour to Sir James +certainly speaks the greatest consciousness and embarrassment, but I see +nothing in it more like encouragement. Adieu, my dear mother. + +Yours, &c., + +C. VERNON. + + + + + +XXI + + +MISS VERNON TO MR DE COURCY + + +Sir,--I hope you will excuse this liberty; I am forced upon it by the +greatest distress, or I should be ashamed to trouble you. I am very +miserable about Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the world of +helping myself but by writing to you, for I am forbidden even speaking to +my uncle and aunt on the subject; and this being the case, I am afraid my +applying to you will appear no better than equivocation, and as if I +attended to the letter and not the spirit of mamma's commands. But if you +do not take my part and persuade her to break it off, I shall be half +distracted, for I cannot bear him. No human being but YOU could have any +chance of prevailing with her. If you will, therefore, have the unspeakably +great kindness of taking my part with her, and persuading her to send Sir +James away, I shall be more obliged to you than it is possible for me to +express. I always disliked him from the first: it is not a sudden fancy, I +assure you, sir; I always thought him silly and impertinent and +disagreeable, and now he is grown worse than ever. I would rather work for +my bread than marry him. I do not know how to apologize enough for this +letter; I know it is taking so great a liberty. I am aware how dreadfully +angry it will make mamma, but I remember the risk. + +I am, Sir, your most humble servant, + +F. S. V. + + + + + +XXII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +This is insufferable! My dearest friend, I was never so enraged before, +and must relieve myself by writing to you, who I know will enter into all +my feelings. Who should come on Tuesday but Sir James Martin! Guess my +astonishment, and vexation--for, as you well know, I never wished him to be +seen at Churchhill. What a pity that you should not have known his +intentions! Not content with coming, he actually invited himself to remain +here a few days. I could have poisoned him! I made the best of it, however, +and told my story with great success to Mrs. Vernon, who, whatever might be +her real sentiments, said nothing in opposition to mine. I made a point +also of Frederica's behaving civilly to Sir James, and gave her to +understand that I was absolutely determined on her marrying him. She said +something of her misery, but that was all. I have for some time been more +particularly resolved on the match from seeing the rapid increase of her +affection for Reginald, and from not feeling secure that a knowledge of +such affection might not in the end awaken a return. Contemptible as a +regard founded only on compassion must make them both in my eyes, I felt by +no means assured that such might not be the consequence. It is true that +Reginald had not in any degree grown cool towards me; but yet he has lately +mentioned Frederica spontaneously and unnecessarily, and once said +something in praise of her person. HE was all astonishment at the +appearance of my visitor, and at first observed Sir James with an attention +which I was pleased to see not unmixed with jealousy; but unluckily it was +impossible for me really to torment him, as Sir James, though extremely +gallant to me, very soon made the whole party understand that his heart was +devoted to my daughter. I had no great difficulty in convincing De Courcy, +when we were alone, that I was perfectly justified, all things considered, +in desiring the match; and the whole business seemed most comfortably +arranged. They could none of them help perceiving that Sir James was no +Solomon; but I had positively forbidden Frederica complaining to Charles +Vernon or his wife, and they had therefore no pretence for interference; +though my impertinent sister, I believe, wanted only opportunity for doing +so. Everything, however, was going on calmly and quietly; and, though I +counted the hours of Sir James's stay, my mind was entirely satisfied with +the posture of affairs. Guess, then, what I must feel at the sudden +disturbance of all my schemes; and that, too, from a quarter where I had +least reason to expect it. Reginald came this morning into my dressing-room +with a very unusual solemnity of countenance, and after some preface +informed me in so many words that he wished to reason with me on the +impropriety and unkindness of allowing Sir James Martin to address my +daughter contrary to her inclinations. I was all amazement. When I found +that he was not to be laughed out of his design, I calmly begged an +explanation, and desired to know by what he was impelled, and by whom +commissioned, to reprimand me. He then told me, mixing in his speech a few +insolent compliments and ill-timed expressions of tenderness, to which I +listened with perfect indifference, that my daughter had acquainted him +with some circumstances concerning herself, Sir James, and me which had +given him great uneasiness. In short, I found that she had in the first +place actually written to him to request his interference, and that, on +receiving her letter, he had conversed with her on the subject of it, in +order to understand the particulars, and to assure himself of her real +wishes. I have not a doubt but that the girl took this opportunity of +making downright love to him. I am convinced of it by the manner in which +he spoke of her. Much good may such love do him! I shall ever despise the +man who can be gratified by the passion which he never wished to inspire, +nor solicited the avowal of. I shall always detest them both. He can have +no true regard for me, or he would not have listened to her; and SHE, with +her little rebellious heart and indelicate feelings, to throw herself into +the protection of a young man with whom she has scarcely ever exchanged two +words before! I am equally confounded at HER impudence and HIS credulity. +How dared he believe what she told him in my disfavour! Ought he not to +have felt assured that I must have unanswerable motives for all that I had +done? Where was his reliance on my sense and goodness then? Where the +resentment which true love would have dictated against the person defaming +me--that person, too, a chit, a child, without talent or education, whom he +had been always taught to despise? I was calm for some time; but the +greatest degree of forbearance may be overcome, and I hope I was afterwards +sufficiently keen. He endeavoured, long endeavoured, to soften my +resentment; but that woman is a fool indeed who, while insulted by +accusation, can be worked on by compliments. At length he left me, as +deeply provoked as myself; and he showed his anger more. I was quite cool, +but he gave way to the most violent indignation; I may therefore expect it +will the sooner subside, and perhaps his may be vanished for ever, while +mine will be found still fresh and implacable. He is now shut up in his +apartment, whither I heard him go on leaving mine. How unpleasant, one +would think, must be his reflections! but some people's feelings are +incomprehensible. I have not yet tranquillised myself enough to see +Frederica. SHE shall not soon forget the occurrences of this day; she shall +find that she has poured forth her tender tale of love in vain, and exposed +herself for ever to the contempt of the whole world, and the severest +resentment of her injured mother. + +Your affectionate + +S. VERNON. + + + + +XXIII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +Let me congratulate you, my dearest Mother! The affair which has given +us so much anxiety is drawing to a happy conclusion. Our prospect is most +delightful, and since matters have now taken so favourable a turn, I am +quite sorry that I ever imparted my apprehensions to you; for the pleasure +of learning that the danger is over is perhaps dearly purchased by all that +you have previously suffered. I am so much agitated by delight that I can +scarcely hold a pen; but am determined to send you a few short lines by +James, that you may have some explanation of what must so greatly astonish +you, as that Reginald should be returning to Parklands. I was sitting about +half an hour ago with Sir James in the breakfast parlour, when my brother +called me out of the room. I instantly saw that something was the matter; +his complexion was raised, and he spoke with great emotion; you know his +eager manner, my dear mother, when his mind is interested. "Catherine," +said he, "I am going home to-day; I am sorry to leave you, but I must go: +it is a great while since I have seen my father and mother. I am going to +send James forward with my hunters immediately; if you have any letter, +therefore, he can take it. I shall not be at home myself till Wednesday or +Thursday, as I shall go through London, where I have business; but before I +leave you," he continued, speaking in a lower tone, and with still greater +energy, "I must warn you of one thing--do not let Frederica Vernon be made +unhappy by that Martin. He wants to marry her; her mother promotes the +match, but she cannot endure the idea of it. Be assured that I speak from +the fullest conviction of the truth of what I say; I Know that Frederica is +made wretched by Sir James's continuing here. She is a sweet girl, and +deserves a better fate. Send him away immediately; he is only a fool: but +what her mother can mean, Heaven only knows! Good bye," he added, shaking +my hand with earnestness; "I do not know when you will see me again; but +remember what I tell you of Frederica; you MUST make it your business to +see justice done her. She is an amiable girl, and has a very superior mind +to what we have given her credit for." He then left me, and ran upstairs. I +would not try to stop him, for I know what his feelings must be. The nature +of mine, as I listened to him, I need not attempt to describe; for a minute +or two I remained in the same spot, overpowered by wonder of a most +agreeable sort indeed; yet it required some consideration to be tranquilly +happy. In about ten minutes after my return to the parlour Lady Susan +entered the room. I concluded, of course, that she and Reginald had been +quarrelling; and looked with anxious curiosity for a confirmation of my +belief in her face. Mistress of deceit, however, she appeared perfectly +unconcerned, and after chatting on indifferent subjects for a short time, +said to me, "I find from Wilson that we are going to lose Mr. De Courcy--is +it true that he leaves Churchhill this morning?" I replied that it was. "He +told us nothing of all this last night," said she, laughing, "or even this +morning at breakfast; but perhaps he did not know it himself. Young men are +often hasty in their resolutions, and not more sudden in forming than +unsteady in keeping them. I should not be surprised if he were to change +his mind at last, and not go." She soon afterwards left the room. I trust, +however, my dear mother, that we have no reason to fear an alteration of +his present plan; things have gone too far. They must have quarrelled, and +about Frederica, too. Her calmness astonishes me. What delight will be +yours in seeing him again; in seeing him still worthy your esteem, still +capable of forming your happiness! When I next write I shall be able to +tell you that Sir James is gone, Lady Susan vanquished, and Frederica at +peace. We have much to do, but it shall be done. I am all impatience to +hear how this astonishing change was effected. I finish as I began, with +the warmest congratulations. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATH. VERNON. + + + + + +XXIV + + +FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME + + +Churchhill. + + +Little did I imagine, my dear Mother, when I sent off my last letter, +that the delightful perturbation of spirits I was then in would undergo so +speedy, so melancholy a reverse. I never can sufficiently regret that I +wrote to you at all. Yet who could have foreseen what has happened? My dear +mother, every hope which made me so happy only two hours ago has vanished. +The quarrel between Lady Susan and Reginald is made up, and we are all as +we were before. One point only is gained. Sir James Martin is dismissed. +What are we now to look forward to? I am indeed disappointed; Reginald was +all but gone, his horse was ordered and all but brought to the door; who +would not have felt safe? For half an hour I was in momentary expectation +of his departure. After I had sent off my letter to you, I went to Mr. +Vernon, and sat with him in his room talking over the whole matter, and +then determined to look for Frederica, whom I had not seen since breakfast. +I met her on the stairs, and saw that she was crying. "My dear aunt," said +she, "he is going--Mr. De Courcy is going, and it is all my fault. I am +afraid you will be very angry with me. but indeed I had no idea it would +end so." "My love," I replied, "do not think it necessary to apologize to +me on that account. I shall feel myself under an obligation to anyone who +is the means of sending my brother home, because," recollecting myself, "I +know my father wants very much to see him. But what is it you have done to +occasion all this?" She blushed deeply as she answered: "I was so unhappy +about Sir James that I could not help--I have done something very wrong, I +know; but you have not an idea of the misery I have been in: and mamma had +ordered me never to speak to you or my uncle about it, and--" "You +therefore spoke to my brother to engage his interference," said I, to save +her the explanation. "No, but I wrote to him--I did indeed, I got up this +morning before it was light, and was two hours about it; and when my letter +was done I thought I never should have courage to give it. After breakfast +however, as I was going to my room, I met him in the passage, and then, as +I knew that everything must depend on that moment, I forced myself to give +it. He was so good as to take it immediately. I dared not look at him, and +ran away directly. I was in such a fright I could hardly breathe. My dear +aunt, you do not know how miserable I have been." " Frederica" said I, +"you ought to have told me all your distresses. You would have found in me +a friend always ready to assist you. Do you think that your uncle or I +should not have espoused your cause as warmly as my brother?" "Indeed, I +did not doubt your kindness," said she, colouring again, "but I thought Mr. +De Courcy could do anything with my mother; but I was mistaken: they have +had a dreadful quarrel about it, and he is going away. Mamma will never +forgive me, and I shall be worse off than ever." "No, you shall not," I +replied; "in such a point as this your mother's prohibition ought not to +have prevented your speaking to me on the subject. She has no right to make +you unhappy, and she shall NOT do it. Your applying, however, to Reginald +can be productive only of good to all parties. I believe it is best as it +is. Depend upon it that you shall not be made unhappy any longer." At that +moment how great was my amonishment at seeing Reginald come out of Lady +Susan's dressing-room. My heart misgave me instantly. His confusion at +seeing me was very evident. Frederica immediately disappeared. "Are you +going?" I said; "you will find Mr. Vernon in his own room." "No, +Catherine," he replied, "I am not going. Will you let me speak to you a +moment?" We went into my room. "I find," he continued, his confusion +increasing as he spoke, "that I have been acting with my usual foolish +impetuosity. I have entirely misunderstood Lady Susan, and was on the point +of leaving the house under a false impression of her conduct. There has +been some very great mistake; we have been all mistaken, I fancy. Frederica +does not know her mother. Lady Susan means nothing but her good, but she +will not make a friend of her. Lady Susan does not always know, therefore, +what will make her daughter happy. Besides, I could have no right to +interfere. Miss Vernon was mistaken in applying to me. In short, Catherine, +everything has gone wrong, but it is now all happily settled. Lady Susan, I +believe, wishes to speak to you about it, if you are at leisure." +"Certainly," I replied, deeply sighing at the recital of so lame a story. I +made no comments, however, for words would have been vain. + +Reginald was glad to get away, and I went to Lady Susan, curious, +indeed, to hear her account of it. "Did I not tell you," said she with a +smile, "that your brother would not leave us after all?" "You did, indeed," +replied I very gravely; "but I flattered myself you would be mistaken." "I +should not have hazarded such an opinion," returned she, "if it had not at +that moment occurred to me that his resolution of going might be +occasioned by a conversation in which we had been this morning engaged, and +which had ended very much to his dissatisfaction, from our not rightly +understanding each other's meaning. This idea struck me at the moment, and +I instantly determined that an accidental dispute, in which I might +probably be as much to blame as himself, should not deprive you of your +brother. If you remember, I left the room almost immediately. I was +resolved to lose no time in clearing up those mistakes as far as I could. +The case was this--Frederica had set herself violently against marrying Sir +James." "And can your ladyship wonder that she should?" cried I with some +warmth; "Frederica has an excellent understanding, and Sir James has none." +"I am at least very far from regretting it, my dear sister," said she; "on +the contrary, I am grateful for so favourable a sign of my daughter's +sense. Sir James is certainly below par (his boyish manners make him appear +worse); and had Frederica possessed the penetration and the abilities which +I could have wished in my daughter, or had I even known her to possess as +much as she does, I should not have been anxious for the match." "It is odd +that you should alone be ignorant of your daughter's sense!" "Frederica +never does justice to herself; her manners are shy and childish, and +besides she is afraid of me. During her poor father's life she was a spoilt +child; the severity which it has since been necessary for me to show has +alienated her affection; neither has she any of that brilliancy of +intellect, that genius or vigour of mind which will force itself forward." +"Say rather that she has been unfortunate in her education!" "Heaven knows, +my dearest Mrs. Vernon, how fully I am aware of that; but I would wish to +forget every circumstance that might throw blame on the memory of one whose +name is sacred with me." Here she pretended to cry; I was out of patience +with her. "But what," said I, "was your ladyship going to tell me about +your disagreement with my brother?" "It originated in an action of my +daughter's, which equally marks her want of judgment and the unfortunate +dread of me I have been mentioning--she wrote to Mr. De Courcy." "I know +she did; you had forbidden her speaking to Mr. Vernon or to me on the cause +of her distress; what could she do, therefore, but apply to my brother?" +"Good God!" she exclaimed, "what an opinion you must have of me! Can you +possibly suppose that I was aware of her unhappiness! that it was my object +to make my own child miserable, and that I had forbidden her speaking to +you on the subject from a fear of your interrupting the diabolical scheme? +Do you think me destitute of every honest, every natural feeling? Am I +capable of consigning HER to everlasting: misery whose welfare it is my +first earthly duty to promote? The idea is horrible!" "What, then, was your +intention when you insisted on her silence?" "Of what use, my dear sister, +could be any application to you, however the affair might stand? Why should +I subject you to entreaties which I refused to attend to myself? Neither +for your sake nor for hers, nor for my own, could such a thing be +desirable. When my own resolution was taken I could nor wish for the +interference, however friendly, of another person. I was mistaken, it is +true, but I believed myself right." "But what was this mistake to which +your ladyship so often alludes! from whence arose so astonishing a +misconception of your daughter's feelings! Did you not know that she +disliked Sir James?" "I knew that he was not absolutely the man she would +have chosen, but I was persuaded that her objections to him did not arise +from any perception of his deficiency. You must not question me, however, +my dear sister, too minutely on this point," continued she, taking me +affectionately by the hand; "I honestly own that there is something to +conceal. Frederica makes me very unhappy! Her applying to Mr. De Courcy +hurt me particularly." "What is it you mean to infer," said I, " by this +appearance of mystery? If you think your daughter at all attached to +Reginald, her objecting to Sir James could not less deserve to be attended +to than if the cause of her objecting had been a consciousness of his folly +; and why should your ladyship, at any rate, quarrel with my brother for an +interference which, you must know, it is not in his nature to refuse when +urged in such a manner?" + +"His disposition, you know, is warm, and he came to expostulate with me; +his compassion all alive for this ill-used girl, this heroine in distress! +We misunderstood each other: he believed me more to blame than I really +was; I considered his interference less excusable than I now find it. I +have a real regard for him, and was beyond expression mortified to find +it, as I thought, so ill bestowed We were both warm, and of course both to +blame. His resolution of leaving Churchhill is consistent with his general +eagerness. When I understood his intention, however, and at the same time +began to think that we had been perhaps equally mistaken in each other's +meaning, I resolved to have an explanation before it was too late. For any +member of your family I must always feel a degree of affection, and I own +it would have sensibly hurt me if my acquaintance with Mr. De Courcy had +ended so gloomily. I have now only to say further, that as I am convinced +of Frederica's having a reasonable dislike to Sir James, I shall instantly +inform him that he must give up all hope of her. I reproach myself for +having even, though innocently, made her unhappy on that score. She shall +have all the retribution in my power to make; if she value her own +happiness as much as I do, if she judge wisely, and command herself as she +ought, she may now be easy. Excuse me, my dearest sister, for thus +trespassing on your time, but I owe it to my own character; and after this +explanation I trust I am in no danger of sinking in your opinion." I could +have said, "Not much, indeed!" but I left her almost in silence. It was +the greatest stretch of forbearance I could practise. I could not have +stopped myself had I begun. Her assurance! her deceit! but I will not allow +myself to dwell on them; they will strike you sufficiently. My heart +sickens within me. As soon as I was tolerably composed I returned to the +parlour. Sir James's carriage was at the door, and he, merry as usual, soon +afterwards took his leave. How easily does her ladyship encourage or +dismiss a lover! In spite of this release, Frederica still looks unhappy: +still fearful, perhaps, of her mother's anger; and though dreading my +brother's departure, jealous, it may be, of his staying. I see how closely +she observes him and Lady Susan, poor girl! I have now no hope for her. +There is not a chance of her affection being returned. He thinks very +differently of her from what he used to do; he does her some justice, but +his reconciliation with her mother precludes every dearer hope. Prepare, my +dear mother, for the worst! The probability of their marrying is surely +heightened! He is more securely hers than ever. When that wretched event +takes place, Frederica must belong wholly to us. I am thankful that my last +letter will precede this by so little, as every moment that you can be +saved from feeling a joy which leads only to disappointment is of +consequence. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XXV + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I call on you, dear Alicia, for congratulations: I am my own self, gay +and triumphant! When I wrote to you the other day I was, in truth, in high +irritation, and with ample cause. Nay, I know not whether I ought to be +quite tranquil now, for I have had more trouble in restoring peace than I +ever intended to submit to--a spirit, too, resulting from a fancied sense +of superior integrity, which is peculiarly insolent! I shall not easily +forgive him, I assure you. He was actually on the point of leaving +Churchhill! I had scarcely concluded my last, when Wilson brought me word +of it. I found, therefore, that something must be done; for I did not +choose to leave my character at the mercy of a man whose passions are so +violent and so revengeful. It would have been trifling with my reputation +to allow of his departing with such an impression in my disfavour; in this +light, condescension was necessary. I sent Wilson to say that I desired to +speak with him before he went; he came immediately. The angry emotions +which had marked every feature when we last parted were partially subdued. +He seemed astonished at the summons, and looked as if half wishing and half +fearing to be softened by what I might say. If my countenance expressed +what I aimed at, it was composed and dignified; and yet, with a degree of +pensiveness which might convince him that I was not quite happy. "I beg +your pardon, sir, for the liberty I have taken in sending for you," said I; +"but as I have just learnt your intention of leaving this place to-day, I +feel it my duty to entreat that you will not on my account shorten your +visit here even an hour. I am perfectly aware that after what has passed +between us it would ill suit the feelings of either to remain longer in the +same house: so very great, so total a change from the intimacy of +friendship must render any future intercourse the severest punishment; and +your resolution of quitting Churchhill is undoubtedly in unison with our +situation, and with those lively feelings which I know you to possess. But, +at the same time, it is not for me to suffer such a sacrifice as it must be +to leave relations to whom you are so much attached, and are so dear. My +remaining here cannot give that pleasure to Mr. and Mrs. Vernon which your +society must; and my visit has already perhaps been too long. My removal, +therefore, which must, at any rate, take place soon, may, with perfect +convenience, be hastened; and I make it my particular request that I may +not in any way be instrumental in separating a family so affectionately +attached to each other. Where I go is of no consequence to anyone; of very +little to myself; but you are of importance to all your connections." Here +I concluded, and I hope you will be satisfied with my speech. Its effect on +Reginald justifies some portion of vanity, for it was no less favourable +than instantaneous. Oh, how delightful it was to watch the variations of +his countenance while I spoke! to see the struggle between returning +tenderness and the remains of displeasure. There is something agreeable in +feelings so easily worked on; not that I envy him their possession, nor +would, for the world, have such myself; but they are very convenient when +one wishes to influence the passions of another. And yet this Reginald, +whom a very few words from me softened at once into the utmost submission, +and rendered more tractable, more attached, more devoted than ever, would +have left me in the first angry swelling of his proud heart without +deigning to seek an explanation. Humbled as he now is, I cannot forgive him +such an instance of pride, and am doubtful whether I ought not to punish +him by dismissing him at once after this reconciliation, or by marrying and +teazing him for ever. But these measures are each too violent to be adopted +without some deliberation; at present my thoughts are fluctuating between +various schemes. I have many things to compass: I must punish Frederica, +and pretty severely too, for her application to Reginald; I must punish +him for receiving it so favourably, and for the rest of his conduct. I must +torment my sister-in-law for the insolent triumph of her look and manner +since Sir James has been dismissed; for, in reconciling Reginald to me, I +was not able to save that ill-fated young man; and I must make myself +amends for the humiliation to which I have stooped within these few days. +To effect all this I have various plans. I have also an idea of being soon +in town; and whatever may be my determination as to the rest, I shall +probably put THAT project in execution; for London will be always the +fairest field of action, however my views may be directed; and at any rate +I shall there be rewarded by your society, and a little dissipation, for a +ten weeks' penance at Churchhill. I believe I owe it to my character to +complete the match between my daughter and Sir James after having so long +intended it. Let me know your opinion on this point. Flexibility of mind, a +disposition easily biassed by others, is an attribute which you know I am +not very desirous of obtaining; nor has Frederica any claim to the +indulgence of her notions at the expense of her mother's inclinations. Her +idle love for Reginald, too! It is surely my duty to discourage such +romantic nonsense. All things considered, therefore, it seems incumbent on +me to take her to town and marry her immediately to Sir James. When my own +will is effected contrary to his, I shall have some credit in being on good +terms with Reginald, which at present, in fact, I have not; for though he +is still in my power, I have given up the very article by which our quarrel +was produced, and at best the honour of victory is doubtful. Send me your +opinion on all these matters, my dear Alicia, and let me know whether you +can get lodgings to suit me within a short distance of you. + +Your most attached + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XXVI + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +I am gratified by your reference, and this is my advice: that you come +to town yourself, without loss of time, but that you leave Frederica +behind. It would surely be much more to the purpose to get yourself well +established by marrying Mr. De Courcy, than to irritate him and the rest of +his family by making her marry Sir James. You should think more of yourself +and less of your daughter. She is not of a disposition to do you credit in +the world, and seems precisely in her proper place at Churchhill, with the +Vernons. But you are fitted for society, and it is shameful to have you +exiled from it. Leave Frederica, therefore, to punish herself for the +plague she has given you, by indulging that romantic tender-heartedness +which will always ensure her misery enough, and come to London as soon as +you can. I have another reason for urging this: Mainwaring came to town +last week, and has contrived, in spite of Mr. Johnson, to make +opportunities of seeing me. He is absolutely miserable about you, and +jealous to such a degree of De Courcy that it would be highly unadvisable +for them to meet at present. And yet, if you do not allow him to see you +here, I cannot answer for his not committing some great imprudence--such as +going to Churchhill, for instance, which would be dreadful! Besides, if you +take my advice, and resolve to marry De Courcy, it will be indispensably +necessary to you to get Mainwaring out of the way; and you only can have +influence enough to send him back to his wife. I have still another motive +for your coming: Mr. Johnson leaves London next Tuesday; he is going for +his health to Bath, where, if the waters are favourable to his constitution +and my wishes, he will be laid up with the gout many weeks. During his +absence we shall be able to chuse our own society, and to have true +enjoyment. I would ask you to Edward Street, but that once he forced from +me a kind of promise never to invite you to my house; nothing but my being +in the utmost distress for money should have extorted it from me. I can get +you, however, a nice drawing-room apartment in Upper Seymour Street, and we +may be always together there or here; for I consider my promise to Mr. +Johnson as comprehending only (at least in his absence) your not sleeping +in the house. Poor Mainwaring gives me such histories of his wife's +jealousy. Silly woman to expect constancy from so charming a man! but she +always was silly--intolerably so in marrying him at all, she the heiress of +a large fortune and he without a shilling: one title, I know, she might +have had, besides baronets. Her folly in forming the connection was so +great that, though Mr. Johnson was her guardian, and I do not in general +share HIS feelings, I never can forgive her. + +Adieu. Yours ever, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXVII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +This letter, my dear Mother, will be brought you by Reginald. His long +visit is about to be concluded at last, but I fear the separation takes +place too late to do us any good. She is going to London to see her +particular friend, Mrs. Johnson. It was at first her intention that +Frederica should accompany her, for the benefit of masters, but we +overruled her there. Frederica was wretched in the idea of going, and I +could not bear to have her at the mercy of her mother; not all the masters +in London could compensate for the ruin of her comfort. I should have +feared, too, for her health, and for everything but her principles--there +I believe she is not to be injured by her mother, or her mother's friends; +but with those friends she must have mixed (a very bad set, I doubt not), +or have been left in total solitude, and I can hardly tell which would have +been worse for her. If she is with her mother, moreover, she must, alas! in +all probability be with Reginald, and that would be the greatest evil of +all. Here we shall in time be in peace, and our regular employments, our +books and conversations, with exercise, the children, and every domestic +pleasure in my power to procure her, will, I trust, gradually overcome this +youthful attachment. I should not have a doubt of it were she slighted for +any other woman in the world than her own mother. How long Lady Susan will +be in town, or whether she returns here again, I know not. I could not be +cordial in my invitation, but if she chuses to come no want of cordiality +on my part will keep her away. I could not help asking Reginald if he +intended being in London this winter, as soon as I found her ladyship's +steps would be bent thither; and though he professed himself quite +undetermined, there was something in his look and voice as he spoke which +contradicted his words. I have done with lamentation; I look upon the event +as so far decided that I resign myself to it in despair. If he leaves you +soon for London everything will be concluded. + +Your affectionate, &c., + +C. VERNON. + + + + + +XXVIII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,--I write in the greatest distress; the most +unfortunate event has just taken place. Mr. Johnson has hit on the most +effectual manner of plaguing us all. He had heard, I imagine, by some means +or other, that you were soon to be in London, and immediately contrived to +have such an attack of the gout as must at least delay his journey to Bath, +if not wholly prevent it. I am persuaded the gout is brought on or kept off +at pleasure; it was the same when I wanted to join the Hamiltons to the +Lakes; and three years ago, when I had a fancy for Bath, nothing could +induce him to have a gouty symptom. + +I am pleased to find that my letter had so much effect on you, and that +De Courcy is certainly your own. Let me hear from you as soon as you +arrive, and in particular tell me what you mean to do with Mainwaring. It +is impossible to say when I shall be able to come to you; my confinement +must be great. It is such an abominable trick to be ill here instead of at +Bath that I can scarcely command myself at all. At Bath his old aunts +would have nursed him, but here it all falls upon me; and he bears pain +with such patience that I have not the common excuse for losing my temper. + +Yours ever, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXIX + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Alicia,--There needed not this last fit of the gout to make me +detest Mr. Johnson, but now the extent of my aversion is not to be +estimated. To have you confined as nurse in his apartment! My dear Alicia, +of what a mistake were you guilty in marrying a man of his age! just old +enough to be formal, ungovernable, and to have the gout; too old to be +agreeable, too young to die. I arrived last night about five, had scarcely +swallowed my dinner when Mainwaring made his appearance. I will not +dissemble what real pleasure his sight afforded me, nor how strongly I felt +the contrast between his person and manners and those of Reginald, to the +infinite disadvantage of the latter. For an hour or two I was even +staggered in my resolution of marrying him, and though this was too idle +and nonsensical an idea to remain long on my mind, I do not feel very eager +for the conclusion of my marriage, nor look forward with much impatience to +the time when Reginald, according to our agreement, is to be in town. I +shall probably put off his arrival under some pretence or other. He must +not come till Mainwaring is gone. I am still doubtful at times as to +marrying; if the old man would die I might not hesitate, but a state of +dependance on the caprice of Sir Reginald will not suit the freedom of my +spirit; and if I resolve to wait for that event, I shall have excuse enough +at present in having been scarcely ten months a widow. I have not given +Mainwaring any hint of my intention, or allowed him to consider my +acquaintance with Reginald as more than the commonest flirtation, and he is +tolerably appeased. Adieu, till we meet; I am enchanted with my lodgings. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XXX + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I have received your letter, and though I do not attempt to conceal that +I am gratified by your impatience for the hour of meeting, I yet feel +myself under the necessity of delaying that hour beyond the time originally +fixed. Do not think me unkind for such an exercise of my power, nor accuse +me of instability without first hearing my reasons. In the course of my +journey from Churchhill I had ample leisure for reflection on the present +state of our affairs, and every review has served to convince me that they +require a delicacy and cautiousness of conduct to which we have hitherto +been too little attentive. We have been hurried on by our feelings to a +degree of precipitation which ill accords with the claims of our friends or +the opinion of the world. We have been unguarded in forming this hasty +engagement, but we must not complete the imprudence by ratifying it while +there is so much reason to fear the connection would be opposed by those +friends on whom you depend. It is not for us to blame any expectations on +your father's side of your marrying to advantage; where possessions are so +extensive as those of your family, the wish of increasing them, if not +strictly reasonable, is too common to excite surprize or resentment. He has +a right to require; a woman of fortune in his daughter-in-law, and I am +sometimes quarrelling with myself for suffering you to form a connection so +imprudent; but the influence of reason is often acknowledged too late by +those who feel like me. I have now been but a few months a widow, and, +however little indebted to my husband's memory for any happiness derived +from him during a union of some years, I cannot forget that the indelicacy +of so early a second marriage must subject me to the censure of the world, +and incur, what would be still more insupportable, the displeasure of Mr. +Vernon. I might perhaps harden myself in time against the injustice of +general reproach, but the loss of HIS valued esteem I am, as you well know, +ill-fitted to endure; and when to this may be added the consciousness of +having injured you with your family, how am I to support myself? With +feelings so poignant as mine, the conviction of having divided the son from +his parents would make me, even with you, the most miserable of beings. It +will surely, therefore, be advisable to delay our union--to delay it till +appearances are more promising--till affairs have taken a more favourable +turn. To assist us In such a resolution I feel that absence will be +necessary. We must not meet. Cruel as this sentence may appear, the +necessity of pronouncing it, which can alone reconcile it to myself, will +be evident to you when you have considered our situation in the light in +which I have found myself imperiously obliged to place it. You may be--you +must be--well assured that nothing but the strongest conviction of duty +could induce me to wound my own feelings by urging a lengthened separation, +and of insensibility to yours you will hardly suspect me. Again, therefore, +I say that we ought not, we must not, yet meet. By a removal for some +months from each other we shall tranquillise the sisterly fears of Mrs. +Vernon, who, accustomed herself to the enjoyment of riches, considers +fortune as necessary everywhere, and whose sensibilities are not of a +nature to comprehend ours. Let me hear from you soon--very soon. Tell me +that you submit to my arguments, and do not reproach me for using such. I +cannot bear reproaches: my spirits are not so high as to need being +repressed. I must endeavour to seek amusement, and fortunately many of my +friends are in town ; amongst them the Mainwarings; you know how sincerely +I regard both husband and wife. + +I am, very faithfully yours, + +S. VERNON + + + + + +XXXI + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Friend,--That tormenting creature, Reginald, is here. My letter, +which was intended to keep him longer in the country, has hastened him to +town. Much as I wish him away, however, I cannot help being pleased with +such a proof of attachment. He is devoted to me, heart and soul. He will +carry this note himself, which is to serve as an introduction to you, with +whom he longs to be acquainted. Allow him to spend the evening with you, +that I may be in no danger of his returning here. I have told him that I am +not quite well, and must be alone; and should he call again there might be +confusion, for it is impossible to be sure of servants. Keep him, +therefore, I entreat you, in Edward Street. You will not find him a heavy +companion, and I allow you to flirt with him as much as you like. At the +same time, do not forget my real interest; say all that you can to convince +him that I shall be quite wretched if he remains here ; you know my +reasons--propriety, and so forth. I would urge them more myself, but that I +am impatient to be rid of him, as Mainwaring comes within half an hour. +Adieu ! + +S VERNON + + + + + +XXXII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +My dear Creature,--I am in agonies, and know not what to do. Mr. De +Courcy arrived just when he should not. Mrs. Mainwaring had that instant +entered the house, and forced herself into her guardian's presence, though +I did not know a syllable of it till afterwards, for I was out when both +she and Reginald came, or I should have sent him away at all events; but +she was shut up with Mr. Johnson, while he waited in the drawing-room for +me. She arrived yesterday in pursuit of her husband, but perhaps you know +this already from himself. She came to this house to entreat my husband's +interference, and before I could be aware of it, everything that you could +wish to be concealed was known to him, and unluckily she had wormed out of +Mainwaring's servant that he had visited you every day since your being in +town, and had just watched him to your door herself! What could I do! Facts +are such horrid things! All is by this time known to De Courcy, who is now +alone with Mr. Johnson. Do not accuse me; indeed, it was impossible to +prevent it. Mr. Johnson has for some time suspected De Courcy of intending +to marry you, and would speak with him alone as soon as he knew him to be +in the house. That detestable Mrs. Mainwaring, who, for your comfort, has +fretted herself thinner and uglier than ever, is still here, and they have +been all closeted together. What can be done? At any rate, I hope he will +plague his wife more than ever. With anxious wishes, +Yours faithfully, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXXIII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +This eclaircissement is rather provoking. How unlucky that you should +have been from home! I thought myself sure of you at seven! I am undismayed +however. Do not torment yourself with fears on my account; depend on it, I +can make my story good with Reginald. Mainwaring is just gone; he brought +me the news of his wife's arrival. Silly woman, what does she expect by +such manoeuvres.? Yet I wish she had stayed quietly at Langford. Reginald +will be a little enraged at first, but by to-morrow's dinner, everything +will be well again. + +Adieu! + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXIV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN + + +--- Hotel + + +I write only to bid you farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as you +are. Since we parted yesterday, I have received from indisputable authority +such a history of you as must bring the most mortifying conviction of the +imposition I have been under, and the absolute necessity of an immediate +and eternal separation from you. You cannot doubt to what I allude. +Langford! Langford! that word will be sufficient. I received my information +in Mr. Johnson's house, from Mrs. Mainwaring herself. You know how I have +loved you; you can intimately judge of my present feelings, but I am not so +weak as to find indulgence in describing them to a woman who will glory in +having excited their anguish, but whose affection they have never been able +to gain. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XXXV + + +LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I will not attempt to describe my astonishment in reading the note this +moment received from you. I am bewildered in my endeavours to form some +rational conjecture of what Mrs. Mainwaring can have told you to occasion +so extraordinary a change in your sentiments. Have I not explained +everything to you with respect to myself which could bear a doubtful +meaning, and which the ill-nature of the world had interpreted to my +discredit? What can you now have heard to stagger your esteem for me? Have +I ever had a concealment from you? Reginald, you agitate me beyond +expression, I cannot suppose that the old story of Mrs. Mainwaring's +jealousy can be revived again, or at least be LISTENED to again. Come to me +immediately, and explain what is at present absolutely incomprehensible. +Believe me the single word of Langford is not of such potent intelligence +as to supersede the necessity of more. If we ARE to part, it will at least +be handsome to take your personal leave--but I have little heart to jest; +in truth, I am serious enough; for to be sunk, though but for an hour, in +your esteem Is a humiliation to which I know not how to submit. I shall +count every minute till your arrival. + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXVI + + +MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN + + +---- Hotel. + + +Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars? But, since it +must be so, I am obliged to declare that all the accounts of your +misconduct during the life, and since the death of Mr. Vernon, which had +reached me, in common with the world in general, and gained my entire +belief before I saw you, but which you, by the exertion of your perverted +abilities, had made me resolved to disallow, have been unanswerably proved +to me; nay more, I am assured that a connection, of which I had never +before entertained a thought, has for some time existed, and still +continues to exist, between you and the man whose family you robbed of its +peace in return for the hospitality with which you were received into it; +that you have corresponded with him ever since your leaving Langford; not +with his wife, but with him, and that he now visits you every day. Can you, +dare you deny it? and all this at the time when I was an encouraged, an +accepted lover! From what have I not escaped! I have only to be grateful. +Far from me be all complaint, every sigh of regret. My own folly had +endangered me, my preservation I owe to the kindness, the integrity of +another; but the unfortunate Mrs. Mainwaring, whose agonies while she +related the past seemed to threaten her reason, how is SHE to be consoled! +After such a discovery as this, you will scarcely affect further wonder at +my meaning in bidding you adieu. My understanding is at length restored, +and teaches no less to abhor the artifices which had subdued me than to +despise myself for the weakness on which their strength was founded. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XXXVII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I am satisfied, and will trouble you no more when these few lines are +dismissed. The engagement which you were eager to form a fortnight ago is +no longer compatible with your views, and I rejoice to find that the +prudent advice of your parents has not been given in vain. Your restoration +to peace will, I doubt not, speedily follow this act of filial obedience, +and I flatter myself with the hope of surviving my share in this +disappointment. + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXVIII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN VERNON + + +Edward Street + + +I am grieved, though I cannot be astonished at your rupture with Mr. De +Courcy; he has just informed Mr. Johnson of it by letter. He leaves London, +he says, to-day. Be assured that I partake in all your feelings, and do not +be angry if I say that our intercourse, even by letter, must soon be given +up. It makes me miserable; but Mr. Johnson vows that if I persist in the +connection, he will settle in the country for the rest of his life, and you +know it is impossible to submit to such an extremity while any other +alternative remains. You have heard of course that the Mainwarings are to +part, and I am afraid Mrs. M. will come home to us again; but she is still +so fond of her husband, and frets so much about him, that perhaps she may +not live long. Miss Mainwaring is just come to town to be with her aunt, +and they say that she declares she will have Sir James Martin before she +leaves London again. If I were you, I would certainly get him myself. I had +almost forgot to give you my opinion of Mr. De Courcy; I am really +delighted with him; he is full as handsome, I think, as Mainwaring, and +with such an open, good-humoured countenance, that one cannot help loving +him at first sight. Mr. Johnson and he are the greatest friends in the +world. Adieu, my dearest Susan, I wish matters did not go so perversely. +That unlucky visit to Langford! but I dare say you did all for the best, +and there is no defying destiny. + +Your sincerely attached + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXXIX + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + +My dear Alicia,--I yield to the necessity which parts us. Under +circumstances you could not act otherwise. Our friendship cannot be +impaired by it, and in happier times, when your situation is as independent +as mine, it will unite us again in the same intimacy as ever. For this I +shall impatiently wait, and meanwhile can safely assure you that I never +was more at ease, or better satisfied with myself and everything about me +than at the present hour. Your husband I abhor, Reginald I despise, and I +am secure of never seeing either again. Have I not reason to rejoice? +Mainwaring is more devoted to me than ever; and were we at liberty, I doubt +if I could resist even matrimony offered by HIM. This event, if his wife +live with you, it may be in your power to hasten. The violence of her +feelings, which must wear her out, may be easily kept in irritation. I rely +on your friendship for this. I am now satisfied that I never could have +brought myself to marry Reginald, and am equally determined that Frederica +never shall. To-morrow, I shall fetch her from Churchhill, and let Maria +Mainwaring tremble for the consequence. Frederica shall be Sir James's wife +before she quits my house, and she may whimper, and the Vernons may storm, +I regard them not. I am tired of submitting my will to the caprices of +others; of resigning my own judgment in deference to those to whom I owe no +duty, and for whom I feel no respect. I have given up too much, have been +too easily worked on, but Frederica shall now feel the difference. Adieu, +dearest of friends ; may the next gouty attack be more favourable! and may +you always regard me as unalterably yours, + +S. VERNON + + + + + +XL + + +LADY DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +My dear Catherine,--I have charming news for you, and if I had not sent +off my letter this morning you might have been spared the vexation of +knowing of Reginald's being gone to London, for he is returned. Reginald is +returned, not to ask our consent to his marrying Lady Susan, but to tell us +they are parted for ever. He has been only an hour in the house, and I have +not been able to learn particulars, for he is so very low that I have not +the heart to ask questions, but I hope we shall soon know all. This is the +most joyful hour he has ever given us since the day of his birth. Nothing +is wanting but to have you here, and it is our particular wish and entreaty +that you would come to us as soon as you can. You have owed us a visit many +long weeks; I hope nothing will make it inconvenient to Mr. Vernon; and +pray bring all my grand-children; and your dear niece is included, of +course; I long to see her. It has been a sad, heavy winter hitherto, +without Reginald, and seeing nobody from Churchhill. I never found the +season so dreary before; but this happy meeting will make us young again. +Frederica runs much in my thoughts, and when Reginald has recovered his +usual good spirits (as I trust he soon will) we will try to rob him of his +heart once more, and I am full of hopes of seeing their hands joined at no +great distance. + +Your affectionate mother, + +C. DE COURCY + + + + + +XLI + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--Your letter has surprized me beyond measure! Can it be +true that they are really separated--and for ever? I should be overjoyed +if I dared depend on it, but after all that I have seen how can one be +secure And Reginald really with you! My surprize is the greater because on +Wednesday, the very day of his coming to Parklands, we had a most +unexpected and unwelcome visit from Lady Susan, looking all cheerfulness +and good-humour, and seeming more as if she were to marry him when she got +to London than as if parted from him for ever. She stayed nearly two hours, +was as affectionate and agreeable as ever, and not a syllable, not a hint +was dropped, of any disagreement or coolness between them. I asked her +whether she had seen my brother since his arrival in town; not, as you may +suppose, with any doubt of the fact, but merely to see how she looked. She +immediately answered, without any embarrassment, that he had been kind +enough to call on her on Monday; but she believed he had already returned +home, which I was very far from crediting. Your kind invitation is accepted +by us with pleasure, and on Thursday next we and our little ones will be +with you. Pray heaven, Reginald may not be in town again by that time! I +wish we could bring dear Frederica too, but I am sorry to say that her +mother's errand hither was to fetch her away; and, miserable as it made the +poor girl, it was impossible to detain her. I was thoroughly unwilling to +let her go, and so was her uncle; and all that could be urged we did urge; +but Lady Susan declared that as she was now about to fix herself in London +for several months, she could not be easy if her daughter were not with her +for masters, &c. Her manner, to be sure, was very kind and proper, and Mr. +Vernon believes that Frederica will now be treated with affection. I wish I +could think so too. The poor girl's heart was almost broke at taking leave +of us. I charged her to write to me very often, and to remember that if she +were in any distress we should be always her friends. I took care to see +her alone, that I might say all this, and I hope made her a little more +comfortable; but I shall not be easy till I can go to town and judge of her +situation myself. I wish there were a better prospect than now appears of +the match which the conclusion of your letter declares your expectations +of. At present, it is not very likely + +Yours ever, &c., + +C. VERNON + + + + + + +CONCLUSION + + +This correspondence, by a meeting between some of the parties, and a +separation between the others, could not, to the great detriment of the +Post Office revenue, be continued any longer. Very little assistance to the +State could be derived from the epistolary intercourse of Mrs. Vernon and +her niece; for the former soon perceived, by the style of Frederica's +letters, that they were written under her mother's inspection! and +therefore, deferring all particular enquiry till she could make it +personally in London, ceased writing minutely or often. Having learnt +enough, in the meanwhile, from her open-hearted brother, of what had passed +between him and Lady Susan to sink the latter lower than ever in her +opinion, she was proportionably more anxious to get Frederica removed from +such a mother, and placed under her own care; and, though with little hope +of success, was resolved to leave nothing unattempted that might offer a +chance of obtaining her sister-in-law's consent to it. Her anxiety on the +subject made her press for an early visit to London; and Mr. Vernon, who, +as it must already have appeared, lived only to do whatever he was desired, +soon found some accommodating business to call him thither. With a heart +full of the matter, Mrs. Vernon waited on Lady Susan shortly after her +arrival in town, and was met with such an easy and cheerful affection, as +made her almost turn from her with horror. No remembrance of Reginald, no +consciousness of guilt, gave one look of embarrassment; she was in +excellent spirits, and seemed eager to show at once by ever possible +attention to her brother and sister her sense of their kindness, and her +pleasure in their society. Frederica was no more altered than Lady Susan; +the same restrained manners, the same timid look in the presence of her +mother as heretofore, assured her aunt of her situation being +uncomfortable, and confirmed her in the plan of altering it. No unkindness, +however, on the part of Lady Susan appeared. Persecution on the subject of +Sir James was entirely at an end; his name merely mentioned to say that he +was not in London; and indeed, in all her conversation, she was solicitous +only for the welfare and improvement of her daughter, acknowledging, in +terms of grateful delight, that Frederica was now growing every day more +and more what a parent could desire. Mrs. Vernon, surprized and +incredulous, knew not what to suspect, and, without any change in her own +views, only feared greater difficulty in accomplishing them. The first hope +of anything better was derived from Lady Susan's asking her whether she +thought Frederica looked quite as well as she had done at Churchhill, as +she must confess herself to have sometimes an anxious doubt of London's +perfectly agreeing with her. Mrs. Vernon, encouraging the doubt, directly +proposed her niece's returning with them into the country. Lady Susan was +unable to express her sense of such kindness, yet knew not, from a variety +of reasons, how to part with her daughter; and as, though her own plans +were not yet wholly fixed, she trusted it would ere long be in her power to +take Frederica into the country herself, concluded by declining entirely to +profit by such unexampled attention. Mrs. Vernon persevered, however, in +the offer of it, and though Lady Susan continued to resist, her resistance +in the course of a few days seemed somewhat less formidable. The lucky +alarm of an influenza decided what might not have been decided quite so +soon. Lady Susan's maternal fears were then too much awakened for her to +think of anything but Frederica's removal from the risk of infection; above +all disorders in the world she most dreaded the influenza for her +daughter's constitution! + +Frederica returned to Churchhill with her uncle and aunt; and three +weeks afterwards, Lady Susan announced her being married to Sir James +Martin. Mrs. Vernon was then convinced of what she had only suspected +before, that she might have spared herself all the trouble of urging a +removal which Lady Susan had doubtless resolved on from the first. +Frederica's visit was nominally for six weeks, but her mother, though +inviting her to return in one or two affectionate letters, was very ready +to oblige the whole party by consenting to a prolongation of her stay, and +in the course of two months ceased to write of her absence, and in the +course of two or more to write to her at all. Frederica was therefore fixed +in the family of her uncle and aunt till such time as Reginald De Courcy +could be talked, flattered, and finessed into an affection for her which, +allowing leisure for the conquest of his attachment to her mother, for his +abjuring all future attachments, and detesting the sex, might be reasonably +looked for in the course of a twelvemonth. Three months might have done it +in general, but Reginald's feelings were no less lasting than lively. +Whether Lady Susan was or was not happy in her second choice, I do not see +how it can ever be ascertained; for who would take her assurance of it on +either side of the question? The world must judge from probabilities ; she +had nothing against her but her husband, and her conscience. Sir James may +seem to have drawn a harder lot than mere folly merited; I leave him, +therefore, to all the pity that anybody can give him. For myself, I confess +that I can pity only Miss Mainwaring; who, coming to town, and putting +herself to an expense in clothes which impoverished her for two years, on +purpose to secure him, was defrauded of her due by a woman ten years older +than herself. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Lady Susan, by Jane Austen + diff --git a/old/lsusn10.zip b/old/lsusn10.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b6647e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/lsusn10.zip diff --git a/old/lsusn11.txt b/old/lsusn11.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5fc0196 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/lsusn11.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2730 @@ +***The Project Gutenberg Etext of Lady Susan, by Jane Austen*** +#6 in our series by Jane Austen + + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world, be sure to check +the copyright laws for your country before posting these files!! + +Please take a look at the important information in this header. +We encourage you to keep this file on your own disk, keeping an +electronic path open for the next readers. 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If you + don't derive profits, no royalty is due. Royalties are + payable to "Project Gutenberg Association/Carnegie-Mellon + University" within the 60 days following each + date you prepare (or were legally required to prepare) + your annual (or equivalent periodic) tax return. + +WHAT IF YOU *WANT* TO SEND MONEY EVEN IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO? +The Project gratefully accepts contributions in money, time, +scanning machines, OCR software, public domain etexts, royalty +free copyright licenses, and every other sort of contribution +you can think of. Money should be paid to "Project Gutenberg +Association / Carnegie-Mellon University". + +*END*THE SMALL PRINT! FOR PUBLIC DOMAIN ETEXTS*Ver.04.29.93*END* + + + + + +LADY SUSAN + +by + +Jane Austen + + + +I + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. VERNON + + +Langford, Dec. + + +MY DEAR BROTHER,--I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure of +profiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of spending some +weeks with you at Churchhill, and, therefore, if quite convenient to you +and Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few days to +be introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be acquainted +with. My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent with me to +prolong my stay, but their hospitable and cheerful dispositions lead them +too much into society for my present situation and state of mind; and I +impatiently look forward to the hour when I shall be admitted into Your +delightful retirement. + +I long to be made known to your dear little children, in whose hearts I +shall be very eager to secure an interest. I shall soon have need for all +my fortitude, as I am on the point of separation from my own daughter. +The long illness of her dear father prevented my paying her that attention +which duty and affection equally dictated, and I have too much reason to +fear that the governess to whose care I consigned her was unequal to the +charge. I have therefore resolved on placing her at one of the best +private schools in town, where I shall have an opportunity of leaving her +myself in my way to you. I am determined, you see, not to be denied +admittance at Churchhill. It would indeed give me most painful sensations +to know that it were not in your power to receive me. + +Your most obliged and affectionate sister, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +II + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Langford. + + +You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing me fixed at this place +for the rest of the winter: it grieves me to say how greatly you were +mistaken, for I have seldom spent three months more agreeably than those +which have just flown away. At present, nothing goes smoothly; the females +of the family are united against me. You foretold how it would be when I +first came to Langford, and Mainwaring is so uncommonly pleasing that I was +not without apprehensions for myself. I remember saying to myself, as I +drove to the house, "I like this man, pray Heaven no harm come of it!" But +I was determined to be discreet, to bear in mind my being only four months +a widow, and to be as quiet as possible: and I have been so, my dear +creature; I have admitted no one's attentions but Mainwaring's. I have +avoided all general flirtation whatever; I have distinguished no creature +besides, of all the numbers resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on +whom I bestowed a little notice, in order to detach him from Miss +Mainwaring; but, if the world could know my motive THERE they would honour +me. I have been called an unkind mother, but it was the sacred impulse of +maternal affection, it was the advantage of my daughter that led me on; and +if that daughter were not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might have +been rewarded for my exertions as I ought. + +Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica; but Frederica, who was +born to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so violently +against the match that I thought it better to lay aside the scheme for the +present. I have more than once repented that I did not marry him myself; +and were he but one degree less contemptibly weak I certainly should: but I +must own myself rather romantic in that respect, and that riches only will +not satisfy me. The event of all this is very provoking: Sir James is gone, +Maria highly incensed, and Mrs. Mainwaring insupportably jealous; so +jealous, in short, and so enraged against me, that, in the fury of her +temper, I should not be surprized at her appealing to her guardian, if she +had the liberty of addressing him: but there your husband stands my friend; +and the kindest, most amiable action of his life was his throwing her off +for ever on her marriage. Keep up his resentment, therefore, I charge you. +We are now in a sad state; no house was ever more altered; the whole party +are at war, and Mainwaring scarcely dares speak to me. It is time for me to +be gone; I have therefore determined on leaving them, and shall spend, I +hope, a comfortable day with you in town within this week. If I am as +little in favour with Mr. Johnson as ever, you must come to me at 10 +Wigmore street; but I hope this may not be the case, for as Mr. Johnson, +with all his faults, is a man to whom that great word "respectable" is +always given, and I am known to be so intimate with his wife, his slighting +me has an awkward look. + +I take London in my way to that insupportable spot, a country village; +for I am really going to Churchhill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is my +last resource. Were there another place in England open to me I would +prefer it. Charles Vernon is my aversion; and I am afraid of his wife. At +Churchhill, however, I must remain till I have something better in view. My +young lady accompanies me to town, where I shall deposit her under the care +of Miss Summers, in Wigmore street, till she becomes a little more +reasonable. She will make good connections there, as the girls are all +of the best families. The price is immense, and much beyond what I can ever +attempt to pay. + +Adieu, I will send you a line as soon as I arrive in town. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + +III + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--I am very sorry to tell you that it will not be in our +power to keep our promise of spending our Christmas with you; and we are +prevented that happiness by a circumstance which is not likely to make us +any amends. Lady Susan, in a letter to her brother-in-law, has declared her +intention of visiting us almost immediately; and as such a visit is in all +probability merely an affair of convenience, it is impossible to conjecture +its length. I was by no means prepared for such an event, nor can I now +account for her ladyship's conduct; Langford appeared so exactly the place +for her in every respect, as well from the elegant and expensive style of +living there, as from her particular attachment to Mr. Mainwaring, that I +was very far from expecting so speedy a distinction, though I always +imagined from her increasing friendship for us since her husband's death +that we should, at some future period, be obliged to receive her. Mr. +Vernon, I think, was a great deal too kind to her when he was in +Staffordshire; her behaviour to him, independent of her general character, +has been so inexcusably artful and ungenerous since our marriage was first +in agitation that no one less amiable and mild than himself could have +overlooked it all; and though, as his brother's widow, and in narrow +circumstances, it was proper to render her pecuniary assistance, I cannot +help thinking his pressing invitation to her to visit us at Churchhill +perfectly unnecessary. Disposed, however, as he always is to think the +best of everyone, her display of grief, and professions of regret, and +general resolutions of prudence, were sufficient to soften his heart and +make him really confide in her sincerity; but, as for myself, I am still +unconvinced, and plausibly as her ladyship has now written, I cannot make +up my mind till I better understand her real meaning in coming to us. You +may guess, therefore, my dear madam, with what feelings I look forward to +her arrival. She will have occasion for all those attractive powers for +which she is celebrated to gain any share of my regard; and I shall +certainly endeavour to guard myself against their influence, if not +accompanied by something more substantial. She expresses a most eager +desire of being acquainted with me, and makes very gracious mention of my +children but I am not quite weak enough to suppose a woman who has behaved +with inattention, if not with unkindness, to her own child, should be +attached to any of mine. Miss Vernon is to be placed at a school in London +before her mother comes to us which I am glad of, for her sake and my own. +It must be to her advantage to be separated from her mother, and a girl of +sixteen who has received so wretched an education, could not be a very +desirable companion here. Reginald has long wished, I know, to see the +captivating Lady Susan, and we shall depend on his joining our party soon. +I am glad to hear that my father continues so well; and am, with best love, +&c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +IV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Sister,--I congratulate you and Mr. Vernon on being about to +receive into your family the most accomplished coquette in England. As a +very distinguished flirt I have always been taught to consider her, but it +has lately fallen in my way to hear some particulars of her conduct at +Langford: which prove that she does not confine herself to that sort of +honest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires to the more +delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable. By her +behaviour to Mr. Mainwaring she gave jealousy and wretchedness to his wife, +and by her attentions to a young man previously attached to Mr. +Mainwaring's sister deprived an amiable girl of her lover. + +I learnt all this from Mr. Smith, now in this neighbourhood (I have +dined with him, at Hurst and Wilford), who is just come from Langford where +he was a fortnight with her ladyship, and who is therefore well qualified +to make the communication. + +What a woman she must be! I long to see her, and shall certainly accept +your kind invitation, that I may form some idea of those bewitching powers +which can do so much--engaging at the same time, and in the same house, the +affections of two men, who were neither of them at liberty to bestow them- +-and all this without the charm of youth! I am glad to find Miss Vernon +does not accompany her mother to Churchhill, as she has not even manners to +recommend her; and, according to Mr. Smith's account, is equally dull and +proud. Where pride and stupidity unite there can be no dissimulation worthy +notice, and Miss Vernon shall be consigned to unrelenting contempt; but by +all that I can gather Lady Susan possesses a degree of captivating deceit +which it must be pleasing to witness and detect. I shall be with you very +soon, and am ever, + +Your affectionate brother, + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + +V + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I received your note, my dear Alicia, just before I left town, and +rejoice to be assured that Mr. Johnson suspected nothing of your engagement +the evening before. It is undoubtedly better to deceive him entirely, and +since he will be stubborn he must be tricked. I arrived here in safety, and +have no reason to complain of my reception from Mr. Vernon; but I confess +myself not equally satisfied with the behaviour of his lady. She is +perfectly well-bred, indeed, and has the air of a woman of fashion, but her +manners are not such as can persuade me of her being prepossessed in my +favour. I wanted her to be delighted at seeing me. I was as amiable as +possible on the occasion, but all in vain. She does not like me. To be sure +when we consider that I DID take some pains to prevent my brother-in-law's +marrying her, this want of cordiality is not very surprizing, and yet it +shows an illiberal and vindictive spirit to resent a project which +influenced me six years ago, and which never succeeded at last. + +I am sometimes disposed to repent that I did not let Charles buy Vernon +Castle, when we were obliged to sell it; but it was a trying circumstance, +especially as the sale took place exactly at the time of his marriage; and +everybody ought to respect the delicacy of those feelings which could not +endure that my husband's dignity should be lessened by his younger +brother's having possession of the family estate. Could matters have been +so arranged as to prevent the necessity of our leaving the castle, could we +have lived with Charles and kept him single, I should have been very far +from persuading my husband to dispose of it elsewhere; but Charles was on +the point of marrying Miss De Courcy, and the event has justified me. Here +are children in abundance, and what benefit could have accrued to me from +his purchasing Vernon? My having prevented it may perhaps have given his +wife an unfavourable impression, but where there is a disposition to +dislike, a motive will never be wanting; and as to money matters it has not +withheld him from being very useful to me. I really have a regard for him, +he is so easily imposed upon! The house is a good one, the furniture +fashionable, and everything announces plenty and elegance. Charles is very +rich I am sure; when a man has once got his name in a banking-house he +rolls in money; but they do not know what to do with it, keep very little +company, and never go to London but on business. We shall be as stupid as +possible. I mean to win my sister-in-law's heart through the children; I +know all their names already, and am going to attach myself with the +greatest sensibility to one in particular, a young Frederic, whom I take on +my lap and sigh over for his dear uncle's sake. + +Poor Mainwaring! I need not tell you how much I miss him, how +perpetually he is in my thoughts. I found a dismal letter from him on my +arrival here, full of complaints of his wife and sister, and lamentations +on the cruelty of his fate. I passed off the letter as his wife's, to the +Vernons, and when I write to him it must be under cover to you. + +Ever yours, +S. VERNON. + + + + + +VI + + +MRS. VERNON TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +Well, my dear Reginald, I have seen this dangerous creature, and must +give you some description of her, though I hope you will soon be able to +form your own judgment she is really excessively pretty; however you may +choose to question the allurements of a lady no longer young, I must, for +my own part, declare that I have seldom seen so lovely a woman as Lady +Susan. She is delicately fair, with fine grey eyes and dark eyelashes; and +from her appearance one would not suppose her more than five and twenty, +though she must in fact be ten years older, I was certainly not disposed to +admire her, though always hearing she was beautiful; but I cannot help +feeling that she possesses an uncommon union of symmetry, brilliancy, and +grace. Her address to me was so gentle, frank, and even affectionate, that, +if I had not known how much she has always disliked me for marrying Mr. +Vernon, and that we had never met before, I should have imagined her an +attached friend. One is apt, I believe, to connect assurance of manner with +coquetry, and to expect that an impudent address will naturally attend an +impudent mind; at least I was myself prepared for an improper degree of +confidence in Lady Susan; but her countenance is absolutely sweet, and her +voice and manner winningly mild. I am sorry it is so, for what is this but +deceit? Unfortunately, one knows her too well. She is clever and agreeable, +has all that knowledge of the world which makes conversation easy, and +talks very well, with a happy command of language, which is too often used, +I believe, to make black appear white. She has already almost persuaded me +of her being warmly attached to her daughter, though I have been so long +convinced to the contrary. She speaks of her with so much tenderness and +anxiety, lamenting so bitterly the neglect of her education, which she +represents however as wholly unavoidable, that I am forced to recollect how +many successive springs her ladyship spent in town, while her daughter was +left in Staffordshire to the care of servants, or a governess very little +better, to prevent my believing what she says. + +If her manners have so great an influence on my resentful heart, you may +judge how much more strongly they operate on Mr. Vernon's generous temper. +I wish I could be as well satisfied as he is, that it was really her choice +to leave Langford for Churchhill; and if she had not stayed there for +months before she discovered that her friend's manner of living did not +suit her situation or feelings, I might have believed that concern for the +loss of such a husband as Mr. Vernon, to whom her own behaviour was far +from unexceptionable, might for a time make her wish for retirement. But +I cannot forget the length of her visit to the Mainwarings, and when I +reflect on the different mode of life which she led with them from that to +which she must now submit, I can only suppose that the wish of establishing +her reputation by following though late the path of propriety, occasioned +her removal from a family where she must in reality have been particularly +happy. Your friend Mr. Smith's story, however, cannot be quite correct, as +she corresponds regularly with Mrs. Mainwaring. At any rate it must be +exaggerated. It is scarcely possible that two men should be so grossly +deceived by her at once. + +Yours, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON + + + + + +VII + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Alicia,--You are very good in taking notice of Frederica, and I +am grateful for it as a mark of your friendship; but as I cannot have any +doubt of the warmth of your affection, I am far from exacting so heavy a +sacrifice. She is a stupid girl, and has nothing to recommend her. I would +not, therefore, on my account, have you encumber one moment of your +precious time by sending for her to Edward Street, especially as every +visit is so much deducted from the grand affair of education, which I +really wish to have attended to while she remains at Miss Summers's. I want +her to play and sing with some portion of taste and a good deal of +assurance, as she has my hand and arm and a tolerable voice. I was so much +indulged in my infant years that I was never obliged to attend to anything, +and consequently am without the accomplishments which are now necessary to +finish a pretty woman. Not that I am an advocate for the prevailing fashion +of acquiring a perfect knowledge of all languages, arts, and sciences. It +is throwing time away to be mistress of French, Italian, and German: +music, singing, and drawing, &c., will gain a woman some applause, but will +not add one lover to her list--grace and manner, after all, are of the +greatest importance. I do not mean, therefore, that Frederica's +acquirements should be more than superficial, and I flatter myself that she +will not remain long enough at school to understand anything thoroughly. I +hope to see her the wife of Sir James within a twelvemonth. You know on +what I ground my hope, and it is certainly a good foundation, for school +must be very humiliating to a girl of Frederica's age. And, by-the-by, you +had better not invite her any more on that account, as I wish her to find +her situation as unpleasant as possible. I am sure of Sir James at any +time, and could make him renew his application by a line. I shall trouble +you meanwhile to prevent his forming any other attachment when he comes to +town. Ask him to your house occasionally, and talk to him of Frederica, +that he may not forget her. Upon the whole, I commend my own conduct in +this affair extremely, and regard it as a very happy instance of +circumspection and tenderness. Some mothers would have insisted on their +daughter's accepting so good an offer on the first overture; but I could +not reconcile it to myself to force Frederica into a marriage from which +her heart revolted, and instead of adopting so harsh a measure merely +propose to make it her own choice, by rendering her thoroughly +uncomfortable till she does accept him--but enough of this tiresome girl. +You may well wonder how I contrive to pass my time here, and for the first +week it was insufferably dull. Now, however, we begin to mend, our party is +enlarged by Mrs. Vernon's brother, a handsome young man, who promises me +some amusement. There is something about him which rather interests me, a +sort of sauciness and familiarity which I shall teach him to correct. He is +lively, and seems clever, and when I have inspired him with greater respect +for me than his sister's kind offices have implanted, he may be an +agreeable flirt. There is exquisite pleasure in subduing an insolent +spirit, in making a person predetermined to dislike acknowledge one's +superiority. I have disconcerted him already by my calm reserve, and it +shall be my endeavour to humble the pride of these self important De +Courcys still lower, to convince Mrs. Vernon that her sisterly cautions +have been bestowed in vain, and to persuade Reginald that she has +scandalously belied me. This project will serve at least to amuse me, and +prevent my feeling so acutely this dreadful separation from you and all +whom I love. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +VIII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--You must not expect Reginald back again for some time. +He desires me to tell you that the present open weather induces him to +accept Mr. Vernon's invitation to prolong his stay in Sussex, that they may +have some hunting together. He means to send for his horses immediately, +and it is impossible to say when you may see him in Kent. I will not +disguise my sentiments on this change from you, my dear mother, though I +think you had better not communicate them to my father, whose excessive +anxiety about Reginald would subject him to an alarm which might seriously +affect his health and spirits. Lady Susan has certainly contrived, in the +space of a fortnight, to make my brother like her. In short, I am persuaded +that his continuing here beyond the time originally fixed for his return is +occasioned as much by a degree of fascination towards her, as by the wish +of hunting with Mr. Vernon, and of course I cannot receive that pleasure +from the length of his visit which my brother's company would otherwise +give me. I am, indeed, provoked at the artifice of this unprincipled woman; +what stronger proof of her dangerous abilities can be given than this +perversion of Reginald's judgment, which when he entered the house was so +decidedly against her! In his last letter he actually gave me some +particulars of her behaviour at Langford, such as he received from a +gentleman who knew her perfectly well, which, if true, must raise +abhorrence against her, and which Reginald himself was entirely disposed to +credit. His opinion of her, I am sure, was as low as of any woman in +England; and when he first came it was evident that he considered her as +one entitled neither to delicacy nor respect, and that he felt she would be +delighted with the attentions of any man inclined to flirt with her. Her +behaviour, I confess, has been calculated to do away with such an idea; I +have not detected the smallest impropriety in it--nothing of vanity, of +pretension, of levity; and she is altogether so attractive that I should +not wonder at his being delighted with her, had he known nothing of her +previous to this personal acquaintance; but, against reason, against +conviction, to be so well pleased with her, as I am sure he is, does really +astonish me. His admiration was at first very strong, but no more than was +natural, and I did not wonder at his being much struck by the gentleness +and delicacy of her manners; but when he has mentioned her of late it has +been in terms of more extraordinary praise; and yesterday he actually said +that he could not be surprised at any effect produced on the heart of man +by such loveliness and such abilities; and when I lamented, in reply, the +badness of her disposition, he observed that whatever might have been her +errors they were to be imputed to her neglected education and early +marriage, and that she was altogether a wonderful woman. This tendency to +excuse her conduct or to forget it, in the warmth of admiration, vexes me; +and if I did not know that Reginald is too much at home at Churchhill to +need an invitation for lengthening his visit, I should regret Mr. Vernon's +giving him any. Lady Susan's intentions are of course those of absolute +coquetry, or a desire of universal admiration; I cannot for a moment +imagine that she has anything more serious in view; but it mortifies me to +see a young man of Reginald's sense duped by her at all. + +I am, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +IX + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY S. VERNON + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,--I congratulate you on Mr. De Courcy's arrival, and I +advise you by all means to marry him; his father's estate is, we know, +considerable, and I believe certainly entailed. Sir Reginald is very +infirm, and not likely to stand in your way long. I hear the young man well +spoken of; and though no one can really deserve you, my dearest Susan, Mr. +De Courcy may be worth having. Mainwaring will storm of course, but you +easily pacify him; besides, the most scrupulous point of honour could not +require you to wait for HIS emancipation. I have seen Sir James; he came to +town for a few days last week, and called several times in Edward Street. I +talked to him about you and your daughter, and he is so far from having +forgotten you, that I am sure he would marry either of you with pleasure. I +gave him hopes of Frederica's relenting, and told him a great deal of her +improvements. I scolded him for making love to Maria Mainwaring; he +protested that he had been only in joke, and we both laughed heartily at +her disappointment; and, in short, were very agreeable. He is as silly as +ever. + +Yours faithfully, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +X + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I am much obliged to you, my dear Friend, for your advice respecting Mr. +De Courcy, which I know was given with the full conviction of its +expediency, though I am not quite determined on following it. I cannot +easily resolve on anything so serious as marriage; especially as I am not +at present in want of money, and might perhaps, till the old gentleman's +death, be very little benefited by the match. It is true that I am vain +enough to believe it within my reach. I have made him sensible of my power, +and can now enjoy the pleasure of triumphing over a mind prepared to +dislike me, and prejudiced against all my past actions. His sister, too, +is, I hope, convinced how little the ungenerous representations of anyone +to the disadvantage of another will avail when opposed by the immediate +influence of intellect and manner. I see plainly that she is uneasy at my +progress in the good opinion of her brother, and conclude that nothing will +be wanting on her part to counteract me; but having once made him doubt the +justice of her opinion of me, I think I may defy her. It has been +delightful to me to watch his advances towards intimacy, especially to +observe his altered manner in consequence of my repressing by the cool +dignity of my deportment his insolent approach to direct familiarity. My +conduct has been equally guarded from the first, and I never behaved less +like a coquette in the whole course of my life, though perhaps my desire of +dominion was never more decided. I have subdued him entirely by sentiment +and serious conversation, and made him, I may venture to say, at least +half in love with me, without the semblance of the most commonplace +flirtation. Mrs. Vernon's consciousness of deserving every sort of revenge +that it can be in my power to inflict for her ill-offices could alone +enable her to perceive that I am actuated by any design in behaviour so +gentle and unpretending. Let her think and act as she chooses, however. I +have never yet found that the advice of a sister could prevent a young +man's being in love if he chose. We are advancing now to some kind of +confidence, and in short are likely to be engaged in a sort of platonic +friendship. On my side you may be sure of its never being more, for if I +were not attached to another person as much as I can be to anyone, I should +make a point of not bestowing my affection on a man who had dared to think +so meanly of me. Reginald has a good figure and is not unworthy the praise +you have heard given him, but is still greatly inferior to our friend at +Langford. He is less polished, less insinuating than Mainwaring, and is +comparatively deficient in the power of saying those delightful things +which put one in good humour with oneself and all the world. He is quite +agreeable enough, however, to afford me amusement, and to make many of +those hours pass very pleasantly which would otherwise be spent in +endeavouring to overcome my sister-in-law's reserve, and listening to the +insipid talk of her husband. Your account of Sir James is most +satisfactory, and I mean to give Miss Frederica a hint of my intentions +very soon. + +Yours, &c., + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XI + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +I really grow quite uneasy, my dearest mother, about Reginald, from +witnessing the very rapid increase of Lady Susan's influence. They are now +on terms of the most particular friendship, frequently engaged in long +conversations together; and she has contrived by the most artful coquetry +to subdue his judgment to her own purposes. It is impossible to see the +intimacy between them so very soon established without some alarm, though I +can hardly suppose that Lady Susan's plans extend to marriage. I wish you +could get Reginald home again on any plausible pretence; he is not at all +disposed to leave us, and I have given him as many hints of my father's +precarious state of health as common decency will allow me to do in my own +house. Her power over him must now be boundless, as she has entirely +effaced all his former ill-opinion, and persuaded him not merely to forget +but to justify her conduct. Mr. Smith's account of her proceedings at +Langford, where he accused her of having made Mr. Mainwaring and a young +man engaged to Miss Mainwaring distractedly in love with her, which +Reginald firmly believed when he came here, is now, he is persuaded, only a +scandalous invention. He has told me so with a warmth of manner which spoke +his regret at having believed the contrary himself. How sincerely do I +grieve that she ever entered this house! I always looked forward to her +coming with uneasiness; but very far was it from originating in anxiety for +Reginald. I expected a most disagreeable companion for myself, but could +not imagine that my brother would be in the smallest danger of being +captivated by a woman with whose principles he was so well acquainted, and +whose character he so heartily despised. If you can get him away it will be +a good thing. + +Yours, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XII + + +SIR REGINALD DE COURCY TO HIS SON + + +Parklands. + + +I know that young men in general do not admit of any enquiry even from +their nearest relations into affairs of the heart, but I hope, my dear +Reginald, that you will be superior to such as allow nothing for a father's +anxiety, and think themselves privileged to refuse him their confidence and +slight his advice. You must be sensible that as an only son, and the +representative of an ancient family, your conduct in life is most +interesting to your connections; and in the very important concern of +marriage especially, there is everything at stake--your own happiness, that +of your parents, and the credit of your name. I do not suppose that you +would deliberately form an absolute engagement of that nature without +acquainting your mother and myself, or at least, without being convinced +that we should approve of your choice; but I cannot help fearing that you +may be drawn in, by the lady who has lately attached you, to a marriage +which the whole of your family, far and near, must highly reprobate. Lady +Susan's age is itself a material objection, but her want of character is +one so much more serious, that the difference of even twelve years becomes +in comparison of small amount. Were you not blinded by a sort of +fascination, it would be ridiculous in me to repeat the instances of great +misconduct on her side so very generally known. + +Her neglect of her husband, her encouragement of other men, her +extravagance and dissipation, were so gross and notorious that no one could +be ignorant of them at the time, nor can now have forgotten them. To our +family she has always been represented in softened colours by the +benevolence of Mr. Charles Vernon, and yet, in spite of his generous +endeavours to excuse her, we know that she did, from the most selfish +motives, take all possible pains to prevent his marriage with Catherine. + +My years and increasing infirmities make me very desirous of seeing you +settled in the world. To the fortune of a wife, the goodness of my own will +make me indifferent, but her family and character must be equally +unexceptionable. When your choice is fixed so that no objection can be +made to it, then I can promise you a ready and cheerful consent; but it is +my duty to oppose a match which deep art only could render possible, and +must in the end make wretched. It is possible her behaviour may arise only +from vanity, or the wish of gaining the admiration of a man whom she must +imagine to be particularly prejudiced against her; but it is more likely +that she should aim at something further. She is poor, and may naturally +seek an alliance which must be advantageous to herself; you know your own +rights, and that it is out of my power to prevent your inheriting the +family estate. My ability of distressing you during my life would be a +species of revenge to which I could hardly stoop under any circumstances. + +I honestly tell you my sentiments and intentions: I do not wish to work +on your fears, but on your sense and affection. It would destroy every +comfort of my life to know that you were married to Lady Susan Vernon; it +would be the death of that honest pride with which I have hitherto +considered my son; I should blush to see him, to hear of him, to think of +him. I may perhaps do no good but that of relieving my own mind by this +letter, but I felt it my duty to tell you that your partiality for Lady +Susan is no secret to your friends, and to warn you against her. I should +be glad to hear your reasons for disbelieving Mr. Smith's intelligence; you +had no doubt of its authenticity a month ago. If you can give me your +assurance of having no design beyond enjoying the conversation of a clever +woman for a short period, and of yielding admiration only to her beauty and +abilities, without being blinded by them to her faults, you will restore me +to happiness; but, if you cannot do this, explain to me, at least, what has +occasioned so great an alteration in your opinion of her. + +I am, &c., &c, + +REGINALD DE COURCY + + + + + +XIII + + +LADY DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Catherine,--Unluckily I was confined to my room when your last +letter came, by a cold which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my +reading it myself, so I could not refuse your father when he offered to +read it to me, by which means he became acquainted, to my great vexation, +with all your fears about your brother. I had intended to write to Reginald +myself as soon as my eyes would let me, to point out, as well as I could, +the danger of an intimate acquaintance, with so artful a woman as Lady +Susan, to a young man of his age, and high expectations. I meant, +moreover, to have reminded him of our being quite alone now, and very much +in need of him to keep up our spirits these long winter evenings. Whether +it would have done any good can never be settled now, but I am excessively +vexed that Sir Reginald should know anything of a matter which we foresaw +would make him so uneasy. He caught all your fears the moment he had read +your letter, and I am sure he has not had the business out of his head +since. He wrote by the same post to Reginald a long letter full of it all, +and particularly asking an explanation of what he may have heard from Lady +Susan to contradict the late shocking reports. His answer came this +morning, which I shall enclose to you, as I think you will like to see it. +I wish it was more satisfactory; but it seems written with such a +determination to think well of Lady Susan, that his assurances as to +marriage, &c., do not set my heart at ease. I say all I can, however, to +satisfy your father, and he is certainly less uneasy since Reginald's +letter. How provoking it is, my dear Catherine, that this unwelcome guest +of yours should not only prevent our meeting this Christmas, but be the +occasion of so much vexation and trouble! Kiss the dear children for me. + +Your affectionate mother, + +C. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XIV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO SIR REGINALD + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Sir,--I have this moment received your letter, which has given +me more astonishment than I ever felt before. I am to thank my sister, I +suppose, for having represented me in such a light as to injure me in your +opinion, and give you all this alarm. I know not why she should choose to +make herself and her family uneasy by apprehending an event which no one +but herself, I can affirm, would ever have thought possible. To impute such +a design to Lady Susan would be taking from her every claim to that +excellent understanding which her bitterest enemies have never denied her; +and equally low must sink my pretensions to common sense if I am suspected +of matrimonial views in my behaviour to her. Our difference of age must be +an insuperable objection, and I entreat you, my dear father, to quiet your +mind, and no longer harbour a suspicion which cannot he more injurious to +your own peace than to our understandings. I can have no other view in +remaining with Lady Susan, than to enjoy for a short time (as you have +yourself expressed it) the conversation of a woman of high intellectual +powers. If Mrs. Vernon would allow something to my affection for herself +and her husband in the length of my visit, she would do more justice to us +all; but my sister is unhappily prejudiced beyond the hope of conviction +against Lady Susan. From an attachment to her husband, which in itself does +honour to both, she cannot forgive the endeavours at preventing their +union, which have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan; but in this +case, as well as in many others, the world has most grossly injured that +lady, by supposing the worst where the motives of her conduct have been +doubtful. Lady Susan had heard something so materially to the disadvantage +of my sister as to persuade her that the happiness of Mr. Vernon, to whom +she was always much attached, would be wholly destroyed by the marriage. +And this circumstance, while it explains the true motives of Lady Susan's +conduct, and removes all the blame which has been so lavished on her, may +also convince us how little the general report of anyone ought to be +credited; since no character, however upright, can escape the malevolence +of slander. If my sister, in the security of retirement, with as little +opportunity as inclination to do evil, could not avoid censure, we must not +rashly condemn those who, living in the world and surrounded with +temptations, should be accused of errors which they are known to have the +power of committing. + +I blame myself severely for having so easily believed the slanderous +tales invented by Charles Smith to the prejudice of Lady Susan, as I am now +convinced how greatly they have traduced her. As to Mrs. Mainwaring's +jealousy it was totally his own invention, and his account of her attaching +Miss Mainwaring's lover was scarcely better founded. Sir James Martin had +been drawn in by that young lady to pay her some attention; and as he is a +man of fortune, it was easy to see HER views extended to marriage. It is +well known that Miss M. is absolutely on the catch for a husband, and no +one therefore can pity her for losing, by the superior attractions of +another woman, the chance of being able to make a worthy man completely +wretched. Lady Susan was far from intending such a conquest, and on finding +how warmly Miss Mainwaring resented her lover's defection, determined, in +spite of Mr. and Mrs. Mainwaring's most urgent entreaties, to leave the +family. I have reason to imagine she did receive serious proposals from Sir +James, but her removing to Langford immediately on the discovery of his +attachment, must acquit her on that article with any mind of common +candour. You will, I am sure, my dear Sir, feel the truth of this, and will +hereby learn to do justice to the character of a very injured woman. I know +that Lady Susan in coming to Churchhill was governed only by the most +honourable and amiable intentions; her prudence and economy are exemplary, +her regard for Mr. Vernon equal even to HIS deserts; and her wish of +obtaining my sister's good opinion merits a better return than it has +received. As a mother she is unexceptionable; her solid affection for her +child is shown by placing her in hands where her education will be properly +attended to; but because she has not the blind and weak partiality of most +mothers, she is accused of wanting maternal tenderness. Every person of +sense, however, will know how to value and commend her well-directed +affection, and will join me in wishing that Frederica Vernon may prove more +worthy than she has yet done of her mother's tender care. I have now, my +dear father, written my real sentiments of Lady Susan; you will know from +this letter how highly I admire her abilities, and esteem her character; +but if you are not equally convinced by my full and solemn assurance that +your fears have been most idly created, you will deeply mortify and +distress me. + +I am, &c., &c., + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XV + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +My dear Mother,--I return you Reginald's letter, and rejoice with all my +heart that my father is made easy by it: tell him so, with my +congratulations; but, between ourselves, I must own it has only convinced +ME of my brother's having no PRESENT intention of marrying Lady Susan, not +that he is in no danger of doing so three months hence. He gives a very +plausible account of her behaviour at Langford; I wish it may be true, but +his intelligence must come from herself, and I am less disposed to believe +it than to lament the degree of intimacy subsisting, between them implied +by the discussion of such a subject. I am sorry to have incurred his +displeasure, but can expect nothing better while he is so very eager in +Lady Susan's justification. He is very severe against me indeed, and yet I +hope I have not been hasty in my judgment of her. Poor woman! though I have +reasons enough for my dislike, I cannot help pitying her at present, as she +is in real distress, and with too much cause. She had this morning a letter +from the lady with whom she has placed her daughter, to request that Miss +Vernon might be immediately removed, as she had been detected in an attempt +to run away. Why, or whither she intended to go, does not appear; but, as +her situation seems to have been unexceptionable, it is a sad thing, and of +course highly distressing to Lady Susan. Frederica must be as much as +sixteen, and ought to know better; but from what her mother insinuates, I +am afraid she is a perverse girl. She has been sadly neglected, however, +and her mother ought to remember it. Mr. Vernon set off for London as soon +as she had determined what should be done. He is, if possible, to prevail +on Miss Summers to let Frederica continue with her; and if he cannot +succeed, to bring her to Churchhill for the present, till some other +situation can be found for her. Her ladyship is comforting herself +meanwhile by strolling along the shrubbery with Reginald, calling forth all +his tender feelings, I suppose, on this distressing occasion. She has been +talking a great deal about it to me. She talks vastly well; I am afraid of +being ungenerous, or I should say, TOO well to feel so very deeply; but I +will not look for her faults; she may be Reginald's wife! Heaven forbid it! +but why should I be quicker-sighted than anyone else? Mr. Vernon declares +that he never saw deeper distress than hers, on the receipt of the letter; +and is his judgment inferior to mine? She was very unwilling that +Frederica should be allowed to come to Churchhill, and justly enough, as +it seems a sort of reward to behaviour deserving very differently; but it +was impossible to take her anywhere else, and she is not to remain here +long. "It will be absolutely necessary," said she, "as you, my dear sister, +must be sensible, to treat my daughter with some severity while she is +here; a most painful necessity, but I will ENDEAVOUR to submit to it. I am +afraid I have often been too indulgent, but my poor Frederica's temper +could never bear opposition well: you must support and encourage me; you +must urge the necessity of reproof if you see me too lenient." All this +sounds very reasonable. Reginald is so incensed against the poor silly +girl. Surely it is not to Lady Susan's credit that he should be so bitter +against her daughter; his idea of her must be drawn from the mother's +description. Well, whatever may be his fate, we have the comfort of knowing +that we have done our utmost to save him. We must commit the event to a +higher power. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XVl + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +Never, my dearest Alicia, was I so provoked in my life as by a letter +this morning from Miss Summers. That horrid girl of mine has been trying to +run away. I had not a notion of her being such a little devil before, she +seemed to have all the Vernon milkiness; but on receiving the letter in +which I declared my intention about Sir James, she actually attempted to +elope; at least, I cannot otherwise account for her doing it. She meant, I +suppose, to go to the Clarkes in Staffordshire, for she has no other +acquaintances. But she shall be punished, she shall have him. I have sent +Charles to town to make matters up if he can, for I do not by any means +want her here. If Miss Summers will not keep her, you must find me out +another school, unless we can get her married immediately. Miss S. writes +word that she could not get the young lady to assign any cause for her +extraordinary conduct, which confirms me in my own previous explanation of +it, Frederica is too shy, I think, and too much in awe of me to tell tales, +but if the mildness of her uncle should get anything out of her, I am not +afraid. I trust I shall be able to make my story as good as hers. If I am +vain of anything, it is of my eloquence. Consideration and esteem as +surely follow command of language as admiration waits on beauty, and here I +have opportunity enough for the exercise of my talent, as the chief of my +time is spent in conversation. + +Reginald is never easy unless we are by ourselves, and when the weather +is tolerable, we pace the shrubbery for hours together. I like him on the +whole very well; he is clever and has a good deal to say, but he is +sometimes impertinent and troublesome. There is a sort of ridiculous +delicacy about him which requires the fullest explanation of whatever he +may have heard to my disadvantage, and is never satisfied till he thinks he +has ascertained the beginning and end of everything. This is one sort of +love, but I confess it does not particularly recommend itself to me. I +infinitely prefer the tender and liberal spirit of Mainwaring, which, +impressed with the deepest conviction of my merit, is satisfied that +whatever I do must be right; and look with a degree of contempt on the +inquisitive and doubtful fancies of that heart which seems always debating +on the reasonableness of its emotions. Mainwaring is indeed, beyond all +compare, superior to Reginald--superior in everything but the power of +being with me! Poor fellow! he is much distracted by jealousy, which I am +not sorry for, as I know no better support of love. He has been teazing me +to allow of his coming into this country, and lodging somewhere near +INCOG.; but I forbade everything of the kind. Those women are inexcusable +who forget what is due to themselves, and the opinion of the world. + +Yours ever, +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XVII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--Mr. Vernon returned on Thursday night, bringing his +niece with him. Lady Susan had received a line from him by that day's post, +informing her that Miss Summers had absolutely refused to allow of Miss +Vernon's continuance in her academy; we were therefore prepared for her +arrival, and expected them impatiently the whole evening. They came while +we were at tea, and I never saw any creature look so frightened as +Frederica when she entered the room. Lady Susan, who had been shedding +tears before, and showing great agitation at the idea of the meeting, +received her with perfect self-command, and without betraying the least +tenderness of spirit. She hardly spoke to her, and on Frederica's bursting +into tears as soon as we were seated, took her out of the room, and did not +return for some time. When she did, her eyes looked very red and she was as +much agitated as before. We saw no more of her daughter. Poor Reginald was +beyond measure concerned to see his fair friend in such distress, and +watched her with so much tender solicitude, that I, who occasionally caught +her observing his countenance with exultation, was quite out of patience. +This pathetic representation lasted the whole evening, and so ostentatious +and artful a display has entirely convinced me that she did in fact feel +nothing. I am more angry with her than ever since I have seen her daughter; +the poor girl looks so unhappy that my heart aches for her. Lady Susan is +surely too severe, for Frederica does not seem to have the sort of temper +to make severity necessary. She looks perfectly timid, dejected, and +penitent. She is very pretty, though not so handsome as her mother, nor at +all like her. Her complexion is delicate, but neither so fair nor so +blooming as Lady Susan's, and she has quite the Vernon cast of countenance, +the oval face and mild dark eyes, and there is peculiar sweetness in her +look when she speaks either to her uncle or me, for as we behave kindly to +her we have of course engaged her gratitude. + +Her mother has insinuated that her temper is intractable, but I never +saw a face less indicative of any evil disposition than hers; and from what +I can see of the behaviour of each to the other, the invariable severity of +Lady Susan and the silent dejection of Frederica, I am led to believe as +heretofore that the former has no real love for her daughter, and has never +done her justice or treated her affectionately. I have not been able to +have any conversation with my niece; she is shy, and I think I can see that +some pains are taken to prevent her being much with me. Nothing +satisfactory transpires as to her reason for running away. Her kind-hearted +uncle, you may be sure, was too fearful of distressing her to ask many +questions as they travelled. I wish it had been possible for me to fetch +her instead of him. I think I should have discovered the truth in the +course of a thirty-mile journey. The small pianoforte has been removed +within these few days, at Lady Susan's request, into her dressing-room, and +Frederica spends great part of the day there, practising as it is called; +but I seldom hear any noise when I pass that way; what she does with +herself there I do not know. There are plenty of books, but it is not every +girl who has been running wild the first fifteen years of her life, that +can or will read. Poor creature! the prospect from her window is not very +instructive, for that room overlooks the lawn, you know, with the shrubbery +on one side, where she may see her mother walking for an hour together in +earnest conversation with Reginald. A girl of Frederica's age must be +childish indeed, if such things do not strike her. Is it not inexcusable to +give such an example to a daughter? Yet Reginald still thinks Lady Susan +the best of mothers, and still condemns Frederica as a worthless girl! He +is convinced that her attempt to run away proceeded from no justifiable +cause, and had no provocation. I am sure I cannot say that it HAD, but +while Miss Summers declares that Miss Vernon showed no signs of obstinacy +or perverseness during her whole stay in Wigmore Street, till she was +detected in this scheme, I cannot so readily credit what Lady Susan has +made him, and wants to make me believe, that it was merely an impatience of +restraint and a desire of escaping from the tuition of masters which +brought on the plan of an elopement. O Reginald, how is your judgment +enslaved! He scarcely dares even allow her to be handsome, and when I +speak of her beauty, replies only that her eyes have no brilliancy! +Sometimes he is sure she is deficient in understanding, and at others that +her temper only is in fault. In short, when a person is always to deceive, +it is impossible to be consistent. Lady Susan finds it necessary that +Frederica should be to blame, and probably has sometimes judged it +expedient to *excuse her of ill-nature and sometimes to lament her want of +sense. Reginald is only repeating after her ladyship. + +I remain, &c., &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XVIII + + +FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--I am very glad to find that my description of Frederica +Vernon has interested you, for I do believe her truly deserving of your +regard; and when I have communicated a notion which has recently struck me, +your kind impressions in her favour will, I am sure, be heightened. I +cannot help fancying that she is growing partial to my brother. I so very +often see her eyes fixed on his face with a remarkable expression of +pensive admiration. He is certainly very handsome; and yet more, there is +an openness in his manner that must be highly prepossessing, and I am sure +she feels it so. Thoughtful and pensive in general, her countenance always +brightens into a smile when Reginald says anything amusing; and, let the +subject be ever so serious that he may be conversing on, I am much mistaken +if a syllable of his uttering escapes her. I want to make him sensible of +all this, for we know the power of gratitude on such a heart as his; and +could Frederica's artless affection detach him from her mother, we might +bless the day which brought her to Churchhill. I think, my dear mother, you +would not disapprove of her as a daughter. She is extremely young, to be +sure, has had a wretched education, and a dreadful example of levity in her +mother; but yet I can pronounce her disposition to be excellent, and her +natural abilities very good. Though totally without accomplishments, she is +by no means so ignorant as one might expect to find her, being fond of +books and spending the chief of her time in reading. Her mother leaves her +more to herself than she did, and I have her with me as much as possible, +and have taken great pains to overcome her timidity. We are very good +friends, and though she never opens her lips before her mother, she talks +enough when alone with me to make it clear that, if properly treated by +Lady Susan, she would always appear to much greater advantage. There cannot +be a more gentle, affectionate heart; or more obliging manners, when acting +without restraint; and her little cousins are all very fond of her. + +Your affectionate daughter, + +C. VERNON + + + + + +XIX + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +You will be eager, I know, to hear something further of Frederica, and +perhaps may think me negligent for not writing before. She arrived with her +uncle last Thursday fortnight, when, of course, I lost no time in demanding +the cause of her behaviour; and soon found myself to have been perfectly +right in attributing it to my own letter. The prospect of it frightened her +so thoroughly, that, with a mixture of true girlish perverseness and folly, +she resolved on getting out of the house and proceeding directly by the +stage to her friends, the Clarkes; and had really got as far as the length +of two streets in her journey when she was fortunately missed, pursued, and +overtaken. Such was the first distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica +Vernon; and, if we consider that it was achieved at the tender age of +sixteen, we shall have room for the most flattering prognostics of her +future renown. I am excessively provoked, however, at the parade of +propriety which prevented Miss Summers from keeping the girl; and it seems +so extraordinary a piece of nicety, considering my daughter's family +connections, that I can only suppose the lady to be governed by the fear of +never getting her money. Be that as it may, however, Frederica is returned +on my hands; and, having nothing else to employ her, is busy in pursuing +the plan of romance begun at Langford. She is actually falling in love with +Reginald De Courcy! To disobey her mother by refusing an unexceptionable +offer is not enough; her affections must also be given without her mother's +approbation. I never saw a girl of her age bid fairer to be the sport of +mankind. Her feelings are tolerably acute, and she is so charmingly artless +in their display as to afford the most reasonable hope of her being +ridiculous, and despised by every man who sees her. + +Artlessness will never do in love matters; and that girl is born a +simpleton who has it either by nature or affectation. I am not yet certain +that Reginald sees what she is about, nor is it of much consequence. She is +now an object of indifference to him, and she would be one of contempt were +he to understand her emotions. Her beauty is much admired by the Vernons, +but it has no effect on him. She is in high favour with her aunt +altogether, because she is so little like myself, of course. She is exactly +the companion for Mrs. Vernon, who dearly loves to be firm, and to have +all the sense and all the wit of the conversation to herself: Frederica +will never eclipse her. When she first came I was at some pains to prevent +her seeing much of her aunt; but I have relaxed, as I believe I may depend +on her observing the rules I have laid down for their discourse. But do not +imagine that with all this lenity I have for a moment given up my plan of +her marriage. No; I am unalterably fixed on this point, though I have not +yet quite decided on the manner of bringing it about. I should not chuse to +have the business brought on here, and canvassed by the wise heads of Mr. +and Mrs. Vernon; and I cannot just now afford to go to town. Miss Frederica +must therefore wait a little. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XX + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill + + +We have a very unexpected guest with us at present, my dear Mother: he +arrived yesterday. I heard a carriage at the door, as I was sitting with my +children while they dined; and supposing I should be wanted, left the +nursery soon afterwards, and was half-way downstairs, when Frederica, as +pale as ashes, came running up, and rushed by me into her own room. I +instantly followed, and asked her what was the matter. "Oh!" said she, "he +is come--Sir James is come, and what shall I do?" This was no explanation; +I begged her to tell me what she meant. At that moment we were interrupted +by a knock at the door: it was Reginald, who came, by Lady Susan's +direction, to call Frederica down. "It is Mr. De Courcy!" said she, +colouring violently. "Mamma has sent for me; I must go." We all three went +down together; and I saw my brother examining the terrified face of +Frederica with surprize. In the breakfast-room we found Lady Susan, and a +young man of gentlemanlike appearance, whom she introduced by the name of +Sir James Martin--the very person, as you may remember, whom it was said +she had been at pains to detach from Miss Mainwaring; but the conquest, it +seems, was not designed for herself, or she has since transferred it to her +daughter; for Sir James is now desperately in love with Frederica, and with +full encouragement from mamma. The poor girl, however, I am sure, dislikes +him; and though his person and address are very well, he appears, both to +Mr. Vernon and me, a very weak young man. Frederica looked so shy, so +confused, when we entered the room, that I felt for her exceedingly. Lady +Susan behaved with great attention to her visitor; and yet I thought I +could perceive that she had no particular pleasure in seeing him. Sir James +talked a great deal, and made many civil excuses to me for the liberty he +had taken in coming to Churchhill--mixing more frequent laughter with his +discourse than the subject required--said many things over and over again, +and told Lady Susan three times that he had seen Mrs. Johnson a few +evenings before. He now and then addressed Frederica, but more frequently +her mother. The poor girl sat all this time without opening her lips--her +eyes cast down, and her colour varying every instant; while Reginald +observed all that passed in perfect silence. At length Lady Susan, weary, I +believe, of her situation, proposed walking; and we left the two gentlemen +together, to put on our pelisses. As we went upstairs Lady Susan begged +permission to attend me for a few moments in my dressing-room, as she was +anxious to speak with me in private. I led her thither accordingly, and as +soon as the door was closed, she said: "I was never more surprized in my +life than by Sir James's arrival, and the suddenness of it requires some +apology to you, my dear sister; though to ME, as a mother, it is highly +flattering. He is so extremely attached to my daughter that he could not +exist longer without seeing her. Sir James is a young man of an amiable +disposition and excellent character; a little too much of the rattle, +perhaps, but a year or two will rectify THAT: and he is in other respects +so very eligible a match for Frederica, that I have always observed his +attachment with the greatest pleasure; and am persuaded that you and my +brother will give the alliance your hearty approbation. I have never +before mentioned the likelihood of its taking place to anyone, because I +thought that whilst Frederica continued at school it had better not be +known to exist; but now, as I am convinced that Frederica is too old ever +to submit to school confinement, and have, therefore, begun to consider her +union with Sir James as not very distant, I had intended within a few days +to acquaint yourself and Mr. Vernon with the whole business. I am sure, my +dear sister, you will excuse my remaining silent so long, and agree with me +that such circumstances, while they continue from any cause in suspense, +cannot be too cautiously concealed. When you have the happiness of +bestowing your sweet little Catherine, some years hence, on a man who in +connection and character is alike unexceptionable, you will know what I +feel now; though, thank Heaven, you cannot have all my reasons for +rejoicing in such an event. Catherine will be amply provided for, and not, +like my Frederica, indebted to a fortunate establishment for the comforts +of life." She concluded by demanding my congratulations. I gave them +somewhat awkwardly, I believe; for, in fact, the sudden disclosure of so +important a matter took from me the power of speaking with any clearness, +She thanked me, however, most affectionately, for my kind concern in the +welfare of herself and daughter; and then said: "I am not apt to deal in +professions, my dear Mrs. Vernon, and I never had the convenient talent of +affecting sensations foreign to my heart; and therefore I trust you will +believe me when I declare, that much as I had heard in your praise before I +knew you, I had no idea that I should ever love you as I now do; and I must +further say that your friendship towards me is more particularly gratifying +because I have reason to believe that some attempts were made to prejudice +you against me. I only wish that they, whoever they are, to whom I am +indebted for such kind intentions, could see the terms on which we now are +together, and understand the real affection we feel for each other; but I +will not detain you any longer. God bless you, for your goodness to me and +my girl, and continue to you all your present happiness." What can one say +of such a woman, my dear mother? Such earnestness such solemnity of +expression! and yet I cannot help suspecting the truth of everything she +says. As for Reginald, I believe he does not know what to make of the +matter. When Sir James came, he appeared all astonishment and perplexity; +the folly of the young man and the confusion of Frederica entirely +engrossed him; and though a little private discourse with Lady Susan has +since had its effect, he is still hurt, I am sure, at her allowing of such +a man's attentions to her daughter. Sir James invited himself with great +composure to remain here a few days--hoped we would not think it odd, was +aware of its being very impertinent, but he took the liberty of a relation; +and concluded by wishing, with a laugh, that he might be really one very +soon. Even Lady Susan seemed a little disconcerted by this forwardness; in +her heart I am persuaded she sincerely wished him gone. But something must +be done for this poor girl, if her feelings are such as both I and her +uncle believe them to be. She must not be sacrificed to policy or ambition, +and she must not be left to suffer from the dread of it. The girl whose +heart can distinguish Reginald De Courcy, deserves, however he may slight +her, a better fate than to be Sir James Martin's wife. As soon as I can get +her alone, I will discover the real truth; but she seems to wish to avoid +me. I hope this does not proceed from anything wrong, and that I shall not +find out I have thought too well of her. Her behaviour to Sir James +certainly speaks the greatest consciousness and embarrassment, but I see +nothing in it more like encouragement. Adieu, my dear mother. + +Yours, &c., + +C. VERNON. + + + + + +XXI + + +MISS VERNON TO MR DE COURCY + + +Sir,--I hope you will excuse this liberty; I am forced upon it by the +greatest distress, or I should be ashamed to trouble you. I am very +miserable about Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the world of +helping myself but by writing to you, for I am forbidden even speaking to +my uncle and aunt on the subject; and this being the case, I am afraid my +applying to you will appear no better than equivocation, and as if I +attended to the letter and not the spirit of mamma's commands. But if you +do not take my part and persuade her to break it off, I shall be half +distracted, for I cannot bear him. No human being but YOU could have any +chance of prevailing with her. If you will, therefore, have the unspeakably +great kindness of taking my part with her, and persuading her to send Sir +James away, I shall be more obliged to you than it is possible for me to +express. I always disliked him from the first: it is not a sudden fancy, I +assure you, sir; I always thought him silly and impertinent and +disagreeable, and now he is grown worse than ever. I would rather work for +my bread than marry him. I do not know how to apologize enough for this +letter; I know it is taking so great a liberty. I am aware how dreadfully +angry it will make mamma, but I remember the risk. + +I am, Sir, your most humble servant, + +F. S. V. + + + + + +XXII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +This is insufferable! My dearest friend, I was never so enraged before, +and must relieve myself by writing to you, who I know will enter into all +my feelings. Who should come on Tuesday but Sir James Martin! Guess my +astonishment, and vexation--for, as you well know, I never wished him to be +seen at Churchhill. What a pity that you should not have known his +intentions! Not content with coming, he actually invited himself to remain +here a few days. I could have poisoned him! I made the best of it, however, +and told my story with great success to Mrs. Vernon, who, whatever might be +her real sentiments, said nothing in opposition to mine. I made a point +also of Frederica's behaving civilly to Sir James, and gave her to +understand that I was absolutely determined on her marrying him. She said +something of her misery, but that was all. I have for some time been more +particularly resolved on the match from seeing the rapid increase of her +affection for Reginald, and from not feeling secure that a knowledge of +such affection might not in the end awaken a return. Contemptible as a +regard founded only on compassion must make them both in my eyes, I felt by +no means assured that such might not be the consequence. It is true that +Reginald had not in any degree grown cool towards me; but yet he has lately +mentioned Frederica spontaneously and unnecessarily, and once said +something in praise of her person. HE was all astonishment at the +appearance of my visitor, and at first observed Sir James with an attention +which I was pleased to see not unmixed with jealousy; but unluckily it was +impossible for me really to torment him, as Sir James, though extremely +gallant to me, very soon made the whole party understand that his heart was +devoted to my daughter. I had no great difficulty in convincing De Courcy, +when we were alone, that I was perfectly justified, all things considered, +in desiring the match; and the whole business seemed most comfortably +arranged. They could none of them help perceiving that Sir James was no +Solomon; but I had positively forbidden Frederica complaining to Charles +Vernon or his wife, and they had therefore no pretence for interference; +though my impertinent sister, I believe, wanted only opportunity for doing +so. Everything, however, was going on calmly and quietly; and, though I +counted the hours of Sir James's stay, my mind was entirely satisfied with +the posture of affairs. Guess, then, what I must feel at the sudden +disturbance of all my schemes; and that, too, from a quarter where I had +least reason to expect it. Reginald came this morning into my dressing-room +with a very unusual solemnity of countenance, and after some preface +informed me in so many words that he wished to reason with me on the +impropriety and unkindness of allowing Sir James Martin to address my +daughter contrary to her inclinations. I was all amazement. When I found +that he was not to be laughed out of his design, I calmly begged an +explanation, and desired to know by what he was impelled, and by whom +commissioned, to reprimand me. He then told me, mixing in his speech a few +insolent compliments and ill-timed expressions of tenderness, to which I +listened with perfect indifference, that my daughter had acquainted him +with some circumstances concerning herself, Sir James, and me which had +given him great uneasiness. In short, I found that she had in the first +place actually written to him to request his interference, and that, on +receiving her letter, he had conversed with her on the subject of it, in +order to understand the particulars, and to assure himself of her real +wishes. I have not a doubt but that the girl took this opportunity of +making downright love to him. I am convinced of it by the manner in which +he spoke of her. Much good may such love do him! I shall ever despise the +man who can be gratified by the passion which he never wished to inspire, +nor solicited the avowal of. I shall always detest them both. He can have +no true regard for me, or he would not have listened to her; and SHE, with +her little rebellious heart and indelicate feelings, to throw herself into +the protection of a young man with whom she has scarcely ever exchanged two +words before! I am equally confounded at HER impudence and HIS credulity. +How dared he believe what she told him in my disfavour! Ought he not to +have felt assured that I must have unanswerable motives for all that I had +done? Where was his reliance on my sense and goodness then? Where the +resentment which true love would have dictated against the person defaming +me--that person, too, a chit, a child, without talent or education, whom he +had been always taught to despise? I was calm for some time; but the +greatest degree of forbearance may be overcome, and I hope I was afterwards +sufficiently keen. He endeavoured, long endeavoured, to soften my +resentment; but that woman is a fool indeed who, while insulted by +accusation, can be worked on by compliments. At length he left me, as +deeply provoked as myself; and he showed his anger more. I was quite cool, +but he gave way to the most violent indignation; I may therefore expect it +will the sooner subside, and perhaps his may be vanished for ever, while +mine will be found still fresh and implacable. He is now shut up in his +apartment, whither I heard him go on leaving mine. How unpleasant, one +would think, must be his reflections! but some people's feelings are +incomprehensible. I have not yet tranquillised myself enough to see +Frederica. SHE shall not soon forget the occurrences of this day; she shall +find that she has poured forth her tender tale of love in vain, and exposed +herself for ever to the contempt of the whole world, and the severest +resentment of her injured mother. + +Your affectionate + +S. VERNON. + + + + +XXIII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +Let me congratulate you, my dearest Mother! The affair which has given +us so much anxiety is drawing to a happy conclusion. Our prospect is most +delightful, and since matters have now taken so favourable a turn, I am +quite sorry that I ever imparted my apprehensions to you; for the pleasure +of learning that the danger is over is perhaps dearly purchased by all that +you have previously suffered. I am so much agitated by delight that I can +scarcely hold a pen; but am determined to send you a few short lines by +James, that you may have some explanation of what must so greatly astonish +you, as that Reginald should be returning to Parklands. I was sitting about +half an hour ago with Sir James in the breakfast parlour, when my brother +called me out of the room. I instantly saw that something was the matter; +his complexion was raised, and he spoke with great emotion; you know his +eager manner, my dear mother, when his mind is interested. "Catherine," +said he, "I am going home to-day; I am sorry to leave you, but I must go: +it is a great while since I have seen my father and mother. I am going to +send James forward with my hunters immediately; if you have any letter, +therefore, he can take it. I shall not be at home myself till Wednesday or +Thursday, as I shall go through London, where I have business; but before I +leave you," he continued, speaking in a lower tone, and with still greater +energy, "I must warn you of one thing--do not let Frederica Vernon be made +unhappy by that Martin. He wants to marry her; her mother promotes the +match, but she cannot endure the idea of it. Be assured that I speak from +the fullest conviction of the truth of what I say; I Know that Frederica is +made wretched by Sir James's continuing here. She is a sweet girl, and +deserves a better fate. Send him away immediately; he is only a fool: but +what her mother can mean, Heaven only knows! Good bye," he added, shaking +my hand with earnestness; "I do not know when you will see me again; but +remember what I tell you of Frederica; you MUST make it your business to +see justice done her. She is an amiable girl, and has a very superior mind +to what we have given her credit for." He then left me, and ran upstairs. I +would not try to stop him, for I know what his feelings must be. The nature +of mine, as I listened to him, I need not attempt to describe; for a minute +or two I remained in the same spot, overpowered by wonder of a most +agreeable sort indeed; yet it required some consideration to be tranquilly +happy. In about ten minutes after my return to the parlour Lady Susan +entered the room. I concluded, of course, that she and Reginald had been +quarrelling; and looked with anxious curiosity for a confirmation of my +belief in her face. Mistress of deceit, however, she appeared perfectly +unconcerned, and after chatting on indifferent subjects for a short time, +said to me, "I find from Wilson that we are going to lose Mr. De Courcy--is +it true that he leaves Churchhill this morning?" I replied that it was. "He +told us nothing of all this last night," said she, laughing, "or even this +morning at breakfast; but perhaps he did not know it himself. Young men are +often hasty in their resolutions, and not more sudden in forming than +unsteady in keeping them. I should not be surprised if he were to change +his mind at last, and not go." She soon afterwards left the room. I trust, +however, my dear mother, that we have no reason to fear an alteration of +his present plan; things have gone too far. They must have quarrelled, and +about Frederica, too. Her calmness astonishes me. What delight will be +yours in seeing him again; in seeing him still worthy your esteem, still +capable of forming your happiness! When I next write I shall be able to +tell you that Sir James is gone, Lady Susan vanquished, and Frederica at +peace. We have much to do, but it shall be done. I am all impatience to +hear how this astonishing change was effected. I finish as I began, with +the warmest congratulations. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATH. VERNON. + + + + + +XXIV + + +FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME + + +Churchhill. + + +Little did I imagine, my dear Mother, when I sent off my last letter, +that the delightful perturbation of spirits I was then in would undergo so +speedy, so melancholy a reverse. I never can sufficiently regret that I +wrote to you at all. Yet who could have foreseen what has happened? My dear +mother, every hope which made me so happy only two hours ago has vanished. +The quarrel between Lady Susan and Reginald is made up, and we are all as +we were before. One point only is gained. Sir James Martin is dismissed. +What are we now to look forward to? I am indeed disappointed; Reginald was +all but gone, his horse was ordered and all but brought to the door; who +would not have felt safe? For half an hour I was in momentary expectation +of his departure. After I had sent off my letter to you, I went to Mr. +Vernon, and sat with him in his room talking over the whole matter, and +then determined to look for Frederica, whom I had not seen since breakfast. +I met her on the stairs, and saw that she was crying. "My dear aunt," said +she, "he is going--Mr. De Courcy is going, and it is all my fault. I am +afraid you will be very angry with me. but indeed I had no idea it would +end so." "My love," I replied, "do not think it necessary to apologize to +me on that account. I shall feel myself under an obligation to anyone who +is the means of sending my brother home, because," recollecting myself, "I +know my father wants very much to see him. But what is it you have done to +occasion all this?" She blushed deeply as she answered: "I was so unhappy +about Sir James that I could not help--I have done something very wrong, I +know; but you have not an idea of the misery I have been in: and mamma had +ordered me never to speak to you or my uncle about it, and--" "You +therefore spoke to my brother to engage his interference," said I, to save +her the explanation. "No, but I wrote to him--I did indeed, I got up this +morning before it was light, and was two hours about it; and when my letter +was done I thought I never should have courage to give it. After breakfast +however, as I was going to my room, I met him in the passage, and then, as +I knew that everything must depend on that moment, I forced myself to give +it. He was so good as to take it immediately. I dared not look at him, and +ran away directly. I was in such a fright I could hardly breathe. My dear +aunt, you do not know how miserable I have been." "Frederica" said I, +"you ought to have told me all your distresses. You would have found in me +a friend always ready to assist you. Do you think that your uncle or I +should not have espoused your cause as warmly as my brother?" "Indeed, I +did not doubt your kindness," said she, colouring again, "but I thought Mr. +De Courcy could do anything with my mother; but I was mistaken: they have +had a dreadful quarrel about it, and he is going away. Mamma will never +forgive me, and I shall be worse off than ever." "No, you shall not," I +replied; "in such a point as this your mother's prohibition ought not to +have prevented your speaking to me on the subject. She has no right to make +you unhappy, and she shall NOT do it. Your applying, however, to Reginald +can be productive only of good to all parties. I believe it is best as it +is. Depend upon it that you shall not be made unhappy any longer." At that +moment how great was my astonishment at seeing Reginald come out of Lady +Susan's dressing-room. My heart misgave me instantly. His confusion at +seeing me was very evident. Frederica immediately disappeared. "Are you +going?" I said; "you will find Mr. Vernon in his own room." "No, +Catherine," he replied, "I am not going. Will you let me speak to you a +moment?" We went into my room. "I find," he continued, his confusion +increasing as he spoke, "that I have been acting with my usual foolish +impetuosity. I have entirely misunderstood Lady Susan, and was on the point +of leaving the house under a false impression of her conduct. There has +been some very great mistake; we have been all mistaken, I fancy. Frederica +does not know her mother. Lady Susan means nothing but her good, but she +will not make a friend of her. Lady Susan does not always know, therefore, +what will make her daughter happy. Besides, I could have no right to +interfere. Miss Vernon was mistaken in applying to me. In short, Catherine, +everything has gone wrong, but it is now all happily settled. Lady Susan, I +believe, wishes to speak to you about it, if you are at leisure." +"Certainly," I replied, deeply sighing at the recital of so lame a story. I +made no comments, however, for words would have been vain. + +Reginald was glad to get away, and I went to Lady Susan, curious, +indeed, to hear her account of it. "Did I not tell you," said she with a +smile, "that your brother would not leave us after all?" "You did, indeed," +replied I very gravely; "but I flattered myself you would be mistaken." "I +should not have hazarded such an opinion," returned she, "if it had not at +that moment occurred to me that his resolution of going might be +occasioned by a conversation in which we had been this morning engaged, and +which had ended very much to his dissatisfaction, from our not rightly +understanding each other's meaning. This idea struck me at the moment, and +I instantly determined that an accidental dispute, in which I might +probably be as much to blame as himself, should not deprive you of your +brother. If you remember, I left the room almost immediately. I was +resolved to lose no time in clearing up those mistakes as far as I could. +The case was this--Frederica had set herself violently against marrying Sir +James." "And can your ladyship wonder that she should?" cried I with some +warmth; "Frederica has an excellent understanding, and Sir James has none." +"I am at least very far from regretting it, my dear sister," said she; "on +the contrary, I am grateful for so favourable a sign of my daughter's +sense. Sir James is certainly below par (his boyish manners make him appear +worse); and had Frederica possessed the penetration and the abilities which +I could have wished in my daughter, or had I even known her to possess as +much as she does, I should not have been anxious for the match." "It is odd +that you should alone be ignorant of your daughter's sense!" "Frederica +never does justice to herself; her manners are shy and childish, and +besides she is afraid of me. During her poor father's life she was a spoilt +child; the severity which it has since been necessary for me to show has +alienated her affection; neither has she any of that brilliancy of +intellect, that genius or vigour of mind which will force itself forward." +"Say rather that she has been unfortunate in her education!" "Heaven knows, +my dearest Mrs. Vernon, how fully I am aware of that; but I would wish to +forget every circumstance that might throw blame on the memory of one whose +name is sacred with me." Here she pretended to cry; I was out of patience +with her. "But what," said I, "was your ladyship going to tell me about +your disagreement with my brother?" "It originated in an action of my +daughter's, which equally marks her want of judgment and the unfortunate +dread of me I have been mentioning--she wrote to Mr. De Courcy." "I know +she did; you had forbidden her speaking to Mr. Vernon or to me on the cause +of her distress; what could she do, therefore, but apply to my brother?" +"Good God!" she exclaimed, "what an opinion you must have of me! Can you +possibly suppose that I was aware of her unhappiness! that it was my object +to make my own child miserable, and that I had forbidden her speaking to +you on the subject from a fear of your interrupting the diabolical scheme? +Do you think me destitute of every honest, every natural feeling? Am I +capable of consigning HER to everlasting: misery whose welfare it is my +first earthly duty to promote? The idea is horrible!" "What, then, was your +intention when you insisted on her silence?" "Of what use, my dear sister, +could be any application to you, however the affair might stand? Why should +I subject you to entreaties which I refused to attend to myself? Neither +for your sake nor for hers, nor for my own, could such a thing be +desirable. When my own resolution was taken I could nor wish for the +interference, however friendly, of another person. I was mistaken, it is +true, but I believed myself right." "But what was this mistake to which +your ladyship so often alludes! from whence arose so astonishing a +misconception of your daughter's feelings! Did you not know that she +disliked Sir James?" "I knew that he was not absolutely the man she would +have chosen, but I was persuaded that her objections to him did not arise +from any perception of his deficiency. You must not question me, however, +my dear sister, too minutely on this point," continued she, taking me +affectionately by the hand; "I honestly own that there is something to +conceal. Frederica makes me very unhappy! Her applying to Mr. De Courcy +hurt me particularly." "What is it you mean to infer," said I, "by this +appearance of mystery? If you think your daughter at all attached to +Reginald, her objecting to Sir James could not less deserve to be attended +to than if the cause of her objecting had been a consciousness of his folly; +and why should your ladyship, at any rate, quarrel with my brother for an +interference which, you must know, it is not in his nature to refuse when +urged in such a manner?" + +"His disposition, you know, is warm, and he came to expostulate with me; +his compassion all alive for this ill-used girl, this heroine in distress! +We misunderstood each other: he believed me more to blame than I really +was; I considered his interference less excusable than I now find it. I +have a real regard for him, and was beyond expression mortified to find +it, as I thought, so ill bestowed We were both warm, and of course both to +blame. His resolution of leaving Churchhill is consistent with his general +eagerness. When I understood his intention, however, and at the same time +began to think that we had been perhaps equally mistaken in each other's +meaning, I resolved to have an explanation before it was too late. For any +member of your family I must always feel a degree of affection, and I own +it would have sensibly hurt me if my acquaintance with Mr. De Courcy had +ended so gloomily. I have now only to say further, that as I am convinced +of Frederica's having a reasonable dislike to Sir James, I shall instantly +inform him that he must give up all hope of her. I reproach myself for +having even, though innocently, made her unhappy on that score. She shall +have all the retribution in my power to make; if she value her own +happiness as much as I do, if she judge wisely, and command herself as she +ought, she may now be easy. Excuse me, my dearest sister, for thus +trespassing on your time, but I owe it to my own character; and after this +explanation I trust I am in no danger of sinking in your opinion." I could +have said, "Not much, indeed!" but I left her almost in silence. It was +the greatest stretch of forbearance I could practise. I could not have +stopped myself had I begun. Her assurance! her deceit! but I will not allow +myself to dwell on them; they will strike you sufficiently. My heart +sickens within me. As soon as I was tolerably composed I returned to the +parlour. Sir James's carriage was at the door, and he, merry as usual, soon +afterwards took his leave. How easily does her ladyship encourage or +dismiss a lover! In spite of this release, Frederica still looks unhappy: +still fearful, perhaps, of her mother's anger; and though dreading my +brother's departure, jealous, it may be, of his staying. I see how closely +she observes him and Lady Susan, poor girl! I have now no hope for her. +There is not a chance of her affection being returned. He thinks very +differently of her from what he used to do; he does her some justice, but +his reconciliation with her mother precludes every dearer hope. Prepare, my +dear mother, for the worst! The probability of their marrying is surely +heightened! He is more securely hers than ever. When that wretched event +takes place, Frederica must belong wholly to us. I am thankful that my last +letter will precede this by so little, as every moment that you can be +saved from feeling a joy which leads only to disappointment is of +consequence. + +Yours ever, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + + +XXV + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Churchhill. + + +I call on you, dear Alicia, for congratulations: I am my own self, gay +and triumphant! When I wrote to you the other day I was, in truth, in high +irritation, and with ample cause. Nay, I know not whether I ought to be +quite tranquil now, for I have had more trouble in restoring peace than I +ever intended to submit to--a spirit, too, resulting from a fancied sense +of superior integrity, which is peculiarly insolent! I shall not easily +forgive him, I assure you. He was actually on the point of leaving +Churchhill! I had scarcely concluded my last, when Wilson brought me word +of it. I found, therefore, that something must be done; for I did not +choose to leave my character at the mercy of a man whose passions are so +violent and so revengeful. It would have been trifling with my reputation +to allow of his departing with such an impression in my disfavour; in this +light, condescension was necessary. I sent Wilson to say that I desired to +speak with him before he went; he came immediately. The angry emotions +which had marked every feature when we last parted were partially subdued. +He seemed astonished at the summons, and looked as if half wishing and half +fearing to be softened by what I might say. If my countenance expressed +what I aimed at, it was composed and dignified; and yet, with a degree of +pensiveness which might convince him that I was not quite happy. "I beg +your pardon, sir, for the liberty I have taken in sending for you," said I; +"but as I have just learnt your intention of leaving this place to-day, I +feel it my duty to entreat that you will not on my account shorten your +visit here even an hour. I am perfectly aware that after what has passed +between us it would ill suit the feelings of either to remain longer in the +same house: so very great, so total a change from the intimacy of +friendship must render any future intercourse the severest punishment; and +your resolution of quitting Churchhill is undoubtedly in unison with our +situation, and with those lively feelings which I know you to possess. But, +at the same time, it is not for me to suffer such a sacrifice as it must be +to leave relations to whom you are so much attached, and are so dear. My +remaining here cannot give that pleasure to Mr. and Mrs. Vernon which your +society must; and my visit has already perhaps been too long. My removal, +therefore, which must, at any rate, take place soon, may, with perfect +convenience, be hastened; and I make it my particular request that I may +not in any way be instrumental in separating a family so affectionately +attached to each other. Where I go is of no consequence to anyone; of very +little to myself; but you are of importance to all your connections." Here +I concluded, and I hope you will be satisfied with my speech. Its effect on +Reginald justifies some portion of vanity, for it was no less favourable +than instantaneous. Oh, how delightful it was to watch the variations of +his countenance while I spoke! to see the struggle between returning +tenderness and the remains of displeasure. There is something agreeable in +feelings so easily worked on; not that I envy him their possession, nor +would, for the world, have such myself; but they are very convenient when +one wishes to influence the passions of another. And yet this Reginald, +whom a very few words from me softened at once into the utmost submission, +and rendered more tractable, more attached, more devoted than ever, would +have left me in the first angry swelling of his proud heart without +deigning to seek an explanation. Humbled as he now is, I cannot forgive him +such an instance of pride, and am doubtful whether I ought not to punish +him by dismissing him at once after this reconciliation, or by marrying and +teazing him for ever. But these measures are each too violent to be adopted +without some deliberation; at present my thoughts are fluctuating between +various schemes. I have many things to compass: I must punish Frederica, +and pretty severely too, for her application to Reginald; I must punish +him for receiving it so favourably, and for the rest of his conduct. I must +torment my sister-in-law for the insolent triumph of her look and manner +since Sir James has been dismissed; for, in reconciling Reginald to me, I +was not able to save that ill-fated young man; and I must make myself +amends for the humiliation to which I have stooped within these few days. +To effect all this I have various plans. I have also an idea of being soon +in town; and whatever may be my determination as to the rest, I shall +probably put THAT project in execution; for London will be always the +fairest field of action, however my views may be directed; and at any rate +I shall there be rewarded by your society, and a little dissipation, for a +ten weeks' penance at Churchhill. I believe I owe it to my character to +complete the match between my daughter and Sir James after having so long +intended it. Let me know your opinion on this point. Flexibility of mind, a +disposition easily biassed by others, is an attribute which you know I am +not very desirous of obtaining; nor has Frederica any claim to the +indulgence of her notions at the expense of her mother's inclinations. Her +idle love for Reginald, too! It is surely my duty to discourage such +romantic nonsense. All things considered, therefore, it seems incumbent on +me to take her to town and marry her immediately to Sir James. When my own +will is effected contrary to his, I shall have some credit in being on good +terms with Reginald, which at present, in fact, I have not; for though he +is still in my power, I have given up the very article by which our quarrel +was produced, and at best the honour of victory is doubtful. Send me your +opinion on all these matters, my dear Alicia, and let me know whether you +can get lodgings to suit me within a short distance of you. + +Your most attached + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XXVI + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +I am gratified by your reference, and this is my advice: that you come +to town yourself, without loss of time, but that you leave Frederica +behind. It would surely be much more to the purpose to get yourself well +established by marrying Mr. De Courcy, than to irritate him and the rest of +his family by making her marry Sir James. You should think more of yourself +and less of your daughter. She is not of a disposition to do you credit in +the world, and seems precisely in her proper place at Churchhill, with the +Vernons. But you are fitted for society, and it is shameful to have you +exiled from it. Leave Frederica, therefore, to punish herself for the +plague she has given you, by indulging that romantic tender-heartedness +which will always ensure her misery enough, and come to London as soon as +you can. I have another reason for urging this: Mainwaring came to town +last week, and has contrived, in spite of Mr. Johnson, to make +opportunities of seeing me. He is absolutely miserable about you, and +jealous to such a degree of De Courcy that it would be highly unadvisable +for them to meet at present. And yet, if you do not allow him to see you +here, I cannot answer for his not committing some great imprudence--such as +going to Churchhill, for instance, which would be dreadful! Besides, if you +take my advice, and resolve to marry De Courcy, it will be indispensably +necessary to you to get Mainwaring out of the way; and you only can have +influence enough to send him back to his wife. I have still another motive +for your coming: Mr. Johnson leaves London next Tuesday; he is going for +his health to Bath, where, if the waters are favourable to his constitution +and my wishes, he will be laid up with the gout many weeks. During his +absence we shall be able to chuse our own society, and to have true +enjoyment. I would ask you to Edward Street, but that once he forced from +me a kind of promise never to invite you to my house; nothing but my being +in the utmost distress for money should have extorted it from me. I can get +you, however, a nice drawing-room apartment in Upper Seymour Street, and we +may be always together there or here; for I consider my promise to Mr. +Johnson as comprehending only (at least in his absence) your not sleeping +in the house. Poor Mainwaring gives me such histories of his wife's +jealousy. Silly woman to expect constancy from so charming a man! but she +always was silly--intolerably so in marrying him at all, she the heiress of +a large fortune and he without a shilling: one title, I know, she might +have had, besides baronets. Her folly in forming the connection was so +great that, though Mr. Johnson was her guardian, and I do not in general +share HIS feelings, I never can forgive her. + +Adieu. Yours ever, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXVII + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +This letter, my dear Mother, will be brought you by Reginald. His long +visit is about to be concluded at last, but I fear the separation takes +place too late to do us any good. She is going to London to see her +particular friend, Mrs. Johnson. It was at first her intention that +Frederica should accompany her, for the benefit of masters, but we +overruled her there. Frederica was wretched in the idea of going, and I +could not bear to have her at the mercy of her mother; not all the masters +in London could compensate for the ruin of her comfort. I should have +feared, too, for her health, and for everything but her principles--there +I believe she is not to be injured by her mother, or her mother's friends; +but with those friends she must have mixed (a very bad set, I doubt not), +or have been left in total solitude, and I can hardly tell which would have +been worse for her. If she is with her mother, moreover, she must, alas! in +all probability be with Reginald, and that would be the greatest evil of +all. Here we shall in time be in peace, and our regular employments, our +books and conversations, with exercise, the children, and every domestic +pleasure in my power to procure her, will, I trust, gradually overcome this +youthful attachment. I should not have a doubt of it were she slighted for +any other woman in the world than her own mother. How long Lady Susan will +be in town, or whether she returns here again, I know not. I could not be +cordial in my invitation, but if she chuses to come no want of cordiality +on my part will keep her away. I could not help asking Reginald if he +intended being in London this winter, as soon as I found her ladyship's +steps would be bent thither; and though he professed himself quite +undetermined, there was something in his look and voice as he spoke which +contradicted his words. I have done with lamentation; I look upon the event +as so far decided that I resign myself to it in despair. If he leaves you +soon for London everything will be concluded. + +Your affectionate, &c., + +C. VERNON. + + + + + +XXVIII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,--I write in the greatest distress; the most +unfortunate event has just taken place. Mr. Johnson has hit on the most +effectual manner of plaguing us all. He had heard, I imagine, by some means +or other, that you were soon to be in London, and immediately contrived to +have such an attack of the gout as must at least delay his journey to Bath, +if not wholly prevent it. I am persuaded the gout is brought on or kept off +at pleasure; it was the same when I wanted to join the Hamiltons to the +Lakes; and three years ago, when I had a fancy for Bath, nothing could +induce him to have a gouty symptom. + +I am pleased to find that my letter had so much effect on you, and that +De Courcy is certainly your own. Let me hear from you as soon as you +arrive, and in particular tell me what you mean to do with Mainwaring. It +is impossible to say when I shall be able to come to you; my confinement +must be great. It is such an abominable trick to be ill here instead of at +Bath that I can scarcely command myself at all. At Bath his old aunts +would have nursed him, but here it all falls upon me; and he bears pain +with such patience that I have not the common excuse for losing my temper. + +Yours ever, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXIX + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Alicia,--There needed not this last fit of the gout to make me +detest Mr. Johnson, but now the extent of my aversion is not to be +estimated. To have you confined as nurse in his apartment! My dear Alicia, +of what a mistake were you guilty in marrying a man of his age! just old +enough to be formal, ungovernable, and to have the gout; too old to be +agreeable, too young to die. I arrived last night about five, had scarcely +swallowed my dinner when Mainwaring made his appearance. I will not +dissemble what real pleasure his sight afforded me, nor how strongly I felt +the contrast between his person and manners and those of Reginald, to the +infinite disadvantage of the latter. For an hour or two I was even +staggered in my resolution of marrying him, and though this was too idle +and nonsensical an idea to remain long on my mind, I do not feel very eager +for the conclusion of my marriage, nor look forward with much impatience to +the time when Reginald, according to our agreement, is to be in town. I +shall probably put off his arrival under some pretence or other. He must +not come till Mainwaring is gone. I am still doubtful at times as to +marrying; if the old man would die I might not hesitate, but a state of +dependance on the caprice of Sir Reginald will not suit the freedom of my +spirit; and if I resolve to wait for that event, I shall have excuse enough +at present in having been scarcely ten months a widow. I have not given +Mainwaring any hint of my intention, or allowed him to consider my +acquaintance with Reginald as more than the commonest flirtation, and he is +tolerably appeased. Adieu, till we meet; I am enchanted with my lodgings. + +Yours ever, + +S. VERNON. + + + + + +XXX + + +LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I have received your letter, and though I do not attempt to conceal that +I am gratified by your impatience for the hour of meeting, I yet feel +myself under the necessity of delaying that hour beyond the time originally +fixed. Do not think me unkind for such an exercise of my power, nor accuse +me of instability without first hearing my reasons. In the course of my +journey from Churchhill I had ample leisure for reflection on the present +state of our affairs, and every review has served to convince me that they +require a delicacy and cautiousness of conduct to which we have hitherto +been too little attentive. We have been hurried on by our feelings to a +degree of precipitation which ill accords with the claims of our friends or +the opinion of the world. We have been unguarded in forming this hasty +engagement, but we must not complete the imprudence by ratifying it while +there is so much reason to fear the connection would be opposed by those +friends on whom you depend. It is not for us to blame any expectations on +your father's side of your marrying to advantage; where possessions are so +extensive as those of your family, the wish of increasing them, if not +strictly reasonable, is too common to excite surprize or resentment. He has +a right to require a woman of fortune in his daughter-in-law, and I am +sometimes quarrelling with myself for suffering you to form a connection so +imprudent; but the influence of reason is often acknowledged too late by +those who feel like me. I have now been but a few months a widow, and, +however little indebted to my husband's memory for any happiness derived +from him during a union of some years, I cannot forget that the indelicacy +of so early a second marriage must subject me to the censure of the world, +and incur, what would be still more insupportable, the displeasure of Mr. +Vernon. I might perhaps harden myself in time against the injustice of +general reproach, but the loss of HIS valued esteem I am, as you well know, +ill-fitted to endure; and when to this may be added the consciousness of +having injured you with your family, how am I to support myself? With +feelings so poignant as mine, the conviction of having divided the son from +his parents would make me, even with you, the most miserable of beings. It +will surely, therefore, be advisable to delay our union--to delay it till +appearances are more promising--till affairs have taken a more favourable +turn. To assist us In such a resolution I feel that absence will be +necessary. We must not meet. Cruel as this sentence may appear, the +necessity of pronouncing it, which can alone reconcile it to myself, will +be evident to you when you have considered our situation in the light in +which I have found myself imperiously obliged to place it. You may be--you +must be--well assured that nothing but the strongest conviction of duty +could induce me to wound my own feelings by urging a lengthened separation, +and of insensibility to yours you will hardly suspect me. Again, therefore, +I say that we ought not, we must not, yet meet. By a removal for some +months from each other we shall tranquillise the sisterly fears of Mrs. +Vernon, who, accustomed herself to the enjoyment of riches, considers +fortune as necessary everywhere, and whose sensibilities are not of a +nature to comprehend ours. Let me hear from you soon--very soon. Tell me +that you submit to my arguments, and do not reproach me for using such. I +cannot bear reproaches: my spirits are not so high as to need being +repressed. I must endeavour to seek amusement, and fortunately many of my +friends are in town; amongst them the Mainwarings; you know how sincerely +I regard both husband and wife. + +I am, very faithfully yours, + +S. VERNON + + + + + +XXXI + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Friend,--That tormenting creature, Reginald, is here. My letter, +which was intended to keep him longer in the country, has hastened him to +town. Much as I wish him away, however, I cannot help being pleased with +such a proof of attachment. He is devoted to me, heart and soul. He will +carry this note himself, which is to serve as an introduction to you, with +whom he longs to be acquainted. Allow him to spend the evening with you, +that I may be in no danger of his returning here. I have told him that I am +not quite well, and must be alone; and should he call again there might be +confusion, for it is impossible to be sure of servants. Keep him, +therefore, I entreat you, in Edward Street. You will not find him a heavy +companion, and I allow you to flirt with him as much as you like. At the +same time, do not forget my real interest; say all that you can to convince +him that I shall be quite wretched if he remains here; you know my +reasons--propriety, and so forth. I would urge them more myself, but that I +am impatient to be rid of him, as Mainwaring comes within half an hour. +Adieu! + +S VERNON + + + + + +XXXII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN + + +Edward Street. + + +My dear Creature,--I am in agonies, and know not what to do. Mr. De +Courcy arrived just when he should not. Mrs. Mainwaring had that instant +entered the house, and forced herself into her guardian's presence, though +I did not know a syllable of it till afterwards, for I was out when both +she and Reginald came, or I should have sent him away at all events; but +she was shut up with Mr. Johnson, while he waited in the drawing-room for +me. She arrived yesterday in pursuit of her husband, but perhaps you know +this already from himself. She came to this house to entreat my husband's +interference, and before I could be aware of it, everything that you could +wish to be concealed was known to him, and unluckily she had wormed out of +Mainwaring's servant that he had visited you every day since your being in +town, and had just watched him to your door herself! What could I do! Facts +are such horrid things! All is by this time known to De Courcy, who is now +alone with Mr. Johnson. Do not accuse me; indeed, it was impossible to +prevent it. Mr. Johnson has for some time suspected De Courcy of intending +to marry you, and would speak with him alone as soon as he knew him to be +in the house. That detestable Mrs. Mainwaring, who, for your comfort, has +fretted herself thinner and uglier than ever, is still here, and they have +been all closeted together. What can be done? At any rate, I hope he will +plague his wife more than ever. With anxious wishes, +Yours faithfully, + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXXIII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +This eclaircissement is rather provoking. How unlucky that you should +have been from home! I thought myself sure of you at seven! I am undismayed +however. Do not torment yourself with fears on my account; depend on it, I +can make my story good with Reginald. Mainwaring is just gone; he brought +me the news of his wife's arrival. Silly woman, what does she expect by +such manoeuvres? Yet I wish she had stayed quietly at Langford. Reginald +will be a little enraged at first, but by to-morrow's dinner, everything +will be well again. + +Adieu! + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXIV + + +MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN + + +--- Hotel + + +I write only to bid you farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as you +are. Since we parted yesterday, I have received from indisputable authority +such a history of you as must bring the most mortifying conviction of the +imposition I have been under, and the absolute necessity of an immediate +and eternal separation from you. You cannot doubt to what I allude. +Langford! Langford! that word will be sufficient. I received my information +in Mr. Johnson's house, from Mrs. Mainwaring herself. You know how I have +loved you; you can intimately judge of my present feelings, but I am not so +weak as to find indulgence in describing them to a woman who will glory in +having excited their anguish, but whose affection they have never been able +to gain. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XXXV + + +LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I will not attempt to describe my astonishment in reading the note this +moment received from you. I am bewildered in my endeavours to form some +rational conjecture of what Mrs. Mainwaring can have told you to occasion +so extraordinary a change in your sentiments. Have I not explained +everything to you with respect to myself which could bear a doubtful +meaning, and which the ill-nature of the world had interpreted to my +discredit? What can you now have heard to stagger your esteem for me? Have +I ever had a concealment from you? Reginald, you agitate me beyond +expression, I cannot suppose that the old story of Mrs. Mainwaring's +jealousy can be revived again, or at least be LISTENED to again. Come to me +immediately, and explain what is at present absolutely incomprehensible. +Believe me the single word of Langford is not of such potent intelligence +as to supersede the necessity of more. If we ARE to part, it will at least +be handsome to take your personal leave--but I have little heart to jest; +in truth, I am serious enough; for to be sunk, though but for an hour, in +your esteem Is a humiliation to which I know not how to submit. I shall +count every minute till your arrival. + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXVI + + +MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN + + +---- Hotel. + + +Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars? But, since it +must be so, I am obliged to declare that all the accounts of your +misconduct during the life, and since the death of Mr. Vernon, which had +reached me, in common with the world in general, and gained my entire +belief before I saw you, but which you, by the exertion of your perverted +abilities, had made me resolved to disallow, have been unanswerably proved +to me; nay more, I am assured that a connection, of which I had never +before entertained a thought, has for some time existed, and still +continues to exist, between you and the man whose family you robbed of its +peace in return for the hospitality with which you were received into it; +that you have corresponded with him ever since your leaving Langford; not +with his wife, but with him, and that he now visits you every day. Can you, +dare you deny it? and all this at the time when I was an encouraged, an +accepted lover! From what have I not escaped! I have only to be grateful. +Far from me be all complaint, every sigh of regret. My own folly had +endangered me, my preservation I owe to the kindness, the integrity of +another; but the unfortunate Mrs. Mainwaring, whose agonies while she +related the past seemed to threaten her reason, how is SHE to be consoled! +After such a discovery as this, you will scarcely affect further wonder at +my meaning in bidding you adieu. My understanding is at length restored, +and teaches no less to abhor the artifices which had subdued me than to +despise myself for the weakness on which their strength was founded. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + + +XXXVII + + +LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I am satisfied, and will trouble you no more when these few lines are +dismissed. The engagement which you were eager to form a fortnight ago is +no longer compatible with your views, and I rejoice to find that the +prudent advice of your parents has not been given in vain. Your restoration +to peace will, I doubt not, speedily follow this act of filial obedience, +and I flatter myself with the hope of surviving my share in this +disappointment. + +S. V. + + + + + +XXXVIII + + +MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN VERNON + + +Edward Street + + +I am grieved, though I cannot be astonished at your rupture with Mr. De +Courcy; he has just informed Mr. Johnson of it by letter. He leaves London, +he says, to-day. Be assured that I partake in all your feelings, and do not +be angry if I say that our intercourse, even by letter, must soon be given +up. It makes me miserable; but Mr. Johnson vows that if I persist in the +connection, he will settle in the country for the rest of his life, and you +know it is impossible to submit to such an extremity while any other +alternative remains. You have heard of course that the Mainwarings are to +part, and I am afraid Mrs. M. will come home to us again; but she is still +so fond of her husband, and frets so much about him, that perhaps she may +not live long. Miss Mainwaring is just come to town to be with her aunt, +and they say that she declares she will have Sir James Martin before she +leaves London again. If I were you, I would certainly get him myself. I had +almost forgot to give you my opinion of Mr. De Courcy; I am really +delighted with him; he is full as handsome, I think, as Mainwaring, and +with such an open, good-humoured countenance, that one cannot help loving +him at first sight. Mr. Johnson and he are the greatest friends in the +world. Adieu, my dearest Susan, I wish matters did not go so perversely. +That unlucky visit to Langford! but I dare say you did all for the best, +and there is no defying destiny. + +Your sincerely attached + +ALICIA. + + + + + +XXXIX + + +LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON + + +Upper Seymour Street. + +My dear Alicia,--I yield to the necessity which parts us. Under +circumstances you could not act otherwise. Our friendship cannot be +impaired by it, and in happier times, when your situation is as independent +as mine, it will unite us again in the same intimacy as ever. For this I +shall impatiently wait, and meanwhile can safely assure you that I never +was more at ease, or better satisfied with myself and everything about me +than at the present hour. Your husband I abhor, Reginald I despise, and I +am secure of never seeing either again. Have I not reason to rejoice? +Mainwaring is more devoted to me than ever; and were we at liberty, I doubt +if I could resist even matrimony offered by HIM. This event, if his wife +live with you, it may be in your power to hasten. The violence of her +feelings, which must wear her out, may be easily kept in irritation. I rely +on your friendship for this. I am now satisfied that I never could have +brought myself to marry Reginald, and am equally determined that Frederica +never shall. To-morrow, I shall fetch her from Churchhill, and let Maria +Mainwaring tremble for the consequence. Frederica shall be Sir James's wife +before she quits my house, and she may whimper, and the Vernons may storm, +I regard them not. I am tired of submitting my will to the caprices of +others; of resigning my own judgment in deference to those to whom I owe no +duty, and for whom I feel no respect. I have given up too much, have been +too easily worked on, but Frederica shall now feel the difference. Adieu, +dearest of friends; may the next gouty attack be more favourable! and may +you always regard me as unalterably yours, + +S. VERNON + + + + + +XL + + +LADY DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON + + +My dear Catherine,--I have charming news for you, and if I had not sent +off my letter this morning you might have been spared the vexation of +knowing of Reginald's being gone to London, for he is returned. Reginald is +returned, not to ask our consent to his marrying Lady Susan, but to tell us +they are parted for ever. He has been only an hour in the house, and I have +not been able to learn particulars, for he is so very low that I have not +the heart to ask questions, but I hope we shall soon know all. This is the +most joyful hour he has ever given us since the day of his birth. Nothing +is wanting but to have you here, and it is our particular wish and entreaty +that you would come to us as soon as you can. You have owed us a visit many +long weeks; I hope nothing will make it inconvenient to Mr. Vernon; and +pray bring all my grand-children; and your dear niece is included, of +course; I long to see her. It has been a sad, heavy winter hitherto, +without Reginald, and seeing nobody from Churchhill. I never found the +season so dreary before; but this happy meeting will make us young again. +Frederica runs much in my thoughts, and when Reginald has recovered his +usual good spirits (as I trust he soon will) we will try to rob him of his +heart once more, and I am full of hopes of seeing their hands joined at no +great distance. + +Your affectionate mother, + +C. DE COURCY + + + + + +XLI + + +MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,--Your letter has surprized me beyond measure! Can it be +true that they are really separated--and for ever? I should be overjoyed +if I dared depend on it, but after all that I have seen how can one be +secure? And Reginald really with you! My surprize is the greater because on +Wednesday, the very day of his coming to Parklands, we had a most +unexpected and unwelcome visit from Lady Susan, looking all cheerfulness +and good-humour, and seeming more as if she were to marry him when she got +to London than as if parted from him for ever. She stayed nearly two hours, +was as affectionate and agreeable as ever, and not a syllable, not a hint +was dropped, of any disagreement or coolness between them. I asked her +whether she had seen my brother since his arrival in town; not, as you may +suppose, with any doubt of the fact, but merely to see how she looked. She +immediately answered, without any embarrassment, that he had been kind +enough to call on her on Monday; but she believed he had already returned +home, which I was very far from crediting. Your kind invitation is accepted +by us with pleasure, and on Thursday next we and our little ones will be +with you. Pray heaven, Reginald may not be in town again by that time! I +wish we could bring dear Frederica too, but I am sorry to say that her +mother's errand hither was to fetch her away; and, miserable as it made the +poor girl, it was impossible to detain her. I was thoroughly unwilling to +let her go, and so was her uncle; and all that could be urged we did urge; +but Lady Susan declared that as she was now about to fix herself in London +for several months, she could not be easy if her daughter were not with her +for masters, &c. Her manner, to be sure, was very kind and proper, and Mr. +Vernon believes that Frederica will now be treated with affection. I wish I +could think so too. The poor girl's heart was almost broke at taking leave +of us. I charged her to write to me very often, and to remember that if she +were in any distress we should be always her friends. I took care to see +her alone, that I might say all this, and I hope made her a little more +comfortable; but I shall not be easy till I can go to town and judge of her +situation myself. I wish there were a better prospect than now appears of +the match which the conclusion of your letter declares your expectations +of. At present, it is not very likely + +Yours ever, &c., + +C. VERNON + + + + + + +CONCLUSION + + +This correspondence, by a meeting between some of the parties, and a +separation between the others, could not, to the great detriment of the +Post Office revenue, be continued any longer. Very little assistance to the +State could be derived from the epistolary intercourse of Mrs. Vernon and +her niece; for the former soon perceived, by the style of Frederica's +letters, that they were written under her mother's inspection! and +therefore, deferring all particular enquiry till she could make it +personally in London, ceased writing minutely or often. Having learnt +enough, in the meanwhile, from her open-hearted brother, of what had passed +between him and Lady Susan to sink the latter lower than ever in her +opinion, she was proportionably more anxious to get Frederica removed from +such a mother, and placed under her own care; and, though with little hope +of success, was resolved to leave nothing unattempted that might offer a +chance of obtaining her sister-in-law's consent to it. Her anxiety on the +subject made her press for an early visit to London; and Mr. Vernon, who, +as it must already have appeared, lived only to do whatever he was desired, +soon found some accommodating business to call him thither. With a heart +full of the matter, Mrs. Vernon waited on Lady Susan shortly after her +arrival in town, and was met with such an easy and cheerful affection, as +made her almost turn from her with horror. No remembrance of Reginald, no +consciousness of guilt, gave one look of embarrassment; she was in +excellent spirits, and seemed eager to show at once by ever possible +attention to her brother and sister her sense of their kindness, and her +pleasure in their society. Frederica was no more altered than Lady Susan; +the same restrained manners, the same timid look in the presence of her +mother as heretofore, assured her aunt of her situation being +uncomfortable, and confirmed her in the plan of altering it. No unkindness, +however, on the part of Lady Susan appeared. Persecution on the subject of +Sir James was entirely at an end; his name merely mentioned to say that he +was not in London; and indeed, in all her conversation, she was solicitous +only for the welfare and improvement of her daughter, acknowledging, in +terms of grateful delight, that Frederica was now growing every day more +and more what a parent could desire. Mrs. Vernon, surprized and +incredulous, knew not what to suspect, and, without any change in her own +views, only feared greater difficulty in accomplishing them. The first hope +of anything better was derived from Lady Susan's asking her whether she +thought Frederica looked quite as well as she had done at Churchhill, as +she must confess herself to have sometimes an anxious doubt of London's +perfectly agreeing with her. Mrs. Vernon, encouraging the doubt, directly +proposed her niece's returning with them into the country. Lady Susan was +unable to express her sense of such kindness, yet knew not, from a variety +of reasons, how to part with her daughter; and as, though her own plans +were not yet wholly fixed, she trusted it would ere long be in her power to +take Frederica into the country herself, concluded by declining entirely to +profit by such unexampled attention. Mrs. Vernon persevered, however, in +the offer of it, and though Lady Susan continued to resist, her resistance +in the course of a few days seemed somewhat less formidable. The lucky +alarm of an influenza decided what might not have been decided quite so +soon. Lady Susan's maternal fears were then too much awakened for her to +think of anything but Frederica's removal from the risk of infection; above +all disorders in the world she most dreaded the influenza for her +daughter's constitution! + +Frederica returned to Churchhill with her uncle and aunt; and three +weeks afterwards, Lady Susan announced her being married to Sir James +Martin. Mrs. Vernon was then convinced of what she had only suspected +before, that she might have spared herself all the trouble of urging a +removal which Lady Susan had doubtless resolved on from the first. +Frederica's visit was nominally for six weeks, but her mother, though +inviting her to return in one or two affectionate letters, was very ready +to oblige the whole party by consenting to a prolongation of her stay, and +in the course of two months ceased to write of her absence, and in the +course of two or more to write to her at all. Frederica was therefore fixed +in the family of her uncle and aunt till such time as Reginald De Courcy +could be talked, flattered, and finessed into an affection for her which, +allowing leisure for the conquest of his attachment to her mother, for his +abjuring all future attachments, and detesting the sex, might be reasonably +looked for in the course of a twelvemonth. Three months might have done it +in general, but Reginald's feelings were no less lasting than lively. +Whether Lady Susan was or was not happy in her second choice, I do not see +how it can ever be ascertained; for who would take her assurance of it on +either side of the question? The world must judge from probabilities; she +had nothing against her but her husband, and her conscience. Sir James may +seem to have drawn a harder lot than mere folly merited; I leave him, +therefore, to all the pity that anybody can give him. For myself, I confess +that I can pity only Miss Mainwaring; who, coming to town, and putting +herself to an expense in clothes which impoverished her for two years, on +purpose to secure him, was defrauded of her due by a woman ten years older +than herself. + + + + + +End of The Project Gutenberg Etext of Lady Susan, by Jane Austen + diff --git a/old/lsusn11.zip b/old/lsusn11.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..74a013e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/lsusn11.zip diff --git a/old/old-2024-08-08/946-0.txt b/old/old-2024-08-08/946-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..eb6f1f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/old-2024-08-08/946-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2919 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Lady Susan, by Jane Austen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and +most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions +whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at +www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you +will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before +using this eBook. + +Title: Lady Susan + +Author: Jane Austen + +Release Date: June, 1997 [eBook #946] +[Most recently updated: October 1, 2022] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY SUSAN *** + + + + +LADY SUSAN + +by Jane Austen + + + + +CONTENTS + + I + II + III + IV + V + VI + VII + VIII + IX + X + XI + XII + XIII + XIV + XV + XVI + XVII + XVIII + XIX + XX + XXI + XXII + XXIII + XXIV + XXV + XXVI + XXVII + XXVIII + XXIX + XXX + XXXI + XXXII + XXXIII + XXXIV + XXXV + XXXVI + XXXVII + XXXVIII + XXXIX + XL + XLI + CONCLUSION + + + + +I + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mr. Vernon._ + + +Langford, Dec. + + +MY DEAR BROTHER,—I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure of +profiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of spending some +weeks with you at Churchhill, and, therefore, if quite convenient to +you and Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few +days to be introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be +acquainted with. My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent +with me to prolong my stay, but their hospitable and cheerful +dispositions lead them too much into society for my present situation +and state of mind; and I impatiently look forward to the hour when I +shall be admitted into your delightful retirement. + +I long to be made known to your dear little children, in whose hearts I +shall be very eager to secure an interest. I shall soon have need for +all my fortitude, as I am on the point of separation from my own +daughter. The long illness of her dear father prevented my paying her +that attention which duty and affection equally dictated, and I have +too much reason to fear that the governess to whose care I consigned +her was unequal to the charge. I have therefore resolved on placing her +at one of the best private schools in town, where I shall have an +opportunity of leaving her myself in my way to you. I am determined, +you see, not to be denied admittance at Churchhill. It would indeed +give me most painful sensations to know that it were not in your power +to receive me. + +Your most obliged and affectionate sister, +S. VERNON. + + + + +II + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Langford. + + +You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing me fixed at this place +for the rest of the winter: it grieves me to say how greatly you were +mistaken, for I have seldom spent three months more agreeably than +those which have just flown away. At present, nothing goes smoothly; +the females of the family are united against me. You foretold how it +would be when I first came to Langford, and Mainwaring is so uncommonly +pleasing that I was not without apprehensions for myself. I remember +saying to myself, as I drove to the house, “I like this man, pray +Heaven no harm come of it!” But I was determined to be discreet, to +bear in mind my being only four months a widow, and to be as quiet as +possible: and I have been so, my dear creature; I have admitted no +one’s attentions but Mainwaring’s. I have avoided all general +flirtation whatever; I have distinguished no creature besides, of all +the numbers resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on whom I +bestowed a little notice, in order to detach him from Miss Mainwaring; +but, if the world could know my motive _there_ they would honour me. I +have been called an unkind mother, but it was the sacred impulse of +maternal affection, it was the advantage of my daughter that led me on; +and if that daughter were not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might +have been rewarded for my exertions as I ought. + +Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica; but Frederica, who +was born to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so +violently against the match that I thought it better to lay aside the +scheme for the present. I have more than once repented that I did not +marry him myself; and were he but one degree less contemptibly weak I +certainly should: but I must own myself rather romantic in that +respect, and that riches only will not satisfy me. The event of all +this is very provoking: Sir James is gone, Maria highly incensed, and +Mrs. Mainwaring insupportably jealous; so jealous, in short, and so +enraged against me, that, in the fury of her temper, I should not be +surprized at her appealing to her guardian, if she had the liberty of +addressing him: but there your husband stands my friend; and the +kindest, most amiable action of his life was his throwing her off for +ever on her marriage. Keep up his resentment, therefore, I charge you. +We are now in a sad state; no house was ever more altered; the whole +party are at war, and Mainwaring scarcely dares speak to me. It is time +for me to be gone; I have therefore determined on leaving them, and +shall spend, I hope, a comfortable day with you in town within this +week. If I am as little in favour with Mr. Johnson as ever, you must +come to me at 10 Wigmore street; but I hope this may not be the case, +for as Mr. Johnson, with all his faults, is a man to whom that great +word “respectable” is always given, and I am known to be so intimate +with his wife, his slighting me has an awkward look. + +I take London in my way to that insupportable spot, a country village; +for I am really going to Churchhill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is +my last resource. Were there another place in England open to me I +would prefer it. Charles Vernon is my aversion; and I am afraid of his +wife. At Churchhill, however, I must remain till I have something +better in view. My young lady accompanies me to town, where I shall +deposit her under the care of Miss Summers, in Wigmore street, till she +becomes a little more reasonable. She will made good connections there, +as the girls are all of the best families. The price is immense, and +much beyond what I can ever attempt to pay. + +Adieu, I will send you a line as soon as I arrive in town. + +Yours ever, +S. VERNON. + + + + +III + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,—I am very sorry to tell you that it will not be in our +power to keep our promise of spending our Christmas with you; and we +are prevented that happiness by a circumstance which is not likely to +make us any amends. Lady Susan, in a letter to her brother-in-law, has +declared her intention of visiting us almost immediately; and as such a +visit is in all probability merely an affair of convenience, it is +impossible to conjecture its length. I was by no means prepared for +such an event, nor can I now account for her ladyship’s conduct; +Langford appeared so exactly the place for her in every respect, as +well from the elegant and expensive style of living there, as from her +particular attachment to Mr. Mainwaring, that I was very far from +expecting so speedy a distinction, though I always imagined from her +increasing friendship for us since her husband’s death that we should, +at some future period, be obliged to receive her. Mr. Vernon, I think, +was a great deal too kind to her when he was in Staffordshire; her +behaviour to him, independent of her general character, has been so +inexcusably artful and ungenerous since our marriage was first in +agitation that no one less amiable and mild than himself could have +overlooked it all; and though, as his brother’s widow, and in narrow +circumstances, it was proper to render her pecuniary assistance, I +cannot help thinking his pressing invitation to her to visit us at +Churchhill perfectly unnecessary. Disposed, however, as he always is to +think the best of everyone, her display of grief, and professions of +regret, and general resolutions of prudence, were sufficient to soften +his heart and make him really confide in her sincerity; but, as for +myself, I am still unconvinced, and plausibly as her ladyship has now +written, I cannot make up my mind till I better understand her real +meaning in coming to us. You may guess, therefore, my dear madam, with +what feelings I look forward to her arrival. She will have occasion for +all those attractive powers for which she is celebrated to gain any +share of my regard; and I shall certainly endeavour to guard myself +against their influence, if not accompanied by something more +substantial. She expresses a most eager desire of being acquainted with +me, and makes very gracious mention of my children but I am not quite +weak enough to suppose a woman who has behaved with inattention, if not +with unkindness, to her own child, should be attached to any of mine. +Miss Vernon is to be placed at a school in London before her mother +comes to us which I am glad of, for her sake and my own. It must be to +her advantage to be separated from her mother, and a girl of sixteen +who has received so wretched an education, could not be a very +desirable companion here. Reginald has long wished, I know, to see the +captivating Lady Susan, and we shall depend on his joining our party +soon. I am glad to hear that my father continues so well; and am, with +best love, &c., + +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + +IV + + +_Mr. De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon._ + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Sister,—I congratulate you and Mr. Vernon on being about to +receive into your family the most accomplished coquette in England. As +a very distinguished flirt I have always been taught to consider her, +but it has lately fallen in my way to hear some particulars of her +conduct at Langford: which prove that she does not confine herself to +that sort of honest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires +to the more delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable. +By her behaviour to Mr. Mainwaring she gave jealousy and wretchedness +to his wife, and by her attentions to a young man previously attached +to Mr. Mainwaring’s sister deprived an amiable girl of her lover. + +I learnt all this from Mr. Smith, now in this neighbourhood (I have +dined with him, at Hurst and Wilford), who is just come from Langford +where he was a fortnight with her ladyship, and who is therefore well +qualified to make the communication. + +What a woman she must be! I long to see her, and shall certainly accept +your kind invitation, that I may form some idea of those bewitching +powers which can do so much—engaging at the same time, and in the same +house, the affections of two men, who were neither of them at liberty +to bestow them—and all this without the charm of youth! I am glad to +find Miss Vernon does not accompany her mother to Churchhill, as she +has not even manners to recommend her; and, according to Mr. Smith’s +account, is equally dull and proud. Where pride and stupidity unite +there can be no dissimulation worthy notice, and Miss Vernon shall be +consigned to unrelenting contempt; but by all that I can gather Lady +Susan possesses a degree of captivating deceit which it must be +pleasing to witness and detect. I shall be with you very soon, and am +ever, + +Your affectionate brother, +R. DE COURCY. + + + + +V + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +I received your note, my dear Alicia, just before I left town, and +rejoice to be assured that Mr. Johnson suspected nothing of your +engagement the evening before. It is undoubtedly better to deceive him +entirely, and since he will be stubborn he must be tricked. I arrived +here in safety, and have no reason to complain of my reception from Mr. +Vernon; but I confess myself not equally satisfied with the behaviour +of his lady. She is perfectly well-bred, indeed, and has the air of a +woman of fashion, but her manners are not such as can persuade me of +her being prepossessed in my favour. I wanted her to be delighted at +seeing me. I was as amiable as possible on the occasion, but all in +vain. She does not like me. To be sure, when we consider that I _did_ +take some pains to prevent my brother-in-law’s marrying her, this want +of cordiality is not very surprizing, and yet it shows an illiberal and +vindictive spirit to resent a project which influenced me six years +ago, and which never succeeded at last. + +I am sometimes disposed to repent that I did not let Charles buy Vernon +Castle, when we were obliged to sell it; but it was a trying +circumstance, especially as the sale took place exactly at the time of +his marriage; and everybody ought to respect the delicacy of those +feelings which could not endure that my husband’s dignity should be +lessened by his younger brother’s having possession of the family +estate. Could matters have been so arranged as to prevent the necessity +of our leaving the castle, could we have lived with Charles and kept +him single, I should have been very far from persuading my husband to +dispose of it elsewhere; but Charles was on the point of marrying Miss +De Courcy, and the event has justified me. Here are children in +abundance, and what benefit could have accrued to me from his +purchasing Vernon? My having prevented it may perhaps have given his +wife an unfavourable impression, but where there is a disposition to +dislike, a motive will never be wanting; and as to money matters it has +not withheld him from being very useful to me. I really have a regard +for him, he is so easily imposed upon! The house is a good one, the +furniture fashionable, and everything announces plenty and elegance. +Charles is very rich I am sure; when a man has once got his name in a +banking-house he rolls in money; but they do not know what to do with +it, keep very little company, and never go to London but on business. +We shall be as stupid as possible. I mean to win my sister-in-law’s +heart through the children; I know all their names already, and am +going to attach myself with the greatest sensibility to one in +particular, a young Frederic, whom I take on my lap and sigh over for +his dear uncle’s sake. + +Poor Mainwaring! I need not tell you how much I miss him, how +perpetually he is in my thoughts. I found a dismal letter from him on +my arrival here, full of complaints of his wife and sister, and +lamentations on the cruelty of his fate. I passed off the letter as his +wife’s, to the Vernons, and when I write to him it must be under cover +to you. + +Ever yours, +S. VERNON. + + + + +VI + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Mr. De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +Well, my dear Reginald, I have seen this dangerous creature, and must +give you some description of her, though I hope you will soon be able +to form your own judgment. She is really excessively pretty; however +you may choose to question the allurements of a lady no longer young, I +must, for my own part, declare that I have seldom seen so lovely a +woman as Lady Susan. She is delicately fair, with fine grey eyes and +dark eyelashes; and from her appearance one would not suppose her more +than five and twenty, though she must in fact be ten years older. I was +certainly not disposed to admire her, though always hearing she was +beautiful; but I cannot help feeling that she possesses an uncommon +union of symmetry, brilliancy, and grace. Her address to me was so +gentle, frank, and even affectionate, that, if I had not known how much +she has always disliked me for marrying Mr. Vernon, and that we had +never met before, I should have imagined her an attached friend. One is +apt, I believe, to connect assurance of manner with coquetry, and to +expect that an impudent address will naturally attend an impudent mind; +at least I was myself prepared for an improper degree of confidence in +Lady Susan; but her countenance is absolutely sweet, and her voice and +manner winningly mild. I am sorry it is so, for what is this but +deceit? Unfortunately, one knows her too well. She is clever and +agreeable, has all that knowledge of the world which makes conversation +easy, and talks very well, with a happy command of language, which is +too often used, I believe, to make black appear white. She has already +almost persuaded me of her being warmly attached to her daughter, +though I have been so long convinced to the contrary. She speaks of her +with so much tenderness and anxiety, lamenting so bitterly the neglect +of her education, which she represents however as wholly unavoidable, +that I am forced to recollect how many successive springs her ladyship +spent in town, while her daughter was left in Staffordshire to the care +of servants, or a governess very little better, to prevent my believing +what she says. + +If her manners have so great an influence on my resentful heart, you +may judge how much more strongly they operate on Mr. Vernon’s generous +temper. I wish I could be as well satisfied as he is, that it was +really her choice to leave Langford for Churchhill; and if she had not +stayed there for months before she discovered that her friend’s manner +of living did not suit her situation or feelings, I might have believed +that concern for the loss of such a husband as Mr. Vernon, to whom her +own behaviour was far from unexceptionable, might for a time make her +wish for retirement. But I cannot forget the length of her visit to the +Mainwarings, and when I reflect on the different mode of life which she +led with them from that to which she must now submit, I can only +suppose that the wish of establishing her reputation by following +though late the path of propriety, occasioned her removal from a family +where she must in reality have been particularly happy. Your friend Mr. +Smith’s story, however, cannot be quite correct, as she corresponds +regularly with Mrs. Mainwaring. At any rate it must be exaggerated. It +is scarcely possible that two men should be so grossly deceived by her +at once. + +Yours, &c., +CATHERINE VERNON + + + + +VII + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Alicia,—You are very good in taking notice of Frederica, and I +am grateful for it as a mark of your friendship; but as I cannot have +any doubt of the warmth of your affection, I am far from exacting so +heavy a sacrifice. She is a stupid girl, and has nothing to recommend +her. I would not, therefore, on my account, have you encumber one +moment of your precious time by sending for her to Edward Street, +especially as every visit is so much deducted from the grand affair of +education, which I really wish to have attended to while she remains at +Miss Summers’s. I want her to play and sing with some portion of taste +and a good deal of assurance, as she has my hand and arm and a +tolerable voice. I was so much indulged in my infant years that I was +never obliged to attend to anything, and consequently am without the +accomplishments which are now necessary to finish a pretty woman. Not +that I am an advocate for the prevailing fashion of acquiring a perfect +knowledge of all languages, arts, and sciences. It is throwing time +away to be mistress of French, Italian, and German: music, singing, and +drawing, &c., will gain a woman some applause, but will not add one +lover to her list—grace and manner, after all, are of the greatest +importance. I do not mean, therefore, that Frederica’s acquirements +should be more than superficial, and I flatter myself that she will not +remain long enough at school to understand anything thoroughly. I hope +to see her the wife of Sir James within a twelvemonth. You know on what +I ground my hope, and it is certainly a good foundation, for school +must be very humiliating to a girl of Frederica’s age. And, by-the-by, +you had better not invite her any more on that account, as I wish her +to find her situation as unpleasant as possible. I am sure of Sir James +at any time, and could make him renew his application by a line. I +shall trouble you meanwhile to prevent his forming any other attachment +when he comes to town. Ask him to your house occasionally, and talk to +him of Frederica, that he may not forget her. Upon the whole, I commend +my own conduct in this affair extremely, and regard it as a very happy +instance of circumspection and tenderness. Some mothers would have +insisted on their daughter’s accepting so good an offer on the first +overture; but I could not reconcile it to myself to force Frederica +into a marriage from which her heart revolted, and instead of adopting +so harsh a measure merely propose to make it her own choice, by +rendering her thoroughly uncomfortable till she does accept him—but +enough of this tiresome girl. You may well wonder how I contrive to +pass my time here, and for the first week it was insufferably dull. +Now, however, we begin to mend, our party is enlarged by Mrs. Vernon’s +brother, a handsome young man, who promises me some amusement. There is +something about him which rather interests me, a sort of sauciness and +familiarity which I shall teach him to correct. He is lively, and seems +clever, and when I have inspired him with greater respect for me than +his sister’s kind offices have implanted, he may be an agreeable flirt. +There is exquisite pleasure in subduing an insolent spirit, in making a +person predetermined to dislike acknowledge one’s superiority. I have +disconcerted him already by my calm reserve, and it shall be my +endeavour to humble the pride of these self important De Courcys still +lower, to convince Mrs. Vernon that her sisterly cautions have been +bestowed in vain, and to persuade Reginald that she has scandalously +belied me. This project will serve at least to amuse me, and prevent my +feeling so acutely this dreadful separation from you and all whom I +love. + +Yours ever, +S. VERNON. + + + + +VIII + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,—You must not expect Reginald back again for some time. +He desires me to tell you that the present open weather induces him to +accept Mr. Vernon’s invitation to prolong his stay in Sussex, that they +may have some hunting together. He means to send for his horses +immediately, and it is impossible to say when you may see him in Kent. +I will not disguise my sentiments on this change from you, my dear +mother, though I think you had better not communicate them to my +father, whose excessive anxiety about Reginald would subject him to an +alarm which might seriously affect his health and spirits. Lady Susan +has certainly contrived, in the space of a fortnight, to make my +brother like her. In short, I am persuaded that his continuing here +beyond the time originally fixed for his return is occasioned as much +by a degree of fascination towards her, as by the wish of hunting with +Mr. Vernon, and of course I cannot receive that pleasure from the +length of his visit which my brother’s company would otherwise give me. +I am, indeed, provoked at the artifice of this unprincipled woman; what +stronger proof of her dangerous abilities can be given than this +perversion of Reginald’s judgment, which when he entered the house was +so decidedly against her! In his last letter he actually gave me some +particulars of her behaviour at Langford, such as he received from a +gentleman who knew her perfectly well, which, if true, must raise +abhorrence against her, and which Reginald himself was entirely +disposed to credit. His opinion of her, I am sure, was as low as of any +woman in England; and when he first came it was evident that he +considered her as one entitled neither to delicacy nor respect, and +that he felt she would be delighted with the attentions of any man +inclined to flirt with her. Her behaviour, I confess, has been +calculated to do away with such an idea; I have not detected the +smallest impropriety in it—nothing of vanity, of pretension, of levity; +and she is altogether so attractive that I should not wonder at his +being delighted with her, had he known nothing of her previous to this +personal acquaintance; but, against reason, against conviction, to be +so well pleased with her, as I am sure he is, does really astonish me. +His admiration was at first very strong, but no more than was natural, +and I did not wonder at his being much struck by the gentleness and +delicacy of her manners; but when he has mentioned her of late it has +been in terms of more extraordinary praise; and yesterday he actually +said that he could not be surprised at any effect produced on the heart +of man by such loveliness and such abilities; and when I lamented, in +reply, the badness of her disposition, he observed that whatever might +have been her errors they were to be imputed to her neglected education +and early marriage, and that she was altogether a wonderful woman. This +tendency to excuse her conduct or to forget it, in the warmth of +admiration, vexes me; and if I did not know that Reginald is too much +at home at Churchhill to need an invitation for lengthening his visit, +I should regret Mr. Vernon’s giving him any. Lady Susan’s intentions +are of course those of absolute coquetry, or a desire of universal +admiration; I cannot for a moment imagine that she has anything more +serious in view; but it mortifies me to see a young man of Reginald’s +sense duped by her at all. + +I am, &c., +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + +IX + + +_Mrs. Johnson to Lady S. Vernon._ + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,—I congratulate you on Mr. De Courcy’s arrival, and I +advise you by all means to marry him; his father’s estate is, we know, +considerable, and I believe certainly entailed. Sir Reginald is very +infirm, and not likely to stand in your way long. I hear the young man +well spoken of; and though no one can really deserve you, my dearest +Susan, Mr. De Courcy may be worth having. Mainwaring will storm of +course, but you easily pacify him; besides, the most scrupulous point +of honour could not require you to wait for _his_ emancipation. I have +seen Sir James; he came to town for a few days last week, and called +several times in Edward Street. I talked to him about you and your +daughter, and he is so far from having forgotten you, that I am sure he +would marry either of you with pleasure. I gave him hopes of +Frederica’s relenting, and told him a great deal of her improvements. I +scolded him for making love to Maria Mainwaring; he protested that he +had been only in joke, and we both laughed heartily at her +disappointment; and, in short, were very agreeable. He is as silly as +ever. + +Yours faithfully, +ALICIA. + + + + +X + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +I am much obliged to you, my dear Friend, for your advice respecting +Mr. De Courcy, which I know was given with the full conviction of its +expediency, though I am not quite determined on following it. I cannot +easily resolve on anything so serious as marriage; especially as I am +not at present in want of money, and might perhaps, till the old +gentleman’s death, be very little benefited by the match. It is true +that I am vain enough to believe it within my reach. I have made him +sensible of my power, and can now enjoy the pleasure of triumphing over +a mind prepared to dislike me, and prejudiced against all my past +actions. His sister, too, is, I hope, convinced how little the +ungenerous representations of anyone to the disadvantage of another +will avail when opposed by the immediate influence of intellect and +manner. I see plainly that she is uneasy at my progress in the good +opinion of her brother, and conclude that nothing will be wanting on +her part to counteract me; but having once made him doubt the justice +of her opinion of me, I think I may defy her. It has been delightful to +me to watch his advances towards intimacy, especially to observe his +altered manner in consequence of my repressing by the cool dignity of +my deportment his insolent approach to direct familiarity. My conduct +has been equally guarded from the first, and I never behaved less like +a coquette in the whole course of my life, though perhaps my desire of +dominion was never more decided. I have subdued him entirely by +sentiment and serious conversation, and made him, I may venture to say, +at least half in love with me, without the semblance of the most +commonplace flirtation. Mrs. Vernon’s consciousness of deserving every +sort of revenge that it can be in my power to inflict for her +ill-offices could alone enable her to perceive that I am actuated by +any design in behaviour so gentle and unpretending. Let her think and +act as she chooses, however. I have never yet found that the advice of +a sister could prevent a young man’s being in love if he chose. We are +advancing now to some kind of confidence, and in short are likely to be +engaged in a sort of platonic friendship. On my side you may be sure of +its never being more, for if I were not attached to another person as +much as I can be to anyone, I should make a point of not bestowing my +affection on a man who had dared to think so meanly of me. Reginald has +a good figure and is not unworthy the praise you have heard given him, +but is still greatly inferior to our friend at Langford. He is less +polished, less insinuating than Mainwaring, and is comparatively +deficient in the power of saying those delightful things which put one +in good humour with oneself and all the world. He is quite agreeable +enough, however, to afford me amusement, and to make many of those +hours pass very pleasantly which would otherwise be spent in +endeavouring to overcome my sister-in-law’s reserve, and listening to +the insipid talk of her husband. Your account of Sir James is most +satisfactory, and I mean to give Miss Frederica a hint of my intentions +very soon. + +Yours, &c., +S. VERNON. + + + + +XI + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill + + +I really grow quite uneasy, my dearest mother, about Reginald, from +witnessing the very rapid increase of Lady Susan’s influence. They are +now on terms of the most particular friendship, frequently engaged in +long conversations together; and she has contrived by the most artful +coquetry to subdue his judgment to her own purposes. It is impossible +to see the intimacy between them so very soon established without some +alarm, though I can hardly suppose that Lady Susan’s plans extend to +marriage. I wish you could get Reginald home again on any plausible +pretence; he is not at all disposed to leave us, and I have given him +as many hints of my father’s precarious state of health as common +decency will allow me to do in my own house. Her power over him must +now be boundless, as she has entirely effaced all his former +ill-opinion, and persuaded him not merely to forget but to justify her +conduct. Mr. Smith’s account of her proceedings at Langford, where he +accused her of having made Mr. Mainwaring and a young man engaged to +Miss Mainwaring distractedly in love with her, which Reginald firmly +believed when he came here, is now, he is persuaded, only a scandalous +invention. He has told me so with a warmth of manner which spoke his +regret at having believed the contrary himself. How sincerely do I +grieve that she ever entered this house! I always looked forward to her +coming with uneasiness; but very far was it from originating in anxiety +for Reginald. I expected a most disagreeable companion for myself, but +could not imagine that my brother would be in the smallest danger of +being captivated by a woman with whose principles he was so well +acquainted, and whose character he so heartily despised. If you can get +him away it will be a good thing. + +Yours, &c., +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + +XII + + +_Sir Reginald De Courcy to his Son._ + + +Parklands. + + +I know that young men in general do not admit of any enquiry even from +their nearest relations into affairs of the heart, but I hope, my dear +Reginald, that you will be superior to such as allow nothing for a +father’s anxiety, and think themselves privileged to refuse him their +confidence and slight his advice. You must be sensible that as an only +son, and the representative of an ancient family, your conduct in life +is most interesting to your connections; and in the very important +concern of marriage especially, there is everything at stake—your own +happiness, that of your parents, and the credit of your name. I do not +suppose that you would deliberately form an absolute engagement of that +nature without acquainting your mother and myself, or at least, without +being convinced that we should approve of your choice; but I cannot +help fearing that you may be drawn in, by the lady who has lately +attached you, to a marriage which the whole of your family, far and +near, must highly reprobate. Lady Susan’s age is itself a material +objection, but her want of character is one so much more serious, that +the difference of even twelve years becomes in comparison of small +amount. Were you not blinded by a sort of fascination, it would be +ridiculous in me to repeat the instances of great misconduct on her +side so very generally known. + +Her neglect of her husband, her encouragement of other men, her +extravagance and dissipation, were so gross and notorious that no one +could be ignorant of them at the time, nor can now have forgotten them. +To our family she has always been represented in softened colours by +the benevolence of Mr. Charles Vernon, and yet, in spite of his +generous endeavours to excuse her, we know that she did, from the most +selfish motives, take all possible pains to prevent his marriage with +Catherine. + +My years and increasing infirmities make me very desirous of seeing you +settled in the world. To the fortune of a wife, the goodness of my own +will make me indifferent, but her family and character must be equally +unexceptionable. When your choice is fixed so that no objection can be +made to it, then I can promise you a ready and cheerful consent; but it +is my duty to oppose a match which deep art only could render possible, +and must in the end make wretched. It is possible her behaviour may +arise only from vanity, or the wish of gaining the admiration of a man +whom she must imagine to be particularly prejudiced against her; but it +is more likely that she should aim at something further. She is poor, +and may naturally seek an alliance which must be advantageous to +herself; you know your own rights, and that it is out of my power to +prevent your inheriting the family estate. My ability of distressing +you during my life would be a species of revenge to which I could +hardly stoop under any circumstances. + +I honestly tell you my sentiments and intentions: I do not wish to work +on your fears, but on your sense and affection. It would destroy every +comfort of my life to know that you were married to Lady Susan Vernon; +it would be the death of that honest pride with which I have hitherto +considered my son; I should blush to see him, to hear of him, to think +of him. I may perhaps do no good but that of relieving my own mind by +this letter, but I felt it my duty to tell you that your partiality for +Lady Susan is no secret to your friends, and to warn you against her. I +should be glad to hear your reasons for disbelieving Mr. Smith’s +intelligence; you had no doubt of its authenticity a month ago. If you +can give me your assurance of having no design beyond enjoying the +conversation of a clever woman for a short period, and of yielding +admiration only to her beauty and abilities, without being blinded by +them to her faults, you will restore me to happiness; but, if you +cannot do this, explain to me, at least, what has occasioned so great +an alteration in your opinion of her. + +I am, &c., &c, +REGINALD DE COURCY + + + + +XIII + + +_Lady De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon._ + + +Parklands. + + +My dear Catherine,—Unluckily I was confined to my room when your last +letter came, by a cold which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my +reading it myself, so I could not refuse your father when he offered to +read it to me, by which means he became acquainted, to my great +vexation, with all your fears about your brother. I had intended to +write to Reginald myself as soon as my eyes would let me, to point out, +as well as I could, the danger of an intimate acquaintance, with so +artful a woman as Lady Susan, to a young man of his age, and high +expectations. I meant, moreover, to have reminded him of our being +quite alone now, and very much in need of him to keep up our spirits +these long winter evenings. Whether it would have done any good can +never be settled now, but I am excessively vexed that Sir Reginald +should know anything of a matter which we foresaw would make him so +uneasy. He caught all your fears the moment he had read your letter, +and I am sure he has not had the business out of his head since. He +wrote by the same post to Reginald a long letter full of it all, and +particularly asking an explanation of what he may have heard from Lady +Susan to contradict the late shocking reports. His answer came this +morning, which I shall enclose to you, as I think you will like to see +it. I wish it was more satisfactory; but it seems written with such a +determination to think well of Lady Susan, that his assurances as to +marriage, &c., do not set my heart at ease. I say all I can, however, +to satisfy your father, and he is certainly less uneasy since +Reginald’s letter. How provoking it is, my dear Catherine, that this +unwelcome guest of yours should not only prevent our meeting this +Christmas, but be the occasion of so much vexation and trouble! Kiss +the dear children for me. + +Your affectionate mother, +C. DE COURCY. + + + + +XIV + + +_Mr. De Courcy to Sir Reginald._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Sir,—I have this moment received your letter, which has given +me more astonishment than I ever felt before. I am to thank my sister, +I suppose, for having represented me in such a light as to injure me in +your opinion, and give you all this alarm. I know not why she should +choose to make herself and her family uneasy by apprehending an event +which no one but herself, I can affirm, would ever have thought +possible. To impute such a design to Lady Susan would be taking from +her every claim to that excellent understanding which her bitterest +enemies have never denied her; and equally low must sink my pretensions +to common sense if I am suspected of matrimonial views in my behaviour +to her. Our difference of age must be an insuperable objection, and I +entreat you, my dear father, to quiet your mind, and no longer harbour +a suspicion which cannot be more injurious to your own peace than to +our understandings. I can have no other view in remaining with Lady +Susan, than to enjoy for a short time (as you have yourself expressed +it) the conversation of a woman of high intellectual powers. If Mrs. +Vernon would allow something to my affection for herself and her +husband in the length of my visit, she would do more justice to us all; +but my sister is unhappily prejudiced beyond the hope of conviction +against Lady Susan. From an attachment to her husband, which in itself +does honour to both, she cannot forgive the endeavours at preventing +their union, which have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan; +but in this case, as well as in many others, the world has most grossly +injured that lady, by supposing the worst where the motives of her +conduct have been doubtful. Lady Susan had heard something so +materially to the disadvantage of my sister as to persuade her that the +happiness of Mr. Vernon, to whom she was always much attached, would be +wholly destroyed by the marriage. And this circumstance, while it +explains the true motives of Lady Susan’s conduct, and removes all the +blame which has been so lavished on her, may also convince us how +little the general report of anyone ought to be credited; since no +character, however upright, can escape the malevolence of slander. If +my sister, in the security of retirement, with as little opportunity as +inclination to do evil, could not avoid censure, we must not rashly +condemn those who, living in the world and surrounded with temptations, +should be accused of errors which they are known to have the power of +committing. + +I blame myself severely for having so easily believed the slanderous +tales invented by Charles Smith to the prejudice of Lady Susan, as I am +now convinced how greatly they have traduced her. As to Mrs. +Mainwaring’s jealousy it was totally his own invention, and his account +of her attaching Miss Mainwaring’s lover was scarcely better founded. +Sir James Martin had been drawn in by that young lady to pay her some +attention; and as he is a man of fortune, it was easy to see _her_ +views extended to marriage. It is well known that Miss M. is absolutely +on the catch for a husband, and no one therefore can pity her for +losing, by the superior attractions of another woman, the chance of +being able to make a worthy man completely wretched. Lady Susan was far +from intending such a conquest, and on finding how warmly Miss +Mainwaring resented her lover’s defection, determined, in spite of Mr. +and Mrs. Mainwaring’s most urgent entreaties, to leave the family. I +have reason to imagine she did receive serious proposals from Sir +James, but her removing from Langford immediately on the discovery of +his attachment, must acquit her on that article with any mind of common +candour. You will, I am sure, my dear Sir, feel the truth of this, and +will hereby learn to do justice to the character of a very injured +woman. I know that Lady Susan in coming to Churchhill was governed only +by the most honourable and amiable intentions; her prudence and economy +are exemplary, her regard for Mr. Vernon equal even to _his_ deserts; +and her wish of obtaining my sister’s good opinion merits a better +return than it has received. As a mother she is unexceptionable; her +solid affection for her child is shown by placing her in hands where +her education will be properly attended to; but because she has not the +blind and weak partiality of most mothers, she is accused of wanting +maternal tenderness. Every person of sense, however, will know how to +value and commend her well-directed affection, and will join me in +wishing that Frederica Vernon may prove more worthy than she has yet +done of her mother’s tender care. I have now, my dear father, written +my real sentiments of Lady Susan; you will know from this letter how +highly I admire her abilities, and esteem her character; but if you are +not equally convinced by my full and solemn assurance that your fears +have been most idly created, you will deeply mortify and distress me. + +I am, &c., &c., +R. DE COURCY. + + + + +XV + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill + + +My dear Mother,—I return you Reginald’s letter, and rejoice with all my +heart that my father is made easy by it: tell him so, with my +congratulations; but, between ourselves, I must own it has only +convinced _me_ of my brother’s having no _present_ intention of +marrying Lady Susan, not that he is in no danger of doing so three +months hence. He gives a very plausible account of her behaviour at +Langford; I wish it may be true, but his intelligence must come from +herself, and I am less disposed to believe it than to lament the degree +of intimacy subsisting between them, implied by the discussion of such +a subject. I am sorry to have incurred his displeasure, but can expect +nothing better while he is so very eager in Lady Susan’s justification. +He is very severe against me indeed, and yet I hope I have not been +hasty in my judgment of her. Poor woman! though I have reasons enough +for my dislike, I cannot help pitying her at present, as she is in real +distress, and with too much cause. She had this morning a letter from +the lady with whom she has placed her daughter, to request that Miss +Vernon might be immediately removed, as she had been detected in an +attempt to run away. Why, or whither she intended to go, does not +appear; but, as her situation seems to have been unexceptionable, it is +a sad thing, and of course highly distressing to Lady Susan. Frederica +must be as much as sixteen, and ought to know better; but from what her +mother insinuates, I am afraid she is a perverse girl. She has been +sadly neglected, however, and her mother ought to remember it. Mr. +Vernon set off for London as soon as she had determined what should be +done. He is, if possible, to prevail on Miss Summers to let Frederica +continue with her; and if he cannot succeed, to bring her to Churchhill +for the present, till some other situation can be found for her. Her +ladyship is comforting herself meanwhile by strolling along the +shrubbery with Reginald, calling forth all his tender feelings, I +suppose, on this distressing occasion. She has been talking a great +deal about it to me. She talks vastly well; I am afraid of being +ungenerous, or I should say, _too_ well to feel so very deeply; but I +will not look for her faults; she may be Reginald’s wife! Heaven forbid +it! but why should I be quicker-sighted than anyone else? Mr. Vernon +declares that he never saw deeper distress than hers, on the receipt of +the letter; and is his judgment inferior to mine? She was very +unwilling that Frederica should be allowed to come to Churchhill, and +justly enough, as it seems a sort of reward to behaviour deserving very +differently; but it was impossible to take her anywhere else, and she +is not to remain here long. “It will be absolutely necessary,” said +she, “as you, my dear sister, must be sensible, to treat my daughter +with some severity while she is here; a most painful necessity, but I +will _endeavour_ to submit to it. I am afraid I have often been too +indulgent, but my poor Frederica’s temper could never bear opposition +well: you must support and encourage me; you must urge the necessity of +reproof if you see me too lenient.” All this sounds very reasonable. +Reginald is so incensed against the poor silly girl! Surely it is not +to Lady Susan’s credit that he should be so bitter against her +daughter; his idea of her must be drawn from the mother’s description. +Well, whatever may be his fate, we have the comfort of knowing that we +have done our utmost to save him. We must commit the event to a higher +power. + +Yours ever, &c., +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + +XVI + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +Never, my dearest Alicia, was I so provoked in my life as by a letter +this morning from Miss Summers. That horrid girl of mine has been +trying to run away. I had not a notion of her being such a little devil +before, she seemed to have all the Vernon milkiness; but on receiving +the letter in which I declared my intention about Sir James, she +actually attempted to elope; at least, I cannot otherwise account for +her doing it. She meant, I suppose, to go to the Clarkes in +Staffordshire, for she has no other acquaintances. But she shall be +punished, she shall have him. I have sent Charles to town to make +matters up if he can, for I do not by any means want her here. If Miss +Summers will not keep her, you must find me out another school, unless +we can get her married immediately. Miss S. writes word that she could +not get the young lady to assign any cause for her extraordinary +conduct, which confirms me in my own previous explanation of it. +Frederica is too shy, I think, and too much in awe of me to tell tales, +but if the mildness of her uncle should get anything out of her, I am +not afraid. I trust I shall be able to make my story as good as hers. +If I am vain of anything, it is of my eloquence. Consideration and +esteem as surely follow command of language as admiration waits on +beauty, and here I have opportunity enough for the exercise of my +talent, as the chief of my time is spent in conversation. + +Reginald is never easy unless we are by ourselves, and when the weather +is tolerable, we pace the shrubbery for hours together. I like him on +the whole very well; he is clever and has a good deal to say, but he is +sometimes impertinent and troublesome. There is a sort of ridiculous +delicacy about him which requires the fullest explanation of whatever +he may have heard to my disadvantage, and is never satisfied till he +thinks he has ascertained the beginning and end of everything. This is +one sort of love, but I confess it does not particularly recommend +itself to me. I infinitely prefer the tender and liberal spirit of +Mainwaring, which, impressed with the deepest conviction of my merit, +is satisfied that whatever I do must be right; and look with a degree +of contempt on the inquisitive and doubtful fancies of that heart which +seems always debating on the reasonableness of its emotions. Mainwaring +is indeed, beyond all compare, superior to Reginald—superior in +everything but the power of being with me! Poor fellow! he is much +distracted by jealousy, which I am not sorry for, as I know no better +support of love. He has been teazing me to allow of his coming into +this country, and lodging somewhere near _incog_.; but I forbade +everything of the kind. Those women are inexcusable who forget what is +due to themselves, and the opinion of the world. + +Yours ever, +S. VERNON. + + + + +XVII + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,—Mr. Vernon returned on Thursday night, bringing his +niece with him. Lady Susan had received a line from him by that day’s +post, informing her that Miss Summers had absolutely refused to allow +of Miss Vernon’s continuance in her academy; we were therefore prepared +for her arrival, and expected them impatiently the whole evening. They +came while we were at tea, and I never saw any creature look so +frightened as Frederica when she entered the room. Lady Susan, who had +been shedding tears before, and showing great agitation at the idea of +the meeting, received her with perfect self-command, and without +betraying the least tenderness of spirit. She hardly spoke to her, and +on Frederica’s bursting into tears as soon as we were seated, took her +out of the room, and did not return for some time. When she did, her +eyes looked very red and she was as much agitated as before. We saw no +more of her daughter. Poor Reginald was beyond measure concerned to see +his fair friend in such distress, and watched her with so much tender +solicitude, that I, who occasionally caught her observing his +countenance with exultation, was quite out of patience. This pathetic +representation lasted the whole evening, and so ostentatious and artful +a display has entirely convinced me that she did in fact feel nothing. +I am more angry with her than ever since I have seen her daughter; the +poor girl looks so unhappy that my heart aches for her. Lady Susan is +surely too severe, for Frederica does not seem to have the sort of +temper to make severity necessary. She looks perfectly timid, dejected, +and penitent. She is very pretty, though not so handsome as her mother, +nor at all like her. Her complexion is delicate, but neither so fair +nor so blooming as Lady Susan’s, and she has quite the Vernon cast of +countenance, the oval face and mild dark eyes, and there is peculiar +sweetness in her look when she speaks either to her uncle or me, for as +we behave kindly to her we have of course engaged her gratitude. + +Her mother has insinuated that her temper is intractable, but I never +saw a face less indicative of any evil disposition than hers; and from +what I can see of the behaviour of each to the other, the invariable +severity of Lady Susan and the silent dejection of Frederica, I am led +to believe as heretofore that the former has no real love for her +daughter, and has never done her justice or treated her affectionately. +I have not been able to have any conversation with my niece; she is +shy, and I think I can see that some pains are taken to prevent her +being much with me. Nothing satisfactory transpires as to her reason +for running away. Her kind-hearted uncle, you may be sure, was too +fearful of distressing her to ask many questions as they travelled. I +wish it had been possible for me to fetch her instead of him. I think I +should have discovered the truth in the course of a thirty-mile +journey. The small pianoforte has been removed within these few days, +at Lady Susan’s request, into her dressing-room, and Frederica spends +great part of the day there, practising as it is called; but I seldom +hear any noise when I pass that way; what she does with herself there I +do not know. There are plenty of books, but it is not every girl who +has been running wild the first fifteen years of her life, that can or +will read. Poor creature! the prospect from her window is not very +instructive, for that room overlooks the lawn, you know, with the +shrubbery on one side, where she may see her mother walking for an hour +together in earnest conversation with Reginald. A girl of Frederica’s +age must be childish indeed, if such things do not strike her. Is it +not inexcusable to give such an example to a daughter? Yet Reginald +still thinks Lady Susan the best of mothers, and still condemns +Frederica as a worthless girl! He is convinced that her attempt to run +away proceeded from no justifiable cause, and had no provocation. I am +sure I cannot say that it _had_, but while Miss Summers declares that +Miss Vernon showed no signs of obstinacy or perverseness during her +whole stay in Wigmore Street, till she was detected in this scheme, I +cannot so readily credit what Lady Susan has made him, and wants to +make me believe, that it was merely an impatience of restraint and a +desire of escaping from the tuition of masters which brought on the +plan of an elopement. O Reginald, how is your judgment enslaved! He +scarcely dares even allow her to be handsome, and when I speak of her +beauty, replies only that her eyes have no brilliancy! Sometimes he is +sure she is deficient in understanding, and at others that her temper +only is in fault. In short, when a person is always to deceive, it is +impossible to be consistent. Lady Susan finds it necessary that +Frederica should be to blame, and probably has sometimes judged it +expedient to accuse her of ill-nature and sometimes to lament her want +of sense. Reginald is only repeating after her ladyship. + +I remain, &c., &c., +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + +XVIII + + +_From the same to the same._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,—I am very glad to find that my description of Frederica +Vernon has interested you, for I do believe her truly deserving of your +regard; and when I have communicated a notion which has recently struck +me, your kind impressions in her favour will, I am sure, be heightened. +I cannot help fancying that she is growing partial to my brother. I so +very often see her eyes fixed on his face with a remarkable expression +of pensive admiration. He is certainly very handsome; and yet more, +there is an openness in his manner that must be highly prepossessing, +and I am sure she feels it so. Thoughtful and pensive in general, her +countenance always brightens into a smile when Reginald says anything +amusing; and, let the subject be ever so serious that he may be +conversing on, I am much mistaken if a syllable of his uttering escapes +her. I want to make him sensible of all this, for we know the power of +gratitude on such a heart as his; and could Frederica’s artless +affection detach him from her mother, we might bless the day which +brought her to Churchhill. I think, my dear mother, you would not +disapprove of her as a daughter. She is extremely young, to be sure, +has had a wretched education, and a dreadful example of levity in her +mother; but yet I can pronounce her disposition to be excellent, and +her natural abilities very good. Though totally without +accomplishments, she is by no means so ignorant as one might expect to +find her, being fond of books and spending the chief of her time in +reading. Her mother leaves her more to herself than she did, and I have +her with me as much as possible, and have taken great pains to overcome +her timidity. We are very good friends, and though she never opens her +lips before her mother, she talks enough when alone with me to make it +clear that, if properly treated by Lady Susan, she would always appear +to much greater advantage. There cannot be a more gentle, affectionate +heart; or more obliging manners, when acting without restraint; and her +little cousins are all very fond of her. + +Your affectionate daughter, +C. VERNON + + + + +XIX + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +You will be eager, I know, to hear something further of Frederica, and +perhaps may think me negligent for not writing before. She arrived with +her uncle last Thursday fortnight, when, of course, I lost no time in +demanding the cause of her behaviour; and soon found myself to have +been perfectly right in attributing it to my own letter. The prospect +of it frightened her so thoroughly, that, with a mixture of true +girlish perverseness and folly, she resolved on getting out of the +house and proceeding directly by the stage to her friends, the Clarkes; +and had really got as far as the length of two streets in her journey +when she was fortunately missed, pursued, and overtaken. Such was the +first distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica Vernon; and, if we +consider that it was achieved at the tender age of sixteen, we shall +have room for the most flattering prognostics of her future renown. I +am excessively provoked, however, at the parade of propriety which +prevented Miss Summers from keeping the girl; and it seems so +extraordinary a piece of nicety, considering my daughter’s family +connections, that I can only suppose the lady to be governed by the +fear of never getting her money. Be that as it may, however, Frederica +is returned on my hands; and, having nothing else to employ her, is +busy in pursuing the plan of romance begun at Langford. She is actually +falling in love with Reginald De Courcy! To disobey her mother by +refusing an unexceptionable offer is not enough; her affections must +also be given without her mother’s approbation. I never saw a girl of +her age bid fairer to be the sport of mankind. Her feelings are +tolerably acute, and she is so charmingly artless in their display as +to afford the most reasonable hope of her being ridiculous, and +despised by every man who sees her. + +Artlessness will never do in love matters; and that girl is born a +simpleton who has it either by nature or affectation. I am not yet +certain that Reginald sees what she is about, nor is it of much +consequence. She is now an object of indifference to him, and she would +be one of contempt were he to understand her emotions. Her beauty is +much admired by the Vernons, but it has no effect on him. She is in +high favour with her aunt altogether, because she is so little like +myself, of course. She is exactly the companion for Mrs. Vernon, who +dearly loves to be firm, and to have all the sense and all the wit of +the conversation to herself: Frederica will never eclipse her. When she +first came I was at some pains to prevent her seeing much of her aunt; +but I have relaxed, as I believe I may depend on her observing the +rules I have laid down for their discourse. But do not imagine that +with all this lenity I have for a moment given up my plan of her +marriage. No; I am unalterably fixed on this point, though I have not +yet quite decided on the manner of bringing it about. I should not +chuse to have the business brought on here, and canvassed by the wise +heads of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon; and I cannot just now afford to go to +town. Miss Frederica must therefore wait a little. + +Yours ever, +S. VERNON. + + + + +XX + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill + + +We have a very unexpected guest with us at present, my dear Mother: he +arrived yesterday. I heard a carriage at the door, as I was sitting +with my children while they dined; and supposing I should be wanted, +left the nursery soon afterwards, and was half-way downstairs, when +Frederica, as pale as ashes, came running up, and rushed by me into her +own room. I instantly followed, and asked her what was the matter. +“Oh!” said she, “he is come—Sir James is come, and what shall I do?” +This was no explanation; I begged her to tell me what she meant. At +that moment we were interrupted by a knock at the door: it was +Reginald, who came, by Lady Susan’s direction, to call Frederica down. +“It is Mr. De Courcy!” said she, colouring violently. “Mamma has sent +for me; I must go.” We all three went down together; and I saw my +brother examining the terrified face of Frederica with surprize. In the +breakfast-room we found Lady Susan, and a young man of gentlemanlike +appearance, whom she introduced by the name of Sir James Martin—the +very person, as you may remember, whom it was said she had been at +pains to detach from Miss Mainwaring; but the conquest, it seems, was +not designed for herself, or she has since transferred it to her +daughter; for Sir James is now desperately in love with Frederica, and +with full encouragement from mamma. The poor girl, however, I am sure, +dislikes him; and though his person and address are very well, he +appears, both to Mr. Vernon and me, a very weak young man. Frederica +looked so shy, so confused, when we entered the room, that I felt for +her exceedingly. Lady Susan behaved with great attention to her +visitor; and yet I thought I could perceive that she had no particular +pleasure in seeing him. Sir James talked a great deal, and made many +civil excuses to me for the liberty he had taken in coming to +Churchhill—mixing more frequent laughter with his discourse than the +subject required—said many things over and over again, and told Lady +Susan three times that he had seen Mrs. Johnson a few evenings before. +He now and then addressed Frederica, but more frequently her mother. +The poor girl sat all this time without opening her lips—her eyes cast +down, and her colour varying every instant; while Reginald observed all +that passed in perfect silence. At length Lady Susan, weary, I believe, +of her situation, proposed walking; and we left the two gentlemen +together, to put on our pelisses. As we went upstairs Lady Susan begged +permission to attend me for a few moments in my dressing-room, as she +was anxious to speak with me in private. I led her thither accordingly, +and as soon as the door was closed, she said: “I was never more +surprized in my life than by Sir James’s arrival, and the suddenness of +it requires some apology to you, my dear sister; though to _me_, as a +mother, it is highly flattering. He is so extremely attached to my +daughter that he could not exist longer without seeing her. Sir James +is a young man of an amiable disposition and excellent character; a +little too much of the rattle, perhaps, but a year or two will rectify +_that:_ and he is in other respects so very eligible a match for +Frederica, that I have always observed his attachment with the greatest +pleasure; and am persuaded that you and my brother will give the +alliance your hearty approbation. I have never before mentioned the +likelihood of its taking place to anyone, because I thought that whilst +Frederica continued at school it had better not be known to exist; but +now, as I am convinced that Frederica is too old ever to submit to +school confinement, and have, therefore, begun to consider her union +with Sir James as not very distant, I had intended within a few days to +acquaint yourself and Mr. Vernon with the whole business. I am sure, my +dear sister, you will excuse my remaining silent so long, and agree +with me that such circumstances, while they continue from any cause in +suspense, cannot be too cautiously concealed. When you have the +happiness of bestowing your sweet little Catherine, some years hence, +on a man who in connection and character is alike unexceptionable, you +will know what I feel now; though, thank Heaven, you cannot have all my +reasons for rejoicing in such an event. Catherine will be amply +provided for, and not, like my Frederica, indebted to a fortunate +establishment for the comforts of life.” She concluded by demanding my +congratulations. I gave them somewhat awkwardly, I believe; for, in +fact, the sudden disclosure of so important a matter took from me the +power of speaking with any clearness. She thanked me, however, most +affectionately, for my kind concern in the welfare of herself and +daughter; and then said: “I am not apt to deal in professions, my dear +Mrs. Vernon, and I never had the convenient talent of affecting +sensations foreign to my heart; and therefore I trust you will believe +me when I declare, that much as I had heard in your praise before I +knew you, I had no idea that I should ever love you as I now do; and I +must further say that your friendship towards me is more particularly +gratifying because I have reason to believe that some attempts were +made to prejudice you against me. I only wish that they, whoever they +are, to whom I am indebted for such kind intentions, could see the +terms on which we now are together, and understand the real affection +we feel for each other; but I will not detain you any longer. God bless +you, for your goodness to me and my girl, and continue to you all your +present happiness.” What can one say of such a woman, my dear mother? +Such earnestness, such solemnity of expression! and yet I cannot help +suspecting the truth of everything she says. As for Reginald, I believe +he does not know what to make of the matter. When Sir James came, he +appeared all astonishment and perplexity; the folly of the young man +and the confusion of Frederica entirely engrossed him; and though a +little private discourse with Lady Susan has since had its effect, he +is still hurt, I am sure, at her allowing of such a man’s attentions to +her daughter. Sir James invited himself with great composure to remain +here a few days—hoped we would not think it odd, was aware of its being +very impertinent, but he took the liberty of a relation; and concluded +by wishing, with a laugh, that he might be really one very soon. Even +Lady Susan seemed a little disconcerted by this forwardness; in her +heart I am persuaded she sincerely wished him gone. But something must +be done for this poor girl, if her feelings are such as both I and her +uncle believe them to be. She must not be sacrificed to policy or +ambition, and she must not be left to suffer from the dread of it. The +girl whose heart can distinguish Reginald De Courcy, deserves, however +he may slight her, a better fate than to be Sir James Martin’s wife. As +soon as I can get her alone, I will discover the real truth; but she +seems to wish to avoid me. I hope this does not proceed from anything +wrong, and that I shall not find out I have thought too well of her. +Her behaviour to Sir James certainly speaks the greatest consciousness +and embarrassment, but I see nothing in it more like encouragement. +Adieu, my dear mother. + +Yours, &c., +C. VERNON. + + + + +XXI + + +_Miss Vernon to Mr. De Courcy._ + + +Sir,—I hope you will excuse this liberty; I am forced upon it by the +greatest distress, or I should be ashamed to trouble you. I am very +miserable about Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the world of +helping myself but by writing to you, for I am forbidden even speaking +to my uncle and aunt on the subject; and this being the case, I am +afraid my applying to you will appear no better than equivocation, and +as if I attended to the letter and not the spirit of mamma’s commands. +But if you do not take my part and persuade her to break it off, I +shall be half distracted, for I cannot bear him. No human being but +_you_ could have any chance of prevailing with her. If you will, +therefore, have the unspeakably great kindness of taking my part with +her, and persuading her to send Sir James away, I shall be more obliged +to you than it is possible for me to express. I always disliked him +from the first: it is not a sudden fancy, I assure you, sir; I always +thought him silly and impertinent and disagreeable, and now he is grown +worse than ever. I would rather work for my bread than marry him. I do +not know how to apologize enough for this letter; I know it is taking +so great a liberty. I am aware how dreadfully angry it will make mamma, +but I remember the risk. + +I am, Sir, your most humble servant, +F. S. V. + + + + +XXII + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +This is insufferable! My dearest friend, I was never so enraged before, +and must relieve myself by writing to you, who I know will enter into +all my feelings. Who should come on Tuesday but Sir James Martin! Guess +my astonishment, and vexation—for, as you well know, I never wished him +to be seen at Churchhill. What a pity that you should not have known +his intentions! Not content with coming, he actually invited himself to +remain here a few days. I could have poisoned him! I made the best of +it, however, and told my story with great success to Mrs. Vernon, who, +whatever might be her real sentiments, said nothing in opposition to +mine. I made a point also of Frederica’s behaving civilly to Sir James, +and gave her to understand that I was absolutely determined on her +marrying him. She said something of her misery, but that was all. I +have for some time been more particularly resolved on the match from +seeing the rapid increase of her affection for Reginald, and from not +feeling secure that a knowledge of such affection might not in the end +awaken a return. Contemptible as a regard founded only on compassion +must make them both in my eyes, I felt by no means assured that such +might not be the consequence. It is true that Reginald had not in any +degree grown cool towards me; but yet he has lately mentioned Frederica +spontaneously and unnecessarily, and once said something in praise of +her person. _He_ was all astonishment at the appearance of my visitor, +and at first observed Sir James with an attention which I was pleased +to see not unmixed with jealousy; but unluckily it was impossible for +me really to torment him, as Sir James, though extremely gallant to me, +very soon made the whole party understand that his heart was devoted to +my daughter. I had no great difficulty in convincing De Courcy, when we +were alone, that I was perfectly justified, all things considered, in +desiring the match; and the whole business seemed most comfortably +arranged. They could none of them help perceiving that Sir James was no +Solomon; but I had positively forbidden Frederica complaining to +Charles Vernon or his wife, and they had therefore no pretence for +interference; though my impertinent sister, I believe, wanted only +opportunity for doing so. Everything, however, was going on calmly and +quietly; and, though I counted the hours of Sir James’s stay, my mind +was entirely satisfied with the posture of affairs. Guess, then, what I +must feel at the sudden disturbance of all my schemes; and that, too, +from a quarter where I had least reason to expect it. Reginald came +this morning into my dressing-room with a very unusual solemnity of +countenance, and after some preface informed me in so many words that +he wished to reason with me on the impropriety and unkindness of +allowing Sir James Martin to address my daughter contrary to her +inclinations. I was all amazement. When I found that he was not to be +laughed out of his design, I calmly begged an explanation, and desired +to know by what he was impelled, and by whom commissioned, to reprimand +me. He then told me, mixing in his speech a few insolent compliments +and ill-timed expressions of tenderness, to which I listened with +perfect indifference, that my daughter had acquainted him with some +circumstances concerning herself, Sir James, and me which had given him +great uneasiness. In short, I found that she had in the first place +actually written to him to request his interference, and that, on +receiving her letter, he had conversed with her on the subject of it, +in order to understand the particulars, and to assure himself of her +real wishes. I have not a doubt but that the girl took this opportunity +of making downright love to him. I am convinced of it by the manner in +which he spoke of her. Much good may such love do him! I shall ever +despise the man who can be gratified by the passion which he never +wished to inspire, nor solicited the avowal of. I shall always detest +them both. He can have no true regard for me, or he would not have +listened to her; and _she_, with her little rebellious heart and +indelicate feelings, to throw herself into the protection of a young +man with whom she has scarcely ever exchanged two words before! I am +equally confounded at _her_ impudence and _his_ credulity. How dared he +believe what she told him in my disfavour! Ought he not to have felt +assured that I must have unanswerable motives for all that I had done? +Where was his reliance on my sense and goodness then? Where the +resentment which true love would have dictated against the person +defaming me—that person, too, a chit, a child, without talent or +education, whom he had been always taught to despise? I was calm for +some time; but the greatest degree of forbearance may be overcome, and +I hope I was afterwards sufficiently keen. He endeavoured, long +endeavoured, to soften my resentment; but that woman is a fool indeed +who, while insulted by accusation, can be worked on by compliments. At +length he left me, as deeply provoked as myself; and he showed his +anger more. I was quite cool, but he gave way to the most violent +indignation; I may therefore expect it will the sooner subside, and +perhaps his may be vanished for ever, while mine will be found still +fresh and implacable. He is now shut up in his apartment, whither I +heard him go on leaving mine. How unpleasant, one would think, must be +his reflections! but some people’s feelings are incomprehensible. I +have not yet tranquillised myself enough to see Frederica. _She_ shall +not soon forget the occurrences of this day; she shall find that she +has poured forth her tender tale of love in vain, and exposed herself +for ever to the contempt of the whole world, and the severest +resentment of her injured mother. + +Your affectionate +S. VERNON. + + + + +XXIII + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +Let me congratulate you, my dearest Mother! The affair which has given +us so much anxiety is drawing to a happy conclusion. Our prospect is +most delightful, and since matters have now taken so favourable a turn, +I am quite sorry that I ever imparted my apprehensions to you; for the +pleasure of learning that the danger is over is perhaps dearly +purchased by all that you have previously suffered. I am so much +agitated by delight that I can scarcely hold a pen; but am determined +to send you a few short lines by James, that you may have some +explanation of what must so greatly astonish you, as that Reginald +should be returning to Parklands. I was sitting about half an hour ago +with Sir James in the breakfast parlour, when my brother called me out +of the room. I instantly saw that something was the matter; his +complexion was raised, and he spoke with great emotion; you know his +eager manner, my dear mother, when his mind is interested. “Catherine,” +said he, “I am going home to-day; I am sorry to leave you, but I must +go: it is a great while since I have seen my father and mother. I am +going to send James forward with my hunters immediately; if you have +any letter, therefore, he can take it. I shall not be at home myself +till Wednesday or Thursday, as I shall go through London, where I have +business; but before I leave you,” he continued, speaking in a lower +tone, and with still greater energy, “I must warn you of one thing—do +not let Frederica Vernon be made unhappy by that Martin. He wants to +marry her; her mother promotes the match, but she cannot endure the +idea of it. Be assured that I speak from the fullest conviction of the +truth of what I say; I know that Frederica is made wretched by Sir +James’s continuing here. She is a sweet girl, and deserves a better +fate. Send him away immediately; he is only a fool: but what her mother +can mean, Heaven only knows! Good bye,” he added, shaking my hand with +earnestness; “I do not know when you will see me again; but remember +what I tell you of Frederica; you _must_ make it your business to see +justice done her. She is an amiable girl, and has a very superior mind +to what we have given her credit for.” He then left me, and ran +upstairs. I would not try to stop him, for I knew what his feelings +must be. The nature of mine, as I listened to him, I need not attempt +to describe; for a minute or two I remained in the same spot, +overpowered by wonder of a most agreeable sort indeed; yet it required +some consideration to be tranquilly happy. In about ten minutes after +my return to the parlour Lady Susan entered the room. I concluded, of +course, that she and Reginald had been quarrelling; and looked with +anxious curiosity for a confirmation of my belief in her face. Mistress +of deceit, however, she appeared perfectly unconcerned, and after +chatting on indifferent subjects for a short time, said to me, “I find +from Wilson that we are going to lose Mr. De Courcy—is it true that he +leaves Churchhill this morning?” I replied that it was. “He told us +nothing of all this last night,” said she, laughing, “or even this +morning at breakfast; but perhaps he did not know it himself. Young men +are often hasty in their resolutions, and not more sudden in forming +than unsteady in keeping them. I should not be surprised if he were to +change his mind at last, and not go.” She soon afterwards left the +room. I trust, however, my dear mother, that we have no reason to fear +an alteration of his present plan; things have gone too far. They must +have quarrelled, and about Frederica, too. Her calmness astonishes me. +What delight will be yours in seeing him again; in seeing him still +worthy your esteem, still capable of forming your happiness! When I +next write I shall be able to tell you that Sir James is gone, Lady +Susan vanquished, and Frederica at peace. We have much to do, but it +shall be done. I am all impatience to hear how this astonishing change +was effected. I finish as I began, with the warmest congratulations. + +Yours ever, &c., +CATH. VERNON. + + + + +XXIV + + +_From the same to the same._ + + +Churchhill. + + +Little did I imagine, my dear Mother, when I sent off my last letter, +that the delightful perturbation of spirits I was then in would undergo +so speedy, so melancholy a reverse. I never can sufficiently regret +that I wrote to you at all. Yet who could have foreseen what has +happened? My dear mother, every hope which made me so happy only two +hours ago has vanished. The quarrel between Lady Susan and Reginald is +made up, and we are all as we were before. One point only is gained. +Sir James Martin is dismissed. What are we now to look forward to? I am +indeed disappointed; Reginald was all but gone, his horse was ordered +and all but brought to the door; who would not have felt safe? For half +an hour I was in momentary expectation of his departure. After I had +sent off my letter to you, I went to Mr. Vernon, and sat with him in +his room talking over the whole matter, and then determined to look for +Frederica, whom I had not seen since breakfast. I met her on the +stairs, and saw that she was crying. “My dear aunt,” said she, “he is +going—Mr. De Courcy is going, and it is all my fault. I am afraid you +will be very angry with me, but indeed I had no idea it would end so.” +“My love,” I replied, “do not think it necessary to apologize to me on +that account. I shall feel myself under an obligation to anyone who is +the means of sending my brother home, because,” recollecting myself, “I +know my father wants very much to see him. But what is it you have done +to occasion all this?” She blushed deeply as she answered: “I was so +unhappy about Sir James that I could not help—I have done something +very wrong, I know; but you have not an idea of the misery I have been +in: and mamma had ordered me never to speak to you or my uncle about +it, and—” “You therefore spoke to my brother to engage his +interference,” said I, to save her the explanation. “No, but I wrote to +him—I did indeed, I got up this morning before it was light, and was +two hours about it; and when my letter was done I thought I never +should have courage to give it. After breakfast however, as I was going +to my room, I met him in the passage, and then, as I knew that +everything must depend on that moment, I forced myself to give it. He +was so good as to take it immediately. I dared not look at him, and ran +away directly. I was in such a fright I could hardly breathe. My dear +aunt, you do not know how miserable I have been.” “Frederica” said I, +“you ought to have told me all your distresses. You would have found in +me a friend always ready to assist you. Do you think that your uncle or +I should not have espoused your cause as warmly as my brother?” +“Indeed, I did not doubt your kindness,” said she, colouring again, +“but I thought Mr. De Courcy could do anything with my mother; but I +was mistaken: they have had a dreadful quarrel about it, and he is +going away. Mamma will never forgive me, and I shall be worse off than +ever.” “No, you shall not,” I replied; “in such a point as this your +mother’s prohibition ought not to have prevented your speaking to me on +the subject. She has no right to make you unhappy, and she shall _not_ +do it. Your applying, however, to Reginald can be productive only of +good to all parties. I believe it is best as it is. Depend upon it that +you shall not be made unhappy any longer.” At that moment how great was +my astonishment at seeing Reginald come out of Lady Susan’s +dressing-room. My heart misgave me instantly. His confusion at seeing +me was very evident. Frederica immediately disappeared. “Are you +going?” I said; “you will find Mr. Vernon in his own room.” “No, +Catherine,” he replied, “I am not going. Will you let me speak to you a +moment?” We went into my room. “I find,” he continued, his confusion +increasing as he spoke, “that I have been acting with my usual foolish +impetuosity. I have entirely misunderstood Lady Susan, and was on the +point of leaving the house under a false impression of her conduct. +There has been some very great mistake; we have been all mistaken, I +fancy. Frederica does not know her mother. Lady Susan means nothing but +her good, but she will not make a friend of her. Lady Susan does not +always know, therefore, what will make her daughter happy. Besides, I +could have no right to interfere. Miss Vernon was mistaken in applying +to me. In short, Catherine, everything has gone wrong, but it is now +all happily settled. Lady Susan, I believe, wishes to speak to you +about it, if you are at leisure.” “Certainly,” I replied, deeply +sighing at the recital of so lame a story. I made no comments, however, +for words would have been vain. + +Reginald was glad to get away, and I went to Lady Susan, curious, +indeed, to hear her account of it. “Did I not tell you,” said she with +a smile, “that your brother would not leave us after all?” “You did, +indeed,” replied I very gravely; “but I flattered myself you would be +mistaken.” “I should not have hazarded such an opinion,” returned she, +“if it had not at that moment occurred to me that his resolution of +going might be occasioned by a conversation in which we had been this +morning engaged, and which had ended very much to his dissatisfaction, +from our not rightly understanding each other’s meaning. This idea +struck me at the moment, and I instantly determined that an accidental +dispute, in which I might probably be as much to blame as himself, +should not deprive you of your brother. If you remember, I left the +room almost immediately. I was resolved to lose no time in clearing up +those mistakes as far as I could. The case was this—Frederica had set +herself violently against marrying Sir James.” “And can your ladyship +wonder that she should?” cried I with some warmth; “Frederica has an +excellent understanding, and Sir James has none.” “I am at least very +far from regretting it, my dear sister,” said she; “on the contrary, I +am grateful for so favourable a sign of my daughter’s sense. Sir James +is certainly below par (his boyish manners make him appear worse); and +had Frederica possessed the penetration and the abilities which I could +have wished in my daughter, or had I even known her to possess as much +as she does, I should not have been anxious for the match.” “It is odd +that you should alone be ignorant of your daughter’s sense!” “Frederica +never does justice to herself; her manners are shy and childish, and +besides she is afraid of me. During her poor father’s life she was a +spoilt child; the severity which it has since been necessary for me to +show has alienated her affection; neither has she any of that +brilliancy of intellect, that genius or vigour of mind which will force +itself forward.” “Say rather that she has been unfortunate in her +education!” “Heaven knows, my dearest Mrs. Vernon, how fully I am aware +of that; but I would wish to forget every circumstance that might throw +blame on the memory of one whose name is sacred with me.” Here she +pretended to cry; I was out of patience with her. “But what,” said I, +“was your ladyship going to tell me about your disagreement with my +brother?” “It originated in an action of my daughter’s, which equally +marks her want of judgment and the unfortunate dread of me I have been +mentioning—she wrote to Mr. De Courcy.” “I know she did; you had +forbidden her speaking to Mr. Vernon or to me on the cause of her +distress; what could she do, therefore, but apply to my brother?” “Good +God!” she exclaimed, “what an opinion you must have of me! Can you +possibly suppose that I was aware of her unhappiness! that it was my +object to make my own child miserable, and that I had forbidden her +speaking to you on the subject from a fear of your interrupting the +diabolical scheme? Do you think me destitute of every honest, every +natural feeling? Am I capable of consigning _her_ to everlasting misery +whose welfare it is my first earthly duty to promote? The idea is +horrible!” “What, then, was your intention when you insisted on her +silence?” “Of what use, my dear sister, could be any application to +you, however the affair might stand? Why should I subject you to +entreaties which I refused to attend to myself? Neither for your sake +nor for hers, nor for my own, could such a thing be desirable. When my +own resolution was taken I could not wish for the interference, however +friendly, of another person. I was mistaken, it is true, but I believed +myself right.” “But what was this mistake to which your ladyship so +often alludes? from whence arose so astonishing a misconception of your +daughter’s feelings? Did you not know that she disliked Sir James?” “I +knew that he was not absolutely the man she would have chosen, but I +was persuaded that her objections to him did not arise from any +perception of his deficiency. You must not question me, however, my +dear sister, too minutely on this point,” continued she, taking me +affectionately by the hand; “I honestly own that there is something to +conceal. Frederica makes me very unhappy! Her applying to Mr. De Courcy +hurt me particularly.” “What is it you mean to infer,” said I, “by this +appearance of mystery? If you think your daughter at all attached to +Reginald, her objecting to Sir James could not less deserve to be +attended to than if the cause of her objecting had been a consciousness +of his folly; and why should your ladyship, at any rate, quarrel with +my brother for an interference which, you must know, it is not in his +nature to refuse when urged in such a manner?” + +“His disposition, you know, is warm, and he came to expostulate with +me; his compassion all alive for this ill-used girl, this heroine in +distress! We misunderstood each other: he believed me more to blame +than I really was; I considered his interference less excusable than I +now find it. I have a real regard for him, and was beyond expression +mortified to find it, as I thought, so ill bestowed. We were both warm, +and of course both to blame. His resolution of leaving Churchhill is +consistent with his general eagerness. When I understood his intention, +however, and at the same time began to think that we had been perhaps +equally mistaken in each other’s meaning, I resolved to have an +explanation before it was too late. For any member of your family I +must always feel a degree of affection, and I own it would have +sensibly hurt me if my acquaintance with Mr. De Courcy had ended so +gloomily. I have now only to say further, that as I am convinced of +Frederica’s having a reasonable dislike to Sir James, I shall instantly +inform him that he must give up all hope of her. I reproach myself for +having, even though innocently, made her unhappy on that score. She +shall have all the retribution in my power to make; if she value her +own happiness as much as I do, if she judge wisely, and command herself +as she ought, she may now be easy. Excuse me, my dearest sister, for +thus trespassing on your time, but I owe it to my own character; and +after this explanation I trust I am in no danger of sinking in your +opinion.” I could have said, “Not much, indeed!” but I left her almost +in silence. It was the greatest stretch of forbearance I could +practise. I could not have stopped myself had I begun. Her assurance! +her deceit! but I will not allow myself to dwell on them; they will +strike you sufficiently. My heart sickens within me. As soon as I was +tolerably composed I returned to the parlour. Sir James’s carriage was +at the door, and he, merry as usual, soon afterwards took his leave. +How easily does her ladyship encourage or dismiss a lover! In spite of +this release, Frederica still looks unhappy: still fearful, perhaps, of +her mother’s anger; and though dreading my brother’s departure, +jealous, it may be, of his staying. I see how closely she observes him +and Lady Susan, poor girl! I have now no hope for her. There is not a +chance of her affection being returned. He thinks very differently of +her from what he used to do; he does her some justice, but his +reconciliation with her mother precludes every dearer hope. Prepare, my +dear mother, for the worst! The probability of their marrying is surely +heightened! He is more securely hers than ever. When that wretched +event takes place, Frederica must belong wholly to us. I am thankful +that my last letter will precede this by so little, as every moment +that you can be saved from feeling a joy which leads only to +disappointment is of consequence. + +Yours ever, &c., +CATHERINE VERNON. + + + + +XXV + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Churchhill. + + +I call on you, dear Alicia, for congratulations: I am my own self, gay +and triumphant! When I wrote to you the other day I was, in truth, in +high irritation, and with ample cause. Nay, I know not whether I ought +to be quite tranquil now, for I have had more trouble in restoring +peace than I ever intended to submit to—a spirit, too, resulting from a +fancied sense of superior integrity, which is peculiarly insolent! I +shall not easily forgive him, I assure you. He was actually on the +point of leaving Churchhill! I had scarcely concluded my last, when +Wilson brought me word of it. I found, therefore, that something must +be done; for I did not choose to leave my character at the mercy of a +man whose passions are so violent and so revengeful. It would have been +trifling with my reputation to allow of his departing with such an +impression in my disfavour; in this light, condescension was necessary. +I sent Wilson to say that I desired to speak with him before he went; +he came immediately. The angry emotions which had marked every feature +when we last parted were partially subdued. He seemed astonished at the +summons, and looked as if half wishing and half fearing to be softened +by what I might say. If my countenance expressed what I aimed at, it +was composed and dignified; and yet, with a degree of pensiveness which +might convince him that I was not quite happy. “I beg your pardon, sir, +for the liberty I have taken in sending for you,” said I; “but as I +have just learnt your intention of leaving this place to-day, I feel it +my duty to entreat that you will not on my account shorten your visit +here even an hour. I am perfectly aware that after what has passed +between us it would ill suit the feelings of either to remain longer in +the same house: so very great, so total a change from the intimacy of +friendship must render any future intercourse the severest punishment; +and your resolution of quitting Churchhill is undoubtedly in unison +with our situation, and with those lively feelings which I know you to +possess. But, at the same time, it is not for me to suffer such a +sacrifice as it must be to leave relations to whom you are so much +attached, and are so dear. My remaining here cannot give that pleasure +to Mr. and Mrs. Vernon which your society must; and my visit has +already perhaps been too long. My removal, therefore, which must, at +any rate, take place soon, may, with perfect convenience, be hastened; +and I make it my particular request that I may not in any way be +instrumental in separating a family so affectionately attached to each +other. Where I go is of no consequence to anyone; of very little to +myself; but you are of importance to all your connections.” Here I +concluded, and I hope you will be satisfied with my speech. Its effect +on Reginald justifies some portion of vanity, for it was no less +favourable than instantaneous. Oh, how delightful it was to watch the +variations of his countenance while I spoke! to see the struggle +between returning tenderness and the remains of displeasure. There is +something agreeable in feelings so easily worked on; not that I envy +him their possession, nor would, for the world, have such myself; but +they are very convenient when one wishes to influence the passions of +another. And yet this Reginald, whom a very few words from me softened +at once into the utmost submission, and rendered more tractable, more +attached, more devoted than ever, would have left me in the first angry +swelling of his proud heart without deigning to seek an explanation. +Humbled as he now is, I cannot forgive him such an instance of pride, +and am doubtful whether I ought not to punish him by dismissing him at +once after this reconciliation, or by marrying and teazing him for +ever. But these measures are each too violent to be adopted without +some deliberation; at present my thoughts are fluctuating between +various schemes. I have many things to compass: I must punish +Frederica, and pretty severely too, for her application to Reginald; I +must punish him for receiving it so favourably, and for the rest of his +conduct. I must torment my sister-in-law for the insolent triumph of +her look and manner since Sir James has been dismissed; for, in +reconciling Reginald to me, I was not able to save that ill-fated young +man; and I must make myself amends for the humiliation to which I have +stooped within these few days. To effect all this I have various plans. +I have also an idea of being soon in town; and whatever may be my +determination as to the rest, I shall probably put _that_ project in +execution; for London will be always the fairest field of action, +however my views may be directed; and at any rate I shall there be +rewarded by your society, and a little dissipation, for a ten weeks’ +penance at Churchhill. I believe I owe it to my character to complete +the match between my daughter and Sir James after having so long +intended it. Let me know your opinion on this point. Flexibility of +mind, a disposition easily biassed by others, is an attribute which you +know I am not very desirous of obtaining; nor has Frederica any claim +to the indulgence of her notions at the expense of her mother’s +inclinations. Her idle love for Reginald, too! It is surely my duty to +discourage such romantic nonsense. All things considered, therefore, it +seems incumbent on me to take her to town and marry her immediately to +Sir James. When my own will is effected contrary to his, I shall have +some credit in being on good terms with Reginald, which at present, in +fact, I have not; for though he is still in my power, I have given up +the very article by which our quarrel was produced, and at best the +honour of victory is doubtful. Send me your opinion on all these +matters, my dear Alicia, and let me know whether you can get lodgings +to suit me within a short distance of you. + +Your most attached +S. VERNON. + + + + +XXVI + + +_Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan._ + + +Edward Street. + + +I am gratified by your reference, and this is my advice: that you come +to town yourself, without loss of time, but that you leave Frederica +behind. It would surely be much more to the purpose to get yourself +well established by marrying Mr. De Courcy, than to irritate him and +the rest of his family by making her marry Sir James. You should think +more of yourself and less of your daughter. She is not of a disposition +to do you credit in the world, and seems precisely in her proper place +at Churchhill, with the Vernons. But you are fitted for society, and it +is shameful to have you exiled from it. Leave Frederica, therefore, to +punish herself for the plague she has given you, by indulging that +romantic tender-heartedness which will always ensure her misery enough, +and come to London as soon as you can. I have another reason for urging +this: Mainwaring came to town last week, and has contrived, in spite of +Mr. Johnson, to make opportunities of seeing me. He is absolutely +miserable about you, and jealous to such a degree of De Courcy that it +would be highly unadvisable for them to meet at present. And yet, if +you do not allow him to see you here, I cannot answer for his not +committing some great imprudence—such as going to Churchhill, for +instance, which would be dreadful! Besides, if you take my advice, and +resolve to marry De Courcy, it will be indispensably necessary to you +to get Mainwaring out of the way; and you only can have influence +enough to send him back to his wife. I have still another motive for +your coming: Mr. Johnson leaves London next Tuesday; he is going for +his health to Bath, where, if the waters are favourable to his +constitution and my wishes, he will be laid up with the gout many +weeks. During his absence we shall be able to chuse our own society, +and to have true enjoyment. I would ask you to Edward Street, but that +once he forced from me a kind of promise never to invite you to my +house; nothing but my being in the utmost distress for money should +have extorted it from me. I can get you, however, a nice drawing-room +apartment in Upper Seymour Street, and we may be always together there +or here; for I consider my promise to Mr. Johnson as comprehending only +(at least in his absence) your not sleeping in the house. Poor +Mainwaring gives me such histories of his wife’s jealousy. Silly woman +to expect constancy from so charming a man! but she always was +silly—intolerably so in marrying him at all, she the heiress of a large +fortune and he without a shilling: one title, I know, she might have +had, besides baronets. Her folly in forming the connection was so great +that, though Mr. Johnson was her guardian, and I do not in general +share _his_ feelings, I never can forgive her. + +Adieu. Yours ever, +ALICIA. + + + + +XXVII + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +This letter, my dear Mother, will be brought you by Reginald. His long +visit is about to be concluded at last, but I fear the separation takes +place too late to do us any good. She is going to London to see her +particular friend, Mrs. Johnson. It was at first her intention that +Frederica should accompany her, for the benefit of masters, but we +overruled her there. Frederica was wretched in the idea of going, and I +could not bear to have her at the mercy of her mother; not all the +masters in London could compensate for the ruin of her comfort. I +should have feared, too, for her health, and for everything but her +principles—there I believe she is not to be injured by her mother, or +her mother’s friends; but with those friends she must have mixed (a +very bad set, I doubt not), or have been left in total solitude, and I +can hardly tell which would have been worse for her. If she is with her +mother, moreover, she must, alas! in all probability be with Reginald, +and that would be the greatest evil of all. Here we shall in time be in +peace, and our regular employments, our books and conversations, with +exercise, the children, and every domestic pleasure in my power to +procure her, will, I trust, gradually overcome this youthful +attachment. I should not have a doubt of it were she slighted for any +other woman in the world than her own mother. How long Lady Susan will +be in town, or whether she returns here again, I know not. I could not +be cordial in my invitation, but if she chuses to come no want of +cordiality on my part will keep her away. I could not help asking +Reginald if he intended being in London this winter, as soon as I found +her ladyship’s steps would be bent thither; and though he professed +himself quite undetermined, there was something in his look and voice +as he spoke which contradicted his words. I have done with lamentation; +I look upon the event as so far decided that I resign myself to it in +despair. If he leaves you soon for London everything will be concluded. + +Your affectionate, &c., +C. VERNON. + + + + +XXVIII + + +_Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan._ + + +Edward Street. + + +My dearest Friend,—I write in the greatest distress; the most +unfortunate event has just taken place. Mr. Johnson has hit on the most +effectual manner of plaguing us all. He had heard, I imagine, by some +means or other, that you were soon to be in London, and immediately +contrived to have such an attack of the gout as must at least delay his +journey to Bath, if not wholly prevent it. I am persuaded the gout is +brought on or kept off at pleasure; it was the same when I wanted to +join the Hamiltons to the Lakes; and three years ago, when _I_ had a +fancy for Bath, nothing could induce him to have a gouty symptom. + +I am pleased to find that my letter had so much effect on you, and that +De Courcy is certainly your own. Let me hear from you as soon as you +arrive, and in particular tell me what you mean to do with Mainwaring. +It is impossible to say when I shall be able to come to you; my +confinement must be great. It is such an abominable trick to be ill +here instead of at Bath that I can scarcely command myself at all. At +Bath his old aunts would have nursed him, but here it all falls upon +me; and he bears pain with such patience that I have not the common +excuse for losing my temper. + +Yours ever, +ALICIA. + + + + +XXIX + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Alicia,—There needed not this last fit of the gout to make me +detest Mr. Johnson, but now the extent of my aversion is not to be +estimated. To have you confined as nurse in his apartment! My dear +Alicia, of what a mistake were you guilty in marrying a man of his age! +just old enough to be formal, ungovernable, and to have the gout; too +old to be agreeable, too young to die. I arrived last night about five, +had scarcely swallowed my dinner when Mainwaring made his appearance. I +will not dissemble what real pleasure his sight afforded me, nor how +strongly I felt the contrast between his person and manners and those +of Reginald, to the infinite disadvantage of the latter. For an hour or +two I was even staggered in my resolution of marrying him, and though +this was too idle and nonsensical an idea to remain long on my mind, I +do not feel very eager for the conclusion of my marriage, nor look +forward with much impatience to the time when Reginald, according to +our agreement, is to be in town. I shall probably put off his arrival +under some pretence or other. He must not come till Mainwaring is gone. +I am still doubtful at times as to marrying; if the old man would die I +might not hesitate, but a state of dependance on the caprice of Sir +Reginald will not suit the freedom of my spirit; and if I resolve to +wait for that event, I shall have excuse enough at present in having +been scarcely ten months a widow. I have not given Mainwaring any hint +of my intention, or allowed him to consider my acquaintance with +Reginald as more than the commonest flirtation, and he is tolerably +appeased. Adieu, till we meet; I am enchanted with my lodgings. + +Yours ever, +S. VERNON. + + + + +XXX + + +_Lady Susan Vernon to Mr. De Courcy._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I have received your letter, and though I do not attempt to conceal +that I am gratified by your impatience for the hour of meeting, I yet +feel myself under the necessity of delaying that hour beyond the time +originally fixed. Do not think me unkind for such an exercise of my +power, nor accuse me of instability without first hearing my reasons. +In the course of my journey from Churchhill I had ample leisure for +reflection on the present state of our affairs, and every review has +served to convince me that they require a delicacy and cautiousness of +conduct to which we have hitherto been too little attentive. We have +been hurried on by our feelings to a degree of precipitation which ill +accords with the claims of our friends or the opinion of the world. We +have been unguarded in forming this hasty engagement, but we must not +complete the imprudence by ratifying it while there is so much reason +to fear the connection would be opposed by those friends on whom you +depend. It is not for us to blame any expectations on your father’s +side of your marrying to advantage; where possessions are so extensive +as those of your family, the wish of increasing them, if not strictly +reasonable, is too common to excite surprize or resentment. He has a +right to require a woman of fortune in his daughter-in-law, and I am +sometimes quarrelling with myself for suffering you to form a +connection so imprudent; but the influence of reason is often +acknowledged too late by those who feel like me. I have now been but a +few months a widow, and, however little indebted to my husband’s memory +for any happiness derived from him during a union of some years, I +cannot forget that the indelicacy of so early a second marriage must +subject me to the censure of the world, and incur, what would be still +more insupportable, the displeasure of Mr. Vernon. I might perhaps +harden myself in time against the injustice of general reproach, but +the loss of _his_ valued esteem I am, as you well know, ill-fitted to +endure; and when to this may be added the consciousness of having +injured you with your family, how am I to support myself? With feelings +so poignant as mine, the conviction of having divided the son from his +parents would make me, even with you, the most miserable of beings. It +will surely, therefore, be advisable to delay our union—to delay it +till appearances are more promising—till affairs have taken a more +favourable turn. To assist us in such a resolution I feel that absence +will be necessary. We must not meet. Cruel as this sentence may appear, +the necessity of pronouncing it, which can alone reconcile it to +myself, will be evident to you when you have considered our situation +in the light in which I have found myself imperiously obliged to place +it. You may be—you must be—well assured that nothing but the strongest +conviction of duty could induce me to wound my own feelings by urging a +lengthened separation, and of insensibility to yours you will hardly +suspect me. Again, therefore, I say that we ought not, we must not, yet +meet. By a removal for some months from each other we shall +tranquillise the sisterly fears of Mrs. Vernon, who, accustomed herself +to the enjoyment of riches, considers fortune as necessary everywhere, +and whose sensibilities are not of a nature to comprehend ours. Let me +hear from you soon—very soon. Tell me that you submit to my arguments, +and do not reproach me for using such. I cannot bear reproaches: my +spirits are not so high as to need being repressed. I must endeavour to +seek amusement, and fortunately many of my friends are in town; amongst +them the Mainwarings; you know how sincerely I regard both husband and +wife. + +I am, very faithfully yours, +S. VERNON + + + + +XXXI + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Friend,—That tormenting creature, Reginald, is here. My letter, +which was intended to keep him longer in the country, has hastened him +to town. Much as I wish him away, however, I cannot help being pleased +with such a proof of attachment. He is devoted to me, heart and soul. +He will carry this note himself, which is to serve as an introduction +to you, with whom he longs to be acquainted. Allow him to spend the +evening with you, that I may be in no danger of his returning here. I +have told him that I am not quite well, and must be alone; and should +he call again there might be confusion, for it is impossible to be sure +of servants. Keep him, therefore, I entreat you, in Edward Street. You +will not find him a heavy companion, and I allow you to flirt with him +as much as you like. At the same time, do not forget my real interest; +say all that you can to convince him that I shall be quite wretched if +he remains here; you know my reasons—propriety, and so forth. I would +urge them more myself, but that I am impatient to be rid of him, as +Mainwaring comes within half an hour. Adieu! + +S. VERNON. + + + + +XXXII + + +_Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan._ + + +Edward Street. + + +My dear Creature,—I am in agonies, and know not what to do. Mr. De +Courcy arrived just when he should not. Mrs. Mainwaring had that +instant entered the house, and forced herself into her guardian’s +presence, though I did not know a syllable of it till afterwards, for I +was out when both she and Reginald came, or I should have sent him away +at all events; but she was shut up with Mr. Johnson, while he waited in +the drawing-room for me. She arrived yesterday in pursuit of her +husband, but perhaps you know this already from himself. She came to +this house to entreat my husband’s interference, and before I could be +aware of it, everything that you could wish to be concealed was known +to him, and unluckily she had wormed out of Mainwaring’s servant that +he had visited you every day since your being in town, and had just +watched him to your door herself! What could I do! Facts are such +horrid things! All is by this time known to De Courcy, who is now alone +with Mr. Johnson. Do not accuse me; indeed, it was impossible to +prevent it. Mr. Johnson has for some time suspected De Courcy of +intending to marry you, and would speak with him alone as soon as he +knew him to be in the house. That detestable Mrs. Mainwaring, who, for +your comfort, has fretted herself thinner and uglier than ever, is +still here, and they have been all closeted together. What can be done? +At any rate, I hope he will plague his wife more than ever. With +anxious wishes, + +Yours faithfully, +ALICIA. + + + + +XXXIII + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +This _éclaircissement_ is rather provoking. How unlucky that you should +have been from home! I thought myself sure of you at seven! I am +undismayed however. Do not torment yourself with fears on my account; +depend on it, I can make my story good with Reginald. Mainwaring is +just gone; he brought me the news of his wife’s arrival. Silly woman, +what does she expect by such manoeuvres? Yet I wish she had stayed +quietly at Langford. Reginald will be a little enraged at first, but by +to-morrow’s dinner, everything will be well again. + +Adieu! +S. V. + + + + +XXXIV + + +_Mr. De Courcy to Lady Susan._ + + +—— Hotel. + + +I write only to bid you farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as +you are. Since we parted yesterday, I have received from indisputable +authority such a history of you as must bring the most mortifying +conviction of the imposition I have been under, and the absolute +necessity of an immediate and eternal separation from you. You cannot +doubt to what I allude. Langford! Langford! that word will be +sufficient. I received my information in Mr. Johnson’s house, from Mrs. +Mainwaring herself. You know how I have loved you; you can intimately +judge of my present feelings, but I am not so weak as to find +indulgence in describing them to a woman who will glory in having +excited their anguish, but whose affection they have never been able to +gain. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + +XXXV + + +_Lady Susan to Mr. De Courcy._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I will not attempt to describe my astonishment in reading the note this +moment received from you. I am bewildered in my endeavours to form some +rational conjecture of what Mrs. Mainwaring can have told you to +occasion so extraordinary a change in your sentiments. Have I not +explained everything to you with respect to myself which could bear a +doubtful meaning, and which the ill-nature of the world had interpreted +to my discredit? What can you now have heard to stagger your esteem for +me? Have I ever had a concealment from you? Reginald, you agitate me +beyond expression, I cannot suppose that the old story of Mrs. +Mainwaring’s jealousy can be revived again, or at least be _listened_ +to again. Come to me immediately, and explain what is at present +absolutely incomprehensible. Believe me, the single word of _Langford_ +is not of such potent intelligence as to supersede the necessity of +more. If we _are_ to part, it will at least be handsome to take your +personal leave—but I have little heart to jest; in truth, I am serious +enough; for to be sunk, though but for an hour, in your esteem is a +humiliation to which I know not how to submit. I shall count every +minute till your arrival. + +S. V. + + + + +XXXVI + + +_Mr. De Courcy to Lady Susan._ + + +—— Hotel. + + +Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars? But, since +it must be so, I am obliged to declare that all the accounts of your +misconduct during the life, and since the death of Mr. Vernon, which +had reached me, in common with the world in general, and gained my +entire belief before I saw you, but which you, by the exertion of your +perverted abilities, had made me resolved to disallow, have been +unanswerably proved to me; nay more, I am assured that a connection, of +which I had never before entertained a thought, has for some time +existed, and still continues to exist, between you and the man whose +family you robbed of its peace in return for the hospitality with which +you were received into it; that you have corresponded with him ever +since your leaving Langford; not with his wife, but with him, and that +he now visits you every day. Can you, dare you deny it? and all this at +the time when I was an encouraged, an accepted lover! From what have I +not escaped! I have only to be grateful. Far from me be all complaint, +every sigh of regret. My own folly had endangered me, my preservation I +owe to the kindness, the integrity of another; but the unfortunate Mrs. +Mainwaring, whose agonies while she related the past seemed to threaten +her reason, how is _she_ to be consoled! After such a discovery as +this, you will scarcely affect further wonder at my meaning in bidding +you adieu. My understanding is at length restored, and teaches no less +to abhor the artifices which had subdued me than to despise myself for +the weakness on which their strength was founded. + +R. DE COURCY. + + + + +XXXVII + + +_Lady Susan to Mr. De Courcy._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +I am satisfied, and will trouble you no more when these few lines are +dismissed. The engagement which you were eager to form a fortnight ago +is no longer compatible with your views, and I rejoice to find that the +prudent advice of your parents has not been given in vain. Your +restoration to peace will, I doubt not, speedily follow this act of +filial obedience, and I flatter myself with the hope of surviving my +share in this disappointment. + +S. V. + + + + +XXXVIII + + +_Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan Vernon._ + + +Edward Street + + +I am grieved, though I cannot be astonished at your rupture with Mr. De +Courcy; he has just informed Mr. Johnson of it by letter. He leaves +London, he says, to-day. Be assured that I partake in all your +feelings, and do not be angry if I say that our intercourse, even by +letter, must soon be given up. It makes me miserable; but Mr. Johnson +vows that if I persist in the connection, he will settle in the country +for the rest of his life, and you know it is impossible to submit to +such an extremity while any other alternative remains. You have heard +of course that the Mainwarings are to part, and I am afraid Mrs. M. +will come home to us again; but she is still so fond of her husband, +and frets so much about him, that perhaps she may not live long. Miss +Mainwaring is just come to town to be with her aunt, and they say that +she declares she will have Sir James Martin before she leaves London +again. If I were you, I would certainly get him myself. I had almost +forgot to give you my opinion of Mr. De Courcy; I am really delighted +with him; he is full as handsome, I think, as Mainwaring, and with such +an open, good-humoured countenance, that one cannot help loving him at +first sight. Mr. Johnson and he are the greatest friends in the world. +Adieu, my dearest Susan, I wish matters did not go so perversely. That +unlucky visit to Langford! but I dare say you did all for the best, and +there is no defying destiny. + +Your sincerely attached, +ALICIA. + + + + +XXXIX + + +_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._ + + +Upper Seymour Street. + + +My dear Alicia,—I yield to the necessity which parts us. Under such +circumstances you could not act otherwise. Our friendship cannot be +impaired by it, and in happier times, when your situation is as +independent as mine, it will unite us again in the same intimacy as +ever. For this I shall impatiently wait, and meanwhile can safely +assure you that I never was more at ease, or better satisfied with +myself and everything about me than at the present hour. Your husband I +abhor, Reginald I despise, and I am secure of never seeing either +again. Have I not reason to rejoice? Mainwaring is more devoted to me +than ever; and were we at liberty, I doubt if I could resist even +matrimony offered by _him_. This event, if his wife live with you, it +may be in your power to hasten. The violence of her feelings, which +must wear her out, may be easily kept in irritation. I rely on your +friendship for this. I am now satisfied that I never could have brought +myself to marry Reginald, and am equally determined that Frederica +never _shall_. To-morrow, I shall fetch her from Churchhill, and let +Maria Mainwaring tremble for the consequence. Frederica shall be Sir +James’s wife before she quits my house, and _she_ may whimper, and the +Vernons may storm, I regard them not. I am tired of submitting my will +to the caprices of others; of resigning my own judgment in deference to +those to whom I owe no duty, and for whom I feel no respect. I have +given up too much, have been too easily worked on, but Frederica shall +now feel the difference. Adieu, dearest of friends; may the next gouty +attack be more favourable! and may you always regard me as unalterably +yours, + +S. VERNON + + + + +XL + + +_Lady De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon._ + + +My dear Catherine,—I have charming news for you, and if I had not sent +off my letter this morning you might have been spared the vexation of +knowing of Reginald’s being gone to London, for he is returned. +Reginald is returned, not to ask our consent to his marrying Lady +Susan, but to tell us they are parted for ever. He has been only an +hour in the house, and I have not been able to learn particulars, for +he is so very low that I have not the heart to ask questions, but I +hope we shall soon know all. This is the most joyful hour he has ever +given us since the day of his birth. Nothing is wanting but to have you +here, and it is our particular wish and entreaty that you would come to +us as soon as you can. You have owed us a visit many long weeks; I hope +nothing will make it inconvenient to Mr. Vernon; and pray bring all my +grand-children; and your dear niece is included, of course; I long to +see her. It has been a sad, heavy winter hitherto, without Reginald, +and seeing nobody from Churchhill. I never found the season so dreary +before; but this happy meeting will make us young again. Frederica runs +much in my thoughts, and when Reginald has recovered his usual good +spirits (as I trust he soon will) we will try to rob him of his heart +once more, and I am full of hopes of seeing their hands joined at no +great distance. + +Your affectionate mother, +C. DE COURCY. + + + + +XLI + + +_Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy._ + + +Churchhill. + + +My dear Mother,—Your letter has surprized me beyond measure! Can it be +true that they are really separated—and for ever? I should be overjoyed +if I dared depend on it, but after all that I have seen how can one be +secure? And Reginald really with you! My surprize is the greater +because on Wednesday, the very day of his coming to Parklands, we had a +most unexpected and unwelcome visit from Lady Susan, looking all +cheerfulness and good-humour, and seeming more as if she were to marry +him when she got to London than as if parted from him for ever. She +stayed nearly two hours, was as affectionate and agreeable as ever, and +not a syllable, not a hint was dropped, of any disagreement or coolness +between them. I asked her whether she had seen my brother since his +arrival in town; not, as you may suppose, with any doubt of the fact, +but merely to see how she looked. She immediately answered, without any +embarrassment, that he had been kind enough to call on her on Monday; +but she believed he had already returned home, which I was very far +from crediting. Your kind invitation is accepted by us with pleasure, +and on Thursday next we and our little ones will be with you. Pray +heaven, Reginald may not be in town again by that time! I wish we could +bring dear Frederica too, but I am sorry to say that her mother’s +errand hither was to fetch her away; and, miserable as it made the poor +girl, it was impossible to detain her. I was thoroughly unwilling to +let her go, and so was her uncle; and all that could be urged we did +urge; but Lady Susan declared that as she was now about to fix herself +in London for several months, she could not be easy if her daughter +were not with her for masters, &c. Her manner, to be sure, was very +kind and proper, and Mr. Vernon believes that Frederica will now be +treated with affection. I wish I could think so too. The poor girl’s +heart was almost broke at taking leave of us. I charged her to write to +me very often, and to remember that if she were in any distress we +should be always her friends. I took care to see her alone, that I +might say all this, and I hope made her a little more comfortable; but +I shall not be easy till I can go to town and judge of her situation +myself. I wish there were a better prospect than now appears of the +match which the conclusion of your letter declares your expectations +of. At present, it is not very likely, + +Yours ever, &c., +C. VERNON. + + + + +CONCLUSION + + +This correspondence, by a meeting between some of the parties, and a +separation between the others, could not, to the great detriment of the +Post Office revenue, be continued any longer. Very little assistance to +the State could be derived from the epistolary intercourse of Mrs. +Vernon and her niece; for the former soon perceived, by the style of +Frederica’s letters, that they were written under her mother’s +inspection! and therefore, deferring all particular enquiry till she +could make it personally in London, ceased writing minutely or often. +Having learnt enough, in the meanwhile, from her open-hearted brother, +of what had passed between him and Lady Susan to sink the latter lower +than ever in her opinion, she was proportionably more anxious to get +Frederica removed from such a mother, and placed under her own care; +and, though with little hope of success, was resolved to leave nothing +unattempted that might offer a chance of obtaining her sister-in-law’s +consent to it. Her anxiety on the subject made her press for an early +visit to London; and Mr. Vernon, who, as it must already have appeared, +lived only to do whatever he was desired, soon found some accommodating +business to call him thither. With a heart full of the matter, Mrs. +Vernon waited on Lady Susan shortly after her arrival in town, and was +met with such an easy and cheerful affection, as made her almost turn +from her with horror. No remembrance of Reginald, no consciousness of +guilt, gave one look of embarrassment; she was in excellent spirits, +and seemed eager to show at once by every possible attention to her +brother and sister her sense of their kindness, and her pleasure in +their society. Frederica was no more altered than Lady Susan; the same +restrained manners, the same timid look in the presence of her mother +as heretofore, assured her aunt of her situation being uncomfortable, +and confirmed her in the plan of altering it. No unkindness, however, +on the part of Lady Susan appeared. Persecution on the subject of Sir +James was entirely at an end; his name merely mentioned to say that he +was not in London; and indeed, in all her conversation, she was +solicitous only for the welfare and improvement of her daughter, +acknowledging, in terms of grateful delight, that Frederica was now +growing every day more and more what a parent could desire. Mrs. +Vernon, surprized and incredulous, knew not what to suspect, and, +without any change in her own views, only feared greater difficulty in +accomplishing them. The first hope of anything better was derived from +Lady Susan’s asking her whether she thought Frederica looked quite as +well as she had done at Churchhill, as she must confess herself to have +sometimes an anxious doubt of London’s perfectly agreeing with her. +Mrs. Vernon, encouraging the doubt, directly proposed her niece’s +returning with them into the country. Lady Susan was unable to express +her sense of such kindness, yet knew not, from a variety of reasons, +how to part with her daughter; and as, though her own plans were not +yet wholly fixed, she trusted it would ere long be in her power to take +Frederica into the country herself, concluded by declining entirely to +profit by such unexampled attention. Mrs. Vernon persevered, however, +in the offer of it, and though Lady Susan continued to resist, her +resistance in the course of a few days seemed somewhat less formidable. +The lucky alarm of an influenza decided what might not have been +decided quite so soon. Lady Susan’s maternal fears were then too much +awakened for her to think of anything but Frederica’s removal from the +risk of infection; above all disorders in the world she most dreaded +the influenza for her daughter’s constitution! + +Frederica returned to Churchhill with her uncle and aunt; and three +weeks afterwards, Lady Susan announced her being married to Sir James +Martin. Mrs. Vernon was then convinced of what she had only suspected +before, that she might have spared herself all the trouble of urging a +removal which Lady Susan had doubtless resolved on from the first. +Frederica’s visit was nominally for six weeks, but her mother, though +inviting her to return in one or two affectionate letters, was very +ready to oblige the whole party by consenting to a prolongation of her +stay, and in the course of two months ceased to write of her absence, +and in the course of two more to write to her at all. Frederica was +therefore fixed in the family of her uncle and aunt till such time as +Reginald De Courcy could be talked, flattered, and finessed into an +affection for her which, allowing leisure for the conquest of his +attachment to her mother, for his abjuring all future attachments, and +detesting the sex, might be reasonably looked for in the course of a +twelvemonth. Three months might have done it in general, but Reginald’s +feelings were no less lasting than lively. Whether Lady Susan was or +was not happy in her second choice, I do not see how it can ever be +ascertained; for who would take her assurance of it on either side of +the question? The world must judge from probabilities; she had nothing +against her but her husband, and her conscience. Sir James may seem to +have drawn a harder lot than mere folly merited; I leave him, +therefore, to all the pity that anybody can give him. For myself, I +confess that _I_ can pity only Miss Mainwaring; who, coming to town, +and putting herself to an expense in clothes which impoverished her for +two years, on purpose to secure him, was defrauded of her due by a +woman ten years older than herself. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY SUSAN *** + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will +be renamed. + +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the +United States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. Special rules, set forth in the General Terms of Use part +of this license, apply to copying and distributing Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works to protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm +concept and trademark. 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You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms +of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online +at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you +are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the +country where you are located before using this eBook. +</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: Lady Susan</div> +<div style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:1em; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Jane Austen</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: June, 1997 [eBook #946]<br /> +[Most recently updated: October 1, 2022]</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</div> +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'>Character set encoding: UTF-8</div> +<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY SUSAN ***</div> + +<h1>LADY SUSAN</h1> + +<h2 class="no-break">by Jane Austen</h2> + +<hr /> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + +<table summary="" style=""> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0001">I</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0002">II</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0003">III</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0004">IV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0005">V</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0006">VI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0007">VII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0008">VIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0009">IX</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0010">X</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0011">XI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0012">XII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0013">XIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0014">XIV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0015">XV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0016">XVI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0017">XVII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0018">XVIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0019">XIX</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0020">XX</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0021">XXI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0022">XXII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0023">XXIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0024">XXIV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0025">XXV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0026">XXVI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0027">XXVII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0028">XXVIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0029">XXIX</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0030">XXX</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0031">XXXI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0032">XXXII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0033">XXXIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0034">XXXIV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0035">XXXV</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0036">XXXVI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0037">XXXVII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0038">XXXVIII</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0039">XXXIX</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0040">XL</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_4_0041">XLI</a></td> +</tr> + +<tr> +<td> <a href="#link2H_CONC">CONCLUSION</a></td> +</tr> + +</table> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0001"></a> +I</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mr. Vernon.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Langford, Dec. +</p> + +<p> +M<small>Y DEAR</small> B<small>ROTHER</small>,—I can no longer refuse +myself the pleasure of profiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of +spending some weeks with you at Churchhill, and, therefore, if quite convenient +to you and Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few days +to be introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be acquainted with. +My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent with me to prolong my stay, +but their hospitable and cheerful dispositions lead them too much into society +for my present situation and state of mind; and I impatiently look forward to +the hour when I shall be admitted into your delightful retirement. +</p> + +<p> +I long to be made known to your dear little children, in whose hearts I shall +be very eager to secure an interest. I shall soon have need for all my +fortitude, as I am on the point of separation from my own daughter. The long +illness of her dear father prevented my paying her that attention which duty +and affection equally dictated, and I have too much reason to fear that the +governess to whose care I consigned her was unequal to the charge. I have +therefore resolved on placing her at one of the best private schools in town, +where I shall have an opportunity of leaving her myself in my way to you. I am +determined, you see, not to be denied admittance at Churchhill. It would indeed +give me most painful sensations to know that it were not in your power to +receive me. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your most obliged and affectionate sister,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0002"></a> +II</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Langford. +</p> + +<p> +You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing me fixed at this place for the +rest of the winter: it grieves me to say how greatly you were mistaken, for I +have seldom spent three months more agreeably than those which have just flown +away. At present, nothing goes smoothly; the females of the family are united +against me. You foretold how it would be when I first came to Langford, and +Mainwaring is so uncommonly pleasing that I was not without apprehensions for +myself. I remember saying to myself, as I drove to the house, “I like +this man, pray Heaven no harm come of it!” But I was determined to be +discreet, to bear in mind my being only four months a widow, and to be as quiet +as possible: and I have been so, my dear creature; I have admitted no +one’s attentions but Mainwaring’s. I have avoided all general +flirtation whatever; I have distinguished no creature besides, of all the +numbers resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on whom I bestowed a little +notice, in order to detach him from Miss Mainwaring; but, if the world could +know my motive <i>there</i> they would honour me. I have been called an unkind +mother, but it was the sacred impulse of maternal affection, it was the +advantage of my daughter that led me on; and if that daughter were not the +greatest simpleton on earth, I might have been rewarded for my exertions as I +ought. +</p> + +<p> +Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica; but Frederica, who was born +to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so violently against the +match that I thought it better to lay aside the scheme for the present. I have +more than once repented that I did not marry him myself; and were he but one +degree less contemptibly weak I certainly should: but I must own myself rather +romantic in that respect, and that riches only will not satisfy me. The event +of all this is very provoking: Sir James is gone, Maria highly incensed, and +Mrs. Mainwaring insupportably jealous; so jealous, in short, and so enraged +against me, that, in the fury of her temper, I should not be surprized at her +appealing to her guardian, if she had the liberty of addressing him: but there +your husband stands my friend; and the kindest, most amiable action of his life +was his throwing her off for ever on her marriage. Keep up his resentment, +therefore, I charge you. We are now in a sad state; no house was ever more +altered; the whole party are at war, and Mainwaring scarcely dares speak to me. +It is time for me to be gone; I have therefore determined on leaving them, and +shall spend, I hope, a comfortable day with you in town within this week. If I +am as little in favour with Mr. Johnson as ever, you must come to me at 10 +Wigmore street; but I hope this may not be the case, for as Mr. Johnson, with +all his faults, is a man to whom that great word “respectable” is +always given, and I am known to be so intimate with his wife, his slighting me +has an awkward look. +</p> + +<p> +I take London in my way to that insupportable spot, a country village; for I am +really going to Churchhill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is my last resource. +Were there another place in England open to me I would prefer it. Charles +Vernon is my aversion; and I am afraid of his wife. At Churchhill, however, I +must remain till I have something better in view. My young lady accompanies me +to town, where I shall deposit her under the care of Miss Summers, in Wigmore +street, till she becomes a little more reasonable. She will made good +connections there, as the girls are all of the best families. The price is +immense, and much beyond what I can ever attempt to pay. +</p> + +<p> +Adieu, I will send you a line as soon as I arrive in town. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0003"></a> +III</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Mother,—I am very sorry to tell you that it will not be in our +power to keep our promise of spending our Christmas with you; and we are +prevented that happiness by a circumstance which is not likely to make us any +amends. Lady Susan, in a letter to her brother-in-law, has declared her +intention of visiting us almost immediately; and as such a visit is in all +probability merely an affair of convenience, it is impossible to conjecture its +length. I was by no means prepared for such an event, nor can I now account for +her ladyship’s conduct; Langford appeared so exactly the place for her in +every respect, as well from the elegant and expensive style of living there, as +from her particular attachment to Mr. Mainwaring, that I was very far from +expecting so speedy a distinction, though I always imagined from her increasing +friendship for us since her husband’s death that we should, at some +future period, be obliged to receive her. Mr. Vernon, I think, was a great deal +too kind to her when he was in Staffordshire; her behaviour to him, independent +of her general character, has been so inexcusably artful and ungenerous since +our marriage was first in agitation that no one less amiable and mild than +himself could have overlooked it all; and though, as his brother’s widow, +and in narrow circumstances, it was proper to render her pecuniary assistance, +I cannot help thinking his pressing invitation to her to visit us at Churchhill +perfectly unnecessary. Disposed, however, as he always is to think the best of +everyone, her display of grief, and professions of regret, and general +resolutions of prudence, were sufficient to soften his heart and make him +really confide in her sincerity; but, as for myself, I am still unconvinced, +and plausibly as her ladyship has now written, I cannot make up my mind till I +better understand her real meaning in coming to us. You may guess, therefore, +my dear madam, with what feelings I look forward to her arrival. She will have +occasion for all those attractive powers for which she is celebrated to gain +any share of my regard; and I shall certainly endeavour to guard myself against +their influence, if not accompanied by something more substantial. She +expresses a most eager desire of being acquainted with me, and makes very +gracious mention of my children but I am not quite weak enough to suppose a +woman who has behaved with inattention, if not with unkindness, to her own +child, should be attached to any of mine. Miss Vernon is to be placed at a +school in London before her mother comes to us which I am glad of, for her sake +and my own. It must be to her advantage to be separated from her mother, and a +girl of sixteen who has received so wretched an education, could not be a very +desirable companion here. Reginald has long wished, I know, to see the +captivating Lady Susan, and we shall depend on his joining our party soon. I am +glad to hear that my father continues so well; and am, with best love, &c., +</p> + +<p class="right"> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0004"></a> +IV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mr. De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Parklands. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Sister,—I congratulate you and Mr. Vernon on being about to +receive into your family the most accomplished coquette in England. As a very +distinguished flirt I have always been taught to consider her, but it has +lately fallen in my way to hear some particulars of her conduct at Langford: +which prove that she does not confine herself to that sort of honest flirtation +which satisfies most people, but aspires to the more delicious gratification of +making a whole family miserable. By her behaviour to Mr. Mainwaring she gave +jealousy and wretchedness to his wife, and by her attentions to a young man +previously attached to Mr. Mainwaring’s sister deprived an amiable girl +of her lover. +</p> + +<p> +I learnt all this from Mr. Smith, now in this neighbourhood (I have dined with +him, at Hurst and Wilford), who is just come from Langford where he was a +fortnight with her ladyship, and who is therefore well qualified to make the +communication. +</p> + +<p> +What a woman she must be! I long to see her, and shall certainly accept your +kind invitation, that I may form some idea of those bewitching powers which can +do so much—engaging at the same time, and in the same house, the +affections of two men, who were neither of them at liberty to bestow +them—and all this without the charm of youth! I am glad to find Miss +Vernon does not accompany her mother to Churchhill, as she has not even manners +to recommend her; and, according to Mr. Smith’s account, is equally dull +and proud. Where pride and stupidity unite there can be no dissimulation worthy +notice, and Miss Vernon shall be consigned to unrelenting contempt; but by all +that I can gather Lady Susan possesses a degree of captivating deceit which it +must be pleasing to witness and detect. I shall be with you very soon, and am +ever, +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your affectionate brother,<br/> +R. <small>DE</small> C<small>OURCY</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0005"></a> +V</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +I received your note, my dear Alicia, just before I left town, and rejoice to +be assured that Mr. Johnson suspected nothing of your engagement the evening +before. It is undoubtedly better to deceive him entirely, and since he will be +stubborn he must be tricked. I arrived here in safety, and have no reason to +complain of my reception from Mr. Vernon; but I confess myself not equally +satisfied with the behaviour of his lady. She is perfectly well-bred, indeed, +and has the air of a woman of fashion, but her manners are not such as can +persuade me of her being prepossessed in my favour. I wanted her to be +delighted at seeing me. I was as amiable as possible on the occasion, but all +in vain. She does not like me. To be sure, when we consider that I <i>did</i> +take some pains to prevent my brother-in-law’s marrying her, this want of +cordiality is not very surprizing, and yet it shows an illiberal and vindictive +spirit to resent a project which influenced me six years ago, and which never +succeeded at last. +</p> + +<p> +I am sometimes disposed to repent that I did not let Charles buy Vernon Castle, +when we were obliged to sell it; but it was a trying circumstance, especially +as the sale took place exactly at the time of his marriage; and everybody ought +to respect the delicacy of those feelings which could not endure that my +husband’s dignity should be lessened by his younger brother’s +having possession of the family estate. Could matters have been so arranged as +to prevent the necessity of our leaving the castle, could we have lived with +Charles and kept him single, I should have been very far from persuading my +husband to dispose of it elsewhere; but Charles was on the point of marrying +Miss De Courcy, and the event has justified me. Here are children in abundance, +and what benefit could have accrued to me from his purchasing Vernon? My having +prevented it may perhaps have given his wife an unfavourable impression, but +where there is a disposition to dislike, a motive will never be wanting; and as +to money matters it has not withheld him from being very useful to me. I really +have a regard for him, he is so easily imposed upon! The house is a good one, +the furniture fashionable, and everything announces plenty and elegance. +Charles is very rich I am sure; when a man has once got his name in a +banking-house he rolls in money; but they do not know what to do with it, keep +very little company, and never go to London but on business. We shall be as +stupid as possible. I mean to win my sister-in-law’s heart through the +children; I know all their names already, and am going to attach myself with +the greatest sensibility to one in particular, a young Frederic, whom I take on +my lap and sigh over for his dear uncle’s sake. +</p> + +<p> +Poor Mainwaring! I need not tell you how much I miss him, how perpetually he is +in my thoughts. I found a dismal letter from him on my arrival here, full of +complaints of his wife and sister, and lamentations on the cruelty of his fate. +I passed off the letter as his wife’s, to the Vernons, and when I write +to him it must be under cover to you. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Ever yours,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0006"></a> +VI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Mr. De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +Well, my dear Reginald, I have seen this dangerous creature, and must give you +some description of her, though I hope you will soon be able to form your own +judgment. She is really excessively pretty; however you may choose to question +the allurements of a lady no longer young, I must, for my own part, declare +that I have seldom seen so lovely a woman as Lady Susan. She is delicately +fair, with fine grey eyes and dark eyelashes; and from her appearance one would +not suppose her more than five and twenty, though she must in fact be ten years +older. I was certainly not disposed to admire her, though always hearing she +was beautiful; but I cannot help feeling that she possesses an uncommon union +of symmetry, brilliancy, and grace. Her address to me was so gentle, frank, and +even affectionate, that, if I had not known how much she has always disliked me +for marrying Mr. Vernon, and that we had never met before, I should have +imagined her an attached friend. One is apt, I believe, to connect assurance of +manner with coquetry, and to expect that an impudent address will naturally +attend an impudent mind; at least I was myself prepared for an improper degree +of confidence in Lady Susan; but her countenance is absolutely sweet, and her +voice and manner winningly mild. I am sorry it is so, for what is this but +deceit? Unfortunately, one knows her too well. She is clever and agreeable, has +all that knowledge of the world which makes conversation easy, and talks very +well, with a happy command of language, which is too often used, I believe, to +make black appear white. She has already almost persuaded me of her being +warmly attached to her daughter, though I have been so long convinced to the +contrary. She speaks of her with so much tenderness and anxiety, lamenting so +bitterly the neglect of her education, which she represents however as wholly +unavoidable, that I am forced to recollect how many successive springs her +ladyship spent in town, while her daughter was left in Staffordshire to the +care of servants, or a governess very little better, to prevent my believing +what she says. +</p> + +<p> +If her manners have so great an influence on my resentful heart, you may judge +how much more strongly they operate on Mr. Vernon’s generous temper. I +wish I could be as well satisfied as he is, that it was really her choice to +leave Langford for Churchhill; and if she had not stayed there for months +before she discovered that her friend’s manner of living did not suit her +situation or feelings, I might have believed that concern for the loss of such +a husband as Mr. Vernon, to whom her own behaviour was far from +unexceptionable, might for a time make her wish for retirement. But I cannot +forget the length of her visit to the Mainwarings, and when I reflect on the +different mode of life which she led with them from that to which she must now +submit, I can only suppose that the wish of establishing her reputation by +following though late the path of propriety, occasioned her removal from a +family where she must in reality have been particularly happy. Your friend Mr. +Smith’s story, however, cannot be quite correct, as she corresponds +regularly with Mrs. Mainwaring. At any rate it must be exaggerated. It is +scarcely possible that two men should be so grossly deceived by her at once. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours, &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small> +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0007"></a> +VII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Alicia,—You are very good in taking notice of Frederica, and I am +grateful for it as a mark of your friendship; but as I cannot have any doubt of +the warmth of your affection, I am far from exacting so heavy a sacrifice. She +is a stupid girl, and has nothing to recommend her. I would not, therefore, on +my account, have you encumber one moment of your precious time by sending for +her to Edward Street, especially as every visit is so much deducted from the +grand affair of education, which I really wish to have attended to while she +remains at Miss Summers’s. I want her to play and sing with some portion +of taste and a good deal of assurance, as she has my hand and arm and a +tolerable voice. I was so much indulged in my infant years that I was never +obliged to attend to anything, and consequently am without the accomplishments +which are now necessary to finish a pretty woman. Not that I am an advocate for +the prevailing fashion of acquiring a perfect knowledge of all languages, arts, +and sciences. It is throwing time away to be mistress of French, Italian, and +German: music, singing, and drawing, &c., will gain a woman some applause, +but will not add one lover to her list—grace and manner, after all, are +of the greatest importance. I do not mean, therefore, that Frederica’s +acquirements should be more than superficial, and I flatter myself that she +will not remain long enough at school to understand anything thoroughly. I hope +to see her the wife of Sir James within a twelvemonth. You know on what I +ground my hope, and it is certainly a good foundation, for school must be very +humiliating to a girl of Frederica’s age. And, by-the-by, you had better +not invite her any more on that account, as I wish her to find her situation as +unpleasant as possible. I am sure of Sir James at any time, and could make him +renew his application by a line. I shall trouble you meanwhile to prevent his +forming any other attachment when he comes to town. Ask him to your house +occasionally, and talk to him of Frederica, that he may not forget her. Upon +the whole, I commend my own conduct in this affair extremely, and regard it as +a very happy instance of circumspection and tenderness. Some mothers would have +insisted on their daughter’s accepting so good an offer on the first +overture; but I could not reconcile it to myself to force Frederica into a +marriage from which her heart revolted, and instead of adopting so harsh a +measure merely propose to make it her own choice, by rendering her thoroughly +uncomfortable till she does accept him—but enough of this tiresome girl. +You may well wonder how I contrive to pass my time here, and for the first week +it was insufferably dull. Now, however, we begin to mend, our party is enlarged +by Mrs. Vernon’s brother, a handsome young man, who promises me some +amusement. There is something about him which rather interests me, a sort of +sauciness and familiarity which I shall teach him to correct. He is lively, and +seems clever, and when I have inspired him with greater respect for me than his +sister’s kind offices have implanted, he may be an agreeable flirt. There +is exquisite pleasure in subduing an insolent spirit, in making a person +predetermined to dislike acknowledge one’s superiority. I have +disconcerted him already by my calm reserve, and it shall be my endeavour to +humble the pride of these self important De Courcys still lower, to convince +Mrs. Vernon that her sisterly cautions have been bestowed in vain, and to +persuade Reginald that she has scandalously belied me. This project will serve +at least to amuse me, and prevent my feeling so acutely this dreadful +separation from you and all whom I love. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0008"></a> +VIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Mother,—You must not expect Reginald back again for some time. He +desires me to tell you that the present open weather induces him to accept Mr. +Vernon’s invitation to prolong his stay in Sussex, that they may have +some hunting together. He means to send for his horses immediately, and it is +impossible to say when you may see him in Kent. I will not disguise my +sentiments on this change from you, my dear mother, though I think you had +better not communicate them to my father, whose excessive anxiety about +Reginald would subject him to an alarm which might seriously affect his health +and spirits. Lady Susan has certainly contrived, in the space of a fortnight, +to make my brother like her. In short, I am persuaded that his continuing here +beyond the time originally fixed for his return is occasioned as much by a +degree of fascination towards her, as by the wish of hunting with Mr. Vernon, +and of course I cannot receive that pleasure from the length of his visit which +my brother’s company would otherwise give me. I am, indeed, provoked at +the artifice of this unprincipled woman; what stronger proof of her dangerous +abilities can be given than this perversion of Reginald’s judgment, which +when he entered the house was so decidedly against her! In his last letter he +actually gave me some particulars of her behaviour at Langford, such as he +received from a gentleman who knew her perfectly well, which, if true, must +raise abhorrence against her, and which Reginald himself was entirely disposed +to credit. His opinion of her, I am sure, was as low as of any woman in +England; and when he first came it was evident that he considered her as one +entitled neither to delicacy nor respect, and that he felt she would be +delighted with the attentions of any man inclined to flirt with her. Her +behaviour, I confess, has been calculated to do away with such an idea; I have +not detected the smallest impropriety in it—nothing of vanity, of +pretension, of levity; and she is altogether so attractive that I should not +wonder at his being delighted with her, had he known nothing of her previous to +this personal acquaintance; but, against reason, against conviction, to be so +well pleased with her, as I am sure he is, does really astonish me. His +admiration was at first very strong, but no more than was natural, and I did +not wonder at his being much struck by the gentleness and delicacy of her +manners; but when he has mentioned her of late it has been in terms of more +extraordinary praise; and yesterday he actually said that he could not be +surprised at any effect produced on the heart of man by such loveliness and +such abilities; and when I lamented, in reply, the badness of her disposition, +he observed that whatever might have been her errors they were to be imputed to +her neglected education and early marriage, and that she was altogether a +wonderful woman. This tendency to excuse her conduct or to forget it, in the +warmth of admiration, vexes me; and if I did not know that Reginald is too much +at home at Churchhill to need an invitation for lengthening his visit, I should +regret Mr. Vernon’s giving him any. Lady Susan’s intentions are of +course those of absolute coquetry, or a desire of universal admiration; I +cannot for a moment imagine that she has anything more serious in view; but it +mortifies me to see a young man of Reginald’s sense duped by her at all. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +I am, &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0009"></a> +IX</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Johnson to Lady S. Vernon.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Edward Street. +</p> + +<p> +My dearest Friend,—I congratulate you on Mr. De Courcy’s arrival, +and I advise you by all means to marry him; his father’s estate is, we +know, considerable, and I believe certainly entailed. Sir Reginald is very +infirm, and not likely to stand in your way long. I hear the young man well +spoken of; and though no one can really deserve you, my dearest Susan, Mr. De +Courcy may be worth having. Mainwaring will storm of course, but you easily +pacify him; besides, the most scrupulous point of honour could not require you +to wait for <i>his</i> emancipation. I have seen Sir James; he came to town for +a few days last week, and called several times in Edward Street. I talked to +him about you and your daughter, and he is so far from having forgotten you, +that I am sure he would marry either of you with pleasure. I gave him hopes of +Frederica’s relenting, and told him a great deal of her improvements. I +scolded him for making love to Maria Mainwaring; he protested that he had been +only in joke, and we both laughed heartily at her disappointment; and, in +short, were very agreeable. He is as silly as ever. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours faithfully,<br/> +A<small>LICIA</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0010"></a> +X</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +I am much obliged to you, my dear Friend, for your advice respecting Mr. De +Courcy, which I know was given with the full conviction of its expediency, +though I am not quite determined on following it. I cannot easily resolve on +anything so serious as marriage; especially as I am not at present in want of +money, and might perhaps, till the old gentleman’s death, be very little +benefited by the match. It is true that I am vain enough to believe it within +my reach. I have made him sensible of my power, and can now enjoy the pleasure +of triumphing over a mind prepared to dislike me, and prejudiced against all my +past actions. His sister, too, is, I hope, convinced how little the ungenerous +representations of anyone to the disadvantage of another will avail when +opposed by the immediate influence of intellect and manner. I see plainly that +she is uneasy at my progress in the good opinion of her brother, and conclude +that nothing will be wanting on her part to counteract me; but having once made +him doubt the justice of her opinion of me, I think I may defy her. It has been +delightful to me to watch his advances towards intimacy, especially to observe +his altered manner in consequence of my repressing by the cool dignity of my +deportment his insolent approach to direct familiarity. My conduct has been +equally guarded from the first, and I never behaved less like a coquette in the +whole course of my life, though perhaps my desire of dominion was never more +decided. I have subdued him entirely by sentiment and serious conversation, and +made him, I may venture to say, at least half in love with me, without the +semblance of the most commonplace flirtation. Mrs. Vernon’s consciousness +of deserving every sort of revenge that it can be in my power to inflict for +her ill-offices could alone enable her to perceive that I am actuated by any +design in behaviour so gentle and unpretending. Let her think and act as she +chooses, however. I have never yet found that the advice of a sister could +prevent a young man’s being in love if he chose. We are advancing now to +some kind of confidence, and in short are likely to be engaged in a sort of +platonic friendship. On my side you may be sure of its never being more, for if +I were not attached to another person as much as I can be to anyone, I should +make a point of not bestowing my affection on a man who had dared to think so +meanly of me. Reginald has a good figure and is not unworthy the praise you +have heard given him, but is still greatly inferior to our friend at Langford. +He is less polished, less insinuating than Mainwaring, and is comparatively +deficient in the power of saying those delightful things which put one in good +humour with oneself and all the world. He is quite agreeable enough, however, +to afford me amusement, and to make many of those hours pass very pleasantly +which would otherwise be spent in endeavouring to overcome my +sister-in-law’s reserve, and listening to the insipid talk of her +husband. Your account of Sir James is most satisfactory, and I mean to give +Miss Frederica a hint of my intentions very soon. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours, &c.,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0011"></a> +XI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill +</p> + +<p> +I really grow quite uneasy, my dearest mother, about Reginald, from witnessing +the very rapid increase of Lady Susan’s influence. They are now on terms +of the most particular friendship, frequently engaged in long conversations +together; and she has contrived by the most artful coquetry to subdue his +judgment to her own purposes. It is impossible to see the intimacy between them +so very soon established without some alarm, though I can hardly suppose that +Lady Susan’s plans extend to marriage. I wish you could get Reginald home +again on any plausible pretence; he is not at all disposed to leave us, and I +have given him as many hints of my father’s precarious state of health as +common decency will allow me to do in my own house. Her power over him must now +be boundless, as she has entirely effaced all his former ill-opinion, and +persuaded him not merely to forget but to justify her conduct. Mr. +Smith’s account of her proceedings at Langford, where he accused her of +having made Mr. Mainwaring and a young man engaged to Miss Mainwaring +distractedly in love with her, which Reginald firmly believed when he came +here, is now, he is persuaded, only a scandalous invention. He has told me so +with a warmth of manner which spoke his regret at having believed the contrary +himself. How sincerely do I grieve that she ever entered this house! I always +looked forward to her coming with uneasiness; but very far was it from +originating in anxiety for Reginald. I expected a most disagreeable companion +for myself, but could not imagine that my brother would be in the smallest +danger of being captivated by a woman with whose principles he was so well +acquainted, and whose character he so heartily despised. If you can get him +away it will be a good thing. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours, &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0012"></a> +XII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Sir Reginald De Courcy to his Son.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Parklands. +</p> + +<p> +I know that young men in general do not admit of any enquiry even from their +nearest relations into affairs of the heart, but I hope, my dear Reginald, that +you will be superior to such as allow nothing for a father’s anxiety, and +think themselves privileged to refuse him their confidence and slight his +advice. You must be sensible that as an only son, and the representative of an +ancient family, your conduct in life is most interesting to your connections; +and in the very important concern of marriage especially, there is everything +at stake—your own happiness, that of your parents, and the credit of your +name. I do not suppose that you would deliberately form an absolute engagement +of that nature without acquainting your mother and myself, or at least, without +being convinced that we should approve of your choice; but I cannot help +fearing that you may be drawn in, by the lady who has lately attached you, to a +marriage which the whole of your family, far and near, must highly reprobate. +Lady Susan’s age is itself a material objection, but her want of +character is one so much more serious, that the difference of even twelve years +becomes in comparison of small amount. Were you not blinded by a sort of +fascination, it would be ridiculous in me to repeat the instances of great +misconduct on her side so very generally known. +</p> + +<p> +Her neglect of her husband, her encouragement of other men, her extravagance +and dissipation, were so gross and notorious that no one could be ignorant of +them at the time, nor can now have forgotten them. To our family she has always +been represented in softened colours by the benevolence of Mr. Charles Vernon, +and yet, in spite of his generous endeavours to excuse her, we know that she +did, from the most selfish motives, take all possible pains to prevent his +marriage with Catherine. +</p> + +<p> +My years and increasing infirmities make me very desirous of seeing you settled +in the world. To the fortune of a wife, the goodness of my own will make me +indifferent, but her family and character must be equally unexceptionable. When +your choice is fixed so that no objection can be made to it, then I can promise +you a ready and cheerful consent; but it is my duty to oppose a match which +deep art only could render possible, and must in the end make wretched. It is +possible her behaviour may arise only from vanity, or the wish of gaining the +admiration of a man whom she must imagine to be particularly prejudiced against +her; but it is more likely that she should aim at something further. She is +poor, and may naturally seek an alliance which must be advantageous to herself; +you know your own rights, and that it is out of my power to prevent your +inheriting the family estate. My ability of distressing you during my life +would be a species of revenge to which I could hardly stoop under any +circumstances. +</p> + +<p> +I honestly tell you my sentiments and intentions: I do not wish to work on your +fears, but on your sense and affection. It would destroy every comfort of my +life to know that you were married to Lady Susan Vernon; it would be the death +of that honest pride with which I have hitherto considered my son; I should +blush to see him, to hear of him, to think of him. I may perhaps do no good but +that of relieving my own mind by this letter, but I felt it my duty to tell you +that your partiality for Lady Susan is no secret to your friends, and to warn +you against her. I should be glad to hear your reasons for disbelieving Mr. +Smith’s intelligence; you had no doubt of its authenticity a month ago. +If you can give me your assurance of having no design beyond enjoying the +conversation of a clever woman for a short period, and of yielding admiration +only to her beauty and abilities, without being blinded by them to her faults, +you will restore me to happiness; but, if you cannot do this, explain to me, at +least, what has occasioned so great an alteration in your opinion of her. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +I am, &c., &c,<br/> +R<small>EGINALD</small> D<small>E</small> C<small>OURCY</small> +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0013"></a> +XIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Parklands. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Catherine,—Unluckily I was confined to my room when your last +letter came, by a cold which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my reading +it myself, so I could not refuse your father when he offered to read it to me, +by which means he became acquainted, to my great vexation, with all your fears +about your brother. I had intended to write to Reginald myself as soon as my +eyes would let me, to point out, as well as I could, the danger of an intimate +acquaintance, with so artful a woman as Lady Susan, to a young man of his age, +and high expectations. I meant, moreover, to have reminded him of our being +quite alone now, and very much in need of him to keep up our spirits these long +winter evenings. Whether it would have done any good can never be settled now, +but I am excessively vexed that Sir Reginald should know anything of a matter +which we foresaw would make him so uneasy. He caught all your fears the moment +he had read your letter, and I am sure he has not had the business out of his +head since. He wrote by the same post to Reginald a long letter full of it all, +and particularly asking an explanation of what he may have heard from Lady +Susan to contradict the late shocking reports. His answer came this morning, +which I shall enclose to you, as I think you will like to see it. I wish it was +more satisfactory; but it seems written with such a determination to think well +of Lady Susan, that his assurances as to marriage, &c., do not set my heart +at ease. I say all I can, however, to satisfy your father, and he is certainly +less uneasy since Reginald’s letter. How provoking it is, my dear +Catherine, that this unwelcome guest of yours should not only prevent our +meeting this Christmas, but be the occasion of so much vexation and trouble! +Kiss the dear children for me. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your affectionate mother,<br/> +C. D<small>E</small> C<small>OURCY</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0014"></a> +XIV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mr. De Courcy to Sir Reginald.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Sir,—I have this moment received your letter, which has given me +more astonishment than I ever felt before. I am to thank my sister, I suppose, +for having represented me in such a light as to injure me in your opinion, and +give you all this alarm. I know not why she should choose to make herself and +her family uneasy by apprehending an event which no one but herself, I can +affirm, would ever have thought possible. To impute such a design to Lady Susan +would be taking from her every claim to that excellent understanding which her +bitterest enemies have never denied her; and equally low must sink my +pretensions to common sense if I am suspected of matrimonial views in my +behaviour to her. Our difference of age must be an insuperable objection, and I +entreat you, my dear father, to quiet your mind, and no longer harbour a +suspicion which cannot be more injurious to your own peace than to our +understandings. I can have no other view in remaining with Lady Susan, than to +enjoy for a short time (as you have yourself expressed it) the conversation of +a woman of high intellectual powers. If Mrs. Vernon would allow something to my +affection for herself and her husband in the length of my visit, she would do +more justice to us all; but my sister is unhappily prejudiced beyond the hope +of conviction against Lady Susan. From an attachment to her husband, which in +itself does honour to both, she cannot forgive the endeavours at preventing +their union, which have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan; but in +this case, as well as in many others, the world has most grossly injured that +lady, by supposing the worst where the motives of her conduct have been +doubtful. Lady Susan had heard something so materially to the disadvantage of +my sister as to persuade her that the happiness of Mr. Vernon, to whom she was +always much attached, would be wholly destroyed by the marriage. And this +circumstance, while it explains the true motives of Lady Susan’s conduct, +and removes all the blame which has been so lavished on her, may also convince +us how little the general report of anyone ought to be credited; since no +character, however upright, can escape the malevolence of slander. If my +sister, in the security of retirement, with as little opportunity as +inclination to do evil, could not avoid censure, we must not rashly condemn +those who, living in the world and surrounded with temptations, should be +accused of errors which they are known to have the power of committing. +</p> + +<p> +I blame myself severely for having so easily believed the slanderous tales +invented by Charles Smith to the prejudice of Lady Susan, as I am now convinced +how greatly they have traduced her. As to Mrs. Mainwaring’s jealousy it +was totally his own invention, and his account of her attaching Miss +Mainwaring’s lover was scarcely better founded. Sir James Martin had been +drawn in by that young lady to pay her some attention; and as he is a man of +fortune, it was easy to see <i>her</i> views extended to marriage. It is well +known that Miss M. is absolutely on the catch for a husband, and no one +therefore can pity her for losing, by the superior attractions of another +woman, the chance of being able to make a worthy man completely wretched. Lady +Susan was far from intending such a conquest, and on finding how warmly Miss +Mainwaring resented her lover’s defection, determined, in spite of Mr. +and Mrs. Mainwaring’s most urgent entreaties, to leave the family. I have +reason to imagine she did receive serious proposals from Sir James, but her +removing from Langford immediately on the discovery of his attachment, must +acquit her on that article with any mind of common candour. You will, I am +sure, my dear Sir, feel the truth of this, and will hereby learn to do justice +to the character of a very injured woman. I know that Lady Susan in coming to +Churchhill was governed only by the most honourable and amiable intentions; her +prudence and economy are exemplary, her regard for Mr. Vernon equal even to +<i>his</i> deserts; and her wish of obtaining my sister’s good opinion +merits a better return than it has received. As a mother she is +unexceptionable; her solid affection for her child is shown by placing her in +hands where her education will be properly attended to; but because she has not +the blind and weak partiality of most mothers, she is accused of wanting +maternal tenderness. Every person of sense, however, will know how to value and +commend her well-directed affection, and will join me in wishing that Frederica +Vernon may prove more worthy than she has yet done of her mother’s tender +care. I have now, my dear father, written my real sentiments of Lady Susan; you +will know from this letter how highly I admire her abilities, and esteem her +character; but if you are not equally convinced by my full and solemn assurance +that your fears have been most idly created, you will deeply mortify and +distress me. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +I am, &c., &c.,<br/> +R. D<small>E</small> C<small>OURCY</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0015"></a> +XV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill +</p> + +<p> +My dear Mother,—I return you Reginald’s letter, and rejoice with +all my heart that my father is made easy by it: tell him so, with my +congratulations; but, between ourselves, I must own it has only convinced +<i>me</i> of my brother’s having no <i>present</i> intention of marrying +Lady Susan, not that he is in no danger of doing so three months hence. He +gives a very plausible account of her behaviour at Langford; I wish it may be +true, but his intelligence must come from herself, and I am less disposed to +believe it than to lament the degree of intimacy subsisting between them, +implied by the discussion of such a subject. I am sorry to have incurred his +displeasure, but can expect nothing better while he is so very eager in Lady +Susan’s justification. He is very severe against me indeed, and yet I +hope I have not been hasty in my judgment of her. Poor woman! though I have +reasons enough for my dislike, I cannot help pitying her at present, as she is +in real distress, and with too much cause. She had this morning a letter from +the lady with whom she has placed her daughter, to request that Miss Vernon +might be immediately removed, as she had been detected in an attempt to run +away. Why, or whither she intended to go, does not appear; but, as her +situation seems to have been unexceptionable, it is a sad thing, and of course +highly distressing to Lady Susan. Frederica must be as much as sixteen, and +ought to know better; but from what her mother insinuates, I am afraid she is a +perverse girl. She has been sadly neglected, however, and her mother ought to +remember it. Mr. Vernon set off for London as soon as she had determined what +should be done. He is, if possible, to prevail on Miss Summers to let Frederica +continue with her; and if he cannot succeed, to bring her to Churchhill for the +present, till some other situation can be found for her. Her ladyship is +comforting herself meanwhile by strolling along the shrubbery with Reginald, +calling forth all his tender feelings, I suppose, on this distressing occasion. +She has been talking a great deal about it to me. She talks vastly well; I am +afraid of being ungenerous, or I should say, <i>too</i> well to feel so very +deeply; but I will not look for her faults; she may be Reginald’s wife! +Heaven forbid it! but why should I be quicker-sighted than anyone else? Mr. +Vernon declares that he never saw deeper distress than hers, on the receipt of +the letter; and is his judgment inferior to mine? She was very unwilling that +Frederica should be allowed to come to Churchhill, and justly enough, as it +seems a sort of reward to behaviour deserving very differently; but it was +impossible to take her anywhere else, and she is not to remain here long. +“It will be absolutely necessary,” said she, “as you, my dear +sister, must be sensible, to treat my daughter with some severity while she is +here; a most painful necessity, but I will <i>endeavour</i> to submit to it. I +am afraid I have often been too indulgent, but my poor Frederica’s temper +could never bear opposition well: you must support and encourage me; you must +urge the necessity of reproof if you see me too lenient.” All this sounds +very reasonable. Reginald is so incensed against the poor silly girl! Surely it +is not to Lady Susan’s credit that he should be so bitter against her +daughter; his idea of her must be drawn from the mother’s description. +Well, whatever may be his fate, we have the comfort of knowing that we have +done our utmost to save him. We must commit the event to a higher power. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever, &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0016"></a> +XVI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +Never, my dearest Alicia, was I so provoked in my life as by a letter this +morning from Miss Summers. That horrid girl of mine has been trying to run +away. I had not a notion of her being such a little devil before, she seemed to +have all the Vernon milkiness; but on receiving the letter in which I declared +my intention about Sir James, she actually attempted to elope; at least, I +cannot otherwise account for her doing it. She meant, I suppose, to go to the +Clarkes in Staffordshire, for she has no other acquaintances. But she shall be +punished, she shall have him. I have sent Charles to town to make matters up if +he can, for I do not by any means want her here. If Miss Summers will not keep +her, you must find me out another school, unless we can get her married +immediately. Miss S. writes word that she could not get the young lady to +assign any cause for her extraordinary conduct, which confirms me in my own +previous explanation of it. Frederica is too shy, I think, and too much in awe +of me to tell tales, but if the mildness of her uncle should get anything out +of her, I am not afraid. I trust I shall be able to make my story as good as +hers. If I am vain of anything, it is of my eloquence. Consideration and esteem +as surely follow command of language as admiration waits on beauty, and here I +have opportunity enough for the exercise of my talent, as the chief of my time +is spent in conversation. +</p> + +<p> +Reginald is never easy unless we are by ourselves, and when the weather is +tolerable, we pace the shrubbery for hours together. I like him on the whole +very well; he is clever and has a good deal to say, but he is sometimes +impertinent and troublesome. There is a sort of ridiculous delicacy about him +which requires the fullest explanation of whatever he may have heard to my +disadvantage, and is never satisfied till he thinks he has ascertained the +beginning and end of everything. This is one sort of love, but I confess it +does not particularly recommend itself to me. I infinitely prefer the tender +and liberal spirit of Mainwaring, which, impressed with the deepest conviction +of my merit, is satisfied that whatever I do must be right; and look with a +degree of contempt on the inquisitive and doubtful fancies of that heart which +seems always debating on the reasonableness of its emotions. Mainwaring is +indeed, beyond all compare, superior to Reginald—superior in everything +but the power of being with me! Poor fellow! he is much distracted by jealousy, +which I am not sorry for, as I know no better support of love. He has been +teazing me to allow of his coming into this country, and lodging somewhere near +<i>incog</i>.; but I forbade everything of the kind. Those women are +inexcusable who forget what is due to themselves, and the opinion of the world. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0017"></a> +XVII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Mother,—Mr. Vernon returned on Thursday night, bringing his niece +with him. Lady Susan had received a line from him by that day’s post, +informing her that Miss Summers had absolutely refused to allow of Miss +Vernon’s continuance in her academy; we were therefore prepared for her +arrival, and expected them impatiently the whole evening. They came while we +were at tea, and I never saw any creature look so frightened as Frederica when +she entered the room. Lady Susan, who had been shedding tears before, and +showing great agitation at the idea of the meeting, received her with perfect +self-command, and without betraying the least tenderness of spirit. She hardly +spoke to her, and on Frederica’s bursting into tears as soon as we were +seated, took her out of the room, and did not return for some time. When she +did, her eyes looked very red and she was as much agitated as before. We saw no +more of her daughter. Poor Reginald was beyond measure concerned to see his +fair friend in such distress, and watched her with so much tender solicitude, +that I, who occasionally caught her observing his countenance with exultation, +was quite out of patience. This pathetic representation lasted the whole +evening, and so ostentatious and artful a display has entirely convinced me +that she did in fact feel nothing. I am more angry with her than ever since I +have seen her daughter; the poor girl looks so unhappy that my heart aches for +her. Lady Susan is surely too severe, for Frederica does not seem to have the +sort of temper to make severity necessary. She looks perfectly timid, dejected, +and penitent. She is very pretty, though not so handsome as her mother, nor at +all like her. Her complexion is delicate, but neither so fair nor so blooming +as Lady Susan’s, and she has quite the Vernon cast of countenance, the +oval face and mild dark eyes, and there is peculiar sweetness in her look when +she speaks either to her uncle or me, for as we behave kindly to her we have of +course engaged her gratitude. +</p> + +<p> +Her mother has insinuated that her temper is intractable, but I never saw a +face less indicative of any evil disposition than hers; and from what I can see +of the behaviour of each to the other, the invariable severity of Lady Susan +and the silent dejection of Frederica, I am led to believe as heretofore that +the former has no real love for her daughter, and has never done her justice or +treated her affectionately. I have not been able to have any conversation with +my niece; she is shy, and I think I can see that some pains are taken to +prevent her being much with me. Nothing satisfactory transpires as to her +reason for running away. Her kind-hearted uncle, you may be sure, was too +fearful of distressing her to ask many questions as they travelled. I wish it +had been possible for me to fetch her instead of him. I think I should have +discovered the truth in the course of a thirty-mile journey. The small +pianoforte has been removed within these few days, at Lady Susan’s +request, into her dressing-room, and Frederica spends great part of the day +there, practising as it is called; but I seldom hear any noise when I pass that +way; what she does with herself there I do not know. There are plenty of books, +but it is not every girl who has been running wild the first fifteen years of +her life, that can or will read. Poor creature! the prospect from her window is +not very instructive, for that room overlooks the lawn, you know, with the +shrubbery on one side, where she may see her mother walking for an hour +together in earnest conversation with Reginald. A girl of Frederica’s age +must be childish indeed, if such things do not strike her. Is it not +inexcusable to give such an example to a daughter? Yet Reginald still thinks +Lady Susan the best of mothers, and still condemns Frederica as a worthless +girl! He is convinced that her attempt to run away proceeded from no +justifiable cause, and had no provocation. I am sure I cannot say that it +<i>had</i>, but while Miss Summers declares that Miss Vernon showed no signs of +obstinacy or perverseness during her whole stay in Wigmore Street, till she was +detected in this scheme, I cannot so readily credit what Lady Susan has made +him, and wants to make me believe, that it was merely an impatience of +restraint and a desire of escaping from the tuition of masters which brought on +the plan of an elopement. O Reginald, how is your judgment enslaved! He +scarcely dares even allow her to be handsome, and when I speak of her beauty, +replies only that her eyes have no brilliancy! Sometimes he is sure she is +deficient in understanding, and at others that her temper only is in fault. In +short, when a person is always to deceive, it is impossible to be consistent. +Lady Susan finds it necessary that Frederica should be to blame, and probably +has sometimes judged it expedient to accuse her of ill-nature and sometimes to +lament her want of sense. Reginald is only repeating after her ladyship. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +I remain, &c., &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0018"></a> +XVIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>From the same to the same.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Mother,—I am very glad to find that my description of Frederica +Vernon has interested you, for I do believe her truly deserving of your regard; +and when I have communicated a notion which has recently struck me, your kind +impressions in her favour will, I am sure, be heightened. I cannot help +fancying that she is growing partial to my brother. I so very often see her +eyes fixed on his face with a remarkable expression of pensive admiration. He +is certainly very handsome; and yet more, there is an openness in his manner +that must be highly prepossessing, and I am sure she feels it so. Thoughtful +and pensive in general, her countenance always brightens into a smile when +Reginald says anything amusing; and, let the subject be ever so serious that he +may be conversing on, I am much mistaken if a syllable of his uttering escapes +her. I want to make him sensible of all this, for we know the power of +gratitude on such a heart as his; and could Frederica’s artless affection +detach him from her mother, we might bless the day which brought her to +Churchhill. I think, my dear mother, you would not disapprove of her as a +daughter. She is extremely young, to be sure, has had a wretched education, and +a dreadful example of levity in her mother; but yet I can pronounce her +disposition to be excellent, and her natural abilities very good. Though +totally without accomplishments, she is by no means so ignorant as one might +expect to find her, being fond of books and spending the chief of her time in +reading. Her mother leaves her more to herself than she did, and I have her +with me as much as possible, and have taken great pains to overcome her +timidity. We are very good friends, and though she never opens her lips before +her mother, she talks enough when alone with me to make it clear that, if +properly treated by Lady Susan, she would always appear to much greater +advantage. There cannot be a more gentle, affectionate heart; or more obliging +manners, when acting without restraint; and her little cousins are all very +fond of her. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your affectionate daughter,<br/> +C. V<small>ERNON</small> +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0019"></a> +XIX</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +You will be eager, I know, to hear something further of Frederica, and perhaps +may think me negligent for not writing before. She arrived with her uncle last +Thursday fortnight, when, of course, I lost no time in demanding the cause of +her behaviour; and soon found myself to have been perfectly right in +attributing it to my own letter. The prospect of it frightened her so +thoroughly, that, with a mixture of true girlish perverseness and folly, she +resolved on getting out of the house and proceeding directly by the stage to +her friends, the Clarkes; and had really got as far as the length of two +streets in her journey when she was fortunately missed, pursued, and overtaken. +Such was the first distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica Vernon; and, if we +consider that it was achieved at the tender age of sixteen, we shall have room +for the most flattering prognostics of her future renown. I am excessively +provoked, however, at the parade of propriety which prevented Miss Summers from +keeping the girl; and it seems so extraordinary a piece of nicety, considering +my daughter’s family connections, that I can only suppose the lady to be +governed by the fear of never getting her money. Be that as it may, however, +Frederica is returned on my hands; and, having nothing else to employ her, is +busy in pursuing the plan of romance begun at Langford. She is actually falling +in love with Reginald De Courcy! To disobey her mother by refusing an +unexceptionable offer is not enough; her affections must also be given without +her mother’s approbation. I never saw a girl of her age bid fairer to be +the sport of mankind. Her feelings are tolerably acute, and she is so +charmingly artless in their display as to afford the most reasonable hope of +her being ridiculous, and despised by every man who sees her. +</p> + +<p> +Artlessness will never do in love matters; and that girl is born a simpleton +who has it either by nature or affectation. I am not yet certain that Reginald +sees what she is about, nor is it of much consequence. She is now an object of +indifference to him, and she would be one of contempt were he to understand her +emotions. Her beauty is much admired by the Vernons, but it has no effect on +him. She is in high favour with her aunt altogether, because she is so little +like myself, of course. She is exactly the companion for Mrs. Vernon, who +dearly loves to be firm, and to have all the sense and all the wit of the +conversation to herself: Frederica will never eclipse her. When she first came +I was at some pains to prevent her seeing much of her aunt; but I have relaxed, +as I believe I may depend on her observing the rules I have laid down for their +discourse. But do not imagine that with all this lenity I have for a moment +given up my plan of her marriage. No; I am unalterably fixed on this point, +though I have not yet quite decided on the manner of bringing it about. I +should not chuse to have the business brought on here, and canvassed by the +wise heads of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon; and I cannot just now afford to go to town. +Miss Frederica must therefore wait a little. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0020"></a> +XX</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill +</p> + +<p> +We have a very unexpected guest with us at present, my dear Mother: he arrived +yesterday. I heard a carriage at the door, as I was sitting with my children +while they dined; and supposing I should be wanted, left the nursery soon +afterwards, and was half-way downstairs, when Frederica, as pale as ashes, came +running up, and rushed by me into her own room. I instantly followed, and asked +her what was the matter. “Oh!” said she, “he is +come—Sir James is come, and what shall I do?” This was no +explanation; I begged her to tell me what she meant. At that moment we were +interrupted by a knock at the door: it was Reginald, who came, by Lady +Susan’s direction, to call Frederica down. “It is Mr. De +Courcy!” said she, colouring violently. “Mamma has sent for me; I +must go.” We all three went down together; and I saw my brother examining +the terrified face of Frederica with surprize. In the breakfast-room we found +Lady Susan, and a young man of gentlemanlike appearance, whom she introduced by +the name of Sir James Martin—the very person, as you may remember, whom +it was said she had been at pains to detach from Miss Mainwaring; but the +conquest, it seems, was not designed for herself, or she has since transferred +it to her daughter; for Sir James is now desperately in love with Frederica, +and with full encouragement from mamma. The poor girl, however, I am sure, +dislikes him; and though his person and address are very well, he appears, both +to Mr. Vernon and me, a very weak young man. Frederica looked so shy, so +confused, when we entered the room, that I felt for her exceedingly. Lady Susan +behaved with great attention to her visitor; and yet I thought I could perceive +that she had no particular pleasure in seeing him. Sir James talked a great +deal, and made many civil excuses to me for the liberty he had taken in coming +to Churchhill—mixing more frequent laughter with his discourse than the +subject required—said many things over and over again, and told Lady +Susan three times that he had seen Mrs. Johnson a few evenings before. He now +and then addressed Frederica, but more frequently her mother. The poor girl sat +all this time without opening her lips—her eyes cast down, and her colour +varying every instant; while Reginald observed all that passed in perfect +silence. At length Lady Susan, weary, I believe, of her situation, proposed +walking; and we left the two gentlemen together, to put on our pelisses. As we +went upstairs Lady Susan begged permission to attend me for a few moments in my +dressing-room, as she was anxious to speak with me in private. I led her +thither accordingly, and as soon as the door was closed, she said: “I was +never more surprized in my life than by Sir James’s arrival, and the +suddenness of it requires some apology to you, my dear sister; though to +<i>me</i>, as a mother, it is highly flattering. He is so extremely attached to +my daughter that he could not exist longer without seeing her. Sir James is a +young man of an amiable disposition and excellent character; a little too much +of the rattle, perhaps, but a year or two will rectify <i>that:</i> and he is +in other respects so very eligible a match for Frederica, that I have always +observed his attachment with the greatest pleasure; and am persuaded that you +and my brother will give the alliance your hearty approbation. I have never +before mentioned the likelihood of its taking place to anyone, because I +thought that whilst Frederica continued at school it had better not be known to +exist; but now, as I am convinced that Frederica is too old ever to submit to +school confinement, and have, therefore, begun to consider her union with Sir +James as not very distant, I had intended within a few days to acquaint +yourself and Mr. Vernon with the whole business. I am sure, my dear sister, you +will excuse my remaining silent so long, and agree with me that such +circumstances, while they continue from any cause in suspense, cannot be too +cautiously concealed. When you have the happiness of bestowing your sweet +little Catherine, some years hence, on a man who in connection and character is +alike unexceptionable, you will know what I feel now; though, thank Heaven, you +cannot have all my reasons for rejoicing in such an event. Catherine will be +amply provided for, and not, like my Frederica, indebted to a fortunate +establishment for the comforts of life.” She concluded by demanding my +congratulations. I gave them somewhat awkwardly, I believe; for, in fact, the +sudden disclosure of so important a matter took from me the power of speaking +with any clearness. She thanked me, however, most affectionately, for my kind +concern in the welfare of herself and daughter; and then said: “I am not +apt to deal in professions, my dear Mrs. Vernon, and I never had the convenient +talent of affecting sensations foreign to my heart; and therefore I trust you +will believe me when I declare, that much as I had heard in your praise before +I knew you, I had no idea that I should ever love you as I now do; and I must +further say that your friendship towards me is more particularly gratifying +because I have reason to believe that some attempts were made to prejudice you +against me. I only wish that they, whoever they are, to whom I am indebted for +such kind intentions, could see the terms on which we now are together, and +understand the real affection we feel for each other; but I will not detain you +any longer. God bless you, for your goodness to me and my girl, and continue to +you all your present happiness.” What can one say of such a woman, my +dear mother? Such earnestness, such solemnity of expression! and yet I cannot +help suspecting the truth of everything she says. As for Reginald, I believe he +does not know what to make of the matter. When Sir James came, he appeared all +astonishment and perplexity; the folly of the young man and the confusion of +Frederica entirely engrossed him; and though a little private discourse with +Lady Susan has since had its effect, he is still hurt, I am sure, at her +allowing of such a man’s attentions to her daughter. Sir James invited +himself with great composure to remain here a few days—hoped we would not +think it odd, was aware of its being very impertinent, but he took the liberty +of a relation; and concluded by wishing, with a laugh, that he might be really +one very soon. Even Lady Susan seemed a little disconcerted by this +forwardness; in her heart I am persuaded she sincerely wished him gone. But +something must be done for this poor girl, if her feelings are such as both I +and her uncle believe them to be. She must not be sacrificed to policy or +ambition, and she must not be left to suffer from the dread of it. The girl +whose heart can distinguish Reginald De Courcy, deserves, however he may slight +her, a better fate than to be Sir James Martin’s wife. As soon as I can +get her alone, I will discover the real truth; but she seems to wish to avoid +me. I hope this does not proceed from anything wrong, and that I shall not find +out I have thought too well of her. Her behaviour to Sir James certainly speaks +the greatest consciousness and embarrassment, but I see nothing in it more like +encouragement. Adieu, my dear mother. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours, &c.,<br/> +C. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0021"></a> +XXI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Miss Vernon to Mr. De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p> +Sir,—I hope you will excuse this liberty; I am forced upon it by the +greatest distress, or I should be ashamed to trouble you. I am very miserable +about Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the world of helping myself +but by writing to you, for I am forbidden even speaking to my uncle and aunt on +the subject; and this being the case, I am afraid my applying to you will +appear no better than equivocation, and as if I attended to the letter and not +the spirit of mamma’s commands. But if you do not take my part and +persuade her to break it off, I shall be half distracted, for I cannot bear +him. No human being but <i>you</i> could have any chance of prevailing with +her. If you will, therefore, have the unspeakably great kindness of taking my +part with her, and persuading her to send Sir James away, I shall be more +obliged to you than it is possible for me to express. I always disliked him +from the first: it is not a sudden fancy, I assure you, sir; I always thought +him silly and impertinent and disagreeable, and now he is grown worse than +ever. I would rather work for my bread than marry him. I do not know how to +apologize enough for this letter; I know it is taking so great a liberty. I am +aware how dreadfully angry it will make mamma, but I remember the risk. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +I am, Sir, your most humble servant,<br/> +F. S. V. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0022"></a> +XXII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +This is insufferable! My dearest friend, I was never so enraged before, and +must relieve myself by writing to you, who I know will enter into all my +feelings. Who should come on Tuesday but Sir James Martin! Guess my +astonishment, and vexation—for, as you well know, I never wished him to +be seen at Churchhill. What a pity that you should not have known his +intentions! Not content with coming, he actually invited himself to remain here +a few days. I could have poisoned him! I made the best of it, however, and told +my story with great success to Mrs. Vernon, who, whatever might be her real +sentiments, said nothing in opposition to mine. I made a point also of +Frederica’s behaving civilly to Sir James, and gave her to understand +that I was absolutely determined on her marrying him. She said something of her +misery, but that was all. I have for some time been more particularly resolved +on the match from seeing the rapid increase of her affection for Reginald, and +from not feeling secure that a knowledge of such affection might not in the end +awaken a return. Contemptible as a regard founded only on compassion must make +them both in my eyes, I felt by no means assured that such might not be the +consequence. It is true that Reginald had not in any degree grown cool towards +me; but yet he has lately mentioned Frederica spontaneously and unnecessarily, +and once said something in praise of her person. <i>He</i> was all astonishment +at the appearance of my visitor, and at first observed Sir James with an +attention which I was pleased to see not unmixed with jealousy; but unluckily +it was impossible for me really to torment him, as Sir James, though extremely +gallant to me, very soon made the whole party understand that his heart was +devoted to my daughter. I had no great difficulty in convincing De Courcy, when +we were alone, that I was perfectly justified, all things considered, in +desiring the match; and the whole business seemed most comfortably arranged. +They could none of them help perceiving that Sir James was no Solomon; but I +had positively forbidden Frederica complaining to Charles Vernon or his wife, +and they had therefore no pretence for interference; though my impertinent +sister, I believe, wanted only opportunity for doing so. Everything, however, +was going on calmly and quietly; and, though I counted the hours of Sir +James’s stay, my mind was entirely satisfied with the posture of affairs. +Guess, then, what I must feel at the sudden disturbance of all my schemes; and +that, too, from a quarter where I had least reason to expect it. Reginald came +this morning into my dressing-room with a very unusual solemnity of +countenance, and after some preface informed me in so many words that he wished +to reason with me on the impropriety and unkindness of allowing Sir James +Martin to address my daughter contrary to her inclinations. I was all +amazement. When I found that he was not to be laughed out of his design, I +calmly begged an explanation, and desired to know by what he was impelled, and +by whom commissioned, to reprimand me. He then told me, mixing in his speech a +few insolent compliments and ill-timed expressions of tenderness, to which I +listened with perfect indifference, that my daughter had acquainted him with +some circumstances concerning herself, Sir James, and me which had given him +great uneasiness. In short, I found that she had in the first place actually +written to him to request his interference, and that, on receiving her letter, +he had conversed with her on the subject of it, in order to understand the +particulars, and to assure himself of her real wishes. I have not a doubt but +that the girl took this opportunity of making downright love to him. I am +convinced of it by the manner in which he spoke of her. Much good may such love +do him! I shall ever despise the man who can be gratified by the passion which +he never wished to inspire, nor solicited the avowal of. I shall always detest +them both. He can have no true regard for me, or he would not have listened to +her; and <i>she</i>, with her little rebellious heart and indelicate feelings, +to throw herself into the protection of a young man with whom she has scarcely +ever exchanged two words before! I am equally confounded at <i>her</i> +impudence and <i>his</i> credulity. How dared he believe what she told him in +my disfavour! Ought he not to have felt assured that I must have unanswerable +motives for all that I had done? Where was his reliance on my sense and +goodness then? Where the resentment which true love would have dictated against +the person defaming me—that person, too, a chit, a child, without talent +or education, whom he had been always taught to despise? I was calm for some +time; but the greatest degree of forbearance may be overcome, and I hope I was +afterwards sufficiently keen. He endeavoured, long endeavoured, to soften my +resentment; but that woman is a fool indeed who, while insulted by accusation, +can be worked on by compliments. At length he left me, as deeply provoked as +myself; and he showed his anger more. I was quite cool, but he gave way to the +most violent indignation; I may therefore expect it will the sooner subside, +and perhaps his may be vanished for ever, while mine will be found still fresh +and implacable. He is now shut up in his apartment, whither I heard him go on +leaving mine. How unpleasant, one would think, must be his reflections! but +some people’s feelings are incomprehensible. I have not yet tranquillised +myself enough to see Frederica. <i>She</i> shall not soon forget the +occurrences of this day; she shall find that she has poured forth her tender +tale of love in vain, and exposed herself for ever to the contempt of the whole +world, and the severest resentment of her injured mother. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your affectionate<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0023"></a> +XXIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +Let me congratulate you, my dearest Mother! The affair which has given us so +much anxiety is drawing to a happy conclusion. Our prospect is most delightful, +and since matters have now taken so favourable a turn, I am quite sorry that I +ever imparted my apprehensions to you; for the pleasure of learning that the +danger is over is perhaps dearly purchased by all that you have previously +suffered. I am so much agitated by delight that I can scarcely hold a pen; but +am determined to send you a few short lines by James, that you may have some +explanation of what must so greatly astonish you, as that Reginald should be +returning to Parklands. I was sitting about half an hour ago with Sir James in +the breakfast parlour, when my brother called me out of the room. I instantly +saw that something was the matter; his complexion was raised, and he spoke with +great emotion; you know his eager manner, my dear mother, when his mind is +interested. “Catherine,” said he, “I am going home to-day; I +am sorry to leave you, but I must go: it is a great while since I have seen my +father and mother. I am going to send James forward with my hunters +immediately; if you have any letter, therefore, he can take it. I shall not be +at home myself till Wednesday or Thursday, as I shall go through London, where +I have business; but before I leave you,” he continued, speaking in a +lower tone, and with still greater energy, “I must warn you of one +thing—do not let Frederica Vernon be made unhappy by that Martin. He +wants to marry her; her mother promotes the match, but she cannot endure the +idea of it. Be assured that I speak from the fullest conviction of the truth of +what I say; I know that Frederica is made wretched by Sir James’s +continuing here. She is a sweet girl, and deserves a better fate. Send him away +immediately; he is only a fool: but what her mother can mean, Heaven only +knows! Good bye,” he added, shaking my hand with earnestness; “I do +not know when you will see me again; but remember what I tell you of Frederica; +you <i>must</i> make it your business to see justice done her. She is an +amiable girl, and has a very superior mind to what we have given her credit +for.” He then left me, and ran upstairs. I would not try to stop him, for +I knew what his feelings must be. The nature of mine, as I listened to him, I +need not attempt to describe; for a minute or two I remained in the same spot, +overpowered by wonder of a most agreeable sort indeed; yet it required some +consideration to be tranquilly happy. In about ten minutes after my return to +the parlour Lady Susan entered the room. I concluded, of course, that she and +Reginald had been quarrelling; and looked with anxious curiosity for a +confirmation of my belief in her face. Mistress of deceit, however, she +appeared perfectly unconcerned, and after chatting on indifferent subjects for +a short time, said to me, “I find from Wilson that we are going to lose +Mr. De Courcy—is it true that he leaves Churchhill this morning?” I +replied that it was. “He told us nothing of all this last night,” +said she, laughing, “or even this morning at breakfast; but perhaps he +did not know it himself. Young men are often hasty in their resolutions, and +not more sudden in forming than unsteady in keeping them. I should not be +surprised if he were to change his mind at last, and not go.” She soon +afterwards left the room. I trust, however, my dear mother, that we have no +reason to fear an alteration of his present plan; things have gone too far. +They must have quarrelled, and about Frederica, too. Her calmness astonishes +me. What delight will be yours in seeing him again; in seeing him still worthy +your esteem, still capable of forming your happiness! When I next write I shall +be able to tell you that Sir James is gone, Lady Susan vanquished, and +Frederica at peace. We have much to do, but it shall be done. I am all +impatience to hear how this astonishing change was effected. I finish as I +began, with the warmest congratulations. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever, &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATH</small>. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0024"></a> +XXIV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>From the same to the same.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +Little did I imagine, my dear Mother, when I sent off my last letter, that the +delightful perturbation of spirits I was then in would undergo so speedy, so +melancholy a reverse. I never can sufficiently regret that I wrote to you at +all. Yet who could have foreseen what has happened? My dear mother, every hope +which made me so happy only two hours ago has vanished. The quarrel between +Lady Susan and Reginald is made up, and we are all as we were before. One point +only is gained. Sir James Martin is dismissed. What are we now to look forward +to? I am indeed disappointed; Reginald was all but gone, his horse was ordered +and all but brought to the door; who would not have felt safe? For half an hour +I was in momentary expectation of his departure. After I had sent off my letter +to you, I went to Mr. Vernon, and sat with him in his room talking over the +whole matter, and then determined to look for Frederica, whom I had not seen +since breakfast. I met her on the stairs, and saw that she was crying. +“My dear aunt,” said she, “he is going—Mr. De Courcy is +going, and it is all my fault. I am afraid you will be very angry with me, but +indeed I had no idea it would end so.” “My love,” I replied, +“do not think it necessary to apologize to me on that account. I shall +feel myself under an obligation to anyone who is the means of sending my +brother home, because,” recollecting myself, “I know my father +wants very much to see him. But what is it you have done to occasion all +this?” She blushed deeply as she answered: “I was so unhappy about +Sir James that I could not help—I have done something very wrong, I know; +but you have not an idea of the misery I have been in: and mamma had ordered me +never to speak to you or my uncle about it, and—” “You +therefore spoke to my brother to engage his interference,” said I, to +save her the explanation. “No, but I wrote to him—I did indeed, I +got up this morning before it was light, and was two hours about it; and when +my letter was done I thought I never should have courage to give it. After +breakfast however, as I was going to my room, I met him in the passage, and +then, as I knew that everything must depend on that moment, I forced myself to +give it. He was so good as to take it immediately. I dared not look at him, and +ran away directly. I was in such a fright I could hardly breathe. My dear aunt, +you do not know how miserable I have been.” “Frederica” said +I, “you ought to have told me all your distresses. You would have found +in me a friend always ready to assist you. Do you think that your uncle or I +should not have espoused your cause as warmly as my brother?” +“Indeed, I did not doubt your kindness,” said she, colouring again, +“but I thought Mr. De Courcy could do anything with my mother; but I was +mistaken: they have had a dreadful quarrel about it, and he is going away. +Mamma will never forgive me, and I shall be worse off than ever.” +“No, you shall not,” I replied; “in such a point as this your +mother’s prohibition ought not to have prevented your speaking to me on +the subject. She has no right to make you unhappy, and she shall <i>not</i> do +it. Your applying, however, to Reginald can be productive only of good to all +parties. I believe it is best as it is. Depend upon it that you shall not be +made unhappy any longer.” At that moment how great was my astonishment at +seeing Reginald come out of Lady Susan’s dressing-room. My heart misgave +me instantly. His confusion at seeing me was very evident. Frederica +immediately disappeared. “Are you going?” I said; “you will +find Mr. Vernon in his own room.” “No, Catherine,” he +replied, “I am not going. Will you let me speak to you a moment?” +We went into my room. “I find,” he continued, his confusion +increasing as he spoke, “that I have been acting with my usual foolish +impetuosity. I have entirely misunderstood Lady Susan, and was on the point of +leaving the house under a false impression of her conduct. There has been some +very great mistake; we have been all mistaken, I fancy. Frederica does not know +her mother. Lady Susan means nothing but her good, but she will not make a +friend of her. Lady Susan does not always know, therefore, what will make her +daughter happy. Besides, I could have no right to interfere. Miss Vernon was +mistaken in applying to me. In short, Catherine, everything has gone wrong, but +it is now all happily settled. Lady Susan, I believe, wishes to speak to you +about it, if you are at leisure.” “Certainly,” I replied, +deeply sighing at the recital of so lame a story. I made no comments, however, +for words would have been vain. +</p> + +<p> +Reginald was glad to get away, and I went to Lady Susan, curious, indeed, to +hear her account of it. “Did I not tell you,” said she with a +smile, “that your brother would not leave us after all?” “You +did, indeed,” replied I very gravely; “but I flattered myself you +would be mistaken.” “I should not have hazarded such an +opinion,” returned she, “if it had not at that moment occurred to +me that his resolution of going might be occasioned by a conversation in which +we had been this morning engaged, and which had ended very much to his +dissatisfaction, from our not rightly understanding each other’s meaning. +This idea struck me at the moment, and I instantly determined that an +accidental dispute, in which I might probably be as much to blame as himself, +should not deprive you of your brother. If you remember, I left the room almost +immediately. I was resolved to lose no time in clearing up those mistakes as +far as I could. The case was this—Frederica had set herself violently +against marrying Sir James.” “And can your ladyship wonder that she +should?” cried I with some warmth; “Frederica has an excellent +understanding, and Sir James has none.” “I am at least very far +from regretting it, my dear sister,” said she; “on the contrary, I +am grateful for so favourable a sign of my daughter’s sense. Sir James is +certainly below par (his boyish manners make him appear worse); and had +Frederica possessed the penetration and the abilities which I could have wished +in my daughter, or had I even known her to possess as much as she does, I +should not have been anxious for the match.” “It is odd that you +should alone be ignorant of your daughter’s sense!” +“Frederica never does justice to herself; her manners are shy and +childish, and besides she is afraid of me. During her poor father’s life +she was a spoilt child; the severity which it has since been necessary for me +to show has alienated her affection; neither has she any of that brilliancy of +intellect, that genius or vigour of mind which will force itself +forward.” “Say rather that she has been unfortunate in her +education!” “Heaven knows, my dearest Mrs. Vernon, how fully I am +aware of that; but I would wish to forget every circumstance that might throw +blame on the memory of one whose name is sacred with me.” Here she +pretended to cry; I was out of patience with her. “But what,” said +I, “was your ladyship going to tell me about your disagreement with my +brother?” “It originated in an action of my daughter’s, which +equally marks her want of judgment and the unfortunate dread of me I have been +mentioning—she wrote to Mr. De Courcy.” “I know she did; you +had forbidden her speaking to Mr. Vernon or to me on the cause of her distress; +what could she do, therefore, but apply to my brother?” “Good +God!” she exclaimed, “what an opinion you must have of me! Can you +possibly suppose that I was aware of her unhappiness! that it was my object to +make my own child miserable, and that I had forbidden her speaking to you on +the subject from a fear of your interrupting the diabolical scheme? Do you +think me destitute of every honest, every natural feeling? Am I capable of +consigning <i>her</i> to everlasting misery whose welfare it is my first +earthly duty to promote? The idea is horrible!” “What, then, was +your intention when you insisted on her silence?” “Of what use, my +dear sister, could be any application to you, however the affair might stand? +Why should I subject you to entreaties which I refused to attend to myself? +Neither for your sake nor for hers, nor for my own, could such a thing be +desirable. When my own resolution was taken I could not wish for the +interference, however friendly, of another person. I was mistaken, it is true, +but I believed myself right.” “But what was this mistake to which +your ladyship so often alludes? from whence arose so astonishing a +misconception of your daughter’s feelings? Did you not know that she +disliked Sir James?” “I knew that he was not absolutely the man she +would have chosen, but I was persuaded that her objections to him did not arise +from any perception of his deficiency. You must not question me, however, my +dear sister, too minutely on this point,” continued she, taking me +affectionately by the hand; “I honestly own that there is something to +conceal. Frederica makes me very unhappy! Her applying to Mr. De Courcy hurt me +particularly.” “What is it you mean to infer,” said I, +“by this appearance of mystery? If you think your daughter at all +attached to Reginald, her objecting to Sir James could not less deserve to be +attended to than if the cause of her objecting had been a consciousness of his +folly; and why should your ladyship, at any rate, quarrel with my brother for +an interference which, you must know, it is not in his nature to refuse when +urged in such a manner?” +</p> + +<p> +“His disposition, you know, is warm, and he came to expostulate with me; +his compassion all alive for this ill-used girl, this heroine in distress! We +misunderstood each other: he believed me more to blame than I really was; I +considered his interference less excusable than I now find it. I have a real +regard for him, and was beyond expression mortified to find it, as I thought, +so ill bestowed. We were both warm, and of course both to blame. His resolution +of leaving Churchhill is consistent with his general eagerness. When I +understood his intention, however, and at the same time began to think that we +had been perhaps equally mistaken in each other’s meaning, I resolved to +have an explanation before it was too late. For any member of your family I +must always feel a degree of affection, and I own it would have sensibly hurt +me if my acquaintance with Mr. De Courcy had ended so gloomily. I have now only +to say further, that as I am convinced of Frederica’s having a reasonable +dislike to Sir James, I shall instantly inform him that he must give up all +hope of her. I reproach myself for having, even though innocently, made her +unhappy on that score. She shall have all the retribution in my power to make; +if she value her own happiness as much as I do, if she judge wisely, and +command herself as she ought, she may now be easy. Excuse me, my dearest +sister, for thus trespassing on your time, but I owe it to my own character; +and after this explanation I trust I am in no danger of sinking in your +opinion.” I could have said, “Not much, indeed!” but I left +her almost in silence. It was the greatest stretch of forbearance I could +practise. I could not have stopped myself had I begun. Her assurance! her +deceit! but I will not allow myself to dwell on them; they will strike you +sufficiently. My heart sickens within me. As soon as I was tolerably composed I +returned to the parlour. Sir James’s carriage was at the door, and he, +merry as usual, soon afterwards took his leave. How easily does her ladyship +encourage or dismiss a lover! In spite of this release, Frederica still looks +unhappy: still fearful, perhaps, of her mother’s anger; and though +dreading my brother’s departure, jealous, it may be, of his staying. I +see how closely she observes him and Lady Susan, poor girl! I have now no hope +for her. There is not a chance of her affection being returned. He thinks very +differently of her from what he used to do; he does her some justice, but his +reconciliation with her mother precludes every dearer hope. Prepare, my dear +mother, for the worst! The probability of their marrying is surely heightened! +He is more securely hers than ever. When that wretched event takes place, +Frederica must belong wholly to us. I am thankful that my last letter will +precede this by so little, as every moment that you can be saved from feeling a +joy which leads only to disappointment is of consequence. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever, &c.,<br/> +C<small>ATHERINE</small> V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0025"></a> +XXV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +I call on you, dear Alicia, for congratulations: I am my own self, gay and +triumphant! When I wrote to you the other day I was, in truth, in high +irritation, and with ample cause. Nay, I know not whether I ought to be quite +tranquil now, for I have had more trouble in restoring peace than I ever +intended to submit to—a spirit, too, resulting from a fancied sense of +superior integrity, which is peculiarly insolent! I shall not easily forgive +him, I assure you. He was actually on the point of leaving Churchhill! I had +scarcely concluded my last, when Wilson brought me word of it. I found, +therefore, that something must be done; for I did not choose to leave my +character at the mercy of a man whose passions are so violent and so +revengeful. It would have been trifling with my reputation to allow of his +departing with such an impression in my disfavour; in this light, condescension +was necessary. I sent Wilson to say that I desired to speak with him before he +went; he came immediately. The angry emotions which had marked every feature +when we last parted were partially subdued. He seemed astonished at the +summons, and looked as if half wishing and half fearing to be softened by what +I might say. If my countenance expressed what I aimed at, it was composed and +dignified; and yet, with a degree of pensiveness which might convince him that +I was not quite happy. “I beg your pardon, sir, for the liberty I have +taken in sending for you,” said I; “but as I have just learnt your +intention of leaving this place to-day, I feel it my duty to entreat that you +will not on my account shorten your visit here even an hour. I am perfectly +aware that after what has passed between us it would ill suit the feelings of +either to remain longer in the same house: so very great, so total a change +from the intimacy of friendship must render any future intercourse the severest +punishment; and your resolution of quitting Churchhill is undoubtedly in unison +with our situation, and with those lively feelings which I know you to possess. +But, at the same time, it is not for me to suffer such a sacrifice as it must +be to leave relations to whom you are so much attached, and are so dear. My +remaining here cannot give that pleasure to Mr. and Mrs. Vernon which your +society must; and my visit has already perhaps been too long. My removal, +therefore, which must, at any rate, take place soon, may, with perfect +convenience, be hastened; and I make it my particular request that I may not in +any way be instrumental in separating a family so affectionately attached to +each other. Where I go is of no consequence to anyone; of very little to +myself; but you are of importance to all your connections.” Here I +concluded, and I hope you will be satisfied with my speech. Its effect on +Reginald justifies some portion of vanity, for it was no less favourable than +instantaneous. Oh, how delightful it was to watch the variations of his +countenance while I spoke! to see the struggle between returning tenderness and +the remains of displeasure. There is something agreeable in feelings so easily +worked on; not that I envy him their possession, nor would, for the world, have +such myself; but they are very convenient when one wishes to influence the +passions of another. And yet this Reginald, whom a very few words from me +softened at once into the utmost submission, and rendered more tractable, more +attached, more devoted than ever, would have left me in the first angry +swelling of his proud heart without deigning to seek an explanation. Humbled as +he now is, I cannot forgive him such an instance of pride, and am doubtful +whether I ought not to punish him by dismissing him at once after this +reconciliation, or by marrying and teazing him for ever. But these measures are +each too violent to be adopted without some deliberation; at present my +thoughts are fluctuating between various schemes. I have many things to +compass: I must punish Frederica, and pretty severely too, for her application +to Reginald; I must punish him for receiving it so favourably, and for the rest +of his conduct. I must torment my sister-in-law for the insolent triumph of her +look and manner since Sir James has been dismissed; for, in reconciling +Reginald to me, I was not able to save that ill-fated young man; and I must +make myself amends for the humiliation to which I have stooped within these few +days. To effect all this I have various plans. I have also an idea of being +soon in town; and whatever may be my determination as to the rest, I shall +probably put <i>that</i> project in execution; for London will be always the +fairest field of action, however my views may be directed; and at any rate I +shall there be rewarded by your society, and a little dissipation, for a ten +weeks’ penance at Churchhill. I believe I owe it to my character to +complete the match between my daughter and Sir James after having so long +intended it. Let me know your opinion on this point. Flexibility of mind, a +disposition easily biassed by others, is an attribute which you know I am not +very desirous of obtaining; nor has Frederica any claim to the indulgence of +her notions at the expense of her mother’s inclinations. Her idle love +for Reginald, too! It is surely my duty to discourage such romantic nonsense. +All things considered, therefore, it seems incumbent on me to take her to town +and marry her immediately to Sir James. When my own will is effected contrary +to his, I shall have some credit in being on good terms with Reginald, which at +present, in fact, I have not; for though he is still in my power, I have given +up the very article by which our quarrel was produced, and at best the honour +of victory is doubtful. Send me your opinion on all these matters, my dear +Alicia, and let me know whether you can get lodgings to suit me within a short +distance of you. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your most attached<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0026"></a> +XXVI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Edward Street. +</p> + +<p> +I am gratified by your reference, and this is my advice: that you come to town +yourself, without loss of time, but that you leave Frederica behind. It would +surely be much more to the purpose to get yourself well established by marrying +Mr. De Courcy, than to irritate him and the rest of his family by making her +marry Sir James. You should think more of yourself and less of your daughter. +She is not of a disposition to do you credit in the world, and seems precisely +in her proper place at Churchhill, with the Vernons. But you are fitted for +society, and it is shameful to have you exiled from it. Leave Frederica, +therefore, to punish herself for the plague she has given you, by indulging +that romantic tender-heartedness which will always ensure her misery enough, +and come to London as soon as you can. I have another reason for urging this: +Mainwaring came to town last week, and has contrived, in spite of Mr. Johnson, +to make opportunities of seeing me. He is absolutely miserable about you, and +jealous to such a degree of De Courcy that it would be highly unadvisable for +them to meet at present. And yet, if you do not allow him to see you here, I +cannot answer for his not committing some great imprudence—such as going +to Churchhill, for instance, which would be dreadful! Besides, if you take my +advice, and resolve to marry De Courcy, it will be indispensably necessary to +you to get Mainwaring out of the way; and you only can have influence enough to +send him back to his wife. I have still another motive for your coming: Mr. +Johnson leaves London next Tuesday; he is going for his health to Bath, where, +if the waters are favourable to his constitution and my wishes, he will be laid +up with the gout many weeks. During his absence we shall be able to chuse our +own society, and to have true enjoyment. I would ask you to Edward Street, but +that once he forced from me a kind of promise never to invite you to my house; +nothing but my being in the utmost distress for money should have extorted it +from me. I can get you, however, a nice drawing-room apartment in Upper Seymour +Street, and we may be always together there or here; for I consider my promise +to Mr. Johnson as comprehending only (at least in his absence) your not +sleeping in the house. Poor Mainwaring gives me such histories of his +wife’s jealousy. Silly woman to expect constancy from so charming a man! +but she always was silly—intolerably so in marrying him at all, she the +heiress of a large fortune and he without a shilling: one title, I know, she +might have had, besides baronets. Her folly in forming the connection was so +great that, though Mr. Johnson was her guardian, and I do not in general share +<i>his</i> feelings, I never can forgive her. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Adieu. Yours ever,<br/> +A<small>LICIA</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0027"></a> +XXVII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +This letter, my dear Mother, will be brought you by Reginald. His long visit is +about to be concluded at last, but I fear the separation takes place too late +to do us any good. She is going to London to see her particular friend, Mrs. +Johnson. It was at first her intention that Frederica should accompany her, for +the benefit of masters, but we overruled her there. Frederica was wretched in +the idea of going, and I could not bear to have her at the mercy of her mother; +not all the masters in London could compensate for the ruin of her comfort. I +should have feared, too, for her health, and for everything but her +principles—there I believe she is not to be injured by her mother, or her +mother’s friends; but with those friends she must have mixed (a very bad +set, I doubt not), or have been left in total solitude, and I can hardly tell +which would have been worse for her. If she is with her mother, moreover, she +must, alas! in all probability be with Reginald, and that would be the greatest +evil of all. Here we shall in time be in peace, and our regular employments, +our books and conversations, with exercise, the children, and every domestic +pleasure in my power to procure her, will, I trust, gradually overcome this +youthful attachment. I should not have a doubt of it were she slighted for any +other woman in the world than her own mother. How long Lady Susan will be in +town, or whether she returns here again, I know not. I could not be cordial in +my invitation, but if she chuses to come no want of cordiality on my part will +keep her away. I could not help asking Reginald if he intended being in London +this winter, as soon as I found her ladyship’s steps would be bent +thither; and though he professed himself quite undetermined, there was +something in his look and voice as he spoke which contradicted his words. I +have done with lamentation; I look upon the event as so far decided that I +resign myself to it in despair. If he leaves you soon for London everything +will be concluded. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your affectionate, &c.,<br/> +C. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0028"></a> +XXVIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Edward Street. +</p> + +<p> +My dearest Friend,—I write in the greatest distress; the most unfortunate +event has just taken place. Mr. Johnson has hit on the most effectual manner of +plaguing us all. He had heard, I imagine, by some means or other, that you were +soon to be in London, and immediately contrived to have such an attack of the +gout as must at least delay his journey to Bath, if not wholly prevent it. I am +persuaded the gout is brought on or kept off at pleasure; it was the same when +I wanted to join the Hamiltons to the Lakes; and three years ago, when <i>I</i> +had a fancy for Bath, nothing could induce him to have a gouty symptom. +</p> + +<p> +I am pleased to find that my letter had so much effect on you, and that De +Courcy is certainly your own. Let me hear from you as soon as you arrive, and +in particular tell me what you mean to do with Mainwaring. It is impossible to +say when I shall be able to come to you; my confinement must be great. It is +such an abominable trick to be ill here instead of at Bath that I can scarcely +command myself at all. At Bath his old aunts would have nursed him, but here it +all falls upon me; and he bears pain with such patience that I have not the +common excuse for losing my temper. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever,<br/> +A<small>LICIA</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0029"></a> +XXIX</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Alicia,—There needed not this last fit of the gout to make me +detest Mr. Johnson, but now the extent of my aversion is not to be estimated. +To have you confined as nurse in his apartment! My dear Alicia, of what a +mistake were you guilty in marrying a man of his age! just old enough to be +formal, ungovernable, and to have the gout; too old to be agreeable, too young +to die. I arrived last night about five, had scarcely swallowed my dinner when +Mainwaring made his appearance. I will not dissemble what real pleasure his +sight afforded me, nor how strongly I felt the contrast between his person and +manners and those of Reginald, to the infinite disadvantage of the latter. For +an hour or two I was even staggered in my resolution of marrying him, and +though this was too idle and nonsensical an idea to remain long on my mind, I +do not feel very eager for the conclusion of my marriage, nor look forward with +much impatience to the time when Reginald, according to our agreement, is to be +in town. I shall probably put off his arrival under some pretence or other. He +must not come till Mainwaring is gone. I am still doubtful at times as to +marrying; if the old man would die I might not hesitate, but a state of +dependance on the caprice of Sir Reginald will not suit the freedom of my +spirit; and if I resolve to wait for that event, I shall have excuse enough at +present in having been scarcely ten months a widow. I have not given Mainwaring +any hint of my intention, or allowed him to consider my acquaintance with +Reginald as more than the commonest flirtation, and he is tolerably appeased. +Adieu, till we meet; I am enchanted with my lodgings. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0030"></a> +XXX</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan Vernon to Mr. De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +I have received your letter, and though I do not attempt to conceal that I am +gratified by your impatience for the hour of meeting, I yet feel myself under +the necessity of delaying that hour beyond the time originally fixed. Do not +think me unkind for such an exercise of my power, nor accuse me of instability +without first hearing my reasons. In the course of my journey from Churchhill I +had ample leisure for reflection on the present state of our affairs, and every +review has served to convince me that they require a delicacy and cautiousness +of conduct to which we have hitherto been too little attentive. We have been +hurried on by our feelings to a degree of precipitation which ill accords with +the claims of our friends or the opinion of the world. We have been unguarded +in forming this hasty engagement, but we must not complete the imprudence by +ratifying it while there is so much reason to fear the connection would be +opposed by those friends on whom you depend. It is not for us to blame any +expectations on your father’s side of your marrying to advantage; where +possessions are so extensive as those of your family, the wish of increasing +them, if not strictly reasonable, is too common to excite surprize or +resentment. He has a right to require a woman of fortune in his +daughter-in-law, and I am sometimes quarrelling with myself for suffering you +to form a connection so imprudent; but the influence of reason is often +acknowledged too late by those who feel like me. I have now been but a few +months a widow, and, however little indebted to my husband’s memory for +any happiness derived from him during a union of some years, I cannot forget +that the indelicacy of so early a second marriage must subject me to the +censure of the world, and incur, what would be still more insupportable, the +displeasure of Mr. Vernon. I might perhaps harden myself in time against the +injustice of general reproach, but the loss of <i>his</i> valued esteem I am, +as you well know, ill-fitted to endure; and when to this may be added the +consciousness of having injured you with your family, how am I to support +myself? With feelings so poignant as mine, the conviction of having divided the +son from his parents would make me, even with you, the most miserable of +beings. It will surely, therefore, be advisable to delay our union—to +delay it till appearances are more promising—till affairs have taken a +more favourable turn. To assist us in such a resolution I feel that absence +will be necessary. We must not meet. Cruel as this sentence may appear, the +necessity of pronouncing it, which can alone reconcile it to myself, will be +evident to you when you have considered our situation in the light in which I +have found myself imperiously obliged to place it. You may be—you must +be—well assured that nothing but the strongest conviction of duty could +induce me to wound my own feelings by urging a lengthened separation, and of +insensibility to yours you will hardly suspect me. Again, therefore, I say that +we ought not, we must not, yet meet. By a removal for some months from each +other we shall tranquillise the sisterly fears of Mrs. Vernon, who, accustomed +herself to the enjoyment of riches, considers fortune as necessary everywhere, +and whose sensibilities are not of a nature to comprehend ours. Let me hear +from you soon—very soon. Tell me that you submit to my arguments, and do +not reproach me for using such. I cannot bear reproaches: my spirits are not so +high as to need being repressed. I must endeavour to seek amusement, and +fortunately many of my friends are in town; amongst them the Mainwarings; you +know how sincerely I regard both husband and wife. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +I am, very faithfully yours,<br/> +S. V<small>ERNON</small> +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0031"></a> +XXXI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Friend,—That tormenting creature, Reginald, is here. My letter, +which was intended to keep him longer in the country, has hastened him to town. +Much as I wish him away, however, I cannot help being pleased with such a proof +of attachment. He is devoted to me, heart and soul. He will carry this note +himself, which is to serve as an introduction to you, with whom he longs to be +acquainted. Allow him to spend the evening with you, that I may be in no danger +of his returning here. I have told him that I am not quite well, and must be +alone; and should he call again there might be confusion, for it is impossible +to be sure of servants. Keep him, therefore, I entreat you, in Edward Street. +You will not find him a heavy companion, and I allow you to flirt with him as +much as you like. At the same time, do not forget my real interest; say all +that you can to convince him that I shall be quite wretched if he remains here; +you know my reasons—propriety, and so forth. I would urge them more +myself, but that I am impatient to be rid of him, as Mainwaring comes within +half an hour. Adieu! +</p> + +<p class="right"> +S. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0032"></a> +XXXII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Edward Street. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Creature,—I am in agonies, and know not what to do. Mr. De Courcy +arrived just when he should not. Mrs. Mainwaring had that instant entered the +house, and forced herself into her guardian’s presence, though I did not +know a syllable of it till afterwards, for I was out when both she and Reginald +came, or I should have sent him away at all events; but she was shut up with +Mr. Johnson, while he waited in the drawing-room for me. She arrived yesterday +in pursuit of her husband, but perhaps you know this already from himself. She +came to this house to entreat my husband’s interference, and before I +could be aware of it, everything that you could wish to be concealed was known +to him, and unluckily she had wormed out of Mainwaring’s servant that he +had visited you every day since your being in town, and had just watched him to +your door herself! What could I do! Facts are such horrid things! All is by +this time known to De Courcy, who is now alone with Mr. Johnson. Do not accuse +me; indeed, it was impossible to prevent it. Mr. Johnson has for some time +suspected De Courcy of intending to marry you, and would speak with him alone +as soon as he knew him to be in the house. That detestable Mrs. Mainwaring, +who, for your comfort, has fretted herself thinner and uglier than ever, is +still here, and they have been all closeted together. What can be done? At any +rate, I hope he will plague his wife more than ever. With anxious wishes, +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours faithfully,<br/> +A<small>LICIA</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0033"></a> +XXXIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +This <i>éclaircissement</i> is rather provoking. How unlucky that you should +have been from home! I thought myself sure of you at seven! I am undismayed +however. Do not torment yourself with fears on my account; depend on it, I can +make my story good with Reginald. Mainwaring is just gone; he brought me the +news of his wife’s arrival. Silly woman, what does she expect by such +manoeuvres? Yet I wish she had stayed quietly at Langford. Reginald will be a +little enraged at first, but by to-morrow’s dinner, everything will be +well again. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Adieu!<br/> +S. V. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0034"></a> +XXXIV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mr. De Courcy to Lady Susan.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +—— Hotel. +</p> + +<p> +I write only to bid you farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as you are. +Since we parted yesterday, I have received from indisputable authority such a +history of you as must bring the most mortifying conviction of the imposition I +have been under, and the absolute necessity of an immediate and eternal +separation from you. You cannot doubt to what I allude. Langford! Langford! +that word will be sufficient. I received my information in Mr. Johnson’s +house, from Mrs. Mainwaring herself. You know how I have loved you; you can +intimately judge of my present feelings, but I am not so weak as to find +indulgence in describing them to a woman who will glory in having excited their +anguish, but whose affection they have never been able to gain. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +R. D<small>E</small> C<small>OURCY</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0035"></a> +XXXV</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mr. De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +I will not attempt to describe my astonishment in reading the note this moment +received from you. I am bewildered in my endeavours to form some rational +conjecture of what Mrs. Mainwaring can have told you to occasion so +extraordinary a change in your sentiments. Have I not explained everything to +you with respect to myself which could bear a doubtful meaning, and which the +ill-nature of the world had interpreted to my discredit? What can you now have +heard to stagger your esteem for me? Have I ever had a concealment from you? +Reginald, you agitate me beyond expression, I cannot suppose that the old story +of Mrs. Mainwaring’s jealousy can be revived again, or at least be +<i>listened</i> to again. Come to me immediately, and explain what is at +present absolutely incomprehensible. Believe me, the single word of +<i>Langford</i> is not of such potent intelligence as to supersede the +necessity of more. If we <i>are</i> to part, it will at least be handsome to +take your personal leave—but I have little heart to jest; in truth, I am +serious enough; for to be sunk, though but for an hour, in your esteem is a +humiliation to which I know not how to submit. I shall count every minute till +your arrival. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +S. V. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0036"></a> +XXXVI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mr. De Courcy to Lady Susan.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +—— Hotel. +</p> + +<p> +Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars? But, since it must +be so, I am obliged to declare that all the accounts of your misconduct during +the life, and since the death of Mr. Vernon, which had reached me, in common +with the world in general, and gained my entire belief before I saw you, but +which you, by the exertion of your perverted abilities, had made me resolved to +disallow, have been unanswerably proved to me; nay more, I am assured that a +connection, of which I had never before entertained a thought, has for some +time existed, and still continues to exist, between you and the man whose +family you robbed of its peace in return for the hospitality with which you +were received into it; that you have corresponded with him ever since your +leaving Langford; not with his wife, but with him, and that he now visits you +every day. Can you, dare you deny it? and all this at the time when I was an +encouraged, an accepted lover! From what have I not escaped! I have only to be +grateful. Far from me be all complaint, every sigh of regret. My own folly had +endangered me, my preservation I owe to the kindness, the integrity of another; +but the unfortunate Mrs. Mainwaring, whose agonies while she related the past +seemed to threaten her reason, how is <i>she</i> to be consoled! After such a +discovery as this, you will scarcely affect further wonder at my meaning in +bidding you adieu. My understanding is at length restored, and teaches no less +to abhor the artifices which had subdued me than to despise myself for the +weakness on which their strength was founded. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +R. D<small>E</small> C<small>OURCY</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0037"></a> +XXXVII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mr. De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +I am satisfied, and will trouble you no more when these few lines are +dismissed. The engagement which you were eager to form a fortnight ago is no +longer compatible with your views, and I rejoice to find that the prudent +advice of your parents has not been given in vain. Your restoration to peace +will, I doubt not, speedily follow this act of filial obedience, and I flatter +myself with the hope of surviving my share in this disappointment. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +S. V. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0038"></a> +XXXVIII</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan Vernon.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Edward Street +</p> + +<p> +I am grieved, though I cannot be astonished at your rupture with Mr. De Courcy; +he has just informed Mr. Johnson of it by letter. He leaves London, he says, +to-day. Be assured that I partake in all your feelings, and do not be angry if +I say that our intercourse, even by letter, must soon be given up. It makes me +miserable; but Mr. Johnson vows that if I persist in the connection, he will +settle in the country for the rest of his life, and you know it is impossible +to submit to such an extremity while any other alternative remains. You have +heard of course that the Mainwarings are to part, and I am afraid Mrs. M. will +come home to us again; but she is still so fond of her husband, and frets so +much about him, that perhaps she may not live long. Miss Mainwaring is just +come to town to be with her aunt, and they say that she declares she will have +Sir James Martin before she leaves London again. If I were you, I would +certainly get him myself. I had almost forgot to give you my opinion of Mr. De +Courcy; I am really delighted with him; he is full as handsome, I think, as +Mainwaring, and with such an open, good-humoured countenance, that one cannot +help loving him at first sight. Mr. Johnson and he are the greatest friends in +the world. Adieu, my dearest Susan, I wish matters did not go so perversely. +That unlucky visit to Langford! but I dare say you did all for the best, and +there is no defying destiny. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your sincerely attached,<br/> +A<small>LICIA</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0039"></a> +XXXIX</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Upper Seymour Street. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Alicia,—I yield to the necessity which parts us. Under such +circumstances you could not act otherwise. Our friendship cannot be impaired by +it, and in happier times, when your situation is as independent as mine, it +will unite us again in the same intimacy as ever. For this I shall impatiently +wait, and meanwhile can safely assure you that I never was more at ease, or +better satisfied with myself and everything about me than at the present hour. +Your husband I abhor, Reginald I despise, and I am secure of never seeing +either again. Have I not reason to rejoice? Mainwaring is more devoted to me +than ever; and were we at liberty, I doubt if I could resist even matrimony +offered by <i>him</i>. This event, if his wife live with you, it may be in your +power to hasten. The violence of her feelings, which must wear her out, may be +easily kept in irritation. I rely on your friendship for this. I am now +satisfied that I never could have brought myself to marry Reginald, and am +equally determined that Frederica never <i>shall</i>. To-morrow, I shall fetch +her from Churchhill, and let Maria Mainwaring tremble for the consequence. +Frederica shall be Sir James’s wife before she quits my house, and +<i>she</i> may whimper, and the Vernons may storm, I regard them not. I am +tired of submitting my will to the caprices of others; of resigning my own +judgment in deference to those to whom I owe no duty, and for whom I feel no +respect. I have given up too much, have been too easily worked on, but +Frederica shall now feel the difference. Adieu, dearest of friends; may the +next gouty attack be more favourable! and may you always regard me as +unalterably yours, +</p> + +<p class="right"> +S. V<small>ERNON</small> +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0040"></a> +XL</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Lady De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon.</i> +</p> + +<p> +My dear Catherine,—I have charming news for you, and if I had not sent +off my letter this morning you might have been spared the vexation of knowing +of Reginald’s being gone to London, for he is returned. Reginald is +returned, not to ask our consent to his marrying Lady Susan, but to tell us +they are parted for ever. He has been only an hour in the house, and I have not +been able to learn particulars, for he is so very low that I have not the heart +to ask questions, but I hope we shall soon know all. This is the most joyful +hour he has ever given us since the day of his birth. Nothing is wanting but to +have you here, and it is our particular wish and entreaty that you would come +to us as soon as you can. You have owed us a visit many long weeks; I hope +nothing will make it inconvenient to Mr. Vernon; and pray bring all my +grand-children; and your dear niece is included, of course; I long to see her. +It has been a sad, heavy winter hitherto, without Reginald, and seeing nobody +from Churchhill. I never found the season so dreary before; but this happy +meeting will make us young again. Frederica runs much in my thoughts, and when +Reginald has recovered his usual good spirits (as I trust he soon will) we will +try to rob him of his heart once more, and I am full of hopes of seeing their +hands joined at no great distance. +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Your affectionate mother,<br/> +C. D<small>E</small> C<small>OURCY</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_4_0041"></a> +XLI</h2> + +<p class="center"> +<i>Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy.</i> +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Churchhill. +</p> + +<p> +My dear Mother,—Your letter has surprized me beyond measure! Can it be +true that they are really separated—and for ever? I should be overjoyed +if I dared depend on it, but after all that I have seen how can one be secure? +And Reginald really with you! My surprize is the greater because on Wednesday, +the very day of his coming to Parklands, we had a most unexpected and unwelcome +visit from Lady Susan, looking all cheerfulness and good-humour, and seeming +more as if she were to marry him when she got to London than as if parted from +him for ever. She stayed nearly two hours, was as affectionate and agreeable as +ever, and not a syllable, not a hint was dropped, of any disagreement or +coolness between them. I asked her whether she had seen my brother since his +arrival in town; not, as you may suppose, with any doubt of the fact, but +merely to see how she looked. She immediately answered, without any +embarrassment, that he had been kind enough to call on her on Monday; but she +believed he had already returned home, which I was very far from crediting. +Your kind invitation is accepted by us with pleasure, and on Thursday next we +and our little ones will be with you. Pray heaven, Reginald may not be in town +again by that time! I wish we could bring dear Frederica too, but I am sorry to +say that her mother’s errand hither was to fetch her away; and, miserable +as it made the poor girl, it was impossible to detain her. I was thoroughly +unwilling to let her go, and so was her uncle; and all that could be urged we +did urge; but Lady Susan declared that as she was now about to fix herself in +London for several months, she could not be easy if her daughter were not with +her for masters, &c. Her manner, to be sure, was very kind and proper, and +Mr. Vernon believes that Frederica will now be treated with affection. I wish I +could think so too. The poor girl’s heart was almost broke at taking +leave of us. I charged her to write to me very often, and to remember that if +she were in any distress we should be always her friends. I took care to see +her alone, that I might say all this, and I hope made her a little more +comfortable; but I shall not be easy till I can go to town and judge of her +situation myself. I wish there were a better prospect than now appears of the +match which the conclusion of your letter declares your expectations of. At +present, it is not very likely, +</p> + +<p class="right"> +Yours ever, &c.,<br/> +C. V<small>ERNON</small>. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div class="chapter"> + +<h2><a name="link2H_CONC"></a> +CONCLUSION</h2> + +<p> +This correspondence, by a meeting between some of the parties, and a separation +between the others, could not, to the great detriment of the Post Office +revenue, be continued any longer. Very little assistance to the State could be +derived from the epistolary intercourse of Mrs. Vernon and her niece; for the +former soon perceived, by the style of Frederica’s letters, that they +were written under her mother’s inspection! and therefore, deferring all +particular enquiry till she could make it personally in London, ceased writing +minutely or often. Having learnt enough, in the meanwhile, from her +open-hearted brother, of what had passed between him and Lady Susan to sink the +latter lower than ever in her opinion, she was proportionably more anxious to +get Frederica removed from such a mother, and placed under her own care; and, +though with little hope of success, was resolved to leave nothing unattempted +that might offer a chance of obtaining her sister-in-law’s consent to it. +Her anxiety on the subject made her press for an early visit to London; and Mr. +Vernon, who, as it must already have appeared, lived only to do whatever he was +desired, soon found some accommodating business to call him thither. With a +heart full of the matter, Mrs. Vernon waited on Lady Susan shortly after her +arrival in town, and was met with such an easy and cheerful affection, as made +her almost turn from her with horror. No remembrance of Reginald, no +consciousness of guilt, gave one look of embarrassment; she was in excellent +spirits, and seemed eager to show at once by every possible attention to her +brother and sister her sense of their kindness, and her pleasure in their +society. Frederica was no more altered than Lady Susan; the same restrained +manners, the same timid look in the presence of her mother as heretofore, +assured her aunt of her situation being uncomfortable, and confirmed her in the +plan of altering it. No unkindness, however, on the part of Lady Susan +appeared. Persecution on the subject of Sir James was entirely at an end; his +name merely mentioned to say that he was not in London; and indeed, in all her +conversation, she was solicitous only for the welfare and improvement of her +daughter, acknowledging, in terms of grateful delight, that Frederica was now +growing every day more and more what a parent could desire. Mrs. Vernon, +surprized and incredulous, knew not what to suspect, and, without any change in +her own views, only feared greater difficulty in accomplishing them. The first +hope of anything better was derived from Lady Susan’s asking her whether +she thought Frederica looked quite as well as she had done at Churchhill, as +she must confess herself to have sometimes an anxious doubt of London’s +perfectly agreeing with her. Mrs. Vernon, encouraging the doubt, directly +proposed her niece’s returning with them into the country. Lady Susan was +unable to express her sense of such kindness, yet knew not, from a variety of +reasons, how to part with her daughter; and as, though her own plans were not +yet wholly fixed, she trusted it would ere long be in her power to take +Frederica into the country herself, concluded by declining entirely to profit +by such unexampled attention. Mrs. Vernon persevered, however, in the offer of +it, and though Lady Susan continued to resist, her resistance in the course of +a few days seemed somewhat less formidable. The lucky alarm of an influenza +decided what might not have been decided quite so soon. Lady Susan’s +maternal fears were then too much awakened for her to think of anything but +Frederica’s removal from the risk of infection; above all disorders in +the world she most dreaded the influenza for her daughter’s constitution! +</p> + +<p> +Frederica returned to Churchhill with her uncle and aunt; and three weeks +afterwards, Lady Susan announced her being married to Sir James Martin. Mrs. +Vernon was then convinced of what she had only suspected before, that she might +have spared herself all the trouble of urging a removal which Lady Susan had +doubtless resolved on from the first. Frederica’s visit was nominally for +six weeks, but her mother, though inviting her to return in one or two +affectionate letters, was very ready to oblige the whole party by consenting to +a prolongation of her stay, and in the course of two months ceased to write of +her absence, and in the course of two more to write to her at all. Frederica +was therefore fixed in the family of her uncle and aunt till such time as +Reginald De Courcy could be talked, flattered, and finessed into an affection +for her which, allowing leisure for the conquest of his attachment to her +mother, for his abjuring all future attachments, and detesting the sex, might +be reasonably looked for in the course of a twelvemonth. Three months might +have done it in general, but Reginald’s feelings were no less lasting +than lively. Whether Lady Susan was or was not happy in her second choice, I do +not see how it can ever be ascertained; for who would take her assurance of it +on either side of the question? The world must judge from probabilities; she +had nothing against her but her husband, and her conscience. Sir James may seem +to have drawn a harder lot than mere folly merited; I leave him, therefore, to +all the pity that anybody can give him. For myself, I confess that <i>I</i> can +pity only Miss Mainwaring; who, coming to town, and putting herself to an +expense in clothes which impoverished her for two years, on purpose to secure +him, was defrauded of her due by a woman ten years older than herself. +</p> + +</div><!--end chapter--> + +<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK LADY SUSAN ***</div> +<div style='text-align:left'> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will +be renamed. +</div> + +<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> +Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright +law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, +so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United +States without permission and without paying copyright +royalties. 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