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+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
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