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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 thingdo 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 Courcyis
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 goingMr。 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 helpI 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 himI did indeed； I got up this
morning before it was light； and was two hours about it； and when my letter
was done I thought I never should have courage to give it。 After breakfast
however； as I was going to my room； I met him in the passage； and then； as
I knew that everything must depend on that moment； I forced myself to give
it。 He was so good as to take it immediately。 I dared not look at him； and
ran away directly。 I was in such a fright I could hardly breathe。 My dear
aunt； you do not know how miserable I have been。〃 〃 Frederica〃 said I；
〃you ought to have told me all your distresses。 You would have found in me
a friend always ready to assist you。 Do you think that your uncle or I
should not have espoused your cause as warmly as my brother？〃 〃Indeed； I
did not doubt your kindness；〃 said she； colouring again； 〃but I thought Mr。
De Courcy could do anything with my mother； but I was mistaken： they have
had a dreadful quarrel about it； and he is going away。 Mamma will never
forgive me； and I shall be worse off than ever。〃 〃No； you shall not；〃 I
replied； 〃in such a point as this your mother's prohibition ought not to
have prevented your speaking to me on the subject。 She has no right to make
you unhappy； and she shall NOT do it。 Your applying； however； to Reginald
can be productive only of good to all parties。 I believe it is best as it
is。 Depend upon it that you shall not be made unhappy any longer。〃 At that
moment how great was my amonishment at seeing Reginald come out of Lady
Susan's dressing…room。 My heart misgave me instantly。 His confusion at
seeing me was very evident。 Frederica immediately disappeared。 〃Are you
going？〃 I said； 〃you will find Mr。 Vernon in his own room。〃 〃No；
Catherine；〃 he replied； 〃I am not going。 Will you let me speak to you a
moment？〃 We went into my room。 〃I find；〃 he continued； his confusion
increasing as he spoke； 〃that I have been acting with my usual foolish
impetuosity。 I have entirely misunderstood Lady Susan； and was on the point
of leaving the house under a false impression of her conduct。 There has
been some very great mistake； we have been all mistaken； I fancy。 Frederica
does not know her mother。 Lady Susan means nothing but her good； but she
will not make a friend of her。 Lady Susan does not always know； therefore；
what will make her daughter happy。 Besides； I could have no right to
interfere。 Miss Vernon was mistaken in applying to me。 In short； Catherine；
everything has gone wrong； but it is now all happily settled。 Lady Susan； I
believe； wishes to speak to you about it； if you are at leisure。〃
〃Certainly；〃 I replied； deeply sighing at the recital of so lame a story。 I
made no comments； however； for words would have been vain。
Reginald was glad to get away； and I went to Lady Susan； curious；