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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 principlesthere
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 unionto delay it till
appearances are more promisingtill 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 beyou
must bewell assured that nothing but the