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must bewell 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 soonvery 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
reasonspropriety； 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 leavebut 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