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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 separatedand 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