按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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