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！
I cannot forget the length of her visit to the Mainwarings； and when I
reflect on the different mode of life which she led with them from that to
which she must now submit； I can only suppose that the wish of establishing
her reputation by following though late the path of propriety； occasioned
her removal from a family where she must in reality have been particularly
happy。 Your friend Mr。 Smith's story； however； cannot be quite correct； as
she corresponds regularly with Mrs。 Mainwaring。 At any rate it must be
exaggerated。 It is scarcely possible that two men should be so grossly
deceived by her at once。
Yours； &c。；
CATHERINE VERNON
VII
LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS。 JOHNSON
Churchhill。
My dear Alicia；You are very good in taking notice of Frederica； and I
am grateful for it as a mark of your friendship； but as I cannot have any
doubt of the warmth of your affection； I am far from exacting so heavy a
sacrifice。 She is a stupid girl； and has nothing to recommend her。 I would
not； therefore； on my account； have you encumber one moment of your
precious time by sending for her to Edward Street； especially as every
visit is so much deducted from the grand affair of education； which I
really wish to have attended to while she remains at Miss Summers's。 I want
her to play and sing with some portion of taste and a good deal of
assurance； as she has my hand and arm and a tolerable voice。 I was so much
indulged in my infant years that I was never obliged to attend to anything；
and consequently am without the accomplishments which are now necessary to
finish a pretty woman。 Not that I am an advocate for the prevailing fashion
of acquiring a perfect knowledge of all languages； arts； and sciences。 It
is throwing time away to be mistress of French； Italian； and German：
music； singing； and drawing； &c。； will gain a woman some applause； but will
not add one lover to her listgrace and manner； after all； are of the
greatest importance。 I do not mean； therefore； that Frederica's
acquirements should be more than superficial； and I flatter myself that she
will not remain long enough at school to understand anything thoroughly。 I
hope to see her the wife of Sir James within a twelvemonth。 You know on
what I ground my hope； and it is certainly a good foundation； for school
must be very humiliating to a girl of Frederica's age。 And； by…the…by； you
had better not invite her any more on that account； as I wish her to find
her situation as unpleasant as possible。 I am sure of Sir James at any
time； and could make him renew his application by a line。 I shall trouble
you meanwhile to prevent his forming any other attachment when he comes to
town。 Ask him to your house occasionally； and talk to him of Frederica；
that he may not forget her。 Upon the whole； I commend my own conduct in
this affair extremely； and regard it as a very happy instance of
circumspection and tenderness。 Some mothers would have insisted on their
daughter's accepting so good an offer on the first overture； but I could
not reconcile it to myself to force Frederica into a marriage from which
her heart revolted； and instead of adopting so harsh a measure merely
propose to make it her own choice； by rendering her thoroughly
uncomfortable till she does accept himbut enough of this tiresome girl。
You may well wonder how I contrive to pass my time here； and for the first
week it was insufferably dull。 Now； however； we begin to mend； our party is
enlarged by Mrs。 Vernon's brother； a handsome young man； who promises me
some amusement。 There is something about him which rather interests me； a
sort of sauciness and familiarity which I shall teach him to correct。 He is
lively； and seems clever； and when I have inspired him with greater respect
for me than his sister's kind offices have implanted； he may be an
agreeable flirt。 There is exquisite pleasure in subduing an insolent
spirit； in making a person predetermined to dislike acknowledge one's
superiority。 I have disconcerted him already by my calm reserve； and it
shall be my endeavour to humble the pride of these self important De
Courcys still lower； to convince Mrs。 Vernon that her sisterly cautions
have been bestowed in vain； and to persuade Reginald that she has
scandalously belied me。 This project will serve at least to amuse me； and
prevent my feeling so acutely this dreadful separation from you and all
whom I love。
Yours ever；
S。 VERNON。
VIII
MRS。 VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY
Churchhill。
My dear Mother；You must not expect Reginald back again for some time。
He desires me to tell you that the present open weather induces him to
accept Mr。 Vernon's invitation to prolong his stay in Sussex； that they may
have some hunting together。 He means to send for his horses immediately；
and it is impossible to say when you may see him in Kent。 I will not
disguise my sentiments on this change from you； my dear mother； though I
think you had better not communicate them to my father； whose excessive
anxiety about Reginald would subject him to an alarm which might seriously
affect his health and spirits。 Lady Susan has certainly contrived； in the
space of a fortnight； to make my brother like her。 In short； I am persuaded
that his continuing here beyond the time originally fixed for his return is
occasioned as much by a degree of fascination towards her； as by the wish
of hunting with Mr。 Vernon； and of course I cannot receive that pleasure
from the length of his visit which my brother's company would otherwise
give me。 I am； indeed； provoked at the artifice of this unprincipled woman；
what stronger proof of her dangerous abilities can be given than this
perversion of Reginald's judgment； which when he entered the house was so
decidedly against her！ In his last letter he actually gave me some
particulars of her behaviour at Langford； such as he received from a
gentleman who knew her perfectly well； which； if true； must raise
abhorrence against her； and which Reginald himself was entirely disposed to
credit。 His opinion of her； I am sure； was as low as of any woman in
England； and when he first came it was evident that he considered her as
one entitled neither to delicacy nor respect； and that he felt she would be
delighted with the attentions of any man inclined to flirt with her。 Her
behaviour； I confess； has been calculated to do away with such an idea； I
have not detected the smallest impropriety in itnothing of vanity； of
pretension； of levity； and she is altogether so attractive that I should
not wonder at his being delighted with her； had he known nothing of her
previous to this personal acquaintance； but； against reason； against
conviction； to be so well pleased with her； as I am sure he is； does really
astonish me。 His admiration was at first very strong； but no more than was
natural； and I did not wonder at his being much struck by the gentleness
and delicacy of her manners； but when he has mentioned her of late it has
been in terms of more extraordinary praise； and yesterday he actually said
that he could not be surprised at any effect produced on the heart of man
by such loveliness and such abilities； and when I lamented； in reply； the
badness of her disposition； he observed that whatever might have been her
errors they were to be imputed to her neglected education and early
marriage； and that she was altogether a wonderful woman。 This tendency to
excuse her conduct or to forget it； in the warmth of admiration； vexes me；
and if I did not know that Reginald is too much at home at Churchhill to
need an invitation for lengthening his visit； I should regret Mr。 Vernon's
giving him any。 Lady Susan's intentions are of course those of absolute
coquetry； or a desire of universal admiration； I cannot for a moment
imagine that she has anything more serious in view； but it mortifies me to
see a young man of Reginald's sense duped by her at all。
I am； &c。；
CATHERINE VERNON。
IX
MRS。 JOHNSON TO LADY S。 VERNON
Edward Street。
My dearest Friend；I congratulate you on Mr。 De Courcy's arrival； and I
advise you by all means to marry him； his father's estate is； we know；
considerable； and I believe certainly enta