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advise you by all means to marry him； his father's estate is； we know；
considerable； and I believe certainly entailed。 Sir Reginald is very
infirm； and not likely to stand in your way long。 I hear the young man well
spoken of； and though no one can really deserve you； my dearest Susan； Mr。
De Courcy may be worth having。 Mainwaring will storm of course； but you
easily pacify him； besides； the most scrupulous point of honour could not
require you to wait for HIS emancipation。 I have seen Sir James； he came to
town for a few days last week； and called several times in Edward Street。 I
talked to him about you and your daughter； and he is so far from having
forgotten you； that I am sure he would marry either of you with pleasure。 I
gave him hopes of Frederica's relenting； and told him a great deal of her
improvements。 I scolded him for making love to Maria Mainwaring； he
protested that he had been only in joke； and we both laughed heartily at
her disappointment； and； in short； were very agreeable。 He is as silly as
ever。
Yours faithfully；
ALICIA。
X
LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS。 JOHNSON
Churchhill。
I am much obliged to you； my dear Friend； for your advice respecting Mr。
De Courcy； which I know was given with the full conviction of its
expediency； though I am not quite determined on following it。 I cannot
easily resolve on anything so serious as marriage； especially as I am not
at present in want of money； and might perhaps； till the old gentleman's
death； be very little benefited by the match。 It is true that I am vain
enough to believe it within my reach。 I have made him sensible of my power；
and can now enjoy the pleasure of triumphing over a mind prepared to
dislike me； and prejudiced against all my past actions。 His sister； too；
is； I hope； convinced how little the ungenerous representations of anyone
to the disadvantage of another will avail when opposed by the immediate
influence of intellect and manner。 I see plainly that she is uneasy at my
progress in the good opinion of her brother； and conclude that nothing will
be wanting on her part to counteract me； but having once made him doubt the
justice of her opinion of me； I think I may defy； her。 It has been
delightful to me to watch his advances towards intimacy； especially to
observe his altered manner in consequence of my repressing by the cool
dignity of my deportment his insolent approach to direct familiarity。 My
conduct has been equally guarded from the first； and I never behaved less
like a coquette in the whole course of my life； though perhaps my desire of
dominion was never more decided。 I have subdued him entirely by sentiment
and serious conversation； and made him； I may venture to say； at least
half in love with me； without the semblance of the most commonplace
flirtation。 Mrs。 Vernon's consciousness of deserving every sort of revenge
that it can be in my power to inflict for her ill…offices could alone
enable her to perceive that I am actuated by any design in behaviour so
gentle and unpretending。 Let her think and act as she chooses； however。 I
have never yet found that the advice of a sister could prevent a young
man's being in love if he chose。 We are advancing now to some kind of
confidence； and in short are likely to be engaged in a sort of platonic
friendship。 On my side you may be sure of its never being more； for if I
were not attached to another person as much as I can be to anyone； I should
make a point of not bestowing my affection on a man who had dared to think
so meanly of me。 Reginald has a good figure and is not unworthy the praise
you have heard given him； but is still greatly inferior to our friend at
Langford。 He is less polished； less insinuating than Mainwaring； and is
comparatively deficient in the power of saying those delightful things
which put one in good humour with oneself and all the world。 He is quite
agreeable enough； however； to afford me amusement； and to make many of
those hours pass very pleasantly which would otherwise be spent in
endeavouring to overcome my sister…in…law's reserve； and listening to the
insipid talk of her husband。 Your account of Sir James is most
satisfactory； and I mean to give Miss Frederica a hint of my intentions
very soon。
Yours； &c。；
S。 VERNON。
XI
MRS。 VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY
Churchhill
I really grow quite uneasy； my dearest mother； about Reginald； from
witnessing the very rapid increase of Lady Susan's influence。 They are now
on terms of the most particular friendship； frequently engaged in long
conversations together； and she has contrived by the most artful coquetry
to subdue his judgment to her own purposes。 It is impossible to see the
intimacy between them so very soon established without some alarm； though I
can hardly suppose that Lady Susan's plans extend to marriage。 I wish you
could get Reginald home again on any plausible pretence； he is not at all
disposed to leave us； and I have given him as many hints of my father's
precarious state of health as common decency will allow me to do in my own
house。 Her power over him must now be boundless； as she has entirely
effaced all his former ill…opinion； and persuaded him not merely to forget
but to justify her conduct。 Mr。 Smith's account of her proceedings at
Langford； where he accused her of having made Mr。 Mainwaring and a young
man engaged to Miss Mainwaring distractedly in love with her； which
Reginald firmly believed when he came here； is now； he is persuaded； only a
scandalous invention。 He has told me so with a warmth of manner which spoke
his regret at having believed the contrary himself。 How sincerely do I
grieve that she ever entered this house！ I always looked forward to her
coming with uneasiness； but very far was it from originating in anxiety for
Reginald。 I expected a most disagreeable companion for myself； but could
not imagine that my brother would be in the smallest danger of being
captivated by a woman with whose principles he was so well acquainted； and
whose character he so heartily despised。 If you can get him away it will be
a good thing。
Yours； &c。；
CATHERINE VERNON。
XII
SIR REGINALD DE COURCY TO HIS SON
Parklands。
I know that young men in general do not admit of any enquiry even from
their nearest relations into affairs of the heart； but I hope； my dear
Reginald； that you will be superior to such as allow nothing for a father's
anxiety； and think themselves privileged to refuse him their confidence and
slight his advice。 You must be sensible that as an only son； and the
representative of an ancient family； your conduct in life is most
interesting to your connections； and in the very important concern of
marriage especially； there is everything at stakeyour own happiness； that
of your parents； and the credit of your name。 I do not suppose that you
would deliberately form an absolute engagement of that nature without
acquainting your mother and myself； or at least； without being convinced
that we should approve of your choice； but I cannot help fearing that you
may be drawn in； by the lady who has lately attached you； to a marriage
which the whole of your family； far and near； must highly reprobate。 Lady
Susan's age is itself a material objection； but her want of character is
one so much more serious； that the difference of even twelve years becomes
in comparison of small amount。 Were you not blinded by a sort of
fascination； it would be ridiculous in me to repeat the instances of great
misconduct on her side so very generally known。
Her neglect of her husband； her encouragement of other men； her
extravagance and dissipation； were so gross and notorious that no one could
be ignorant of them at the time； nor can now have forgotten them。 To our
family she has always been represented in softened colours by the
benevolence of Mr。 Charles Vernon； and yet； in spite of his generous
endeavours to excuse her； we know that she did； from the most selfish
motives； take all possible pains to prevent his marriage with Catherine。
My years and increasing infirmities make me very desirous of seeing you
settled in the world。 To the fortune of a wife； the goodness