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！
settled in the world。 To the fortune of a wife； the goodness of my own will
make me indifferent； but her family and character must be equally
unexceptionable。 When your choice is fixed so that no objection can be
made to it； then I can promise you a ready and cheerful consent； but it is
my duty to oppose a match which deep art only could render possible； and
must in the end make wretched。 It is possible her behaviour may arise only
from vanity； or the wish of gaining the admiration of a man whom she must
imagine to be particularly prejudiced against her； but it is more likely
that she should aim at something further。 She is poor； and may naturally
seek an alliance which must be advantageous to herself； you know your own
rights； and that it is out of my power to prevent your inheriting the
family estate。 My ability of distressing you during my life would be a
species of revenge to which I could hardly stoop under any circumstances。
I honestly tell you my sentiments and intentions： I do not wish to work
on your fears； but on your sense and affection。 It would destroy every
comfort of my life to know that you were married to Lady Susan Vernon； it
would be the death of that honest pride with which I have hitherto
considered my son； I should blush to see him； to hear of him； to think of
him。 I may perhaps do no good but that of relieving my own mind by this
letter； but I felt it my duty to tell you that your partiality for Lady
Susan is no secret to your friends； and to warn you against her。 I should
be glad to hear your reasons for disbelieving Mr。 Smith's intelligence； you
had no doubt of its authenticity a month ago。 If you can give me your
assurance of having no design beyond enjoying the conversation of a clever
woman for a short period； and of yielding admiration only to her beauty and
abilities； without being blinded by them to her faults； you will restore me
to happiness ；but； if you cannot do this； explain to me； at least； what has
occasioned so great an alteration in your opinion of her。
I am； &c。； &c；
REGINALD DE COURCY
XIII
LADY DE COURCY TO MRS。 VERNON
Parklands。
My dear Catherine；Unluckily I was confined to my room when your last
letter came； by a cold which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my
reading it myself； so I could not refuse Your father when he offered to
read it to me； by which means he became acquainted； to my great vexation；
with all your fears about your brother。 I had intended to write to Reginald
myself as soon as my eyes would let me； to point out； as well as I could；
the danger of an intimate acquaintance； with so artful a woman as Lady
Susan； to a young man of his age； and high expectations。 I meant；
moreover； to have reminded him of our being quite alone now； and very much
in need of him to keep up our spirits these long winter evenings。 Whether
it would have done any good can never be settled now； but I am excessively
vexed that Sir Reginald should know anything of a matter which we foresaw
would make him so uneasy。 He caught all your fears the moment he had read
your letter； and I am sure he has not had the business out of his head
since。 He wrote by the same post to Reginald a long letter full of it all；
and particularly asking an explanation of what he may have heard from Lady
Susan to contradict the late shocking reports。 His answer came this
morning； which I shall enclose to you； as I think you will like to see it。
I wish it was more satisfactory； but it seems written with such a
determination to think well of Lady Susan； that his assurances as to
marriage； &c。； do not set my heart at ease。 I say all I can； however； to
satisfy your father； and he is certainly less uneasy since Reginald's
letter。 How provoking it is； my dear Catherine； that this unwelcome guest
of yours should not only prevent our meeting this Christmas； but be the
occasion of so much vexation and trouble！ Kiss the dear children for me。
Your affectionate mother；
C。 DE COURCY。
XIV
MR。 DE COURCY TO SIR REGINALD
Churchhill。
My dear Sir；I have this moment received your letter； which has given
me more astonishment than I ever felt before。 I am to thank my sister； I
suppose； for having represented me in such a light as to injure me in your
opinion； and give you all this alarm。 I know not why she should choose to
make herself and her family uneasy by apprehending an event which no one
but herself； I can affirm； would ever have thought possible。 To impute such
a design to Lady Susan would be taking from her every claim to that
excellent understanding which her bitterest enemies have never denied her；
and equally low must sink my pretensions to common sense if I am suspected
of matrimonial views in my behaviour to her。 Our difference of age must be
an insuperable objection； and I entreat you； my dear father； to quiet your
mind； and no longer harbour a suspicion which cannot he more injurious to
your own peace than to our understandings。 I can have no other view in
remaining with Lady Susan； than to enjoy for a short time （as you have
yourself expressed it） the conversation of a woman of high intellectual
powers。 If Mrs。 Vernon would allow something to my affection for herself
and her husband in the length of my visit； she would do more justice to us
all； but my sister is unhappily prejudiced beyond the hope of conviction
against Lady Susan。 From an attachment to her husband； which in itself does
honour to both； she cannot forgive the endeavours at preventing their
union； which have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan； but in this
case； as well as in many others； the world has most grossly injured that
lady； by supposing the worst where the motives of her conduct have been
doubtful。 Lady Susan had heard something so materially to the disadvantage
of my sister as to persuade her that the happiness of Mr。 Vernon； to whom
she was always much attached； would be wholly destroyed by the marriage。
And this circumstance； while it explains the true motives of Lady Susan's
conduct； and removes all the blame which has been so lavished on her； may
also convince us how little the general report of anyone ought to be
credited； since no character； however upright； can escape the malevolence
of slander。 If my sister； in the security of retirement； with as little
opportunity as inclination to do evil； could not avoid censure； we must not
rashly condemn those who； living in the world and surrounded with
temptations； should be accused of errors which they are known to have the
power of committing。
I blame myself severely for having so easily believed the slanderous
tales invented by Charles Smith to the prejudice of Lady Susan； as I am now
convinced how greatly they have traduced her。 As to Mrs。 Mainwaring's
jealousy it was totally his own invention； and his account of her attaching
Miss Mainwaring's lover was scarcely better founded。 Sir James Martin had
been drawn in by that young lady to pay her some attention； and as he is a
man of fortune； it was easy to see HER views extended to marriage。 It is
well known that Miss M。 is absolutely on the catch for a husband； and no
one therefore can pity her for losing； by the superior attractions of
another woman； the chance of being able to make a worthy man completely
wretched。 Lady Susan was far from intending such a conquest； and on finding
how warmly Miss Mainwaring resented her lover's defection； determined； in
spite of Mr。 and Mrs。 Mainwaring's most urgent entreaties； to leave the
family。 I have reason to imagine she did receive serious proposals from Sir
James； but her removing to Langford immediately on the discovery of his
attachment； must acquit her on that article with any mind of common
candour。 You will； I am sure； my dear Sir； feel the truth of this； and will
hereby learn to do justice to the character of a very injured woman。 I know
that Lady Susan in coming to Churchhill was governed only by the most
honourable and amiable intentions； her prudence and economy are exemplary；
her regard for Mr。 Vernon equal even to HIS deserts； and her wish of
obtaining my sister's good opinion merits a better return than it has
received。 As a mother she is unexceptionable； her solid affection for her
child is shown by placing her in hands where her educat