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into tears as soon as we were seated； took her out of the room； and did not
return for some time。 When she did； her eyes looked very red and she was as
much agitated as before。 We saw no more of her daughter。 Poor Reginald was
beyond measure concerned to see his fair friend in such distress； and
watched her with so much tender solicitude； that I； who occasionally caught
her observing his countenance with exultation； was quite out of patience。
This pathetic representation lasted the whole evening； and so ostentatious
and artful a display has entirely convinced me that she did in fact feel
nothing。 I am more angry with her than ever since I have seen her daughter；
the poor girl looks so unhappy that my heart aches for her。 Lady Susan is
surely too severe； for Frederica does not seem to have the sort of temper
to make severity necessary。 She looks perfectly timid； dejected； and
penitent。 She is very pretty； though not so handsome as her mother； nor at
all like her。 Her complexion is delicate； but neither so fair nor so
blooming as Lady Susan's； and she has quite the Vernon cast of countenance；
the oval face and mild dark eyes； and there is peculiar sweetness in her
look when she speaks either to her uncle or me； for as we behave kindly to
her we have of course engaged her gratitude。
Her mother has insinuated that her temper is intractable； but I never
saw a face less indicative of any evil disposition than hers； and from what
I can see of the behaviour of each to the other； the invariable severity of
Lady Susan and the silent dejection of Frederica； I am led to believe as
heretofore that the former has no real love for her daughter； and has never
done her justice or treated her affectionately。 I have not been able to
have any conversation with my niece； she is shy； and I think I can see that
some pains are taken to prevent her being much with me。 Nothing
satisfactory transpires as to her reason for running away。 Her kind…hearted
uncle； you may be sure； was too fearful of distressing her to ask many
questions as they travelled。 I wish it had been possible for me to fetch
her instead of him。 I think I should have discovered the truth in the
course of a thirty…mile journey。 The small pianoforte has been removed
within these few days； at Lady Susan's request； into her dressing…room； and
Frederica spends great part of the day there； practising as it is called；
but I seldom hear any noise when I pass that way； what she does with
herself there I do not know。 There are plenty of books； but it is not every
girl who has been running wild the first fifteen years of her life； that
can or will read。 Poor creature！ the prospect from her window is not very
instructive； for that room overlooks the lawn； you know； with the shrubbery
on one side； where she may see her mother walking for an hour together in
earnest conversation with Reginald。 A girl of Frederica's age must be
childish indeed； if such things do not strike her。 Is it not inexcusable to
give such an example to a daughter？ Yet Reginald still thinks Lady Susan
the best of mothers； and still condemns Frederica as a worthless girl！ He
is convinced that her attempt to run away proceeded from no； justifiable
cause； and had no provocation。 I am sure I cannot say that it HAD； but
while Miss Summers declares that Miss Vernon showed no signs of obstinacy
or perverseness during her whole stay in Wigmore Street； till she was
detected in this scheme； I cannot so readily credit what Lady Susan has
made him； and wants to make me believe； that it was merely an impatience of
restraint and a desire of escaping from the tuition of masters which
brought on the plan of an elopement。 O Reginald； how is your judgment
enslaved！ He scarcely dares even allow her to be handsome； and when I
speak of her beauty； replies only that her eyes have no brilliancy！
Sometimes he is sure she is deficient in understanding； and at others that
her temper only is in fault。 In short； when a person is always to deceive；
it is impossible to be consistent。 Lady Susan finds it necessary that
Frederica should be to blame； and probably has sometimes judged it
expedient to excuse her of ill…nature and sometimes to lament her want of
sense。 Reginald is only repeating after her ladyship。
I remain； &c。； &c。；
CATHERINE VERNON。
XVIII
FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME
Churchhill。
My dear Mother；I am very glad to find that my description of Frederica
Vernon has interested you； for I do believe her truly deserving of your
regard； and when I have communicated a notion which has recently struck me；
your kind impressions in her favour will； I am sure； be heightened。 I
cannot help fancying that she is growing partial to my brother。 I so very
often see her eyes fixed on his face with a remarkable expression of
pensive admiration。 He is certainly very handsome； and yet more； there is
an openness in his manner that must be highly prepossessing； and I am sure
she feels it so。 Thoughtful and pensive in general； her countenance always
brightens into a smile when Reginald says anything amusing； and； let the
subject be ever so serious that he may be conversing on； I am much mistaken
if a syllable of his uttering escapes her。 I want to make him sensible of
all this； for we know the power of gratitude on such a heart as his； and
could Frederica's artless affection detach him from her mother； we might
bless the day which brought her to Churchhill。 I think； my dear mother； you
would not disapprove of her as a daughter。 She is extremely young； to be
sure； has had a wretched education； and a dreadful example of levity in her
mother； but yet I can pronounce her disposition to be excellent； and her
natural abilities very good。 Though totally without accomplishments； she is
by no means so ignorant as one might expect to find her； being fond of
books and spending the chief of her time in reading。 Her mother leaves her
more to herself than she did； and I have her with me as much as possible；
and have taken great pains to overcome her timidity。 We are very good
friends； and though she never opens her lips before her mother； she talks
enough when alone with me to make it clear that； if properly treated by
Lady Susan； she would always appear to much greater advantage。 There cannot
be a more gentle； affectionate heart； or more obliging manners； when acting
without restraint； and her little cousins are all very fond of her。
Your affectionate daughter；
C。 VERNON
XIX
LADY SUSAN TO MRS。 JOHNSON
Churchhill。
You will be eager； I know； to hear something further of Frederica； and
perhaps may think me negligent for not writing before。 She arrived with her
uncle last Thursday fortnight； when； of course； I lost no time in demanding
the cause of her behaviour； and soon found myself to have been perfectly
right in attributing it to my own letter。 The prospect of it frightened her
so thoroughly； that； with a mixture of true girlish perverseness and folly；
she resolved on getting out of the house and proceeding directly by the
stage to her friends； the Clarkes； and had really got as far as the length
of two streets in her journey when she was fortunately missed； pursued； and
overtaken。 Such was the first distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica
Vernon； and； if we consider that it was achieved at the tender age of
sixteen； we shall have room for the most flattering prognostics of her
future renown。 I am excessively provoked； however； at the parade of
propriety which prevented Miss Summers from keeping the girl； and it seems
so extraordinary a piece of nicety； considering my daughter's family
connections； that I can only suppose the lady to be governed by the fear of
never getting her money。 Be that as it may； however； Frederica is returned
on my hands； and； having nothing else to employ her； is busy in pursuing
the plan of romance begun at Langford。 She is actually falling in love with
Reginald De Courcy！ To disobey her mother by refusing an unexceptionable
offer is not enough； her affections must also be given without her mother's
approbation。 I never saw a girl of her age bid fairer to be the sport of
mankind。 Her feelings are tolerably acute； and she is so charmingly artless
in their display as to afford the most reasonable hope of her being
ridiculous