lady susan-第7章
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seems； was not designed for herself； or she has since transferred it to her
daughter； for Sir James is now desperately in love with Frederica； and with
full encouragement from mamma。 The poor girl； however； I am sure； dislikes
him； and though his person and address are very well； he appears； both to
Mr。 Vernon and me； a very weak young man。 Frederica looked so shy； so
confused； when we entered the room； that I felt for her exceedingly。 Lady
Susan behaved with great attention to her visitor； and yet I thought I
could perceive that she had no particular pleasure in seeing him。 Sir James
talked a great deal； and made many civil excuses to me for the liberty he
had taken in coming to Churchhillmixing more frequent laughter with his
discourse than the subject requiredsaid many things over and over again；
and told Lady Susan three times that he had seen Mrs。 Johnson a few
evenings before。 He now and then addressed Frederica； but more frequently
her mother。 The poor girl sat all this time without opening her lipsher
eyes cast down； and her colour varying every instant； while Reginald
observed all that passed in perfect silence。 At length Lady Susan； weary； I
believe； of her situation； proposed walking； and we left the two gentlemen
together； to put on our pelisses。 As we went upstairs Lady Susan begged
permission to attend me for a few moments in my dressing…room； as she was
anxious to speak with me in private。 I led her thither accordingly； and as
soon as the door was closed； she said： 〃I was never more surprized in my
life than by Sir James's arrival； and the suddenness of it requires some
apology to you； my dear sister； though to ME； as a mother； it is highly
flattering。 He is so extremely attached to my daughter that he could not
exist longer without seeing her。 Sir James is a young man of an amiable
disposition and excellent character； a little too much of the rattle；
perhaps； but a year or two will rectify THAT： and he is in other respects
so very eligible a match for Frederica； that I have always observed his
attachment with the greatest pleasure； and am persuaded that you and my
brother will give the alliance your hearty approbation。 I have never
before mentioned the likelihood of its taking place to anyone； because I
thought that whilst Frederica continued at school it had better not be
known to exist； but now； as I am convinced that Frederica is too old ever
to submit to school confinement； and have； therefore； begun to consider her
union with Sir James as not very distant； I had intended within a few days
to acquaint yourself and Mr。 Vernon with the whole business。 I am sure； my
dear sister； you will excuse my remaining silent so long； and agree with me
that such circumstances； while they continue from any cause in suspense；
cannot be too cautiously concealed。 When you have the happiness of
bestowing your sweet little Catherine； some years hence； on a man who in
connection and character is alike unexceptionable； you will know what I
feel now； though； thank Heaven； you cannot have all my reasons for
rejoicing in such an event。 Catherine will be amply provided for； and not；
like my Frederica； indebted to a fortunate establishment for the comforts
of life。〃 She concluded by demanding my congratulations。 I gave them
somewhat awkwardly； I believe； for； in fact； the sudden disclosure of so
important a matter took from me the power of speaking with any clearness；
She thanked me； however； most affectionately； for my kind concern in the
welfare of herself and daughter； and then said： 〃I am not apt to deal in
professions； my dear Mrs。 Vernon； and I never had the convenient talent of
affecting sensations foreign to my heart； and therefore I trust you will
believe me when I declare； that much as I had heard in your praise before I
knew you； I had no idea that I should ever love you as I now do； and I must
further say that your friendship towards me is more particularly gratifying
because I have reason to believe that some attempts were made to prejudice
you against me。 I only wish that they； whoever they are； to whom I am
indebted for such kind intentions； could see the terms on which we now are
together； and understand the real affection we feel for each other； but I
will not detain you any longer。 God bless you； for your goodness to me and
my girl； and continue to you all your present happiness。〃 What can one say
of such a woman； my dear mother？ Such earnestness such solemnity of
expression！ and yet I cannot help suspecting the truth of everything she
says。 As for Reginald； I believe he does not know what to make of the
matter。 When Sir James came； he appeared all astonishment and perplexity；
the folly of the young man and the confusion of Frederica entirely
engrossed him； and though a little private discourse with Lady Susan has
since had its effect； he is still hurt； I am sure； at her allowing of such
a man's attentions to her daughter。 Sir James invited himself with great
composure to remain here a few dayshoped we would not think it odd； was
aware of its being very impertinent； but he took the liberty of a relation；
and concluded by wishing； with a laugh； that he might be really one very
soon。 Even Lady Susan seemed a little disconcerted by this forwardness； in
her heart I am persuaded she sincerely wished him gone。 But something must
be done for this poor girl； if her feelings are such as both I and her
uncle believe them to be。 She must not be sacrificed to policy or ambition；
and she must not be left to suffer from the dread of it。 The girl whose
heart can distinguish Reginald De Courcy； deserves； however he may slight
her； a better fate than to be Sir James Martin's wife。 As soon as I can get
her alone； I will discover the real truth； but she seems to wish to avoid
me。 I hope this does not proceed from anything wrong； and that I shall not
find out I have thought too well of her。 Her behaviour to Sir James
certainly speaks the greatest consciousness and embarrassment； but I see
nothing in it more like encouragement。 Adieu； my dear mother。
Yours； &c。；
C。 VERNON。
XXI
MISS VERNON TO MR DE COURCY
Sir；I hope you will excuse this liberty； I am forced upon it by the
greatest distress； or I should be ashamed to trouble you。 I am very
miserable about Sir James Martin； and have no other way in the world of
helping myself but by writing to you； for I am forbidden even speaking to
my uncle and aunt on the subject； and this being the case； I am afraid my
applying to you will appear no better than equivocation； and as if I
attended to the letter and not the spirit of mamma's commands。 But if you
do not take my part and persuade her to break it off； I shall be half
distracted； for I cannot bear him。 No human being but YOU could have any
chance of prevailing with her。 If you will； therefore； have the unspeakably
great kindness of taking my part with her； and persuading her to send Sir
James away； I shall be more obliged to you than it is possible for me to
express。 I always disliked him from the first： it is not a sudden fancy； I
assure you； sir； I always thought him silly and impertinent and
disagreeable； and now he is grown worse than ever。 I would rather work for
my bread than marry him。 I do not know how to apologize enough for this
letter； I know it is taking so great a liberty。 I am aware how dreadfully
angry it will make mamma； but I remember the risk。
I am； Sir； your most humble servant；
F。 S。 V。
XXII
LADY SUSAN TO MRS。 JOHNSON
Churchhill。
This is insufferable！ My dearest friend； I was never so enraged before；
and must relieve myself by writing to you； who I know will enter into all
my feelings。 Who should come on Tuesday but Sir James Martin！ Guess my
astonishment； and vexationfor； as you well know； I never wished him to be
seen at Churchhill。 What a pity that you should not have known his
intentions！ Not content with coming； he actually invited himself to remain
here a few days。 I could have poisoned him！ I made the best of it； however；
and told my story with great success to Mrs。 Vernon； who； whatever might be
her real sentiments； said nothing in opposition to mine。 I made a point
also of Frederica's behaving civilly to Sir James； and gave her to
understand that I was absolutely determined on her marrying him。 She said
something of her misery； but that was all。 I have for some time been more
particularly resolved on the match from seeing the rapid increase of her
affection for Reginald； and from not feeling secure that a knowledge of
such affection might not in the end awaken a return。 Contemptible as a
regard founded only on compassion must make them both in my eyes； I felt by
no means assured that such might not be the consequence。 It is true that
Reginald had not in any degree grown cool towards me； but yet he has lately
mentioned Frederica spontaneously and unnecessarily； and once said
something in praise of her person。 HE was all astonishment at the
appearance of my visitor； and at first observed Sir James with an attention
which I was pleased to see not unmixed with jealousy； but unluckily it was
impossible for me really to torment him； as Sir James； though extremely
gallant to me； very soon made the whole party understand that his heart was
devoted to my daughter。 I had no great difficulty in convincing De Courcy；
when we were alone； that I was perfectly justified； all things considered；
in desiring the match； and the whole business seemed most comfortably
arranged。 They could none of them help perceiving that Sir James was no
Solomon； but I had positively forbidden Frederica complaining to Charles
Vernon or his wife； and they had therefore no pretence for interference；
though my impertinent sister； I believe； wanted only opportunity for doing
so。 Everything； however； was going on calmly and quietly； and； though I
counted the hours of Sir James's stay； my mind was entirely satisfied with
the posture of affairs。 Guess； then； what I must feel at the sudden
disturbance of all my schemes； and that； too； from a quarter where I had
least reason to expect it。 Reginald came this morning into my dressing…room
with a very unusual solemnity of countenance； a
