lady susan-第8章
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with a very unusual solemnity of countenance； and after some preface
informed me in so many words that he wished to reason with me on the
impropriety and unkindness of allowing Sir James Martin to address my
daughter contrary to her inclinations。 I was all amazement。 When I found
that he was not to be laughed out of his design； I calmly begged an
explanation； and desired to know by what he was impelled； and by whom
commissioned； to reprimand me。 He then told me； mixing in his speech a few
insolent compliments and ill…timed expressions of tenderness； to which I
listened with perfect indifference； that my daughter had acquainted him
with some circumstances concerning herself； Sir James； and me which had
given him great uneasiness。 In short； I found that she had in the first
place actually written to him to request his interference； and that； on
receiving her letter； he had conversed with her on the subject of it； in
order to understand the particulars； and to assure himself of her real
wishes。 I have not a doubt but that the girl took this opportunity of
making downright love to him。 I am convinced of it by the manner in which
he spoke of her。 Much good may such love do him！ I shall ever despise the
man who can be gratified by the passion which he never wished to inspire；
nor solicited the avowal of。 I shall always detest them both。 He can have
no true regard for me； or he would not have listened to her； and SHE； with
her little rebellious heart and indelicate feelings； to throw herself into
the protection of a young man with whom she has scarcely ever exchanged two
words before！ I am equally confounded at HER impudence and HIS credulity。
How dared he believe what she told him in my disfavour！ Ought he not to
have felt assured that I must have unanswerable motives for all that I had
done？ Where was his reliance on my sense and goodness then？ Where the
resentment which true love would have dictated against the person defaming
methat person； too； a chit； a child； without talent or education； whom he
had been always taught to despise？ I was calm for some time； but the
greatest degree of forbearance may be overcome； and I hope I was afterwards
sufficiently keen。 He endeavoured； long endeavoured； to soften my
resentment； but that woman is a fool indeed who； while insulted by
accusation； can be worked on by compliments。 At length he left me； as
deeply provoked as myself； and he showed his anger more。 I was quite cool；
but he gave way to the most violent indignation； I may therefore expect it
will the sooner subside； and perhaps his may be vanished for ever； while
mine will be found still fresh and implacable。 He is now shut up in his
apartment； whither I heard him go on leaving mine。 How unpleasant； one
would think； must be his reflections！ but some people's feelings are
incomprehensible。 I have not yet tranquillised myself enough to see
Frederica。 SHE shall not soon forget the occurrences of this day； she shall
find that she has poured forth her tender tale of love in vain； and exposed
herself for ever to the contempt of the whole world； and the severest
resentment of her injured mother。
Your affectionate
S。 VERNON。
XXIII
MRS。 VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY
Churchhill。
Let me congratulate you； my dearest Mother！ The affair which has given
us so much anxiety is drawing to a happy conclusion。 Our prospect is most
delightful； and since matters have now taken so favourable a turn； I am
quite sorry that I ever imparted my apprehensions to you； for the pleasure
of learning that the danger is over is perhaps dearly purchased by all that
you have previously suffered。 I am so much agitated by delight that I can
scarcely hold a pen； but am determined to send you a few short lines by
James； that you may have some explanation of what must so greatly astonish
you； as that Reginald should be returning to Parklands。 I was sitting about
half an hour ago with Sir James in the breakfast parlour； when my brother
called me out of the room。 I instantly saw that something was the matter；
his complexion was raised； and he spoke with great emotion； you know his
eager manner； my dear mother； when his mind is interested。 〃Catherine；〃
said he； 〃I am going home to…day； I am sorry to leave you； but I must go：
it is a great while since I have seen my father and mother。 I am going to
send James forward with my hunters immediately； if you have any letter；
therefore； he can take it。 I shall not be at home myself till Wednesday or
Thursday； as I shall go through London； where I have business； but before I
leave you；〃 he continued； speaking in a lower tone； and with still greater
energy； 〃I must warn you of one thingdo not let Frederica Vernon be made
unhappy by that Martin。 He wants to marry her； her mother promotes the
match； but she cannot endure the idea of it。 Be assured that I speak from
the fullest conviction of the truth of what I say； I Know that Frederica is
made wretched by Sir James's continuing here。 She is a sweet girl； and
deserves a better fate。 Send him away immediately； he is only a fool： but
what her mother can mean； Heaven only knows！ Good bye；〃 he added； shaking
my hand with earnestness； 〃I do not know when you will see me again； but
remember what I tell you of Frederica； you MUST make it your business to
see justice done her。 She is an amiable girl； and has a very superior mind
to what we have given her credit for。〃 He then left me； and ran upstairs。 I
would not try to stop him； for I know what his feelings must be。 The nature
of mine； as I listened to him； I need not attempt to describe； for a minute
or two I remained in the same spot； overpowered by wonder of a most
agreeable sort indeed； yet it required some consideration to be tranquilly
happy。 In about ten minutes after my return to the parlour Lady Susan
entered the room。 I concluded； of course； that she and Reginald had been
quarrelling； and looked with anxious curiosity for a confirmation of my
belief in her face。 Mistress of deceit； however； she appeared perfectly
unconcerned； and after chatting on indifferent subjects for a short time；
said to me； 〃I find from Wilson that we are going to lose Mr。 De Courcyis
it true that he leaves Churchhill this morning？〃 I replied that it was。 〃He
told us nothing of all this last night；〃 said she； laughing； 〃or even this
morning at breakfast； but perhaps he did not know it himself。 Young men are
often hasty in their resolutions； and not more sudden in forming than
unsteady in keeping them。 I should not be surprised if he were to change
his mind at last； and not go。〃 She soon afterwards left the room。 I trust；
however； my dear mother； that we have no reason to fear an alteration of
his present plan； things have gone too far。 They must have quarrelled； and
about Frederica； too。 Her calmness astonishes me。 What delight will be
yours in seeing him again； in seeing him still worthy your esteem； still
capable of forming your happiness！ When I next write I shall be able to
tell you that Sir James is gone； Lady Susan vanquished； and Frederica at
peace。 We have much to do； but it shall be done。 I am all impatience to
hear how this astonishing change was effected。 I finish as I began； with
the warmest congratulations。
Yours ever； &c。；
CATH。 VERNON。
XXIV
FROM THE SAME TO THE SAME
Churchhill。
Little did I imagine； my dear Mother； when I sent off my last letter；
that the delightful perturbation of spirits I was then in would undergo so
speedy； so melancholy a reverse。 I never can sufficiently regret that I
wrote to you at all。 Yet who could have foreseen what has happened？ My dear
mother； every hope which made me so happy only two hours ago has vanished。
The quarrel between Lady Susan and Reginald is made up； and we are all as
we were before。 One point only is gained。 Sir James Martin is dismissed。
What are we now to look forward to？ I am indeed disappointed； Reginald was
all but gone； his horse was ordered and all but brought to the door； who
would not have felt safe？ For half an hour I was in momentary expectation
of his departure。 After I had sent off my letter to you； I went to Mr。
Vernon； and sat with him in his room talking over the whole matter； and
then determined to look for Frederica； whom I had not seen since breakfast。
I met her on the stairs； and saw that she was crying。 〃My dear aunt；〃 said
she； 〃he is goingMr。 De Courcy is going； and it is all my fault。 I am
afraid you will be very angry with me。 but indeed I had no idea it would
end so。〃 〃My love；〃 I replied； 〃do not think it necessary to apologize to
me on that account。 I shall feel myself under an obligation to anyone who
is the means of sending my brother home； because；〃 recollecting myself； 〃I
know my father wants very much to see him。 But what is it you have done to
occasion all this？〃 She blushed deeply as she answered： 〃I was so unhappy
about Sir James that I could not helpI have done something very wrong； I
know； but you have not an idea of the misery I have been in： and mamma had
ordered me never to speak to you or my uncle about it； and〃 〃You
therefore spoke to my brother to engage his interference；〃 said I； to save
her the explanation。 〃No； but I wrote to himI did indeed； I got up this
morning before it was light； and was two hours about it； and when my letter
was done I thought I never should have courage to give it。 After breakfast
however； as I was going to my room； I met him in the passage； and then； as
I knew that everything must depend on that moment； I forced myself to give
it。 He was so good as to take it immediately。 I dared not look at him； and
ran away directly。 I was in such a fright I could hardly breathe。 My dear
aunt； you do not know how miserable I have been。〃 〃 Frederica〃 said I；
〃you ought to have told me all your distresses。 You would have found in me
a friend always ready to assist you。 Do you think that your uncle or I
should not have espoused your cause as warmly as my brother？〃 〃Indeed； I
did not doubt your kindness；〃 said she； colouring again； 〃but I thought Mr。
De Courcy could do anything with my mother； but I was mistaken： they have
had a dreadful quarrel about it； and he is
