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Edward Street。
I am gratified by your reference； and this is my advice： that you come
to town yourself； without loss of time； but that you leave Frederica
behind。 It would surely be much more to the purpose to get yourself well
established by marrying Mr。 De Courcy； than to irritate him and the rest of
his family by making her marry Sir James。 You should think more of yourself
and less of your daughter。 She is not of a disposition to do you credit in
the world； and seems precisely in her proper place at Churchhill； with the
Vernons。 But you are fitted for society； and it is shameful to have you
exiled from it。 Leave Frederica； therefore； to punish herself for the
plague she has given you； by indulging that romantic tender…heartedness
which will always ensure her misery enough； and come to London as soon as
you can。 I have another reason for urging this： Mainwaring came to town
last week； and has contrived； in spite of Mr。 Johnson； to make
opportunities of seeing me。 He is absolutely miserable about you； and
jealous to such a degree of De Courcy that it would be highly unadvisable
for them to meet at present。 And yet； if you do not allow him to see you
here； I cannot answer for his not committing some great imprudencesuch as
going to Churchhill； for instance； which would be dreadful！ Besides； if you
take my advice； and resolve to marry De Courcy； it will be indispensably
necessary to you to get Mainwaring out of the way； and you only can have
influence enough to send him back to his wife。 I have still another motive
for your coming： Mr。 Johnson leaves London next Tuesday； he is going for
his health to Bath； where； if the waters are favourable to his constitution
and my wishes； he will be laid up with the gout many weeks。 During his
absence we shall be able to chuse our own society； and to have true
enjoyment。 I would ask you to Edward Street； but that once he forced from
me a kind of promise never to invite you to my house； nothing but my being
in the utmost distress for money should have extorted it from me。 I can get
you； however； a nice drawing…room apartment in Upper Seymour Street； and we
may be always together there or here； for I consider my promise to Mr。
Johnson as comprehending only （at least in his absence） your not sleeping
in the house。 Poor Mainwaring gives me such histories of his wife's
jealousy。 Silly woman to expect constancy from so charming a man！ but she
always was sillyintolerably so in marrying him at all； she the heiress of
a large fortune and he without a shilling： one title； I know； she might
have had； besides baronets。 Her folly in forming the connection was so
great that； though Mr。 Johnson was her guardian； and I do not in general
share HIS feelings； I never can forgive her。
Adieu。 Yours ever；
ALICIA。
XXVII
MRS。 VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY
Churchhill。
This letter； my dear Mother； will be brought you by Reginald。 His long
visit is about to be concluded at last； but I fear the separation takes
place too late to do us any good。 She is going to London to see her
particular friend； Mrs。 Johnson。 It was at first her intention that
Frederica should accompany her； for the benefit of masters； but we
overruled her there。 Frederica was wretched in the idea of going； and I
could not bear to have her at the mercy of her mother； not all the masters
in London could compensate for the ruin of her comfort。 I should have
feared； too； for her health； and for everything but her principlesthere
I believe she is not to be injured by her mother； or her mother's friends；
but with those friends she must have mixed （a very bad set； I doubt not）；
or have been left in total solitude； and I can hardly tell which would have
been worse for her。 If she is with her mother； moreover； she must； alas！ in
all probability be with Reginald； and that would be the greatest evil of
all。 Here we shall in time be in peace； and our regular employments； our
books and conversations； with exercise； the children； and every domestic
pleasure in my power to procure her； will； I trust； gradually overcome this
youthful attachment。 I should not have a doubt of it were she slighted for
any other woman in the world than her own mother。 How long Lady Susan will
be in town； or whether she returns here again； I know not。 I could not be
cordial in my invitation； but if she chuses to come no want of cordiality
on my part will keep her away。 I could not help asking Reginald if he
intended being in London this winter； as soon as I found her ladyship's
steps would be bent thither； and though he professed himself quite
undetermined； there was something in his look and voice as he spoke which
contradicted his words。 I have done with lamentation； I look upon the event
as so far decided that I resign myself to it in despair。 If he leaves you
soon for London everything will be concluded。
Your affectionate； &c。；
C。 VERNON。
XXVIII
MRS。 JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN
Edward Street。
My dearest Friend；I write in the greatest distress； the most
unfortunate event has just taken place。 Mr。 Johnson has hit on the most
effectual manner of plaguing us all。 He had heard； I imagine； by some means
or other； that you were soon to be in London； and immediately contrived to
have such an attack of the gout as must at least delay his journey to Bath；
if not wholly prevent it。 I am persuaded the gout is brought on or kept off
at pleasure； it was the same when I wanted to join the Hamiltons to the
Lakes； and three years ago； when I had a fancy for Bath； nothing could
induce him to have a gouty symptom。
I am pleased to find that my letter had so much effect on you； and that
De Courcy is certainly your own。 Let me hear from you as soon as you
arrive； and in particular tell me what you mean to do with Mainwaring。 It
is impossible to say when I shall be able to come to you； my confinement
must be great。 It is such an abominable trick to be ill here instead of at
Bath that I can scarcely command myself at all。 At Bath his old aunts
would have nursed him； but here it all falls upon me； and he bears pain
with such patience that I have not the common excuse for losing my temper。
Yours ever；
ALICIA。
XXIX
LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS。 JOHNSON
Upper Seymour Street。
My dear Alicia；There