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that we should； at some future period； be obliged to receive her。 Mr。
Vernon； I think； was a great deal too kind to her when he was in
Staffordshire； her behaviour to him； independent of her general character；
has been so inexcusably artful and ungenerous since our marriage was first
in agitation that no one less amiable and mild than himself could have
overlooked it all； and though； as his brother's widow； and in narrow
circumstances； it was proper to render her pecuniary assistance； I cannot
help thinking his pressing invitation to her to visit us at Churchhill
perfectly unnecessary。 Disposed； however； as he always is to think the
best of everyone； her display of grief； and professions of regret； and
general resolutions of prudence； were sufficient to soften his heart and
make him really confide in her sincerity； but； as for myself； I am still
unconvinced； and plausibly as her ladyship has now written； I cannot make
up my mind till I better understand her real meaning in coming to us。 You
may guess； therefore； my dear madam； with what feelings I look forward to
her arrival。 She will have occasion for all those attractive powers for
which she is celebrated to gain any share of my regard； and I shall
certainly endeavour to guard myself against their influence； if not
accompanied by something more substantial。 She expresses a most eager
desire of being acquainted with me； and makes very gracious mention of my
children but I am not quite weak enough to suppose a woman who has behaved
with inattention； if not with unkindness； to her own child； should be
attached to any of mine。 Miss Vernon is to be placed at a school in London
before her mother comes to us which I am glad of； for her sake and my own。
It must be to her advantage to be separated from her mother； and a girl of
sixteen who has received so wretched an education； could not be a very
desirable companion here。 Reginald has long wished； I know； to see the
captivating Lady Susan； and we shall depend on his joining our party soon。
I am glad to hear that my father continues so well； and am； with best love；
&c。；
CATHERINE VERNON。
IV
MR。 DE COURCY TO MRS。 VERNON
Parklands。
My dear Sister；I congratulate you and Mr。 Vernon on being about to
receive into your family the most accomplished coquette in England。 As a
very distinguished flirt I have always been taught to consider her； but it
has lately fallen In my way to hear some particulars of her conduct at
Langford： which prove that she does not confine herself to that sort of
honest flirtation which satisfies most people； but aspires to the more
delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable。 By her
behaviour to Mr。 Mainwaring she gave jealousy and wretchedness to his wife；
and by her attentions to a young man previously attached to Mr。
Mainwaring's sister deprived an amiable girl of her lover。
I learnt all this from Mr。 Smith； now in this neighbourhood （I have
dined with him； at Hurst and Wilford）； who is just come from Langford where
he was a fortnight with her ladyship； and who is therefore well qualified
to make the communication。
What a woman she must be！ I long to see her； and shall certainly accept
your kind invitation； that I may form some idea of those bewitching powers
which can do so muchengaging at the same time； and in the same house； the
affections of two men； who were neither of them at liberty to bestow them…
…and all this without the charm of youth！ I am glad to find Miss Vernon
does not accompany her mother to Churchhill； as she has not even manners to
recommend her； and； according to Mr。 Smith's account； is equally dull and
proud。 Where pride and stupidity unite there can be no dissimulation worthy
notice； and Miss Vernon shall be consigned to unrelenting contempt； but by
all that I can gather Lady Susan possesses a degree of captivating deceit
which it must be pleasing to witness and detect。 I shall be with you very
soon； and am ever；
Your affectionate brother；
R。 DE COURCY。
V
LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS。 JOHNSON
Churchhill。
I received your note； my dear Alicia； just before I left town； and
rejoice to be assured that Mr。 Johnson suspected nothing of your engagement
the evening before。 It is undoubtedly better to deceive him entirely； and
since he will be stubborn he must be tricked。 I arrived here in safety； and
have no reason to complain of my reception from Mr。 Vernon； but I confess
myself not equally satisfied with the behaviour of his lady。 She is
perfectly well…bred； indeed； and has the air of a woman of fashion； but her
manners are not such as can persuade me of her being prepossessed in my
favour。 I wanted her to be delighted at seeing me。 I was as amiable as
possible on the occasion； but all in vain。 She does not like me。 To be sure
when we consider that I DID take some pains to prevent my brother…in…law's
marrying her； this want of cordiality is not very surprizing； and yet it
shows an illiberal and vindictive spirit to resent a project which
influenced me six years ago； and which never succeeded at last。
I am sometimes disposed to repent that I did not let Charles buy Vernon
Castle； when we were obliged to sell it； but it was a trying circumstance；
especially as the sale took place exactly at the time of his marriage； and
everybody ought to respect the delicacy of those feelings which could not
endure that my husband's dignity should be lessened by his younger
brother's having possession of the family estate。 Could matters have been
so arranged as to prevent the necessity of our leaving the castle； could we
have lived with Charles and kept him single； I should have been very far
from persuading my husband to dispose of it elsewhere； but Charles was on
the point of marrying Miss De Courcy； and the event has justified me。 Here
are children in abundance； and what benefit could have accrued to me from
his purchasing Vernon？ My having prevented it may perhaps have given his
wife an unfavourable impression； but where there is a disposition to
dislike； a motive will never be wanting； and as to money matters it has not
withheld him from being very useful to me。 I really have a regard for him；
he is so easily imposed upon！ The house is a good one； the furniture
fashionable； and everything announces plenty and elegance。 Charles is very
rich I am sure； when a man has once got his name in a banking…house he
rolls in money；