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was as affectionate and agreeable as ever； and not a syllable； not a hint
was dropped； of any disagreement or coolness between them。 I asked her
whether she had seen my brother since his arrival in town； not； as you may
suppose； with any doubt of the fact； but merely to see how she looked。 She
immediately answered； without any embarrassment； that he had been kind
enough to call on her on Monday； but she believed he had already returned
home； which I was very far from crediting。 Your kind invitation is accepted
by us with pleasure； and on Thursday next we and our little ones will be
with you。 Pray heaven； Reginald may not be in town again by that time！ I
wish we could bring dear Frederica too； but I am sorry to say that her
mother's errand hither was to fetch her away； and； miserable as it made the
poor girl； it was impossible to detain her。 I was thoroughly unwilling to
let her go； and so was her uncle； and all that could be urged we did urge；
but Lady Susan declared that as she was now about to fix herself in London
for several months； she could not be easy if her daughter were not with her
for masters； &c。 Her manner； to be sure； was very kind and proper； and Mr。
Vernon believes that Frederica will now be treated with affection。 I wish I
could think so too。 The poor girl's heart was almost broke at taking leave
of us。 I charged her to write to me very often； and to remember that if she
were in any distress we should be always her friends。 I took care to see
her alone； that I might say all this； and I hope made her a little more
comfortable； but I shall not be easy till I can go to town and judge of her
situation myself。 I wish there were a better prospect than now appears of
the match which the conclusion of your letter declares your expectations
of。 At present； it is not very likely
Yours ever； &c。；
C。 VERNON
CONCLUSION
This correspondence； by a meeting between some of the parties； and a
separation between the others； could not； to the great detriment of the
Post Office revenue； be continued any longer。 Very little assistance to the
State could be derived from the epistolary intercourse of Mrs。 Vernon and
her niece； for the former soon perceived； by the style of Frederica's
letters； that they were written under her mother's inspection！ and
therefore； deferring all particular enquiry till she could make it
personally in London； ceased writing minutely or often。 Having learnt
enough； in the meanwhile； from her open…hearted brother； of what had passed
between him and Lady Susan to sink the latter lower than ever in her
opinion； she was proportionably more anxious to get Frederica removed from
such a mother； and placed under her own care； and； though with little hope
of success； was resolved to leave nothing unattempted that might offer a
chance of obtaining her sister…in…law's consent to it。 Her anxiety on the
subject made her press for an early visit to London； and Mr。 Vernon； who；
as it must already have appeared； lived only to do whatever he was desired；
soon found some accommodating business to call him thither。 With a heart
full of the matter； Mrs。 Vernon waited on Lady Susan shortly after her
arrival in town； and was met with such an easy and cheerful affection； as
made her almost turn from her with horror。 No remembrance of Reginald； no
consciousness of guilt； gave one look of embarrassment； she was in
excellent spirits； and seemed eager to show at once by ever possible
attention to her brother and sister her sense of their kindness； and her
pleasure in their society。 Frederica was no more altered than Lady Susan；
the same restrained manners； the same timid look in the presence of her
mother as heretofore； assured her aunt of her situation being
uncomfortable； and confirmed her in the plan of altering it。 No unkindness；
however； on the part of Lady Susan appeared。 Persecution on the subject of
Sir James was entirely at an end； his name merely mentioned to say that he
was not in London； and indeed； in all her conversation； she was solicitous
only for the welfare and improvement of her daughter； acknowledging； in
terms of grateful delight； that Frederica was now growing every day more
and more what a parent could desire。 Mrs。 Vernon； surprized and
incredulous； knew not what to suspect； and； without any change in her own
views； only feared greater difficulty in accomplishing them。 The first hope
of anything better was derived from Lady Susan's asking her whether she
thought Frederica looked quite as well as she had done at Churchhill； as
she must confess herself to have sometimes an anxious doubt of London's
perfectly agreeing with her。 Mrs。 Vernon； encouraging the doubt； directly
proposed her niece's returning with them into the country。 Lady Susan was
unable to express her sense of such kindness； yet knew not； from a variety
of reasons； how to part with her daughter； and as； though her own plans
were not yet wholly fixed； she trusted it would ere long be in her power to
take Frederica into the country herself； concluded by declining entirely to
profit by such unexampled attention。 Mrs。 Vernon persevered； however； in
the offer of it； and though Lady Susan continued to resist； her resistance
in the course of a few days seemed somewhat less formidable。 The lucky
alarm of an influenza decided what might not have been decided quite so
soon。 Lady Susan's maternal fears were then too much awakened for her to
think of anything but Frederica's removal from the risk of infection； above
all disorders in the world she most dreaded the influenza for her
daughter's constitution！
Frederica returned to Churchhill with her uncle and aunt； and three
weeks afterwards； Lady Susan announced her being married to Sir James
Martin。 Mrs。 Vernon was then convinced of what she had only suspected
before； that she might have spared herself all the trouble of urging a
removal which Lady Susan had doubtless resolved on from the first。
Frederica's visit was nominally for six weeks； but her mother； though
inviting her to return in one or two affectionate letters； was very ready
to oblige the whole party by consenting to a prolongation of her stay； and
in the course of two months ceased to write of her absence； and in the
course of two or more to write to her at all。 Frederica was therefore fixed
in the family of her uncle and aunt till such time as Reginald De Courcy
could be talked； flattered； and finessed into an affection for her which；
allowing leisure for the conquest of his attachment to her mother； for his
abjuring al