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rich I am sure； when a man has once got his name in a banking…house he
rolls in money； but they do not know what to do with it； keep very little
company； and never go to London but on business。 We shall be as stupid as
possible。 I mean to win my sister…in…law's heart through the children； I
know all their names already； and am going to attach myself with the
greatest sensibility to one in particular； a young Frederic； whom I take on
my lap and sigh over for his dear uncle's sake。
Poor Mainwaring！ I need not tell you how much I miss him； how
perpetually he is in my thoughts。 I found a dismal letter from him on my
arrival here； full of complaints of his wife and sister； and lamentations
on the cruelty of his fate。 I passed off the letter as his wife's； to the
Vernons； and when I write to him it must be under cover to you。
Ever yours；
S。 VERNON。
VI
MRS。 VERNON TO MR。 DE COURCY
Churchhill。
Well； my dear Reginald； I have seen this dangerous creature； and must
give you some description of her； though I hope you will soon be able to
form your own judgment she is really excessively pretty； however you may
choose to question the allurements of a lady no longer young； I must； for
my own part； declare that I have seldom seen so lovely a woman as Lady
Susan。 She is delicately fair； with fine grey eyes and dark eyelashes； and
from her appearance one would not suppose her more than five and twenty；
though she must in fact be ten years older； I was certainly not disposed to
admire her； though always hearing she was beautiful； but I cannot help
feeling that she possesses an uncommon union of symmetry； brilliancy； and
grace。 Her address to me was so gentle； frank； and even affectionate； that；
if I had not known how much she has always disliked me for marrying Mr。
Vernon； and that we had never met before； I should have imagined her an
attached friend。 One is apt； I believe； to connect assurance of manner with
coquetry； and to expect that an impudent address will naturally attend an
impudent mind； at least I was myself prepared for an improper degree of
confidence in Lady Susan； but her countenance is absolutely sweet； and her
voice and manner winningly mild。 I am sorry it is so； for what is this but
deceit？ Unfortunately； one knows her too well。 She is clever and agreeable；
has all that knowledge of the world which makes conversation easy； and
talks very well； with a happy command of language； which is too often used；
I believe； to make black appear white。 She has already almost persuaded me
of her being warmly attached to her daughter； though I have been so long
convinced to the contrary。 She speaks of her with so much tenderness and
anxiety； lamenting so bitterly the neglect of her education； which she
represents however as wholly unavoidable； that I am forced to recollect how
many successive springs her ladyship spent in town； while her daughter was
left in Staffordshire to the care of servants； or a governess very little
better； to prevent my believing what she says。
If her manners have so great an influence on my resentful heart； you may
judge how much more strongly they operate on Mr。 Vernon's generous temper。
I wish I could be as well satisfied as he is； that it was really her choice
to leave Langford for Churchhill； and if she had not stayed there for
months before she discovered that her friend's manner of living did not
suit her situation or feelings； I might have believed that concern for the
loss of such a husband as Mr。 Vernon； to whom her own behaviour was far
from unexceptionable； might for a time make her wish for retirement。 But
I cannot forget the length of her visit to the Mainwarings； and when I
reflect on the different mode of life which she led with them from that to
which she must now submit； I can only suppose that the wish of establishing
her reputation by following though late the path of propriety； occasioned
her removal from a family where she must in reality have been particularly
happy。 Your friend Mr。 Smith's story； however； cannot be quite correct； as
she corresponds regularly with Mrs。 Mainwaring。 At any rate it must be
exaggerated。 It is scarcely possible that two men should be so grossly
deceived by her at once。
Yours； &c。；
CATHERINE VERNON
VII
LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS。 JOHNSON
Churchhill。
My dear Alicia；You are very good in taking notice of Frederica； and I
am grateful for it as a mark of your friendship； but as I cannot have any
doubt of the warmth of your affection； I am far from exacting so heavy a
sacrifice。 She is a stupid girl； and has nothing to recommend her。 I would
not； therefore； on my account； have you encumber one moment of your
precious time by sending for her to Edward Street； especially as every
visit is so much deducted from the grand affair of education； which I
really wish to have attended to while she remains at Miss Summers's。 I want
her to play and sing with some portion of taste and a good deal of
assurance； as she has my hand and arm and a tolerable voice。 I was so much
indulged in my infant years that I was never obliged to attend to anything；
and consequently am without the accomplishments which are now necessary to
finish a pretty woman。 Not that I am an advocate for the prevailing fashion
of acquiring a perfect knowledge of all languages； arts； and sciences。 It
is throwing time away to be mistress of French； Italian； and German：
music； singing； and drawing； &c。； will gain a woman some applause； but will
not add one lover to her listgrace and manner； after all； are of the
greatest importance。 I do not mean； therefore； that Frederica's
acquirements should be more than superficial； and I flatter myself that she
will not remain long enough at school to understand anything thoroughly。 I
hope to see her the wife of Sir James within a twelvemonth。 You know on
what I ground my hope； and it is certainly a good foundation； for school
must be very humiliating to a girl of Frederica's age。 And； by…the…by； you
had better not invite her any more on that account； as I wish her to find
her situation as unpleasant as possible。 I am sure of Sir James at any
time； and could make him renew his application by a line。 I shall trouble
you meanwhile to prevent his forming any other attachment when he comes to
town。 Ask him to your house occasionally； and talk to him of Frederica；
that he may not forget her。 Upon the whole； I comm