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which the whole of your family； far and near； must highly reprobate。 Lady
Susan's age is itself a material objection； but her want of character is
one so much more serious； that the difference of even twelve years becomes
in comparison of small amount。 Were you not blinded by a sort of
fascination； it would be ridiculous in me to repeat the instances of great
misconduct on her side so very generally known。
Her neglect of her husband； her encouragement of other men； her
extravagance and dissipation； were so gross and notorious that no one could
be ignorant of them at the time； nor can now have forgotten them。 To our
family she has always been represented in softened colours by the
benevolence of Mr。 Charles Vernon； and yet； in spite of his generous
endeavours to excuse her； we know that she did； from the most selfish
motives； take all possible pains to prevent his marriage with Catherine。
My years and increasing infirmities make me very desirous of seeing you
settled in the world。 To the fortune of a wife； the goodness of my own will
make me indifferent； but her family and character must be equally
unexceptionable。 When your choice is fixed so that no objection can be
made to it； then I can promise you a ready and cheerful consent； but it is
my duty to oppose a match which deep art only could render possible； and
must in the end make wretched。 It is possible her behaviour may arise only
from vanity； or the wish of gaining the admiration of a man whom she must
imagine to be particularly prejudiced against her； but it is more likely
that she should aim at something further。 She is poor； and may naturally
seek an alliance which must be advantageous to herself； you know your own
rights； and that it is out of my power to prevent your inheriting the
family estate。 My ability of distressing you during my life would be a
species of revenge to which I could hardly stoop under any circumstances。
I honestly tell you my sentiments and intentions： I do not wish to work
on your fears； but on your sense and affection。 It would destroy every
comfort of my life to know that you were married to Lady Susan Vernon； it
would be the death of that honest pride with which I have hitherto
considered my son； I should blush to see him； to hear of him； to think of
him。 I may perhaps do no good but that of relieving my own mind by this
letter； but I felt it my duty to tell you that your partiality for Lady
Susan is no secret to your friends； and to warn you against her。 I should
be glad to hear your reasons for disbelieving Mr。 Smith's intelligence； you
had no doubt of its authenticity a month ago。 If you can give me your
assurance of having no design beyond enjoying the conversation of a clever
woman for a short period； and of yielding admiration only to her beauty and
abilities； without being blinded by them to her faults； you will restore me
to happiness ；but； if you cannot do this； explain to me； at least； what has
occasioned so great an alteration in your opinion of her。
I am； &c。； &c；
REGINALD DE COURCY
XIII
LADY DE COURCY TO MRS。 VERNON
Parklands。
My dear Catherine；Unluckily I was confined to my room when your last
letter came； by a cold which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my
reading it myself； so I could not refuse Your father when he offered to
read it to me； by which means he became acquainted； to my great vexation；
with all your fears about your brother。 I had intended to write to Reginald
myself as soon as my eyes would let me； to point out； as well as I could；
the danger of an intimate acquaintance； with so artful a woman as Lady
Susan； to a young man of his age； and high expectations。 I meant；
moreover； to have reminded him of our being quite alone now； and very much
in need of him to keep up our spirits these long winter evenings。 Whether
it would have done any good can never be settled now； but I am excessively
vexed that Sir Reginald should know anything of a matter which we foresaw
would make him so uneasy。 He caught all your fears the moment he had read
your letter； and I am sure he has not had the business out of his head
since。 He wrote by the same post to Reginald a long letter full of it all；
and particularly asking an explanation of what he may have heard from Lady
Susan to contradict the late shocking reports。 His answer came this
morning； which I shall enclose to you； as I think you will like to see it。
I wish it was more satisfactory； but it seems written with such a
determination to think well of Lady Susan； that his assurances as to
marriage； &c。； do not set my heart at ease。 I say all I can； however； to
satisfy your father； and he is certainly less uneasy since Reginald's
letter。 How provoking it is； my dear Catherine； that this unwelcome guest
of yours should not only prevent our meeting this Christmas； but be the
occasion of so much vexation and trouble！ Kiss the dear children for me。
Your affectionate mother；
C。 DE COURCY。
XIV
MR。 DE COURCY TO SIR REGINALD
Churchhill。
My dear Sir；I have this moment received your letter； which has given
me more astonishment than I ever felt before。 I am to thank my sister； I
suppose； for having represented me in such a light as to injure me in your
opinion； and give you all this alarm。 I know not why she should choose to
make herself and her family uneasy by apprehending an event which no one
but herself； I can affirm； would ever have thought possible。 To impute such
a design to Lady Susan would be taking from her every claim to that
excellent understanding which her bitterest enemies have never denied her；
and equally low must sink my pretensions to common sense if I am suspected
of matrimonial views in my behaviour to her。 Our difference of age must be
an insuperable objection； and I entreat you； my dear father； to quiet your
mind； and no longer harbour a suspicion which cannot he more injurious to
your own peace than to our understandings。 I can have no other view in
remaining with Lady Susan； than to enjoy for a short time （as you have
yourself expressed it） the conversation of a woman of high intellectual
powers。 If Mrs。 Vernon would allow something to my affection for herself
and her husband in the length of my visit； she would do more justice to us
all； but my sister is unhappily prejudiced beyond the hope of conviction
against Lady Susan。 From an attachment to her husband； which in itself does