Lady Susan, Jane Austen [best books to read in life txt] 📗

farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as you

are. Since we parted yesterday, I have received from indisputable authority

such a history of you as must bring the most mortifying conviction of the

imposition I have been under, and the absolute necessity of an immediate

and eternal separation from you. You cannot doubt to what I allude.

Langford! Langford! that word will be sufficient. I received my information

in Mr. Johnson’s house, from Mrs. Mainwaring herself. You know how I have

loved you; you can intimately judge of my present feelings, but I am not so

weak as to find indulgence in describing them to a woman who will glory in

having excited their anguish, but whose affection they have never been able

to gain.

 

R. DE COURCY.

XXXV

LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY

 

Upper Seymour Street.

 

I will not attempt to describe my astonishment in reading the note this

moment received from you. I am bewildered in my endeavours to form some

rational conjecture of what Mrs. Mainwaring can have told you to occasion

so extraordinary a change in your sentiments. Have I not explained

everything to you with respect to myself which could bear a doubtful

meaning, and which the ill-nature of the world had interpreted to my

discredit? What can you now have heard to stagger your esteem for me? Have

I ever had a concealment from you? Reginald, you agitate me beyond

expression, I cannot suppose that the old story of Mrs. Mainwaring’s

jealousy can be revived again, or at least be LISTENED to again. Come to me

immediately, and explain what is at present absolutely incomprehensible.

Believe me the single word of Langford is not of such potent intelligence

as to supersede the necessity of more. If we ARE to part, it will at least

be handsome to take your personal leave—but I have little heart to jest;

in truth, I am serious enough; for to be sunk, though but for an hour, in

your esteem Is a humiliation to which I know not how to submit. I shall

count every minute till your arrival.

 

S. V.

XXXVI

MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN

 

–- Hotel.

 

Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars? But, since it

must be so, I am obliged to declare that all the accounts of your

misconduct during the life, and since the death of Mr. Vernon, which had

reached me, in common with the world in general, and gained my entire

belief before I saw you, but which you, by the exertion of your perverted

abilities, had made me resolved to disallow, have been unanswerably proved

to me; nay more, I am assured that a connection, of which I had never

before entertained a thought, has for some time existed, and still

continues to exist, between you and the man whose family you robbed of its

peace in return for the hospitality with which you were received into it;

that you have corresponded with him ever since your leaving Langford; not

with his wife, but with him, and that he now visits you every day. Can you,

dare you deny it? and all this at the time when I was an encouraged, an

accepted lover! From what have I not escaped! I have only to be grateful.

Far from me be all complaint, every sigh of regret. My own folly had

endangered me, my preservation I owe to the kindness, the integrity of

another; but the unfortunate Mrs. Mainwaring, whose agonies while she

related the past seemed to threaten her reason, how is SHE to be consoled!

After such a discovery as this, you will scarcely affect further wonder at

my meaning in bidding you adieu. My understanding is at length restored,

and teaches no less to abhor the artifices which had subdued me than to

despise myself for the weakness on which their strength was founded.

 

R. DE COURCY.

XXXVII

LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY

 

Upper Seymour Street.

 

I am satisfied, and will trouble you no more when these few lines are

dismissed. The engagement which you were eager to form a fortnight ago is

no longer compatible with your views, and I rejoice to find that the

prudent advice of your parents has not been given in vain. Your restoration

to peace will, I doubt not, speedily follow this act of filial obedience,

and I flatter myself with the hope of surviving my share in this

disappointment.

 

S. V.

XXXVIII

MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN VERNON

 

Edward Street

 

I am grieved, though I cannot be astonished at your rupture with Mr. De

Courcy; he has just informed Mr. Johnson of it by letter. He leaves London,

he says, to-day. Be assured that I partake in all your feelings, and do not

be angry if I say that our intercourse, even by letter, must soon be given

up. It makes me miserable; but Mr. Johnson vows that if I persist in the

connection, he will settle in the country for the rest of his life, and you

know it is impossible to submit to such an extremity while any other

alternative remains. You have heard of course that the Mainwarings are to

part, and I am afraid Mrs. M. will come home to us again; but she is still

so fond of her husband, and frets so much about him, that perhaps she may

not live long. Miss Mainwaring is just come to town to be with her aunt,

and they say that she declares she will have Sir James Martin before she

leaves London again. If I were you, I would certainly get him myself. I had

almost forgot to give you my opinion of Mr. De Courcy; I am really

delighted with him; he is full as handsome, I think, as Mainwaring, and

with such an open, good-humoured countenance, that one cannot help loving

him at first sight. Mr. Johnson and he are the greatest friends in the

world. Adieu, my dearest Susan, I wish matters did not go so perversely.

That unlucky visit to Langford! but I dare say you did all for the best,

and there is no defying destiny.

 

Your sincerely attached

 

ALICIA.

XXXIX

LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON

 

Upper Seymour Street.

 

My dear Alicia,—I yield to the necessity which parts us. Under

circumstances you could not act otherwise. Our friendship cannot be

impaired by it, and in happier times, when your situation is as independent

as mine, it will unite us again in the same intimacy as ever. For this I

shall impatiently wait, and meanwhile can safely assure you that I never

was more at ease, or better satisfied with myself and everything about me

than at the present hour. Your husband I abhor, Reginald I despise, and I

am secure of never seeing either again. Have I not reason to rejoice?

Mainwaring is more devoted to me than ever; and were we at liberty, I doubt

if I could resist even matrimony offered by HIM. This event, if his wife

live with you, it may be in your power to hasten. The violence of her

feelings, which must wear her out, may be easily kept in irritation. I rely

on your friendship for this. I am now satisfied that I never could have

brought myself to marry Reginald, and am equally determined that Frederica

never shall. To-morrow, I shall fetch her from Churchhill, and let Maria

Mainwaring tremble for the consequence. Frederica shall be Sir James’s wife

before she quits my house, and she may whimper, and the Vernons may storm,

I regard them not. I am tired of submitting my will to the caprices of

others; of resigning my own judgment in deference to those to whom I owe no

duty, and for whom I feel no respect. I have given up too much, have been

too easily worked on, but Frederica shall now feel the difference. Adieu,

dearest of friends; may the next gouty attack be more favourable! and may

you always regard me as unalterably yours,

 

S. VERNON

XL

LADY DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNON

 

My dear Catherine,—I have charming news for you, and if I had not sent

off my letter this morning you might have been spared the vexation of

knowing of Reginald’s being gone to London, for he is returned. Reginald is

returned, not to ask our consent to his marrying Lady Susan, but to tell us

they are parted for ever. He has been only an hour in the house, and I have

not been able to learn particulars, for he is so very low that I have not

the heart to ask questions, but I hope we shall soon know all. This is the

most joyful hour he has ever given us since the day of his birth. Nothing

is wanting but to have you here, and it is our particular wish and entreaty

that you would come to us as soon as you can. You have owed us a visit many

long weeks; I hope nothing will make it inconvenient to Mr. Vernon; and

pray bring all my grand-children; and your dear niece is included, of

course; I long to see her. It has been a sad, heavy winter hitherto,

without Reginald, and seeing nobody from Churchhill. I never found the

season so dreary before; but this happy meeting will make us young again.

Frederica runs much in my thoughts, and when Reginald has recovered his

usual good spirits (as I trust he soon will) we will try to rob him of his

heart once more, and I am full of hopes of seeing their hands joined at no

great distance.

 

Your affectionate mother,

 

C. DE COURCY

XLI

MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY

 

Churchhill.

 

My dear Mother,—Your letter has surprized me beyond measure! Can it be

true that they are really separated—and for ever? I should be overjoyed

if I dared depend on it, but after all that I have seen how can one be

secure? And Reginald really with you! My surprize is the greater because on

Wednesday, the very day of his coming to Parklands, we had a most

unexpected and unwelcome visit from Lady Susan, looking all cheerfulness

and good-humour, and seeming more as if she were to marry him when she got

to London than as if parted from him for ever. She stayed nearly two hours,

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