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

my own daughter.

The long illness of her dear father prevented my paying her that attention

which duty and affection equally dictated, and I have too much reason to

fear that the governess to whose care I consigned her was unequal to the

charge. I have therefore resolved on placing her at one of the best

private schools in town, where I shall have an opportunity of leaving her

myself in my way to you. I am determined, you see, not to be denied

admittance at Churchhill. It would indeed give me most painful sensations

to know that it were not in your power to receive me.

 

Your most obliged and affectionate sister,

 

S. VERNON.

II

LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSON

 

Langford.

 

You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing me fixed at this place

for the rest of the winter: it grieves me to say how greatly you were

mistaken, for I have seldom spent three months more agreeably than those

which have just flown away. At present, nothing goes smoothly; the females

of the family are united against me. You foretold how it would be when I

first came to Langford, and Mainwaring is so uncommonly pleasing that I was

not without apprehensions for myself. I remember saying to myself, as I

drove to the house, “I like this man, pray Heaven no harm come of it!” But

I was determined to be discreet, to bear in mind my being only four months

a widow, and to be as quiet as possible: and I have been so, my dear

creature; I have admitted no one’s attentions but Mainwaring’s. I have

avoided all general flirtation whatever; I have distinguished no creature

besides, of all the numbers resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on

whom I bestowed a little notice, in order to detach him from Miss

Mainwaring; but, if the world could know my motive THERE they would honour

me. I have been called an unkind mother, but it was the sacred impulse of

maternal affection, it was the advantage of my daughter that led me on; and

if that daughter were not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might have

been rewarded for my exertions as I ought.

 

Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica; but Frederica, who was

born to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so violently

against the match that I thought it better to lay aside the scheme for the

present. I have more than once repented that I did not marry him myself;

and were he but one degree less contemptibly weak I certainly should: but I

must own myself rather romantic in that respect, and that riches only will

not satisfy me. The event of all this is very provoking: Sir James is gone,

Maria highly incensed, and Mrs. Mainwaring insupportably jealous; so

jealous, in short, and so enraged against me, that, in the fury of her

temper, I should not be surprized at her appealing to her guardian, if she

had the liberty of addressing him: but there your husband stands my friend;

and the kindest, most amiable action of his life was his throwing her off

for ever on her marriage. Keep up his resentment, therefore, I charge you.

We are now in a sad state; no house was ever more altered; the whole party

are at war, and Mainwaring scarcely dares speak to me. It is time for me to

be gone; I have therefore determined on leaving them, and shall spend, I

hope, a comfortable day with you in town within this week. If I am as

little in favour with Mr. Johnson as ever, you must come to me at 10

Wigmore street; but I hope this may not be the case, for as Mr. Johnson,

with all his faults, is a man to whom that great word “respectable” is

always given, and I am known to be so intimate with his wife, his slighting

me has an awkward look.

 

I take London in my way to that insupportable spot, a country village;

for I am really going to Churchhill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is my

last resource. Were there another place in England open to me I would

prefer it. Charles Vernon is my aversion; and I am afraid of his wife. At

Churchhill, however, I must remain till I have something better in view. My

young lady accompanies me to town, where I shall deposit her under the care

of Miss Summers, in Wigmore street, till she becomes a little more

reasonable. She will make good connections there, as the girls are all

of the best families. The price is immense, and much beyond what I can ever

attempt to pay.

 

Adieu, I will send you a line as soon as I arrive in town.

 

Yours ever,

 

S. VERNON.

III

MRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY

 

Churchhill.

 

My dear Mother,—I am very sorry to tell you that it will not be in our

power to keep our promise of spending our Christmas with you; and we are

prevented that happiness by a circumstance which is not likely to make us

any amends. Lady Susan, in a letter to her brother-in-law, has declared her

intention of visiting us almost immediately; and as such a visit is in all

probability merely an affair of convenience, it is impossible to conjecture

its length. I was by no means prepared for such an event, nor can I now

account for her ladyship’s conduct; Langford appeared so exactly the place

for her in every respect, as well from the elegant and expensive style of

living there, as from her particular attachment to Mr. Mainwaring, that I

was very far from expecting so speedy a distinction, though I always

imagined from her increasing friendship for us since her husband’s death

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 much—engaging 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