LADY SUSAN
PART 8
XXXI
LADY
SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON
Upper
Seymour Street.
My
dear Friend,—That tormenting creature, Reginald, is here. My letter, which was
intended to keep him longer in the country, has hastened him to town. Much as I
wish him away, however, I cannot help being pleased with such a proof of
attachment. He is devoted to me, heart and soul. He will carry this note
himself, which is to serve as an introduction to you, with whom he longs to be
acquainted. Allow him to spend the evening with you, that I may be in no danger
of his returning here. I have told him that I am not quite well, and must be
alone; and should he call again there might be confusion, for it is impossible
to be sure of servants. Keep him, therefore, I entreat you, in Edward Street.
You will not find him a heavy companion, and I allow you to flirt with him as
much as you like. At the same time, do not forget my real interest; say all
that you can to convince him that I shall be quite wretched if he remains here;
you know my reasons—propriety, and so forth. I would urge them more myself, but
that I am impatient to be rid of him, as Mainwaring comes within half an hour.
Adieu!
XXXII
MRS.
JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN
Edward
Street.
My
dear Creature,—I am in agonies, and know not what to do. Mr. De Courcy arrived
just when he should not. Mrs. Mainwaring had that instant entered the house,
and forced herself into her guardian's presence, though I did not know a
syllable of it till afterwards, for I was out when both she and Reginald came,
or I should have sent him away at all events; but she was shut up with Mr. Johnson,
while he waited in the drawing-room for me. She arrived yesterday in pursuit of
her husband, but perhaps you know this already from himself. She came to this
house to entreat my husband's interference, and before I could be aware of it,
everything that you could wish to be concealed was known to him, and unluckily
she had wormed out of Mainwaring's servant that he had visited you every day
since your being in town, and had just watched him to your door herself! What
could I do! Facts are such horrid things! All is by this time known to De
Courcy, who is now alone with Mr. Johnson. Do not accuse me; indeed, it was
impossible to prevent it. Mr. Johnson has for some time suspected De Courcy of
intending to marry you, and would speak with him alone as soon as he knew him
to be in the house. That detestable Mrs. Mainwaring, who, for your comfort, has
fretted herself thinner and uglier than ever, is still here, and they have been
all closeted together. What can be done? At any rate, I hope he will plague his
wife more than ever. With anxious wishes, Yours faithfully,
XXXIII
LADY
SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON
Upper
Seymour Street.
This
eclaircissement is rather provoking. How unlucky that you should have been from
home! I thought myself sure of you at seven! I am undismayed however. Do not
torment yourself with fears on my account; depend on it, I can make my story
good with Reginald. Mainwaring is just gone; he brought me the news of his
wife's arrival. Silly woman, what does she expect by such manoeuvres? Yet I
wish she had stayed quietly at Langford. Reginald will be a little enraged at
first, but by to-morrow's dinner, everything will be well again.
Adieu!
XXXIV
MR.
DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN
—Hotel
I
write only to bid you 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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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 Churchill, 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,
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 Churchill.
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,
XLI
MRS.
VERNON TO LADY DE COURCY
Churchill.
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 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.,
To be continued
