_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
him single, I should have been very far from persuading my husband to
dispose of it elsewhere; but Charles was on the point of marrying Miss
De Courcy, and the event has justified me. Here are children in
abundance, and what benefit could have accrued to me from his
purchasing Vernon? My having prevented it may perhaps have given his
wife an unfavourable impression, but where there is a disposition to
dislike, a motive will never be wanting; and as to money matters it has
not withheld him from being very useful to me. I really have a regard
for him, he is so easily imposed upon! The house is a good one, the
furniture fashionable, and everything announces plenty and elegance.
Charles is very 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.