I really grow quite uneasy, my dearest mother, about Reginald, from
witnessing the very rapid increase of Lady Susan’s influence. They are
now on terms of the most particular friendship, frequently engaged in
long conversations together; and she has contrived by the most artful
coquetry to subdue his judgment to her own purposes. It is impossible
to see the intimacy between them so very soon established without some
alarm, though I can hardly suppose that Lady Susan’s plans extend to
marriage. I wish you could get Reginald home again on any plausible
pretence; he is not at all disposed to leave us, and I have given him
as many hints of my father’s precarious state of health as common
decency will allow me to do in my own house. Her power over him must
now be boundless, as she has entirely effaced all his former
ill-opinion, and persuaded him not merely to forget but to justify her
conduct. Mr. Smith’s account of her proceedings at Langford, where he
accused her of having made Mr. Mainwaring and a young man engaged to
Miss Mainwaring distractedly in love with her, which Reginald firmly
believed when he came here, is now, he is persuaded, only a scandalous
invention. He has told me so with a warmth of manner which spoke his
regret at having believed the contrary himself. How sincerely do I
grieve that she ever entered this house! I always looked forward to her
coming with uneasiness; but very far was it from originating in anxiety
for Reginald. I expected a most disagreeable companion for myself, but
could not imagine that my brother would be in the smallest danger of
being captivated by a woman with whose principles he was so well
acquainted, and whose character he so heartily despised. If you can get
him away it will be a good thing.
Yours, &c.,
CATHERINE VERNON.