_Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson._
Churchhill.
You will be eager, I know, to hear something further of Frederica, and
perhaps may think me negligent for not writing before. She arrived with
her uncle last Thursday fortnight, when, of course, I lost no time in
demanding the cause of her behaviour; and soon found myself to have
been perfectly right in attributing it to my own letter. The prospect
of it frightened her so thoroughly, that, with a mixture of true
girlish perverseness and folly, she resolved on getting out of the
house and proceeding directly by the stage to her friends, the Clarkes;
and had really got as far as the length of two streets in her journey
when she was fortunately missed, pursued, and overtaken. Such was the
first distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica Vernon; and, if we
consider that it was achieved at the tender age of sixteen, we shall
have room for the most flattering prognostics of her future renown. I
am excessively provoked, however, at the parade of propriety which
prevented Miss Summers from keeping the girl; and it seems so
extraordinary a piece of nicety, considering my daughter’s family
connections, that I can only suppose the lady to be governed by the
fear of never getting her money. Be that as it may, however, Frederica
is returned on my hands; and, having nothing else to employ her, is
busy in pursuing the plan of romance begun at Langford. She is actually
falling in love with Reginald De Courcy! To disobey her mother by
refusing an unexceptionable offer is not enough; her affections must
also be given without her mother’s approbation. I never saw a girl of
her age bid fairer to be the sport of mankind. Her feelings are
tolerably acute, and she is so charmingly artless in their display as
to afford the most reasonable hope of her being ridiculous, and
despised by every man who sees her.
Artlessness will never do in love matters; and that girl is born a
simpleton who has it either by nature or affectation. I am not yet
certain that Reginald sees what she is about, nor is it of much
consequence. She is now an object of indifference to him, and she would
be one of contempt were he to understand her emotions. Her beauty is
much admired by the Vernons, but it has no effect on him. She is in
high favour with her aunt altogether, because she is so little like
myself, of course. She is exactly the companion for Mrs. Vernon, who
dearly loves to be firm, and to have all the sense and all the wit of
the conversation to herself: Frederica will never eclipse her. When she
first came I was at some pains to prevent her seeing much of her aunt;
but I have relaxed, as I believe I may depend on her observing the
rules I have laid down for their discourse. But do not imagine that
with all this lenity I have for a moment given up my plan of her
marriage. No; I am unalterably fixed on this point, though I have not
yet quite decided on the manner of bringing it about. I should not
chuse to have the business brought on here, and canvassed by the wise
heads of Mr. and Mrs. Vernon; and I cannot just now afford to go to
town. Miss Frederica must therefore wait a little.
Yours ever,
S. VERNON.