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LADY SUSAN
LADY SUSAN JANE AUSTEN Langford Dec.
MY DEAR BROTHER--I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure of
profiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of spending some
weeks with you at Churchhill and therefore if quite convenient to you
and Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present I shall hope within a few days to
be introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be acquainted
with. My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent with me to
prolong my stay but their hospitable and cheerful dispositions lead them
too much into society for my present situation and state of mind; and I
impatiently look forward to the hour when I shall be admitted into Your
delightful retirement.
I long to be made known to your dear little children in whose hearts I
shall be very eager to secure an interest. I shall soon have need for all
my fortitude as I am on the point of separation from 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
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