III

wever,ashealwaysistothinkthebestofeveryone,herdisplayofgrief,andprofessionsofregret,andgeneralresolutionsofprudence,weresufficienttosoftenhisheartandmakehimreallyconfideinhersinceritybut,asformyself,Iamstillunconvinced,andplausiblyasherladyshiphasnowwritten,IcannotmakeupmymindtillIbetterunderstandherrealmeaningincomingtous.Youmayguess,therefore,mydearmadam,withwhatfeelingsIlookforwardtoherarrival.ShewillhaveoccasionforallthoseattractivepowersforwhichsheiscelebratedtogainanyshareofmyregardandIshallcertainlyendeavourtoguardmyselfagainsttheirinfluence,ifnotaccompaniedbysomethingmoresubstantial.Sheexpressesamosteagerdesireofbeingacquaintedwithme,andmakesverygraciousmentionofmychildrenbutIamnotquiteweakenoughtosupposeawomanwhohasbehavedwithinattention,ifnotwithunkindness,toherownchild,shouldbeattachedtoanyofmine.MissVernonistobeplacedataschoolinLondonbeforehermothercomestouswhichIamgladof,forhersakeandmyown.Itmustbetoheradvantagetobeseparatedfromhermother,andagirlofsixteenwhohasreceivedsowretchedaneducation,couldnotbeaverydesirablecompanionhere.Reginaldhaslongwished,Iknow,toseethecaptivatingLadySusan,andweshalldependonhisjoiningourpartysoon.Iamgladtohearthatmyfathercontinuessowellandam,withbestlove,&c., CATHERINEVERNON.