IV
關燈
小
中
大
Mr.DeCourcytoMrs.Vernon.
Parklands.
MydearSister,—IcongratulateyouandMr.VernononbeingabouttoreceiveintoyourfamilythemostaccomplishedcoquetteinEngland.AsaverydistinguishedflirtIhavealwaysbeentaughttoconsiderher,butithaslatelyfalleninmywaytohearsomeparticularsofherconductatLangford:whichprovethatshedoesnotconfineherselftothatsortofhonestflirtationwhichsatisfiesmostpeople,butaspirestothemoredeliciousgratificationofmakingawholefamilymiserable.ByherbehaviourtoMr.Mainwaringshegavejealousyandwretchednesstohiswife,andbyherattentionstoayoungmanpreviouslyattachedtoMr.Mainwaring’ssisterdeprivedanamiablegirlofherlover.
IlearntallthisfromMr.Smith,nowinthisneighbourhood(Ihavedinedwithhim,atHurstandWilford),whoisjustcomefromLangfordwherehewasafortnightwithherladyship,andwhoisthereforewellqualifiedtomakethecommunication.
Whatawomanshemustbe!Ilongtoseeher,andshallcertainlyacceptyourkindinvitation,thatImayformsomeideaofthosebewitchingpowerswhichcandosomuch—engagingatthesametime,andinthesamehouse,theaffectionsoftwomen,whowereneitherofthematlibertytobestowthem—andallthiswithoutthecharmofyouth!IamgladtofindMissVernondoesnotaccompanyhermothertoChurchhill,asshehasnotevenmannerstorecommendherand,accordingtoMr.Smith’saccount,isequallydullandproud.Whereprideandstupidityunitetherecanbenodissimulationworthynotice,andMissVernonshallbeconsignedtounrelentingcontemptbutbyallthatIcangatherLadySusanpossessesadegreeofcaptivatingdeceitwhichitmustbepleasingtowitnessanddetect.Ishallbewithyouverysoon,andamever,
Youraffectionatebrother,
R.DECOURCY.
Parklands.
MydearSister,—IcongratulateyouandMr.VernononbeingabouttoreceiveintoyourfamilythemostaccomplishedcoquetteinEngland.AsaverydistinguishedflirtIhavealwaysbeentaughttoconsiderher,butithaslatelyfalleninmywaytohearsomeparticularsofherconductatLangford:whichprovethatshedoesnotconfineherselftothatsortofhonestflirtationwhichsatisfiesmostpeople,butaspirestothemoredeliciousgratificationofmakingawholefamilymiserable.ByherbehaviourtoMr.Mainwaringshegavejealousyandwretchednesstohiswife,andbyherattentionstoayoungmanpreviouslyattachedtoMr.Mainwaring’ssisterdeprivedanamiablegirlofherlover.
IlearntallthisfromMr.Smith,nowinthisneighbourhood(Ihavedinedwithhim,atHurstandWilford),whoisjustcomefromLangfordwherehewasafortnightwithherladyship,andwhoisthereforewellqualifiedtomakethecommunication.
Whatawomanshemustbe!Ilongtoseeher,andshallcertainlyacceptyourkindinvitation,thatImayformsomeideaofthosebewitchingpowerswhichcandosomuch—engagingatthesametime,andinthesamehouse,theaffectionsoftwomen,whowereneitherofthematlibertytobestowthem—andallthiswithoutthecharmofyouth!IamgladtofindMissVernondoesnotaccompanyhermothertoChurchhill,asshehasnotevenmannerstorecommendherand,accordingtoMr.Smith’saccount,isequallydullandproud.Whereprideandstupidityunitetherecanbenodissimulationworthynotice,andMissVernonshallbeconsignedtounrelentingcontemptbutbyallthatIcangatherLadySusanpossessesadegreeofcaptivatingdeceitwhichitmustbepleasingtowitnessanddetect.Ishallbewithyouverysoon,andamever,
Youraffectionatebrother,
R.DECOURCY.