V

velivedwithCharlesandkepthimsingle,IshouldhavebeenveryfarfrompersuadingmyhusbandtodisposeofitelsewherebutCharleswasonthepointofmarryingMissDeCourcy,andtheeventhasjustifiedme.Herearechildreninabundance,andwhatbenefitcouldhaveaccruedtomefromhispurchasingVernon?Myhavingpreventeditmayperhapshavegivenhiswifeanunfavourableimpression,butwherethereisadispositiontodislike,amotivewillneverbewantingandastomoneymattersithasnotwithheldhimfrombeingveryusefultome.Ireallyhavearegardforhim,heissoeasilyimposedupon!Thehouseisagoodone,thefurniturefashionable,andeverythingannouncesplentyandelegance.CharlesisveryrichIamsurewhenamanhasoncegothisnameinabanking-househerollsinmoneybuttheydonotknowwhattodowithit,keepverylittlecompany,andnevergotoLondonbutonbusiness.Weshallbeasstupidaspossible.Imeantowinmysister-in-law’sheartthroughthechildrenIknowalltheirnamesalready,andamgoingtoattachmyselfwiththegreatestsensibilitytooneinparticular,ayoungFrederic,whomItakeonmylapandsighoverforhisdearuncle’ssake. PoorMainwaring!IneednottellyouhowmuchImisshim,howperpetuallyheisinmythoughts.Ifoundadismalletterfromhimonmyarrivalhere,fullofcomplaintsofhiswifeandsister,andlamentationsonthecrueltyofhisfate.Ipassedofftheletterashiswife’s,totheVernons,andwhenIwritetohimitmustbeundercovertoyou. Everyours, S.VERNON.