VI

Mrs.VernontoMr.DeCourcy. Churchhill. Well,mydearReginald,Ihaveseenthisdangerouscreature,andmustgiveyousomedescriptionofher,thoughIhopeyouwillsoonbeabletoformyourownjudgment.Sheisreallyexcessivelyprettyhoweveryoumaychoosetoquestiontheallurementsofaladynolongeryoung,Imust,formyownpart,declarethatIhaveseldomseensolovelyawomanasLadySusan.Sheisdelicatelyfair,withfinegreyeyesanddarkeyelashesandfromherappearanceonewouldnotsupposehermorethanfiveandtwenty,thoughshemustinfactbetenyearsolder.Iwascertainlynotdisposedtoadmireher,thoughalwayshearingshewasbeautifulbutIcannothelpfeelingthatshepossessesanuncommonunionofsymmetry,brilliancy,andgrace.Heraddresstomewassogentle,frank,andevenaffectionate,that,ifIhadnotknownhowmuchshehasalwaysdislikedmeformarryingMr.Vernon,andthatwehadnevermetbefore,Ishouldhaveimaginedheranattachedfriend.Oneisapt,Ibelieve,toconnectassuranceofmannerwithcoquetry,andtoexpectthatanimpudentaddresswillnaturallyattendanimpudentmindatleastIwasmyselfpreparedforanimproperdegreeofconfidenceinLadySusanbuthercountenanceisabsolutelysweet,andhervoiceandmannerwinninglymild.Iamsorryitisso,forwhatisthisbutdeceit?Unfortunately,oneknowshertoowell.Sheiscleverandagreeable,hasallthatknowledgeoftheworldwhichmakesconversationeasy,andtalksverywell,withahappycommandoflanguage,whichistoooftenused,Ibelieve,tomakeblackappearwhite.Shehasalreadyalmostpersuadedmeofherbeingwarmlyattachedtoherdaughter,though