VI

generoustemper.IwishIcouldbeaswellsatisfiedasheis,thatitwasreallyherchoicetoleaveLangfordforChurchhillandifshehadnotstayedthereformonthsbeforeshediscoveredthatherfriend’smanneroflivingdidnotsuithersituationorfeelings,ImighthavebelievedthatconcernforthelossofsuchahusbandasMr.Vernon,towhomherownbehaviourwasfarfromunexceptionable,mightforatimemakeherwishforretirement.ButIcannotforgetthelengthofhervisittotheMainwarings,andwhenIreflectonthedifferentmodeoflifewhichsheledwiththemfromthattowhichshemustnowsubmit,Icanonlysupposethatthewishofestablishingherreputationbyfollowingthoughlatethepathofpropriety,occasionedherremovalfromafamilywhereshemustinrealityhavebeenparticularlyhappy.YourfriendMr.Smith’sstory,however,cannotbequitecorrect,asshecorrespondsregularlywithMrs.Mainwaring.Atanyrateitmustbeexaggerated.Itisscarcelypossiblethattwomenshouldbesogrosslydeceivedbyheratonce. Yours,&c., CATHERINEVERNON