VII

pplicationbyaline.Ishalltroubleyoumeanwhiletopreventhisforminganyotherattachmentwhenhecomestotown.Askhimtoyourhouseoccasionally,andtalktohimofFrederica,thathemaynotforgether.Uponthewhole,Icommendmyownconductinthisaffairextremely,andregarditasaveryhappyinstanceofcircumspectionandtenderness.Somemotherswouldhaveinsistedontheirdaughter’sacceptingsogoodanofferonthefirstoverturebutIcouldnotreconcileittomyselftoforceFredericaintoamarriagefromwhichherheartrevolted,andinsteadofadoptingsoharshameasuremerelyproposetomakeitherownchoice,byrenderingherthoroughlyuncomfortabletillshedoesaccepthim—butenoughofthistiresomegirl.YoumaywellwonderhowIcontrivetopassmytimehere,andforthefirstweekitwasinsufferablydull.Now,however,webegintomend,ourpartyisenlargedbyMrs.Vernon’sbrother,ahandsomeyoungman,whopromisesmesomeamusement.Thereissomethingabouthimwhichratherinterestsme,asortofsaucinessandfamiliaritywhichIshallteachhimtocorrect.Heislively,andseemsclever,andwhenIhaveinspiredhimwithgreaterrespectformethanhissister’skindofficeshaveimplanted,hemaybeanagreeableflirt.Thereisexquisitepleasureinsubduinganinsolentspirit,inmakingapersonpredeterminedtodislikeacknowledgeone’ssuperiority.Ihavedisconcertedhimalreadybymycalmreserve,anditshallbemyendeavourtohumbletheprideoftheseselfimportantDeCourcysstilllower,toconvinceMrs.Vernonthathersisterlycautionshavebeenbestowedinvain,andtopersuadeReginaldthatshehasscandalouslybeliedme.Thisprojectwillserveatleasttoamuseme,andpreventmyfeelingsoacutelythisdreadfulseparationfromyouandallwhomIlove. Yoursever, S.VERNON.