VIII

Mrs.VernontoLadyDeCourcy. Churchhill. MydearMother,—YoumustnotexpectReginaldbackagainforsometime.HedesiresmetotellyouthatthepresentopenweatherinduceshimtoacceptMr.Vernon’sinvitationtoprolonghisstayinSussex,thattheymayhavesomehuntingtogether.Hemeanstosendforhishorsesimmediately,anditisimpossibletosaywhenyoumayseehiminKent.Iwillnotdisguisemysentimentsonthischangefromyou,mydearmother,thoughIthinkyouhadbetternotcommunicatethemtomyfather,whoseexcessiveanxietyaboutReginaldwouldsubjecthimtoanalarmwhichmightseriouslyaffecthishealthandspirits.LadySusanhascertainlycontrived,inthespaceofafortnight,tomakemybrotherlikeher.Inshort,Iampersuadedthathiscontinuingherebeyondthetimeoriginallyfixedforhisreturnisoccasionedasmuchbyadegreeoffascinationtowardsher,asbythewishofhuntingwithMr.Vernon,andofcourseIcannotreceivethatpleasurefromthelengthofhisvisitwhichmybrother’scompanywouldotherwisegiveme.Iam,indeed,provokedattheartificeofthisunprincipledwomanwhatstrongerproofofherdangerousabilitiescanbegiventhanthisperversionofReginald’sjudgment,whichwhenheenteredthehousewassodecidedlyagainsther!InhislastletterheactuallygavemesomeparticularsofherbehaviouratLangford,suchashereceivedfromagentlemanwhoknewherperfectlywell,which,iftrue,mustraiseabhorrenceagainsther,andwhichReginaldhimselfwasentirelydisposedtocredit.Hisopinionofher,Iamsure,wasaslowasofanywomaninEnglandandwhenhefirstcameitwasevidentthatheconsideredherasoneentitledneithertodelicacynorresp