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fmyownwillmakemeindifferent,butherfamilyandcharactermustbeequallyunexceptionable.Whenyourchoiceisfixedsothatnoobjectioncanbemadetoit,thenIcanpromiseyouareadyandcheerfulconsentbutitismydutytoopposeamatchwhichdeepartonlycouldrenderpossible,andmustintheendmakewretched.Itispossibleherbehaviourmayariseonlyfromvanity,orthewishofgainingtheadmirationofamanwhomshemustimaginetobeparticularlyprejudicedagainstherbutitismorelikelythatsheshouldaimatsomethingfurther.Sheispoor,andmaynaturallyseekanalliancewhichmustbeadvantageoustoherselfyouknowyourownrights,andthatitisoutofmypowertopreventyourinheritingthefamilyestate.MyabilityofdistressingyouduringmylifewouldbeaspeciesofrevengetowhichIcouldhardlystoopunderanycircumstances. Ihonestlytellyoumysentimentsandintentions:Idonotwishtoworkonyourfears,butonyoursenseandaffection.ItwoulddestroyeverycomfortofmylifetoknowthatyouweremarriedtoLadySusanVernonitwouldbethedeathofthathonestpridewithwhichIhavehithertoconsideredmysonIshouldblushtoseehim,tohearofhim,tothinkofhim.Imayperhapsdonogoodbutthatofrelievingmyownmindbythisletter,butIfeltitmydutytotellyouthatyourpartialityforLadySusanisnosecrettoyourfriends,andtowarnyouagainsther.IshouldbegladtohearyourreasonsfordisbelievingMr.Smith’sintelligenceyouhadnodoubtofitsauthenticityamonthago.Ifyoucangivemeyourassuranceofhavingnodesignbeyondenjoyingtheconversationofacleverwomanforashortperiod,andofyieldingadmirationonlytoherbeautyandabilities,withoutbeingblindedbythemtoherfaults,youwillrestoremetohappinessbut,ifyoucannotdothis,explaintome,atleast,whathasoccasionedsogreatanalterationinyouropinionofher. Iam,&c.,&c, REGINALDDECOURCY