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LadyDeCourcytoMrs.Vernon.
Parklands.
MydearCatherine,—UnluckilyIwasconfinedtomyroomwhenyourlastlettercame,byacoldwhichaffectedmyeyessomuchastopreventmyreadingitmyself,soIcouldnotrefuseyourfatherwhenheofferedtoreadittome,bywhichmeanshebecameacquainted,tomygreatvexation,withallyourfearsaboutyourbrother.IhadintendedtowritetoReginaldmyselfassoonasmyeyeswouldletme,topointout,aswellasIcould,thedangerofanintimateacquaintance,withsoartfulawomanasLadySusan,toayoungmanofhisage,andhighexpectations.Imeant,moreover,tohaveremindedhimofourbeingquitealonenow,andverymuchinneedofhimtokeepupourspiritstheselongwinterevenings.Whetheritwouldhavedoneanygoodcanneverbesettlednow,butIamexcessivelyvexedthatSirReginaldshouldknowanythingofamatterwhichweforesawwouldmakehimsouneasy.Hecaughtallyourfears
