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themomenthehadreadyourletter,andIamsurehehasnothadthebusinessoutofhisheadsince.HewrotebythesameposttoReginaldalongletterfullofitall,andparticularlyaskinganexplanationofwhathemayhaveheardfromLadySusantocontradictthelateshockingreports.Hisanswercamethismorning,whichIshallenclosetoyou,asIthinkyouwillliketoseeit.IwishitwasmoresatisfactorybutitseemswrittenwithsuchadeterminationtothinkwellofLadySusan,thathisassurancesastomarriage,&c.,donotsetmyheartatease.IsayallIcan,however,tosatisfyyourfather,andheiscertainlylessuneasysinceReginald’sletter.Howprovokingitis,mydearCatherine,thatthisunwelcomeguestofyoursshouldnotonlypreventourmeetingthisChristmas,butbetheoccasionofsomuchvexationandtrouble!Kissthedearchildrenforme. Youraffectionatemother, C.DECOURCY.