XIV

Mr.DeCourcytoSirReginald. Churchhill. MydearSir,—Ihavethismomentreceivedyourletter,whichhasgivenmemoreastonishmentthanIeverfeltbefore.Iamtothankmysister,Isuppose,forhavingrepresentedmeinsuchalightastoinjuremeinyouropinion,andgiveyouallthisalarm.Iknownotwhysheshouldchoosetomakeherselfandherfamilyuneasybyapprehendinganeventwhichnoonebutherself,Icanaffirm,wouldeverhavethoughtpossible.ToimputesuchadesigntoLadySusanwouldbetakingfromhereveryclaimtothatexcellentunderstandingwhichherbitterestenemieshaveneverdeniedherandequallylowmustsinkmypretensionstocommonsenseifIamsuspectedofmatrimonialviewsinmybehaviourtoher.Ourdifferenceofagemustbeaninsuperableobjection,andIentreatyou,mydearfather,toquietyourmind,andnolongerharbourasuspicionwhichcannotbemoreinjurioustoyourownpeacethantoourunderstandings.IcanhavenootherviewinremainingwithLadySusan,thantoenjoyforashorttime(asyouhaveyourselfexpressedit)theconversationofawomanofhighintellectualpowers.IfMrs.Vernonwouldallowsomethingtomyaffectionforherselfandherhusbandinthelengthofmyvisit,shewoulddomorejusticetousallbutmysisterisunhappilyprejudicedbeyondthehopeofconvictionagainstLadySusan.Fromanattachmenttoherhusband,whichinitselfdoeshonourtoboth,shecannotforgivetheendeavoursatpreventingtheirunion,whichhavebeenattributedtoselfishnessinLadySusanbutinthiscase,aswellasinmanyothers,theworldhasmostgrosslyinjuredthatlady,bysupposingtheworstw