XIV

herethemotivesofherconducthavebeendoubtful.LadySusanhadheardsomethingsomateriallytothedisadvantageofmysisterastopersuadeherthatthehappinessofMr.Vernon,towhomshewasalwaysmuchattached,wouldbewhollydestroyedbythemarriage.Andthiscircumstance,whileitexplainsthetruemotivesofLadySusan’sconduct,andremovesalltheblamewhichhasbeensolavishedonher,mayalsoconvinceushowlittlethegeneralreportofanyoneoughttobecreditedsincenocharacter,howeverupright,canescapethemalevolenceofslander.Ifmysister,inthesecurityofretirement,withaslittleopportunityasinclinationtodoevil,couldnotavoidcensure,wemustnotrashlycondemnthosewho,livingintheworldandsurroundedwithtemptations,shouldbeaccusedoferrorswhichtheyareknowntohavethepowerofcommitting. IblamemyselfseverelyforhavingsoeasilybelievedtheslanderoustalesinventedbyCharlesSmithtotheprejudiceofLadySusan,asIamnowconvincedhowgreatlytheyhavetraducedher.AstoMrs.Mainwaring’sjealousyitwastotallyhisowninvention,andhisaccountofherattachingMissMainwaring’sloverwasscarcelybetterfounded.SirJamesMartinhadbeendrawninbythatyoungladytopayhersomeattentionandasheisamanoffortune,itwaseasytoseeherviewsextendedtomarriage.ItiswellknownthatMissM.isabsolutelyonthecatchforahusband,andnoonethereforecanpityherforlosing,bythesuperiorattractionsofanotherwoman,thechanceofbeingabletomakeaworthymancompletelywretched.LadySusanwasfarfromintendingsuchaconquest,andonfindinghowwarmlyMis