XV

Mrs.VernontoLadyDeCourcy. Churchhill MydearMother,—IreturnyouReginald’sletter,andrejoicewithallmyheartthatmyfatherismadeeasybyit:tellhimso,withmycongratulationsbut,betweenourselves,Imustownithasonlyconvincedmeofmybrother’shavingnopresentintentionofmarryingLadySusan,notthatheisinnodangerofdoingsothreemonthshence.HegivesaveryplausibleaccountofherbehaviouratLangfordIwishitmaybetrue,buthisintelligencemustcomefromherself,andIamlessdisposedtobelieveitthantolamentthedegreeofintimacysubsistingbetweenthem,impliedbythediscussionofsuchasubject.Iamsorrytohaveincurredhisdispleasure,butcanexpectnothingbetterwhileheissoveryeagerinLadySusan’sjustification.Heisverysevereagainstmeindeed,andyetIhopeIhavenotbeenhastyinmyjudgmentofher.Poorwoman!thoughIhavereasonsenoughformydislike,Icannothelppityingheratpresent,assheisinrealdistress,andwithtoomuchcause.Shehadthismorningaletterfromtheladywithwhomshehasplacedherdaughter,torequestthatMissVernonmightbeimmediatelyremoved,asshehadbeendetectedinanattempttorunaway.Why,orwhithersheintendedtogo,doesnotappearbut,ashersituationseemstohavebeenunexceptionable,itisasadthing,andofcoursehighlydistressingtoLadySusan.Fredericamustbeasmuchassixteen,andoughttoknowbetterbutfromwhathermotherinsinuates,Iamafraidsheisaperversegirl.Shehasbeensadlyneglected,however,andhermotheroughttorememberit.Mr.VernonsetoffforLondonassoonasshehaddeterminedwhatshouldbedone.Heis,ifpossible,toprevailonMissSummerstoletFredericacontinuewithherandifhecannotsucceed,tobringhe