XVI

LadySusantoMrs.Johnson. Churchhill. Never,mydearestAlicia,wasIsoprovokedinmylifeasbyaletterthismorningfromMissSummers.Thathorridgirlofminehasbeentryingtorunaway.Ihadnotanotionofherbeingsuchalittledevilbefore,sheseemedtohavealltheVernonmilkinessbutonreceivingtheletterinwhichIdeclaredmyintentionaboutSirJames,sheactuallyattemptedtoelopeatleast,Icannototherwiseaccountforherdoingit.Shemeant,Isuppose,togototheClarkesinStaffordshire,forshehasnootheracquaintances.Butsheshallbepunished,sheshallhavehim.IhavesentCharlestotowntomakemattersupifhecan,forIdonotbyanymeanswantherhere.IfMissSummerswillnotkeepher,youmustfindmeoutanotherschool,unlesswecangethermarriedimmediately.MissS.writeswordthatshecouldnotgettheyoungladytoassignanycauseforherextraordinaryconduct,whichconfirmsmeinmyownpreviousexplanationofit.Fredericaistooshy,Ithink,andtoomuchinaweofmetotelltales,butifthemildnessofheruncleshouldgetanythingoutofher,Iamnotafraid.ItrustIshallbeabletomakemystoryasgoodashers.IfIamvainofanything,itisofmyeloquence.Considerationandesteemassurelyfollowcommandoflanguageasadmirationwaitsonbeauty,andhereIhaveopportunityenoughfortheexerciseofmytalent,asthechiefofmytimeisspentinconver