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Mrs.VernontoLadyDeCourcy. Churchhill Wehaveaveryunexpectedguestwithusatpresent,mydearMother:hearrivedyesterday.Iheardacarriageatthedoor,asIwassittingwithmychildrenwhiletheydinedandsupposingIshouldbewanted,leftthenurserysoonafterwards,andwashalf-waydownstairs,whenFrederica,aspaleasashes,camerunningup,andrushedbymeintoherownroom.Iinstantlyfollowed,andaskedherwhatwasthematter.“Oh!”saidshe,“heiscome—SirJamesiscome,andwhatshallIdo?”ThiswasnoexplanationIbeggedhertotellmewhatshemeant.Atthatmomentwewereinterruptedbyaknockatthedoor:itwasReginald,whocame,byLadySusan’sdirection,tocallFredericadown.“ItisMr.DeCourcy!”saidshe,colouringviolently.“MammahassentformeImustgo.”WeallthreewentdowntogetherandIsawmybrotherexaminingtheterrifiedfaceofFredericawithsurprize.Inthebreakfast-roomwefoundLadySusan,andayoungmanofgentlemanlikeappearance,whomsheintroducedbythenameofSirJamesMartin—theveryperson,asyoumayremember,whomitwassaidshehadbeenatpainstodetachfromMissMainwaringbuttheconquest,itseems,wasnotdesignedforherself,orshehassincetransferredittoherdaughterforSirJamesisnowdesperatelyinlovewithFrederica,andwithfullencouragementfrommamma.Thepoorgirl,however,Iamsure,dislikeshimandthoughhispersonandaddressareverywell,heappears,bothtoMr.Vernonandme,averyweakyoungman.Fredericalookedsoshy,soconfused,whenweenteredtheroom,thatIfeltforherexceedingly.LadySusanbehavedwithgreatattentiontohervisitorandyetIthoughtIcouldperceivethatshehadnoparticularpleasureinseeinghim.SirJamestalkedagreatdeal,andmademan