XXIII

Mrs.VernontoLadyDeCourcy. Churchhill. Letmecongratulateyou,mydearestMother!Theaffairwhichhasgivenussomuchanxietyisdrawingtoahappyconclusion.Ourprospectismostdelightful,andsincemattershavenowtakensofavourableaturn,IamquitesorrythatIeverimpartedmyapprehensionstoyouforthepleasureoflearningthatthedangerisoverisperhapsdearlypurchasedbyallthatyouhavepreviouslysuffered.IamsomuchagitatedbydelightthatIcanscarcelyholdapenbutamdeterminedtosendyouafewshortlinesbyJames,thatyoumayhavesomeexplanationofwhatmustsogreatlyastonishyou,asthatReginaldshouldbereturningtoParklands.IwassittingabouthalfanhouragowithSirJamesinthebreakfastparlour,whenmybrothercalledmeoutoftheroom.Iinstantlysawthatsomethingwasthematterhiscomplexionwasraised,andhespokewithgreatemotionyouknowhiseagermanner,mydearmother,whenhismindisinterested.“Catherine,”saidhe,“Iamgoinghometo-dayIamsorrytoleaveyou,butImustgo:itisagreatwhilesinceIhaveseenmyfatherandmother.IamgoingtosendJamesforwardwithmyhuntersimmediatelyifyouhaveanyletter,therefore,hecantakeit.IshallnotbeathomemyselftillWednesdayorThursday,asIshallgothroughLondon,whereIhavebusinessbutbeforeIleaveyou,”hecontinued,speakinginalowertone,andwithstillgreaterenergy,“Imustwarnyouofonething—donotletFredericaVernonbemadeunhappybythatMartin.Hewantstomarryherhermotherpromotesthematch,butshecannotenduretheideaofit.BeassuredthatIspeakfromthefullestconvictionofthetruthofwhatIsayIknowthatFredericaismadewretchedbySirJames’scontinuinghere.Sheisasweetgirl,anddeservesabetterfate.Sendhimawayimmediatelyheisonlyafool:butwhathermothercanmean,Heavenonlyknows!Goodbye,”headded,shakingmyhandwithearnestness“IdonotknowwhenyouwillseemeagainbutrememberwhatItellyouofFreder