XXVII

Mrs.VernontoLadyDeCourcy. Churchhill. Thisletter,mydearMother,willbebroughtyoubyReginald.Hislongvisitisabouttobeconcludedatlast,butIfeartheseparationtakesplacetoolatetodousanygood.SheisgoingtoLondontoseeherparticularfriend,Mrs.Johnson.ItwasatfirstherintentionthatFredericashouldaccompanyher,forthebenefitofmasters,butweoverruledherthere.Fredericawaswretchedintheideaofgoing,andIcouldnotbeartohaveheratthemercyofhermothernotallthemastersinLondoncouldcompensatefortheruinofhercomfort.Ishouldhavefeared,too,forherhealth,andforeverythingbutherprinciples—thereIbelievesheisnottobeinjuredbyhermother,orhermother’sfriendsbutwiththosefriendsshemusthavemixed(averybadset,Idoubtnot),orhavebeenleftintotalsolitude,andIcanhardlytellwhichwouldhavebeenworseforher.Ifsheiswithhermother,moreover,shemust,alas!inallprobabilitybewithReginald,andthatwouldbethegreatestevilofall