XXVII
關燈
小
中
大
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.Hereweshallintimebeinpeace,andourregularemployments,ourbooksandconversations,withexercise,thechildren,andeverydomesticpleasureinmypowertoprocureher,will,Itrust,graduallyovercomethisyouthfulattachment.Ishouldnothaveadoubtofitweresheslightedforanyotherwomanintheworldthanherownmother.HowlongLadySusanwillbeintown,orwhethershereturnshereagain,Iknownot.Icouldnotbecordialinmyinvitation,butifshechusestocomenowantofcordialityonmypartwillkeepheraway.IcouldnothelpaskingReginaldifheintendedbeinginLondonthiswinter,assoonasIfoundherladyship’sstepswouldbebentthitherandthoughheprofessedhimselfquiteundetermined,therewassomethinginhislookandvoiceashespokewhichcontradictedhiswords.IhavedonewithlamentationIlookupontheeventassofardecidedthatIresignmyselftoitindespair.IfheleavesyousoonforLondoneverythingwillbeconcluded.
Youraffectionate,&c.,
C.VERNON.
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.Hereweshallintimebeinpeace,andourregularemployments,ourbooksandconversations,withexercise,thechildren,andeverydomesticpleasureinmypowertoprocureher,will,Itrust,graduallyovercomethisyouthfulattachment.Ishouldnothaveadoubtofitweresheslightedforanyotherwomanintheworldthanherownmother.HowlongLadySusanwillbeintown,orwhethershereturnshereagain,Iknownot.Icouldnotbecordialinmyinvitation,butifshechusestocomenowantofcordialityonmypartwillkeepheraway.IcouldnothelpaskingReginaldifheintendedbeinginLondonthiswinter,assoonasIfoundherladyship’sstepswouldbebentthitherandthoughheprofessedhimselfquiteundetermined,therewassomethinginhislookandvoiceashespokewhichcontradictedhiswords.IhavedonewithlamentationIlookupontheeventassofardecidedthatIresignmyselftoitindespair.IfheleavesyousoonforLondoneverythingwillbeconcluded.
Youraffectionate,&c.,
C.VERNON.