XXVIII
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Mrs.JohnsontoLadySusan.
EdwardStreet.
MydearestFriend,—Iwriteinthegreatestdistressthemostunfortunateeventhasjusttakenplace.Mr.Johnsonhashitonthemosteffectualmannerofplaguingusall.Hehadheard,Iimagine,bysomemeansorother,thatyouweresoontobeinLondon,andimmediatelycontrivedtohavesuchanattackofthegoutasmustatleastdelayhisjourneytoBath,ifnotwhollypreventit.IampersuadedthegoutisbroughtonorkeptoffatpleasureitwasthesamewhenIwantedtojointheHamiltonstotheLakesandthreeyearsago,whenIhadafancyforBath,nothingcouldinducehimtohaveagoutysymptom.
Iampleasedtofindthatmyletterhadsomucheffectonyou,andthatDeCourcyiscertainlyyourown.Letmehearfromyouassoonasyouarrive,andinparticulartellmewhatyoumeantodowithMainwaring.ItisimpossibletosaywhenIshallbeabletocometoyoumyconfinementmustbegreat.ItissuchanabominabletricktobeillhereinsteadofatBaththatIcanscarcelycommandmyselfatall.AtBathhisoldauntswouldhavenursedhim,buthereitallfallsuponmeandhebearspainwithsuchpatiencethatIhavenotthecommonexcuseforlosingmytemper.
Yoursever,
ALICIA.
EdwardStreet.
MydearestFriend,—Iwriteinthegreatestdistressthemostunfortunateeventhasjusttakenplace.Mr.Johnsonhashitonthemosteffectualmannerofplaguingusall.Hehadheard,Iimagine,bysomemeansorother,thatyouweresoontobeinLondon,andimmediatelycontrivedtohavesuchanattackofthegoutasmustatleastdelayhisjourneytoBath,ifnotwhollypreventit.IampersuadedthegoutisbroughtonorkeptoffatpleasureitwasthesamewhenIwantedtojointheHamiltonstotheLakesandthreeyearsago,whenIhadafancyforBath,nothingcouldinducehimtohaveagoutysymptom.
Iampleasedtofindthatmyletterhadsomucheffectonyou,andthatDeCourcyiscertainlyyourown.Letmehearfromyouassoonasyouarrive,andinparticulartellmewhatyoumeantodowithMainwaring.ItisimpossibletosaywhenIshallbeabletocometoyoumyconfinementmustbegreat.ItissuchanabominabletricktobeillhereinsteadofatBaththatIcanscarcelycommandmyselfatall.AtBathhisoldauntswouldhavenursedhim,buthereitallfallsuponmeandhebearspainwithsuchpatiencethatIhavenotthecommonexcuseforlosingmytemper.
Yoursever,
ALICIA.