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Imightperhapshardenmyselfintimeagainsttheinjusticeofgeneralreproach,butthelossofhisvaluedesteemIam,asyouwellknow,ill-fittedtoendureandwhentothismaybeaddedtheconsciousnessofhavinginjuredyouwithyourfamily,howamItosupportmyself?Withfeelingssopoignantasmine,theconvictionofhavingdividedthesonfromhisparentswouldmakeme,evenwithyou,themostmiserableofbeings.Itwillsurely,therefore,beadvisabletodelayourunion—todelayittillappearancesaremorepromising—tillaffairshavetakenamorefavourableturn.ToassistusinsucharesolutionIfeelthatabsencewillbenecessary.Wemustnotmeet.Cruelasthissentencemayappear,thenecessityofpronouncingit,whichcanalonereconcileittomyself,willbeevidenttoyouwhenyouhaveconsideredoursituationinthelightinwhichIhavefoundmyselfimperiouslyobligedtoplaceit.Youmaybe—youmustbe—wellassuredthatnothingbutthestrongestconvictionofdutycouldinducemetowoundmyownfeelingsbyurgingalengthenedseparation,andofinsensibilitytoyoursyouwillhardlysuspectme.Again,therefore,Isaythatweoughtnot,wemustnot,yetmeet.ByaremovalforsomemonthsfromeachotherweshalltranquillisethesisterlyfearsofMrs.Vernon,who,accustomedherselftotheenjoymentofriches,considersfortuneasnecessaryeverywhere,andwhosesensibilitiesarenotofanaturetocomprehendours.Letmehearfromyousoon—verysoon.Tellmethatyousubmittomyarguments,anddonotreproachmeforusingsuch.Icannotbearreproaches:myspiritsarenotsohighastoneedbeingrepressed.Imustendeavourtoseekamusement,andfortunatelymanyofmyfriendsareintownamongstthemtheMainwaringsyouknowhowsincerelyIregardbothhusbandandwife. Iam,veryfaithfullyyours, S.VERNON