XXXVIII
關燈
小
中
大
Mrs.JohnsontoLadySusanVernon.
EdwardStreet
Iamgrieved,thoughIcannotbeastonishedatyourrupturewithMr.DeCourcyhehasjustinformedMr.Johnsonofitbyletter.HeleavesLondon,hesays,to-day.BeassuredthatIpartakeinallyourfeelings,anddonotbeangryifIsaythatourintercourse,evenbyletter,mustsoonbegivenup.ItmakesmemiserablebutMr.JohnsonvowsthatifIpersistintheconnection,hewillsettleinthecountryfortherestofhislife,andyouknowitisimpossibletosubmittosuchanextremitywhileanyotheralternativeremains.YouhaveheardofcoursethattheMainwaringsaretopart,andIamafraidMrs.M.willcomehometousagainbutsheisstillsofondofherhusband,andfretssomuchabouthim,thatperhapsshemaynotlivelong.MissMainwaringisjustcometotowntobewithheraunt,andtheysaythatshedeclaresshewillhaveSirJamesMartinbeforesheleavesLondonagain.IfIwereyou,Iwouldcertainlygethimmyself.IhadalmostforgottogiveyoumyopinionofMr.DeCourcyIamreallydelightedwithhimheisfullashandsome,Ithink,asMainwaring,andwithsuchanopen,good-humouredcountenance,thatonecannothelplovinghimatfirstsight.Mr.Johnsonandhearethegreatestfriendsintheworld.Adieu,mydearestSusan,Iwishmattersdidnotgosoperversely.ThatunluckyvisittoLangford!butIdaresayyoudidallforthebest,andthereisnodefyingdestiny.
Yoursincerelyattached,
ALICIA.
EdwardStreet
Iamgrieved,thoughIcannotbeastonishedatyourrupturewithMr.DeCourcyhehasjustinformedMr.Johnsonofitbyletter.HeleavesLondon,hesays,to-day.BeassuredthatIpartakeinallyourfeelings,anddonotbeangryifIsaythatourintercourse,evenbyletter,mustsoonbegivenup.ItmakesmemiserablebutMr.JohnsonvowsthatifIpersistintheconnection,hewillsettleinthecountryfortherestofhislife,andyouknowitisimpossibletosubmittosuchanextremitywhileanyotheralternativeremains.YouhaveheardofcoursethattheMainwaringsaretopart,andIamafraidMrs.M.willcomehometousagainbutsheisstillsofondofherhusband,andfretssomuchabouthim,thatperhapsshemaynotlivelong.MissMainwaringisjustcometotowntobewithheraunt,andtheysaythatshedeclaresshewillhaveSirJamesMartinbeforesheleavesLondonagain.IfIwereyou,Iwouldcertainlygethimmyself.IhadalmostforgottogiveyoumyopinionofMr.DeCourcyIamreallydelightedwithhimheisfullashandsome,Ithink,asMainwaring,andwithsuchanopen,good-humouredcountenance,thatonecannothelplovinghimatfirstsight.Mr.Johnsonandhearethegreatestfriendsintheworld.Adieu,mydearestSusan,Iwishmattersdidnotgosoperversely.ThatunluckyvisittoLangford!butIdaresayyoudidallforthebest,andthereisnodefyingdestiny.
Yoursincerelyattached,
ALICIA.