XXXIX
關燈
小
中
大
LadySusantoMrs.Johnson.
UpperSeymourStreet.
MydearAlicia,—Iyieldtothenecessitywhichpartsus.Undersuchcircumstancesyoucouldnotactotherwise.Ourfriendshipcannotbeimpairedbyit,andinhappiertimes,whenyoursituationisasindependentasmine,itwilluniteusagaininthesameintimacyasever.ForthisIshallimpatientlywait,andmeanwhilecansafelyassureyouthatIneverwasmoreatease,orbettersatisfiedwithmyselfandeverythingaboutmethanatthepresenthour.YourhusbandIabhor,ReginaldIdespise,andIamsecureofneverseeingeitheragain.HaveInotreasontorejoice?Mainwaringismoredevotedtomethaneverandwereweatliberty,IdoubtifIcouldresistevenmatrimonyofferedbyhim.Thisevent,ifhiswifelivewithyou,itmaybeinyourpowertohasten.Theviolenceofherfeelings,whichmustwearherout,maybeeasilykeptinirritation.Irelyonyourfriendshipforthis.IamnowsatisfiedthatInevercouldhavebroughtmyselftomarryReginald,andamequallydeterminedthatFredericanevershall.To-morrow,IshallfetchherfromChurchhill,andletMariaMainwaringtremblefortheconsequence.FredericashallbeSirJames’swifebeforeshequitsmyhouse,andshemaywhimper,andtheVernonsmaystorm,Iregardthemnot.IamtiredofsubmittingmywilltothecapricesofothersofresigningmyownjudgmentindeferencetothosetowhomIowenoduty,andforwhomIfeelnorespect.Ihavegivenuptoomuch,havebeentooeasilyworkedon,butFredericashallnowfeelthedifference.Adieu,dearestoffriendsmaythenextgoutyattackbemorefavourable!andmayyoualwaysregardmeasunalterablyyours,
S.VERNON
UpperSeymourStreet.
MydearAlicia,—Iyieldtothenecessitywhichpartsus.Undersuchcircumstancesyoucouldnotactotherwise.Ourfriendshipcannotbeimpairedbyit,andinhappiertimes,whenyoursituationisasindependentasmine,itwilluniteusagaininthesameintimacyasever.ForthisIshallimpatientlywait,andmeanwhilecansafelyassureyouthatIneverwasmoreatease,orbettersatisfiedwithmyselfandeverythingaboutmethanatthepresenthour.YourhusbandIabhor,ReginaldIdespise,andIamsecureofneverseeingeitheragain.HaveInotreasontorejoice?Mainwaringismoredevotedtomethaneverandwereweatliberty,IdoubtifIcouldresistevenmatrimonyofferedbyhim.Thisevent,ifhiswifelivewithyou,itmaybeinyourpowertohasten.Theviolenceofherfeelings,whichmustwearherout,maybeeasilykeptinirritation.Irelyonyourfriendshipforthis.IamnowsatisfiedthatInevercouldhavebroughtmyselftomarryReginald,andamequallydeterminedthatFredericanevershall.To-morrow,IshallfetchherfromChurchhill,andletMariaMainwaringtremblefortheconsequence.FredericashallbeSirJames’swifebeforeshequitsmyhouse,andshemaywhimper,andtheVernonsmaystorm,Iregardthemnot.IamtiredofsubmittingmywilltothecapricesofothersofresigningmyownjudgmentindeferencetothosetowhomIowenoduty,andforwhomIfeelnorespect.Ihavegivenuptoomuch,havebeentooeasilyworkedon,butFredericashallnowfeelthedifference.Adieu,dearestoffriendsmaythenextgoutyattackbemorefavourable!andmayyoualwaysregardmeasunalterablyyours,
S.VERNON