CONCLUSION

ghter’sconstitution! FredericareturnedtoChurchhillwithheruncleandauntandthreeweeksafterwards,LadySusanannouncedherbeingmarriedtoSirJamesMartin.Mrs.Vernonwasthenconvincedofwhatshehadonlysuspectedbefore,thatshemighthavesparedherselfallthetroubleofurgingaremovalwhichLadySusanhaddoubtlessresolvedonfromthefirst.Frederica’svisitwasnominallyforsixweeks,buthermother,thoughinvitinghertoreturninoneortwoaffectionateletters,wasveryreadytoobligethewholepartybyconsentingtoaprolongationofherstay,andinthecourseoftwomonthsceasedtowriteofherabsence,andinthecourseoftwomoretowritetoheratall.FredericawasthereforefixedinthefamilyofheruncleandaunttillsuchtimeasReginaldDeCourcycouldbetalked,flattered,andfinessedintoanaffectionforherwhich,allowingleisurefortheconquestofhisattachmenttohermother,forhisabjuringallfutureattachments,anddetestingthesex,mightbereasonablylookedforinthecourseofatwelvemonth.Threemonthsmighthavedoneitingeneral,butReginald’sfeelingswerenolesslastingthanlively.WhetherLadySusanwasorwasnothappyinhersecondchoice,Idonotseehowitcaneverbeascertainedforwhowouldtakeherassuranceofitoneithersideofthequestion?Theworldmustjudgefromprobabilitiesshehadnothingagainstherbutherhusband,andherconscience.SirJamesmayseemtohavedrawnaharderlotthanmerefollymeritedIleavehim,therefore,toallthepitythatanybodycangivehim.Formyself,IconfessthatIcanpityonlyMissMainwaringwho,comingtotown,andputtingherselftoanexpenseinclotheswhichimpoverishedherfortwoyears,onpurposetosecurehim,wasdefraudedofherduebyawomantenyearsolderthanherself.