Lady Susan - Jane Austen - Classic Drama Audiobooks

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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter one. Lady Susan Vernon to mister.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
Vernon, Langford, December, My dear brother, I can no longer
refuse myself the pleasure of profiting by your kind invitation
when last we parted of spending some weeks with you
at Churchill, And therefore, if quite convenient to you and

(00:27):
missus Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope
within a few days to be introduced to a sister
whom I have so long desired to be acquainted with.
My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent with me
to prolong my stay, but their hospitable and cheerful dispositions

(00:47):
lead them too much into society for my present situation
and state of mind, and I impatiently look forward to
the hour when I shall be admitted into your delightful retirement.
I long to be made known to your dear little children,
in whose hearts I shall be very eager to secure,
an interest I shall soon have need for all my fortitude.

(01:10):
As I am on the point of separation from my
own daughter. The long illness of her dear father prevented
my paying her that attention which duty and affection equally dictated,
and I have too much reason to fear that the
governess to whose care I consign her was unequal to

(01:31):
the charge. I have therefore resolved in placing her at
one of the best private schools in town, where I
shall have an opportunity of leaving her myself in my way.
To you, I am determined, you see, not to be
denied admittance at Churchill. It would indeed give me the
most painful sensations to know that it were not in

(01:51):
your power to receive me your most obliged.

Speaker 1 (02:00):
Chapter two, Lady Susan Vernon to missus.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
Johnson, Langford. You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing
me fixed at this place for the rest of the winter.
It grieves me to say how greatly you are mistaken,
for I have seldom spent three months more agreeably than
those which have just flown away. At present, nothing goes smoothly.

(02:30):
The females of the family are united against me. You
foretold how it would be when I first came to Langford,
and manwaring is so uncommonly pleasing that I was not
without apprehensions for myself. I remember saying to myself as
I drove to the house I like this man, pray

(02:51):
heaven no harm come of it. But I was determined
to be discreet, to bear in mind my being only
four months a widow, and to be as quiet as possible.
And I have been so, my dear creature. I have
admitted no one's attentions but man wearings. I have avoided
all general flirtation whatever. I have distinguished no creature besides

(03:14):
all of a number's resorting hither except Sir James Martin,
on whom I bestowed a little noticed in order to
detach him from Miss Manwaring. But if the world could
know my motive there, they would honor me. I have
been called an unkind mother, but it was the sacred
impulse of maternal affection. It was the advantage of my

(03:36):
daughter that led me on. And if that daughter were
not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might have been
rewarded for my exertions as I ought. Sir James did
make proposals to me for Frederica, But Frederica, who was
born to be the torment of my life, chose to
set herself so violently against the match that I thought

(03:58):
it better to lay aside the scheme for the present
I have more than once repented that I did not
marry him myself, and were he but one degree less
contemptibly weak, I certainly should. But I must own myself
rather romantic in that respect, and that riches only will
not satisfy me. The event of all this is very provoking.

(04:21):
Sir James is gone, Mariah highly incensed, and missus Manwaring
insupportably jealous, so jealous in short, and so enraged against me,
that in the fury of her temper, I should not
be surprised at her appealing to her guardian if she
had the liberty of addressing him. But there your husband stands,
my friend, and the kindest, most amiable action of his

(04:44):
life was his throwing her off forever on her marriage.
Keep up his resentment. Therefore, I charge you, we are
now in a sad state. No house was ever more altered,
the whole party are at war, and Man Wearing scarcely
dares speak to me me it is time for me
to be gone. I have therefore determined on leaving them,

(05:05):
and shall spend I hope a comfortable day with you
in town within this week. If I am as little
in favor with mister Johnson. As ever, you must come
to me at ten Weegmore Street. But I hope this
may not be the case. For as mister Johnson, with
all his faults, is a man to whom that great
word respectable is always given, and I am known to

(05:27):
be so intimate with his wife, his slighting me has
an awkward look. I take London in my way to
that insupportable spot, a country village, for I really am
going to Churchill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is
my last resource. Were there another place in England open

(05:48):
to me, I would prefer it. Charles Vernon is my aversion,
and I am afraid of his wife at Churchill. However,
I must remain till I have something better in view.
My young lady accompanies me to town, where I shall
deposit her under the care of Miss Summers in Wigmore
Street till she becomes a little more reasonable. She will

(06:10):
make good connections there, as the girls are all of
the best families. The price is immense and much beyond
what I can ever attempt to pay. Adieu. I will
send you a line as soon as I arrive in town. Yours, ever,
s vern.

Speaker 1 (06:25):
Chapter three, Missus Vernon to Lady de Courcy.

Speaker 3 (06:30):
Church Hill, my dear mother, I am very sorry to
tell you that it will not be within our power
to keep our promise of spending our Christmas with you,
and we are prevented that happiness by a circumstance which
is not likely to make us any amends. Lady Susan,
in a letter to her brother in law, has declared
her intention of visiting us almost immediately, and as such

(06:51):
a visit is, in all probability merely an affair of convenience,
it is impossible to conjecture its length. I was by
no means prepared for such event, nor can I now
account for her ladyship's conduct. Langford appeared so exactly the
place for her in every respect, as well from the
elegant and expensive style of living there, as well as

(07:12):
from her particular attachment to mister Mainwaring that I was
very far from expecting so speedy a distinction, though I
always imagined, from her increasing friendship for us since her
husband's death, that we should, at some future period be
obliged to receive her. Mister Vernon, I think was a
great deal too kind to her when he was in Staffordshire.

(07:34):
Her behavior to him, independent of her general character, has
been so inexcusably artful and ungenerous since her marriage was
first in agitation, that no one less amiable and mild
than himself could overlook it all. And though as his
brother's widow, and in narrow circumstances, and it was proper
to render her pecuniary assistance, I cannot help thinking that

(07:56):
his pressing invitation to her to visit us at church
Hill perfectly unnecessary disposed. However, as he always is to
think the best of every one, her displays of grief
and professions of regret, and general resolutions of prudence were
sufficient to soften his heart and make him really confide
in her sincerity. But as for myself, I remain unconvinced,

(08:18):
as her ladyship has now written, and I cannot make
up my mind until I better understand her real meaning
in coming to us, You may guess. Therefore, my dear mother,
with what feelings I look forward to her arrival. She
will have occasion for all those attractive powers for which
she is celebrated, to gain any share of my regard,
and I shall certainly endeavor to guard myself against her influence,

(08:41):
if not accompanied by something more substantial. She expresses a
most eager desire of becoming acquainted with me, and makes
very gracious mention of my children, though I am not
quite weak enough to suppose a woman who has behaved
with inattention, if not unkindness, to her own child, should
be attack to any of mine. Miss Vernon is to

(09:02):
be placed in a school in London before her mother
comes to us, which I am glad of. For her
sake and my own. It must be to her advantage
to be separated from her mother, and a girl of
sixteen who has received so wretched an education could not
be very desirable company here. Reginald has long wished, I know,

(09:22):
to see the captivating lady Susan, and he will depend
on joining our party soon. I am glad to hear
that my father continues so well.

Speaker 1 (09:33):
Chapter four. Mister de Courcy to missus.

Speaker 4 (09:38):
Vernon Parklings, My dear sister, I congratulate you and mister
Vernon on being about to receive into your family the
most accomplished coquette in England. As a very distinguished flirt.
I have always been taught to consider her, but it
has lately fallen in my way to hear some particulars
of her conduct at Langford, which prove that she does
not confine herself to the sort of honest flirte which

(10:00):
satisfies most people, but aspires to the more delicious gratification
of making a whole family miserable. By her behavior to
mister Mainwaring, she gave jealousy and wretchedness to his wife,
and by her attentions to a young man previously attached
to mister Maynwarring's sister, deprived an amiable girl of her lover.
I learned all this from mister Smith, now in this neighborhood.

(10:20):
I have dined with him at Hurst and Wilfrid, who
has just come from Langford, where he was a fortnight
ago with her Ladyship, and who is therefore well qualified
to make the communication what a woman she must be.
I long to see her, and shall certainly accept your
kind invitation that I may form some idea of those
bewitching powers which can do so much engaging at the
same time, and in the same house, the affections of

(10:43):
two men who were neither of them at liberty to
bestow them, and all this without the charm of youth.
I am glad to find Miss Vernon does not accompany
her mother to Churchill, as she has not even manners
to recommend her, and, according to mister Smith's account, is
equally dull and proud. Where pride and stupidity unite, there
can be no dissimulation worthy notice, and Miss Vernon shall

(11:05):
be consigned to unrelenting contempt. But by all that I
can gather, Lady Susan possesses a degree of captivating deceit,
which it must be pleasing to witness and detect. I
shall be with you very soon, and am ever your
affectionate brother are Decourse.

Speaker 1 (11:21):
Chapter five, Lady Susan Vernon two, missus Johnson Churchhill.

Speaker 2 (11:29):
I received your note, my dear Alicia, just before I
left town, and rejoiced to be assured that mister Johnson
suspected nothing of your engagement the evening before. It is
undoubtedly better to deceive him entirely, and since he will
be stubborn, he must be tricked. I arrived here in
safety and have no reason to complain of my reception
from mister Vernon, but I confess myself not equally satisfied

(11:54):
with the behavior of his lady. She is perfectly well bred, indeed,
and has the air of a woman of fashion. But
her manners are not such as can persuade me of
her being prepossessed in my favor. I wanted her to
be delighted at seeing me. I was as amiable as
possible on the occasion, but all in vain. She does

(12:15):
not like me, to be sure, when we consider that
I did take some pains to prevent my brother in
law's marrying her, this want of cordiality is not very surprising,
and yet it shows an illiberal and vindictive spirit to
resent a project which influenced me six years ago, and
which never succeeded at last. I am sometimes disposed to

(12:38):
repent that I did not let Charles buy Vernon Castle
when we were obliged to sell it. But it was
a trying circumstance, especially as the sale took place exactly
at the time of his marriage, and everybody ought to
respect the delicacy of those feelings, which could not endure
that my husband's dignity should be lessened by his younger

(12:58):
brother's having possession of the family estate. Could matters have
been so arranged as to prevent the necessity of our
leaving the castle. Could we have lived with Charles and
kept him single, I should have been very far from
persuading my husband to dispose of it elsewhere. But Charles
was on the point of marrying Miss de Corsi, and

(13:19):
the event has justified me. Here are children in abundance,
and what benefit could have accrued to me from his
purchasing vernon? My having prevented it. May perhaps have given
his wife an unfavorable impression, But where there is a
disposition to dislike, a motive will never be wanting. And

(13:39):
as to money matters, it has not withheld him from
being very useful to me. I really have a regard
for him. He is so easily imposed upon. The house
is a good one, the furniture fashionable, and everything announces
plenty and elegance. Charles is very rich. I'm sure when
a man has once got his name in a banking house,

(14:01):
he rolls in money, but they do not know what
to do with it, keeping very little company and never
go to London. But on business we shall be as
stupid as possible. I mean to win my sister in
law's heart through the children. I know all their names already,
and I am going to attach myself with the greatest
sensibility to one in particular, a young Frederick, whom I

(14:25):
take on my lap and sigh over for his dear
uncle's sake, poor man wearing. I need not tell you
how much I miss him, how perpetually he is in
my thoughts. I found a dismal letter from him on
my arrival here, full of complaints of his wife and sister,
and lamentations on the cruelty of his fate. I passed

(14:48):
off the letter as his wife's to the Vernons, and
when I write to him, it must be under cover.
To you, ever, yours s Vernon.

Speaker 1 (14:57):
Chapter six, Missus ver to mister de Courcy church Hill.

Speaker 3 (15:05):
Well, my dear Reginald, I have seen this dangerous creature
and must give you some description of her, though I
hope you will soon be able to form your own judgment.
She is really excessively pretty. However you may choose to
question the allurements of a lady no longer young. I must,
for my own part, declare that I have seldom seen
so lovely a woman as Lady Susan. She is delicately fair,

(15:28):
with fine gray eyes and dark eyelashes, and from her
appearance one would not suspect her more than five and twenty,
though she must in fact be ten years older. I
was certainly not disposed to admire her, though always hearing
she was beautiful, But I cannot help feeling that she
possesses an uncommon union of symmetry, brilliancy, and grace. Her

(15:49):
address to me was so gentle, frank, and even affectionate,
that if I had not known how much she always
disliked me for marrying mister Vernon, and that we had
never met before, I should have imagined her in attached friend.
One is apt I believe to connect assurance of manner
with coquetry, and to expect that an impudent address will
naturally attend an impudent mind. At least I was myself

(16:12):
prepared for an improper degree of confidence in Lady Susan.
But her countenance is absolutely sweet, and her voice and
manner winningly mild. I am sorry this is so, for
what is this but deceit? Unfortunately, one knows her too well.
She is clever and agreeable, has all the knowledge of
the world which makes conversation easy, and talks well, with

(16:33):
a happy command of language which is too often used.
I believe to make black a pear white. She has
already almost persuaded me of being warmly attached to her daughter,
though I have been so long convinced to the contrary.
She speaks of her with so much tenderness and anxiety,
lamenting so bitterly the neglect of her education, which she represents, however,

(16:55):
as wholly unavoidable. Though I am forced to recollect how
many successive springs her ladyship spent in town while her
daughter was left in Staffordshire to the care of servants
or a governess, very little better to prevent my believing
what she says. If her manners have so great an
influence on my resentful heart, you may judge how much

(17:16):
more strongly they operate on mister Vernon's generous temper. I
wish I could be as well satisfied as he is
that it was really her choice to leave Langford for
church Hill, that if she had not stayed there for
months before she discovered that her friend's manner of living
did not suit her situation or feelings, I might have
believed that concern for the loss of such a husband

(17:36):
as mister Vernon, to whom her own behavior was far
from unexceptionable might for a time make her wish for retirement.
But I cannot forget the length of her visit to
the Main Wearings. When I reflect on the different mode
of life she led with them from that to which
she must now submit, I can only suspect that the
wish of establishing her reputation by following, though late, the

(17:58):
path of propriety of occasioned her removal from a family
where she must, in reality have been particularly happy. Your
friend mister Smith's story, however, cannot be quite correct, as
she corresponds regularly with Missus Mainwaring. At any rate, it
must be exaggerated. It is scarcely possible that two men
should be grossly described.

Speaker 1 (18:21):
Chapter seven. Lady Susan Vernon to Missus Johnson.

Speaker 2 (18:27):
Churchill, My dear Alicia, you are very good in taking
notice of Frederica, and I am grateful for it as
a mark of your friendship. But as I cannot have
any doubt of the warmth of your affection, I am
far from exacting so heavy a sacrifice. She is a
stupid girl and has nothing to recommend her. I would not, therefore,

(18:50):
on my account, have you encumber one moment of your
precious time by sending for her to Edward Street, especially
as every visit is so much to day from the
grand affair of education, which I really wish to have
attended to. While she remains at Miss Summers, I want
her to play and sing with some portion of taste

(19:12):
and a good deal of assurance, as she has my hand,
an arm and a tolerable voice. I was so much
indulged in my infant years that I was never obliged
to attend to anything, and consequently, and without the accomplishments
which are now necessary to finish a pretty woman. Not
that I'm an advocate for the prevailing fashion of acquiring

(19:33):
a perfect knowledge of all languages, arts and sciences. It
is throwing time away to be mistress of French, Italian
and German music. Singing and drawing, et cetera. Will gain
a woman some applause, but it will not add one
lover to her list. Grace and manner, after all, are
of the greatest importance. I do not mean, therefore, that

(19:56):
Frederica's acquirements should be more than superficial, and I flatter
myself that she will not remain long enough at school
to understand anything thoroughly. I hope to see her the
wife of Sir James within a twelvemonth. You know on
what I ground my hope, and it is certainly a
good foundation for school. Must be very humiliating to a

(20:18):
girl of Frederica's age, and by the bye, you had
better not invite her any more on that account, as
I wish her to find her situation as unpleasant as possible.
I am sure of Sir James at any time, and
could make him renew his application by a line I
shall trouble you meanwhile, to prevent his forming any other

(20:39):
attachment when he comes to town, ask him to your
house occasionally and talk to him of Frederica, that he
may not forget her. Upon the whole I commend my
own conduct in this affair extremely and regard it as
a very happy instance of circumspection and tenderness. Some would

(21:00):
have insisted on their daughters accepting so good an offer
on the first overture, but I could not reconcile it
to myself to force Frederica into a marriage from which
her heart revolted, and instead of adopting so harsh a measure,
merely proposed to make it her own choice by rendering
her thoroughly uncomfortable till she does accept him. But enough

(21:24):
of this tiresome girl. You may well wonder how I
contrive to pass my time here. And for the first
week it was insufferably dull. Now, however, we begin to mend.
Our party is enlarged by Missus Vernon's brother, a handsome
young man who promises me some amusement. There is something
about him which rather interests me, a sort of sauciness

(21:47):
and familiarity which I shall teach him to correct. He
is lively and seems clever, and when I have inspired
him with greater respect for me than his sister's kind
offices have implanted, he may be an agreeable flirt. There
is an exquisite pleasure in subduing an insolent spirit, in
making a person predetermined to dislike acknowledge one's superiority. I

(22:12):
have disconcerted him already by my calm reserve, and it
shall be my endeavor to humble the pride of these
self important decorsi still lower. To convince Missus Vernon that
her sisterly cautions have been bestowed in vain, and to
persuade Reginald that she has scandalously belied me. This project
will serve at least to amuse me and prevent my

(22:34):
feelings so acutely this dreadful separation from you and all
whom I love yours ever.

Speaker 1 (22:42):
Chapter eight, Missus Vernon to Lady de Corsi.

Speaker 3 (22:48):
Should you, my dear mother, you must not expect Reginald
back again for some time. He desires me to tell
you that the current open weather induces him to accept
mister Vernon's invitation, that he proved long his stay in Sussex,
that they may have some hunting together. He means to
send for his horses immediately, and it is impossible to
say when you may see him in Ghent. I will

(23:09):
not disguise my sentiments on this change from you, my
dear mother, though I think you had better not communicate
them to my father, whose excessive anxiety about Reginald would
subject him to an alarm which might seriously affect his
health and spirits. Lady Susan has certainly contrived, in the
space of a fortnight to make my brother like her.
In short, I am persuaded that his continuing here beyond

(23:31):
the time originally fixed for his visit is occasioned as
much by a degree of fascination toward her, as by
the wish of hunting with mister Vernon, And of course
I cannot receive that pleasure from the length of his
visit which my brother's company would otherwise give me. I
am indeed provoked at the artifice of this unprincipled woman.
What stronger proof of her dangerous abilities can be given

(23:53):
than this perversion of Reginald's judgment, which, when he entered
this house was so decidedly against her. In his last
letter he actually gave me some particulars of her behavior
at Langford, such as he received from a gentleman who
knew her perfectly well, which if true, rays abhorrence against her,
and which Reginald himself was entirely disposed to credit. His

(24:14):
opinion of her, I am sure was as low as
any woman in England, and when he first came it
was evident that he considered her as one entitled neither
to delicacy or respect, and that he felt she would
be delighted with the attentions of any man inclined to
flirt with her. Her behavior, I confess, has been calculated
to do away with such an idea. I have not
detected the slightest impropriety in her, nothing of vanity, of

(24:37):
pretension of levity, And she is altogether so attractive that
I should not wonder at his being delighted with her,
had he known nothing of her previous to this personal acquaintance,
and against reason, against conviction, to be so well pleased
with her, as I am sure he is, does really
astonish me. His admiration was at first very strong, but
no more than was natural, and I did not wonder

(24:58):
at his being much struck with the je and delicacy
of her manners. But when he has mentioned her of late,
it has been in terms of more extraordinary praise. Yesterday
he actually said that he could not be surprised at
any effect produced on the heart of man by such
loveliness and such abilities. And when I lamented in reply
the badness of her disposition, he observed that whatever might

(25:19):
have been her errors, they were to be imputed to
her neglected education and early marriage, and that she was
altogether a wonderful woman. This tendency to excuse her conduct,
or to forget it in the warmth of admiration, vexes me.
And if I did not know that Reginald is too
much at home at church Hill to need invitation for
lengthening his visit. I should regret mister Vernon's giving him any.

(25:41):
Lady Susan's intentions are, of course close to those of
coquetry and a desire of universal admiration. I cannot for
a moment imagine that she has anything more serious in view.
But it mortifies me to see a young man of
Reginald's sense duped by her at all.

Speaker 1 (26:00):
Chapter nine, Missus Johnson to Lady s Vernon Edward Street,
my dearest friend, I congratulate you on mister de Corcey's arrival,
and I advise you by all means to marry him.
His father's estate is we know, considerable, and I believe

(26:20):
certainly entailed. Sir Reginald is very infirm and not likely
to stand in your way. Long I hear the young
man well spoken of, And though no one can really
deserve you, my dearest Susan, mister de Courcy may be
worth having main wearing will storm, of course, but you
easily pacify him. Besides, the most scrupulous point of honor

(26:43):
could not require you to wait for his emancipation. I
have seen Sir James He came to town for a
few days last week and called several times in Edward Street.
I talked to him about you and your daughter, and
he is so far from having forgotten you that I
am sure or he would marry either of you with pleasure.
I gave him hopes of Frederica's relenting and told him

(27:05):
a great deal of her improvements. I scolded him from
making love to Maria Mainwaring. He protested that he had
been only in joke, and we both laughed heartily at
her disappointment, and in short were very agreeable. He is
as silly as that.

Speaker 5 (27:24):
Ten lady Susan Vernon. To missus Johnson Churchill, I am
much obliged to you, my dear friend, for your advice
respecting mister de Courcy, which I know was given with
the full conviction of its expediency, though I am not
quite determined on following it. I cannot easily resolve on

(27:45):
anything so serious as marriage, especially as I am not
at present in want of money, and might, perhaps till
the old Gentleman's death, be very little benefited by the match.
It is true that I am vain enough to believe
it within my reach. I have made him sensible of
my power, and can now enjoy the pleasure of triumphing

(28:07):
over a mind prepared to dislike me and prejudiced against
all my past actions. His sister, too, is, I hope,
convinced how little the ungenerous representations of any one to
the disadvantage of another will avail when opposed by the
immediate influence of intellect and manner. I see plainly that

(28:28):
she is uneasy at my progress in the good opinion
of her brother, and conclude that nothing will be wanted
on her part to counterattack me. But having once made
him doubt the justice of her opinion of me, I think.

Speaker 6 (28:42):
I may defy her.

Speaker 5 (28:44):
It has been delightful to me to watch his advances
towards intimacy, especially to observe his altered manner, in consequence
of my repressing by the cool dignity of my deportment,
his insolent approach to direct familiarity. My conduct has been
equally guarded from the first, and I never behaved less
like a coquette in the whole course of my life.

(29:06):
Though perhaps my desire of dominion was never more decided.
I have subdued him entirely by sentiment and serious conversation,
and made him I may venture to say at least
half in love with me without the semblance of the
most commonplace flirtation. Missus Vernon's consciousness of deserving every sort

(29:29):
of revenge that it can be in my power to
inflict for her ill offices could alone enable her to
perceive that I am actuated by any design in behavior
so gentle and unpretending. Let her think an act as
she chooses. However, I have never yet found that the
advice of a sister could prevent a young man's being

(29:49):
in love if he chose. We are advancing now to
some kind of confidence, and in short, are likely to
be engaged in a sort of platonic friendship. On my side,
you may be sure of its never being more. For
if I were not attached to another person, as much
as I can be to any one, I should make
a point of not bestowing my affection on a man

(30:11):
who had dared to think so meanly of me. Reginald
has a good figure and is not unworthy the praise
you have heard given him, but is still greatly inferior
to our friend at Langford. He is less polished, less
insinuating than mannering, and is comparatively deficient in the power
of saying those delightful things which put one in good

(30:33):
humor with oneself and all the world. He is quite
agreeable enough, however, to afford me amusement, and to make
many of those hours pass very pleasantly, which would otherwise
be spent in endeavoring to overcome my sister in law's
reserve and listening to the insipid talk of her husband.
Your account of Sir James is most satisfactory. I mean

(30:56):
to give Miss Frederica a hint of my intentions very soon, yours,
et cetera.

Speaker 1 (31:03):
S Vernon, Chapter eleven, missus Vernon to Lady de Courcy Churchill.

Speaker 3 (31:11):
I really grow quite uneasy, my dear mother about Reginald,
from witnessing the very rapid increase of Lady Susan's influence.
They are now on terms of the most particular friendship,
frequently engaged in long conversations together, and she has contrived,
by the most artful coquetry, to subdue his judgment for
her own purposes. It is impossible to see the intimacy

(31:32):
between them so very soon established without some alarm, though
I can hardly suppose Lady Susan's views extend to marriage.
I wish you could get Reginald home again under any
plausible pretense. He is not at all disposed to leave us,
and I have given him as many hints of my
father's precarious state of health as common decency will allow
me to do in my own house. Her power over

(31:55):
him must now be boundless, as she has affected all
his former ill opinion and persuaded him, not entirely to forget,
but to justify her conduct. Mister Smith's account of her
proceedings at Langford, where he accused her of having made
mister Mainwaring and a young man engaged to Miss Mainwaring
distractedly in love with her, which Reginald firmly believed when

(32:17):
he came to church Hill is now he is persuaded
only a scandalous invention. He has told me so in
a warmth of manner, which spoke his regret at having
ever believed the contrary himself. How sincerely do I grieve
that she ever entered this house? I had always looked
forward to her coming with uneasiness, but very far it

(32:38):
was from originating in anxiety for Reginald. I expected a
most disagreeable companion for myself, but could not imagine that
my brother would be in the smallest danger of being
captivated by a woman with whose principles he was so
well acquainted, and whose character he is so heartily despised.
If you can get him away, it will be a
good thing, Very affectionately, Catherine.

Speaker 1 (33:00):
Vernon, end of Chapter eleven, Chapter twelve.

Speaker 7 (33:07):
Park Lands. I know that young men in general do
not admit of any inquiry, even from their nearest relations,
into affairs of the heart. But I hope, my dear Reginald,
that you will be superior to such as allowed nothing
for a father's anxiety, and think themselves privileged to refuse
him their confidence and slight his advice. You must be

(33:28):
sensible that, as an only son and the representative of
an ancient family, your conduct in life is most interesting
to your connections, and in the very important concern of marriage, especially,
there is everything at stake your own happiness, that of
your parents, and the credit of your name. I do
not suppose that you would deliberately form an absolute engagement

(33:50):
of that nature without acquainting your mother and myself, or
at least without being convinced that we should approve of
your choice. But I cannot help fearing that you may
be drawn in by the lady who has lately attached
you to a marriage which the whole of your family
far and near, must highly reprobate. Lady Susan's age is
itself a material objection, but her want of character is

(34:12):
one so much more serious that the difference of even
twelve years becomes in comparison of small amount. Were you
not blinded by a sort of fascination, it would be
ridiculous in me to repeat the instances of great misconduct
on her side, so very generally known. Her neglect of
her husband, her encouragement of other men, her extravagance and

(34:34):
dissipation were so gross and notorious that no one could
be ignorant of them at the time, nor can now
have forgotten them. To our family, she has always been
represented in softened colors by the benevolence of mister Charles Vernon,
and yet in spite of his generous endeavors to excuse her,
we know that she did, from the most selfish motives,

(34:54):
take all possible pains to prevent his marriage with Catherine.
My years and increasing infirmities make me very desirous of
seeing you settled in the world to the fortune of
a wife. The goodness of my own will make me indifferent,
but her family and character must be equally unexceptionable. When
your choice is fixed so that no objection can be

(35:15):
made to it, then I can promise you a ready
and cheerful consent. But it is my duty to oppose
a match which deep art only could render possible, and
must in the end make wretched. It is possible her
behavior may arise only from vanity or the wish of
gaining the admiration of a man whom she must imagine

(35:35):
to be particularly prejudiced against her. But it is more
likely that she should aim at something further. She is
poor and may naturally seek an alliance which must be
advantageous to herself. You know your own rights, and that
it is out of my power to prevent your inheriting
the family estate. My ability of distressing you during my

(35:55):
life would be a species of revenge to which I
could hardly stoop under any circlcecumstances. I honestly tell you
my sentiments and intentions. I do not wish to work
on your fears, but on your sense and affection. It
would destroy every comfort of my life to know that
you were married to Lady Susan Vernon. It would be
the death of that honest pride with which I have

(36:17):
hitherto considered my son. I should blush to see him,
to hear of him, to think of him. I may
perhaps do no good but that of relieving my own
mind by this letter. But I felt it my duty
to tell you that your partiality for Lady Susan is
no secret to your friends, and to warn you against her.
I should be glad to hear of your reasons for

(36:38):
disbelieving missus Smith's intelligence. You had no doubt of his
authenticity a month ago. If you can give me your
assurance of having no design beyond enjoying the conversation of
a clever woman for a short period, and of yielding
admiration only to her beauty and abilities, without being blinded
by them to her faults, you will restore me to happiness.

(37:00):
But if you cannot do this, explain to me at
least what has occasioned so great an alteration in your
opinion of her. I am et cetera, et cetera.

Speaker 1 (37:10):
Reginald de Courcy Chapter thirteen, Lady de Courcy to missus.

Speaker 8 (37:17):
Vernon Parkland's, my dear Catherine. Unluckily, I was confined to
my room when your last letter came by a cold
which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my
reading it myself, so I could not refuse your father
when he offered to read it to me, by which
means he became acquainted, to my great vexation with all

(37:39):
your fears about your brother. I had intended to write
to Reginald myself as soon as my eyes would let me,
to point out as well as I could the danger
of an intimate acquaintance with so artful a woman as
Lady Susan, to a young man of his age and
high expectations. I meant moreover to have reminded him of

(38:01):
our being quite alone now, and very much in need
of him to keep up our spirits these long winter evenings.
Whether it would have done any good can never be
settled now. But I am excessively vexed that Sir Reginald
should know anything of a matter which we foresaw would
make him so uneasy. He caught all your fears the

(38:23):
moment he had read your letter, and I am sure
he has not had the business out of his head
since he wrote, by the same poster Reginald, a long letter,
full of it all, and particularly asking an explanation of
what he may have heard from Lady Susan to contradict
the late shocking reports. His answer came this morning, which

(38:43):
I shall enclose to you, as I think you will
like to see it. I wish it was more satisfactory,
but it seems written with such a determination to think
well of Lady Susan, that all his assurances as to marriage,
et cetera, do not set my heart at ease. I
day all I can, however, to satisfy your father, and
he is certainly less uneasy since Reginald's letter. How provoking

(39:07):
it is, my dear Catherine, that this unwelcome guest of
yours should not only prevent our meeting this Christmas, but
be the occasion of so much vexation and trouble. Kiss
the dear children for me, your affectionate mother see De Corsi.

Speaker 1 (39:26):
Chapter thirteen, Lady de Courcy to missus.

Speaker 8 (39:31):
Vernon Parklands, My dear Catherine. Unluckily I was confined to
my room when your last letter came by a cold
which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my
reading it myself, so I could not refuse your father
when he offered to read it to me, by which
means he became acquainted, to my great vexation with all

(39:52):
your fears about your brother. I had intended to write
to Reginald myself as soon as my eyes would let,
to point out as well as I could the danger
of an intimate acquaintance with so artful a woman as
Lady Susan to a young man of his age and
high expectations. I meant moreover to have reminded him of

(40:15):
our being quite alone now and very much in need
of him to keep up our spirits these long winter evenings.
Whether it would have done any good can never be
settled now.

Speaker 9 (40:26):
But I am.

Speaker 8 (40:26):
Excessively vexed that Sir Reginald should know anything of a
matter which we foresaw would make him so uneasy. He
caught all your fears the moment he had read your letter,
and I am sure he has not had the business
out of his head since he wrote, by the same
poster Reginald, a long letter full of it all, and

(40:46):
particularly asking an explanation of what he may have heard
from Lady Susan to contradict the late shocking reports. His
answer came this morning, which I shall enclose to you,
as I think you will like to see it. I
wish it was more satisfactory, but it seems written with
such a determination to think well of Lady Susan, that

(41:07):
all his assurances as to marriage, et cetera do not
set my heart at ease. I say all I can, however,
to satisfy your father, and he is certainly less uneasy
since Reginald's letter. How provoking it is, my dear Catherine,
that this unwelcome guest of yours should not only prevent
our meeting this Christmas, but be the occasion of so

(41:30):
much vexation and trouble. Kiss the dear children for me,
your affectionate mother. See De Corsi, chapter fourteen.

Speaker 1 (41:42):
Mister de Corsi to Sir Reginald Churchhill.

Speaker 4 (41:46):
My dear Sir, I have this moment received a letter
which has given me more astonishment than I ever felt before.
I am to thank my sister, I suppose, for having
represented me in such a lot as to injure me
in your opinion and give you all this alarm. I
know not why she should choose to make herself and
her family uneasy by apprehending an event which no one
but herself, I can affirm, would ever have thought possible.

(42:09):
To impute such a design to Lady Susan would be
taking from her every claim to that excellent understanding which
her bitterest enemies have never denied her, and equally low
must sink my pretensions to common sense. If I am
suspected of matrimonial views in my behavior to her, our
difference of age must be an insuperable objection, And I
entreat you, my dear father, to quiet your mind and

(42:30):
no longer harbor a suspicion which cannot be more injurious
to your own peace than our understandings. I can have
no other view in remaining with Lady Susan than to enjoy,
for a short time, as you have yourself expressed it,
the conversation of a woman of high intellectual powers, missus Vernon,
would allow something to my affection for herself and her
husband in the length of my visit. She would do

(42:52):
more justice to us all, but my sister is unhappily
prejudiced beyond the hope of conviction against Lady Susan from
an attachment to her husband, which in itself does honor
to both. She cannot forgive the endeavors at preventing their
union which have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan.
But in this case, as well as in many others,
the world has most grossly injured that lady by supposing

(43:13):
the worst. Where the motives in her conduct have been doubtful,
Lady Susan had heard something so materially to the disadvantage
of my sister as to persuade her that the happiness
of mister Vernon, to whom she was always much attached,
would be wholly destroyed by the marriage and the circumstance.
While it explains the true motive of Lady Susan's conduct
and removes all the blame which has been so lavished

(43:33):
on her, may also convince us how little the general
report of anyone ought to be credited, since no character,
however upright, can escape the benevolent of slander. If my sister,
in the security of retirement, with as little opportunity as
inclination to do evil, could not avoid censure, we must
not rashly condemn those who living in the world and
surrounded with temptations, should be accused of errors which they

(43:55):
are known to have the power of committing. I blame
myself severely for having so eas easily believe the slanderous
tales invented by Charles Smith to the prejudice of Lady Susan,
as I am now convinced how greatly they have produced her.
As to Missus Mainwaring's jealousy, it was totally his own invention,
and his account of her attaching Miss Mainwaring's lover was
scarcely better founded. Sir James Martin had been drawn in

(44:17):
by that young lady to pay her some attention, and
as he is a man of fortune, it is easy
to see her views extended to marriage. It is well
known that Miss m is absolutely on the catch for
her husband, and no one can therefore pity her for losing,
by the superior attractions of another woman, the chance of
being able to make worthy man completely wretched. Lady Susan
was far from intending such a conquest, and on finding

(44:38):
how warmly Miss Mainwarings resented her lover's disaffection, determined in
spite of mister and Missus Mainwaring's most urgent entreaties to
leave the family. I have reason to imagine she did
receive serious proposals from Sir James, But her removing to
Langford immediately on the discovery of his attachment must acquit
her on that article. With any mind of common candor,

(44:59):
you will, I am sure, my dear Sir, feel the
truth of this, and will hereby learn to do justice
to the character of a very injured woman. I know
that Lady Susan is coming to Churchill was governed only
by the most honorable and amiable intentions. Her prudence and
economy are exemplary, her regard for mister Vernon equal to
his deserts, and her wish of obtaining my sister's good

(45:20):
opinion merits a better return than it is received. As
a mother, she is unexceptionable. Her solid affection for her
child is shown by placing her in hands where her
education will be properly attended to. But because she is
not the blind and weak partiality of most mothers, she
is accused of wanting maternal tenderness. Every person of sense, however,
will know how to value and command her a well

(45:41):
directed affection, and will join me in wishing that Frederica
Vernon may prove more worthy than she has done of
her mother's tender care. I have now my dear father
written my real sentiments of Lady Susan. You will know
from this letter how highly I admire her abilities and
esteem her character. But if you are not equally convinced
of my full and solemn assurance that your fears have
been most idly created, you will deeply mortify and distress me.

(46:04):
I am.

Speaker 1 (46:06):
Chapter six, Missus Vernon to Lady de Courcy.

Speaker 3 (46:11):
Churchill, my dear mother. I return you Reginald's letter and
rejoice with all my heart that my father is made
easy by it. Tell him so with my congratulations. But
between ourselves I must own it has only convinced me
of my brother's having no present intention of marrying Lady Susan,
not that he is in no danger of doing so.
Three months hands he gives a very plausible account of

(46:33):
her behavior at Langford. I wish it may be true,
but his intelligence must come from herself, and I am
less disposed to believe it than to lament the degree
of intimacy subsisting between them implied by the discussion of
such a subject. I am also sorry to have incurred
his displeasure, but can expect nothing better. While he is
so very eager in Lady Susan's justification, he is very

(46:54):
severe against me, indeed, and yet I hope I have
not been hasty in my judgment of her. Poor woman.
Though I have reasons enough for my dislike, I cannot
help pitying her at present, as she is in real
distress and with too much cause. She had this morning
a letter from the lady with whom she has placed
her daughter, to request that Miss Vernon might be immediately removed,

(47:15):
as she had been detected in an attempt to run away.
Why or whether she intended to go does not appear,
but as her situation seems to have been unexceptionable, it
is a sad thing, and of course highly afflicting to
Lady Susan. Frederica must be as much as sixteen and
ought to know better. But from what her mother insinuates,
I am afraid she is a perverse girl. She has

(47:36):
been sadly neglected, however, and her mother ought to remember it.
Mister Vernon set off to town as soon as she
had determined what should be done. He is, if possible
to prevail upon Miss Somers to let Frederica continue with her, and,
if he cannot succeed, to bring her to church Hill
for the present till some other situation can be found
for her. Her Ladyship is comforting herself meanwhile by strolling

(47:59):
along the shrubbery with Reginald and calling forth all his
tender feelings. I suppose on this distressing occasion she has
been talking a great deal about it to me. She
talks vastly well. I am afraid of being ungenerous, or
I should say too well, to feel very deeply, but
I will not look for faults. She may be Reginald's wife,
Heaven forbid it, But why should I be quicker sighted

(48:21):
than any one else? Mister Vernon declares that he never
saw deeper distress than hers on receipt of the letter,
and is his judgment inferior to mine. She was very
unwilling that Frederica should be allowed to come to Church Hill,
and justly enough, as it seems a sort of reward
to behavior deserving very differently. It was impossible to take
her anywhere else, and she is not to remain here long.

(48:44):
It will be absolutely necessary, said she, as you my
dear sister must be sensible to treat my daughter with
some severity while she is here. A most painful necessity,
but I will endeavor to submit to it. I am
afraid I have often been too indulgent, but my poor
Frederica's temper could never bear opposition. Well, you must support
and encourage me. You must urge the necessity of reproof

(49:06):
if you see me too lenient. All this sounds very reasonably.
Reginald is incensed against the poor silly girl. Surely it
is not to Lady Susan's credit that he be so
bitter against her daughter. His idea of her must be
drawn from the mother's description. Well, whatever may be his fate,
we have the comfort of knowing we have done the
utmost to save him.

Speaker 1 (49:31):
Chapter sixteen, Lady Susan Vernon to missus Johnson Churchill.

Speaker 2 (49:39):
Never, my dearest Alicia, was I so provoked in my
life as by a letter this morning for Miss Summers,
that horrid girl of mine has been trying to run away.
I had not a notion of her being such a
little devil. Before she seemed to have all the Vernon milkiness.
But on receiving the letter in which I declared my
intention about Sir James. She actually attempted to elope at

(50:02):
least I cannot otherwise account for her doing it. She
meant I suppose to go to the Clark's in Staffordshire,
for she has no other acquaintances. But she shall be punished.
She shall have him. I sent Charles to town to
make matters up if he can, for I do not,
by any means want her here. If Miss Summers will
not keep her, you must find me out another school

(50:25):
unless we can get her married immediately. Miss s writes
word that she could not get the young lady to
assign any cause for her extraordinary conduct, which confirms me
in my own previous explanation of it. Frederica is too shy,
I think, and too much in awe of me to
tell tales. But if the mildness of her uncle should
get anything out of her, I am not afraid. I

(50:45):
trust I shall be able to make my story as
good as hers. If I am vain of anything, it
is of my eloquence, consideration, and esteem, as surely follow
command of language, as admiration waits on beauty, And here
I have opportunity enough for the exercise of my talent,
as the chief of my time is spent in conversation.

(51:05):
Reginald is never easy unless we are by ourselves, and
when the weather is tolerable we pace the shrubbery for
hours together. I like him on the whole very well.
He is clever and has a good deal to say,
but he is sometimes impertinent and troublesome. There is a
sort of ridiculous delicacy about him which requires the fullest

(51:26):
explanation of whatever he may have heard, to my disadvantage,
and is never satisfied till he thinks he has ascertained
the beginning and end of everything. This is one sort
of love, but I confess it does not particularly recommend
itself to me. I infinitely prefer of a tender and
liberal spirit of man Wearing, which impressed with the deepest
conviction of my merit is satisfied that whatever I do

(51:49):
must be right, and look with a degree of contempt
on the inquisitive and doubtful fancies of that heart which
seems always debating on the reasonableness of its emotions. Man
Wearing is indeed, beyond all compare, superior to Reginald, superior
in everything but the power of being with me, poor fellow.
He is much distracted by jealousy, which I am not

(52:11):
sorry for, as I know no better support of love.
He has been teasing me to allow of his coming
into this country and lodging somewhere near in cog But
I forbad anything of the kind. Those women are inexcusable,
who forget what is due to themselves and the opinion
of the world yours ever.

Speaker 1 (52:32):
Chapter seventeen, missus Vernon to Lady de.

Speaker 3 (52:37):
Courcy Churchhill, my dear mother. Mister Vernon returned on Thursday night,
bringing his niece with him. Lady Susan had received a
letter from him by that day's post informing her that
Miss Summers had absolutely refused to allow Miss Vernon's continuance
in her academy. We were therefore prepared for her arrival
and expected it impatiently the whole evening. They came while

(52:59):
we were at tea, and I never saw any creature
look so frightened as Frederica when she entered the room.
Lady Susan, who had been shedding tears before and showing
great agitation at the idea of the meeting, received her
with perfect self command and without betraying the least tenderness
of spirit. She hardly spoke to her, and on Frederica's

(53:20):
bursting into tears as soon as we were seated, took
her out of the room and did not return for
some time. When she did, her eyes looked very red,
and she was as much agitated as before. We saw
no more of her daughter. Poor Reginald was beyond measure
concerned to see his fair friend in such distress, and
watched her with so much tender solicitude that I, who

(53:42):
occasionally caught her observing his countenance with exultation, was quite
out of patience. This pathetic representation lasted the whole evening,
and so ostentatious and artful a display had entirely convinced
me that she did, in fact feel nothing. I am
more angry with her than ever since I have seen
in her daughter. The poor girl looks so unhappy that

(54:03):
my heart aches for her. Lady Susan is surely too severe,
for Frederica does not seem to have the sort of
temper to make severity necessary. She looks perfectly timid, dejected,
and penitent. She is very pretty, though not so handsome
as her mother, nor at all like her her complexion
is delicate, but neither so fair nor blooming as Lady Susan's.

(54:24):
And she has quite the vernon cast of countenance, the
oval face and mild dark eyes. And there is a
peculiar sweetness in her look when she speaks, either to
her uncle or me. For as we behave kindly to her,
we have of course engaged her gratitude. Her mother has
insinuated that her temper is untractable. But I never saw
a face less indicative of any evil disposition than hers.

(54:46):
And from what I now see of the behavior each
to the other, the invariable severity of Lady Susan and
the silent dejection of Frederica, I am led to believe,
as heretofore, that the former has no real love for
her daughter, has never done her justice or treated her affectionately.

Speaker 9 (55:03):
I have not yet been.

Speaker 3 (55:04):
Able to have any conversation with my niece. She is shy,
and I think I can see that some pains are
taken to prevent her from being much with me. Nothing
satisfactory transpires as to her reason for running away. Her
kind hearted uncle, you may be sure, was too fearful
of distressing her to ask many questions as they traveled.
I wish it had been possible for me to fetch

(55:25):
her instead of him. I think I should have discovered
the truth in the course of a thirty mile journey.
The small Pianoforte has been removed within these few days
at Lady Susan's request, into her dressing room, and Frederica
spends a great part of her day there practicing it
is called. But I seldom hear any noise when I
pass that way. What she does with herself there I

(55:46):
do not know. There are plenty of books in the room,
but it is not every girl that has been running
wild for the first fifteen years of her life that
can or will read poor creature. The prospect from her
will window is not very instructive, for the room overlooks
the lawn, you know, with the shrubbery to one side,
where she can see her mother walking for an hour together.

(56:08):
In earnest conversation with Reginald, a girl of Frederica's age
must be childish. Indeed, if such things do not strike her,
is it not inexcusable to give such an example to
a daughter? Yet Reginald still thinks Lady Susan the best
of mothers still condemns Frederica as a worthless girl. He
is convinced that her attempt to run away proceeded from
no profitable cause and had no provocation. I am sure

(56:32):
I cannot say that it had. While Miss Summers declared
that Miss Vernon showed no signs of obstinacy or perverseness
during her whole stay in Wigmore Street until she was
detected in the scheme, I cannot so readily credit what
Lady Susan has made him and wants to make me
believe that it was merely an impatience of restraint and
a desire of escaping from the tuition of masters, which

(56:54):
brought on the plan of elopement. Oh, Reginald, how is
your judgment enslaved? He scarcely dared even allow her to
be handsome, and when I speak of her beauty, replies
only that her eyes have no brilliancy. Sometimes he is
sure she is deficient in understanding, and other times that
her temper is in fault. In short, when a person
is always to deceive, it is impossible to be consistent.

(57:17):
Lady Susan finds it necessary for Frederica should be to
blame and probably has sometimes judged it expedient to accuse
her of ill nature, and sometimes to lament her want
of sense. Reginald is only repeating after her ladyship.

Speaker 1 (57:31):
I am Catherine, Chapter eighteen, Missus Vernon to Lady de Courcy.

Speaker 3 (57:41):
Churchhill, my dear mother. I am very glad to find
that my description of Frederica Vernon has interested you, for
I believe her truly deserving of your regard. And when
I have communicated a notice which has recently struck me
your kind impressions in her favor, will I am sure
be heightened. I cannot help fancying that she is growing
partial to my brother. I so very often see her

(58:03):
eyes fixed on his face with a remarkable expression of
pensive admiration. He is certainly very handsome, and yet more,
there is an openness in his manner that must be
highly prepossessing, and I am sure she feels it so
thoughtful and pensive. In general, her countenance always brightens into
a smile when Reginald says anything amusing. And let the

(58:24):
subject be ever so serious that he may be conversing on.
I am much mistaken if a syllable of his uttering
escapes her. I want to make him sensible of all this,
for the power of gratitude on such a heart as his.
And could Frederica's artless affection detach him from her mother?
We might bless the day which brought her to Church Hill.
I think, my dear Madam, you would not disapprove of

(58:47):
her as a daughter. She is extremely young, to be sure,
has had a wretched education and a dreadful example of
levity in her mother. But yet I can pronounce her
disposition to be excellent, and her natural abilities very good.
Though totally without accomplishments, she is by no means so
ignorant as one might expect to find her, being fond

(59:07):
of books and spending the chief of her time in reading.
Her mother leaves her more to herself now than she did.
And I have her with me as much as possible,
and have taken great pains to overcome her timidity. We
are very good friends. And though she never opens her
lips before her mother, she talks enough when alone with
me to make it clear that if properly treated by

(59:28):
Lady Susan, she would always appear too much greater advantage.
There cannot be a more gentle, affectionate heart or more
obliging manners when acting without restraint. Her little cousins are
all very fond of her. Yours affectionately, Catherine Vernon.

Speaker 1 (59:45):
End of Chapter eight, Chapter nineteen. Lady Susan Vernon to
missus Johnson Churchill.

Speaker 2 (59:56):
You will be eager, I know, to hear something further
of Frederica, and perhaps may think me negligent for not
writing before she arrived with her uncle last Thursday fortnight, when,
of course I lost no time in demanding a cause
of her behavior, and soon found myself to have been
perfectly right in attributing it to my own letter. The

(01:00:17):
prospect of it frightened her so thoroughly that, with a
mixture of true girlish perverseness and folly, she resolved on
getting out of the house and proceeding directly by the
stage to her friends the Clarks, and had really got
as far as the length of two streets in her
journey when she was fortunately missed, pursued, and overtaken. Such

(01:00:40):
was the first distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica Vernon, And
if we consider that it was achieved at the tender
age of sixteen, we shall have room for the most
flattering prognostics of her future renown. I am excessively provoked, however,
at the parade of propriety which prevented Miss Summers from
keeping the girl. And it seems means so extraordinary a

(01:01:01):
piece of nicety, considering my daughter's family connections. But I
can only suppose the lady to be governed by the
fear of never getting her money. Be that as it may. However,
Frederica is returned on my hands, and having nothing else
to employ, her is busy in pursuing the plan of
romance begun at Blangford. She is actually falling in love

(01:01:23):
with Reginald de COURSI to disobey her mother by refusing
an unexceptionable offer is not enough. Her affections must also
be given without her mother's approbation. I never saw a
girl of her age bid fairer to be the sport
of mankind. Her feelings are tolerably acute, and she is
so charmingly artless in their display as to afford the

(01:01:44):
most reasonable hope of her being ridiculous and despise by
every man who sees her artlessness will never do in
love matters. And that girl is born a simpleton who
has it either by nature or affectation. I am not
yet certain that her Reginald sees what she is about,
nor is it of much consequence. She is now an

(01:02:05):
object of indifference to him, and she would be one
of contempt were he to understand her emotions. Her beauty
is much admired by the Vernons, but it has no
effect on him. She is in high favor with her
aunt altogether because she is so little like myself. Of course,
she is exactly the companion from Missus Vernon, who dearly
loves to be firm and to have all the sense

(01:02:27):
and all the wit of the conversation to herself. Frederica
will never eclipse her. When she first came, I was
at some pains to prevent her seeing much of her aunt.
But I have relaxed, as I believe I may depend
on her observing the rules I have laid down for
their discourse. But do not imagine that with all this lenienty,
I have for a moment given up my plan of

(01:02:48):
her marriage. No, I am unalterably fixed on this point,
though I have not yet quite decided on the manner
of bringing it about. I should not choose to have
the business brought on here and canvassed by the wise
heads of mister and Missus Vernon, and I cannot just
now afford to go to town. Miss Frederica must therefore wait

(01:03:10):
a little yours Ever.

Speaker 1 (01:03:14):
Chapter twenty, Missus Vernon to Lady de Courcy.

Speaker 3 (01:03:19):
Church Hill, we have a very unexpected guest with us
at present, my dear mother. He arrived yesterday. I heard
a carriage at the door as I was sitting with
my children while they dined, and supposing I should be wanted,
left the nursery soon afterwards and was half way downstairs
when Frederica, as pale as ashes, came running up and
rushed by me into her own room. I immediately followed

(01:03:42):
and asked her what was the matter? Oh, cried she
He is come, Sir James has come, and what am
I to do? There was no explanation. I begged her
to tell me what she meant. At that moment, we
were interrupted by a knock at the door. It was Reginald,
who came by Lady Susan's direction to call Frederica down.
It is mister de Courcy, said she coloring violently. Mamma's

(01:04:05):
sent for me, and I must go we all three
went down together, and I saw my brother examining the
terrified face of Frederica. In surprise, in the breakfast room,
we found Lady Susan and a young man of gentle appearance,
whom she introduced to me by the name of Sir
James Martin, the very person, as you may remember, who
it was said she had been at pains to detach

(01:04:25):
from Miss Mainwaring, but the conquest, it seemed, was not
designed for herself, or she has since transferred it to
her daughter. For Sir James is now desperately in love
with Frederica, and with full encouragement from Mamma. The poor girl,
I am sure, however, dislikes him, and though his person
and address are very well, he appears both to mister

(01:04:45):
Vernon and me, a very weak young man. Frederica looked
so shy, so confused when we entered the room that
I felt for her exceedingly. Lady Susan behaved with great
attention to her visitor, and yet I thought I could
perceive that she had no particular pleasure in seeing him.
Sir James talked a great deal and made many civil

(01:05:05):
excuses to me for the liberty he had taken in
coming to Church Hill, making more frequent laughter with his
discourse than the subject required, said many things over and
over again, and told Lady Susan three times that he
had seen missus Johnson a few evenings before he now
and then addressed Frederica, but more frequently her mother. The

(01:05:26):
poor girl sat all this time without opening her lips,
her eyes cast down, and her color varying every instant,
while Reginald observed all that passed in perfect silence. At length,
Lady Susan, weary I believe of her situation, proposed walking,
and we left the two gentlemen together to put on
our palaces. As we went upstairs, Lady Susan begged permission

(01:05:48):
to attend me for a few moments in my dressing room,
as she was anxious to speak with me in private.
I led her thither accordingly, and as soon as the
door was closed, she said, I never was more surprised
in my life than by Sir James's arrival, and the
suddenness of it requires some apology to you, my dear sister,
though to me as a mother, it is highly flattering.

(01:06:09):
He is so extremely attracted to my daughter that he
could not exist longer without seeing her. Sir James is
a young man of an amiable disposition and an excellent character.
A little too much of the rattle, perhaps, but a
year or two will rectify that. And he is, in
other respects so very eligible a match for Frederica that
I have always observed his attachment with the greatest pleasure,

(01:06:31):
and am persuaded that you and my brother will give
the alliance your hearty approbation. I have never before mentioned
the likelihood of its taking place to any one, because
I thought that while Frederica continued at school, it had
better not be known to exist. But now I am
convinced that Frederica is too old ever to submit to
school confinement. I have therefore begun to consider her union

(01:06:52):
with Sir James as not very distant. I had intended
within a few days to acquaint yourself and mister Vernon
with the whole business. I am sure, my dear sister,
you will excuse my remaining silent so long, and agree
with me that such circumstances, while they continue from any
cause in suspense, cannot be too cautiously concealed. When you
have the happiness of bestowing your sweet little Catherine some

(01:07:15):
years hence on a man who in connection and character
is alike unexceptionable. You will know what I feel now, though,
thank Heaven, you cannot have all my reasons for rejoicing
in such an event. Catherine will be amply provided for,
and not like my Frederica, indebted to a fortunate establishment
for the comfort of life. She concluded by demanding my congratulations.

(01:07:38):
I gave them somewhat awkwardly. I believe, in fact, the
sudden disclosure of so important a matter took me from
the power of speaking with any clearness. She thanked me, however,
most affectionately for my kind concern in the welfare of
herself and daughter, and then said, I am not apt
to deal in professions, my dear missus Vernon, and I

(01:07:58):
never had the convenient talent of affecting sensations foreign to
my heart, and therefore I trust you will believe me
when I declare that, much as I had heard in
your praise, before I knew you, I had no idea
that I should ever love you as I now do.
And I must further say that your friendship toward me
is more particularly gratifying because I have reason to believe

(01:08:20):
that some attempts were made to prejudice you against me.
I only wish that they, whoever they are, to whom
I am indebted for such kind intentions, could see the
terms on which we are now together and understand the
real affection we feel for each other. But I will
not detain you any longer. God bless you for your
goodness to me and my girl, and continue to you

(01:08:42):
all your present happiness. What can one say to such
a woman, my dear mother, such earnestness, such solemnity of expression,
And yet I cannot help suspecting the truth of everything
she said. As for Reginald, I believe he does not
know what to make of the matter. When Sir James came,
he appeared in astonishment and perplexity. The folly of the

(01:09:06):
young man and the confusion of Frederica entirely engrossed him,
And though a little private discourse with Lady Susan has
since had its effect, he is still hurt. I am
sure at her allowing of such a man's attentions to
her daughter. Sir James invited himself, with great composure to
remain here for a few days, hoped we would not
think it odd was aware of its being very impertinent,

(01:09:29):
but he took the liberty of a relation, and concluded
by wishing with a laugh, that he might be really
one soon. Even Lady Susan seemed a little disconcerted by
this forwardness in her heart. I am persuaded she sincerely
wishes him gone. But something must be done for this
poor girl. If her feelings are such as both her
uncle and I believe them to be, she must not

(01:09:51):
be sacrificed to policy or ambition. She must not be
left to suffer from the dread of it. The girl
whose heart can distinguish Reginald de Courcy deserve, however he
may slight her a better fate than to be Sir
James Martin's wife.

Speaker 1 (01:10:05):
As soon as I.

Speaker 3 (01:10:06):
Can get her alone, I will discover the real truth.
But she seems to wish to avoid me. I hope
this does not proceed from anything wrong, and that I
shall not find out I have thought too well of her.
Her behavior to Sir James certainly speaks the greatest consciousness
and embarrassment, But I see nothing in it more like encouragement. Adieu,

(01:10:27):
my dear mother, yours.

Speaker 1 (01:10:33):
Chapter twenty one, Miss Vernon to mister de Courcy.

Speaker 6 (01:10:39):
Sir, I hope you will excuse this liberty. I am
forced upon it by the greatest distress, or I should
be ashamed to trouble you. I am very miserable about
Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the
world of helping myself but by writing to you, for
I am forbidden even speaking to my uncle and aunt
on the subject. And this being the case, I am

(01:11:03):
afraid my applying to you will appear no better than equivocation,
and as if I intended to the letter and not
the spirit of Mamma's commands. But if you do not
take my part and persuade her to break it off,
I shall be half distracted, for I cannot bear him
no human being. But you could have any chance of

(01:11:24):
prevailing with her. If you will therefore have the unspeakably
great kindness of taking my part with her and persuading
her to send Sir James away, I shall be more
obliged to you than it is possible for me to express.
I always disliked him from the first. It is not
a sudden fancy, I assure you, Sir, I always thought

(01:11:45):
him silly and impertinent and disagreeable, and now he has
grown worse than ever. I would rather work for my
bread than marry him. I do not know how to
apologize for this letter. I know it is taking so
great a liberty. I am aware how dreadfully angry it
will make Mamma, but I remember the risk I am, Sir,

(01:12:05):
your most humble servant.

Speaker 1 (01:12:07):
F Chapter twenty two, Lady Susan Vernon to Missus Johnson.

Speaker 2 (01:12:16):
This is insufferable, my dearest friend. I was never so
enraged before, and must relieve myself by writing to you,
who I know will enter into all my feelings. Who
should come on Tuesday? But, Sir James Martin, guess my
astonishment and vexation, For as you well know, I never

(01:12:36):
wished him to be seen at Churchill. What a pity
that you should not have known his intentions. Not content
with coming, he actually invited himself to remain here a
few days. I could have poisoned him. I made the
best of it, however, and told my story with great
success to Missus Vernon, who, whatever might be her real sentiments,

(01:12:58):
said nothing in opposition to mine. I made a point
also of Frederica's behaving civilly to Sir James, and gave
her to understand that I was absolutely determined on her
marrying him. She said something of her misery, but that
was all. I have for some time been more particularly
resolved on the match, from seeing the rapid increase of

(01:13:19):
her affection for Reginald, and from not feeling secure that
a knowledge of such affection might not, in the end
awaken a return contemptible as a regard found it only
on compassion must make them both in my eyes, I felt,
by no means assured that such might not be the consequence.
It is true that Reginald had not in any degree

(01:13:42):
grown cool towards me, But yet he has lately mentioned
Frederica spontaneously and unnecessarily, and once said something in praise
of her person. He was all astonishment at the appearance
of my visitor, and at first observed Sir James with
an attention which I was pleased to see, not unmixed

(01:14:02):
with jealousy. But unluckily it was impossible for me to
really torment him, as Sir James, though extremely gallant to me,
very soon made the whole party understand that his heart
was devoted to my daughter. I had no great difficulty
in convincing de Corsi when we were alone, that I
was perfectly justified all things considered in desiring the match,

(01:14:26):
and the whole business seemed most comfortably arranged. They could
none of them help perceiving that Sir James was no Solomon.
But I had positively forbidden Frederica complaining to Charles Vernon
or his wife, and they had therefore no pretense for interference,
though my impertinent sister, I believe, wanted only opportunity for
doing so. Everything, however, was going on calmly and quietly,

(01:14:51):
and though I counted the hours of Sir James's stay,
my mind was entirely satisfied with the posture of affairs.
Guess then, what I must feel at the sudden disturbance
of all my schemes, and that too from a quarter
where I had least reason to expect it. Reginald came
this morning into my dressing room with a very unusual

(01:15:12):
solemnity of countenance, and after some preface, informed me in
so many words that he wished to reason with me
on the impropriety and unkindness of allowing Sir James Martin
to address my daughter contrary to her inclinations. I was
all amazement when I found that he was not to
be laughed out of his design. I calmly begged in explanation,

(01:15:34):
and desired to know by what he was impelled and
by whom commissioned to reprimand me. He then told me,
mixing in his speech a few insolent compliments and ill
timed expressions of tenderness, to which I listened with perfect indifference,
that my daughter had acquainted him with some circumstances concerning herself,
Sir James, and me, which had given him great uneasiness.

(01:15:58):
In short, I found that she had, in the first place,
actually written to him to request his interference, and that
on receiving her letter, he had conversed with her on
the subject of it, in order to understand the particulars
and to assure himself of her real wishes. I have
not a doubt but that the girl took this opportunity
of making downright love to him. I am convinced of

(01:16:20):
it by the manner in which he spoke of her.
Much good may such love do him? I shall ever
despise the man who can be gratified by the passion
which he never wished to inspire, nor solicited the avowal
of I shall always detest them both. He can have
no true regard for me, or he would not have
listened to her, and she, with her little rebellious heart

(01:16:40):
and indelicate feelings, to throw herself into the protection of
a young man with whom she has scarcely ever exchanged
two words before. I am equally confounded at her impudence
and his credulity. How dared he believe what she told
him in my disfavor? Ought he not to have felt
assured that I must have un air answerable motives for

(01:17:01):
all that I had done. Where was his reliance on
my sense and goodness?

Speaker 8 (01:17:05):
Then?

Speaker 2 (01:17:06):
Where the resentment which true love would have dictated against
the person defaming me? That person too, a chit, a
child without talent or education, whom he had always been.

Speaker 3 (01:17:16):
Taught to despise.

Speaker 2 (01:17:17):
I was calm for some time, But the greatest degree
of forbearance may be overcome, and I hope I was
afterwards sufficiently keen. He endeavored, long endeavored to soften my resentment.
But that woman is a fool, indeed, who, while insulted
by accusation, can be worked on by compliments. At length

(01:17:38):
he left me as deeply provoked as myself, and he
showed his anger more. I was quite cool, but he
gave way to the most violent indignation. I may therefore
expect it will the sooner subside, and perhaps his may
be vanished forever, while mine will be found still fresh
and implacable. He is now shut up in his apartment
whither I heard him go on leaving mine. How unpleasant

(01:18:01):
one would think must be his reflections. But some people's
feelings are incomprehensible. I have not yet tranquilized myself enough
to see Frederica. She shall not soon forget the occurrences
of this day. She shall find that she has poured
forth her tender tale of love in vain, and exposed
herself forever to the contempt of the whole world and

(01:18:21):
the severest resentment of her injured mother.

Speaker 1 (01:18:28):
Chapter twenty three. Missus Vernon to Lady de.

Speaker 3 (01:18:32):
Courcy, church Hill. Let me congratulate you, my dear mother.
The affair which has given us so much anxiety is
drawing to a happy conclusion. Our prospect is most delightful,
And since matters have now taken so favorable a turn.
I am quite sorry that I ever imparted my apprehensions
to you, how the pleasure of learning that the danger

(01:18:54):
is over is perhaps dearly purchased by all that you
have previously suffered. I am so agitated by delight that
I can scarcely hold a pen. But am determined to
send you a few short lines by James, that you
may have some explanation of what must so greatly astonish you,
as that Reginald should be returning to Parkland's. I was

(01:19:15):
sitting about half an hour ago with Sir James in
the breakfast parlor when my brother called me out of room.
I instantly saw that something was the matter. His complexion
was raised, and he spoke with great emotion. You know
his eager manner, my dear Madam, when his mind is interested.
Catherine said he, I am going home to day, and
I am sorry to leave you, but I must go.

(01:19:36):
It is a great while since I have seen my
father and mother. I am going to send James forward
with my hunters immediately. If you have any letters, therefore,
he can take it. I shall not be home myself
till Wednesday or Thursday, as I shall go through London
where I have business. But before I leave you, he continued,
speaking in a loud voice and with still greater energy,

(01:19:56):
I must warn you of one thing. Do not let
Frederick Vernon be made unhappy by that Martin. He wants
to marry her. Her mother promotes the match, but she
cannot endure the idea of it. Be assured that I
speak from the fullest conviction of the truth of what
I say. I know that Frederica is made wretched by
Sir James, continuing here, she is a sweet girl and

(01:20:19):
deserves a better fate. Send him away immediately. He is
only a fool. But what her mother can mean, Heaven
only knows. Good Bye, he added, shaking my hand with earnestness.
I do not know when you will see me again.
But remember what I tell you of Frederica. You must
make it your business to see justice done her. She

(01:20:41):
is an amiable girl and has a very superior mind,
to which we have never given her credit for. He
then left me and ran upstairs. I would not try
to stop him, for I know what the feelings must
be the nature of mine. As I listened to him,
I need not attempt to describe. For a minute or two,
I remain in the same spot, overpowered by wonder of

(01:21:02):
a most agreeable sort. Indeed, yet it required some consideration
to be tranquility happy. In about ten minutes after my
return to the parlor, Lady Susan entered the room. I concluded,
of course, that she and Reginald had been quarreling, and
looked with anxious curiosity for a confirmation of my belief
in her face, Mistress of deceit. However, she appeared perfectly unconcerned, and,

(01:21:26):
after chatting on indifferent subjects for a short time, said
to me, I find from Wilson that we are going
to lose mister de Courcy. Is it true that he
leaves Churchill this morning? I replied that it was. He
told me nothing of this last night, said she, laughing,
or even this morning at breakfast. But perhaps he did
not know it himself. Young men are often hasty in

(01:21:48):
their resolutions, and not more sudden informing their unsteady in
keeping them. I should not be surprised if he should
change his mind at last and not go. She soon
after left the room. I trust, however, my dear mother,
that we have no reason to fear the alteration of
his present plans. Things have gone too far. They must

(01:22:10):
have quarreled, and about Frederica too. What delight will be
yours in seeing him again, in seeing him still worthy
of your esteem, still capable of forming your happiness. When
I next write, I shall be able to tell you
that Sir James is gone, Lady Susan vanquished, and Frederica
at peace. We have much to do, but it shall

(01:22:31):
be done. I am all impatience to hear how the
astonishing change was affected. I finish as I begin, with
the warmest congratulations, yours ever, Catherine.

Speaker 1 (01:22:42):
Vernon, Chapter twenty four, Missus Vernon to Lady de Courcy
church Hill.

Speaker 3 (01:22:53):
Little did I imagine, my dear mother, when I sent
off my last letter, that the delightful perturbation of spirits
I will then in would undergo so speedy, so melancholy
a reverse. I never can sufficiently regret that I wrote
to you at all. Yet who could have foreseen what
has happened, my dear mother. Every hope which made me
so happy only two hours ago, has vanished. The quarrel

(01:23:16):
between Lady Susan and Reginald is made up, and we
are all as we were before. One point only is
gained Sir James Martin is dismissed. What are we now
to look forward to? I am indeed disappointed. Reginald was
all but gone, his horse was ordered, and all but
brought to the door. Who would have not felt safe?
For half an hour? I was in momentary expectation of

(01:23:37):
his departure. After I had sent off my letter to you,
I went to mister Vernon and sat with him in
his room, talking over the whole matter, and then determined
to look for Frederica, whom I had not seen since breakfast.
I met her on the stairs and saw that she
was crying. My dear aunt said she, he is gone,
Mister de Courcy is gone, and it is all my fault.

(01:23:59):
I am a you will be very angry with me,
but indeed I had no idea it would end so,
my love, I replied, do not think it necessary to
apologize to me on that account. I shall feel myself
under the obligation of any one who is the means
of sending my brother home, because recollecting myself. I know
my father wants very much to see him. But what

(01:24:21):
is it you have done to occasion all this? She
blushed deeply as she answered, I was so unhappy about
Sir James that I could not help. I have done
something very wrong, I know, But you have not an
idea of the misery I have been in. And Mamma
had ordered me never to speak to you or my
uncle about it, And you therefore spoke to my brother
to engage his interference, said I, to save her the explanation. No,

(01:24:45):
but I wrote to him. I did. Indeed, I got
up this morning before it was light and was two
hours about it. And when my letter was done, I
thought I should never have courage to give it after breakfast. However,
as I was going to my room, I met him
in the passage, and then, as I knew everything must
depend on that moment, I forced myself to give it.

(01:25:06):
He was so good as to take it immediately. I
dared not look at him and ran away directly. I
was in such affright I could hardly breathe. My dear aunt,
you do not know how miserable I have been, Frederica
said I. You ought to have told me all your distresses.
You would have found in me a friend always ready
to assist you. Do you think that your uncle or

(01:25:28):
I should not have espoused your cause as warmly as
my brother. Indeed, I do not doubt your kindness, said she,
coloring again. But I thought mister de Courcy could do
anything with my mother. But I was mistaken. They have
had a dreadful quarrel about it, and he is going away.
Mamma will never forgive me, and I shall be worse

(01:25:49):
off than ever. No, you shall not, I replied. In
such a point as this, your mother's prohibition should not
have prevented your speaking to me on the subject. She
has no right to make you unhappy, and she shall
not do it. Your applying, however, to Reginald, can be
productive only of good to all parties. I believe it

(01:26:11):
is best, as it is, depend upon it that you
shall not be made unhappy any longer. At that moment,
how great was my astonishment at seeing Reginald come out
of Lady Susan's dressing room. My heart misgave me instantly.
His confusion on seeing me was very evident. Frederica immediately disappeared.

(01:26:31):
Are you going, I said, you will find mister Vernon
in his own room. No, Catherine, he replied, I am
not going. Will you let me speak to you a
moment we went into my room I find, He continued,
his confusion increasing as he spoke, that I have been
acting with my usual foolish impetuosity. I have entirely misunderstood
Lady Susan and was on the point of leaving the

(01:26:53):
house under a false impression of her conduct. There has
been some very great mistake. We have been all mistaken.
I fear Freyka does not know her mother. Lady Susan
means nothing but her good, but she will not make
a friend of her. Lady Susan does not always know, therefore,
what will make her daughter happy. Besides, I could have

(01:27:15):
no right to interfere. Miss Vernon was mistaken in applying
to me. In short, Catherine, everything is gone wrong, but
it is now all happily settled. Lady Susan, I believe
wishes to speak to you about it, if you are
at leisure. Certainly, I replied, deeply, sighing at the recital
of so lame a story. I made no comment, however,

(01:27:38):
for words would have been vain. Reginald was glad to
get away, and I went to Lady Susan, curious, indeed
to hear her account of it. Did I not tell you?
Said she with a smile that your brother would not
leave us after all you did. Indeed, replied I very gravely,
But I have fettered myself. You would be mistaken. I

(01:27:59):
should not have had as it did such an opinion,
returned she, if it had not, at that moment occurred
to me that his resolution of going might be occasioned
by a conversation in which we had been this morning engaged,
and which had ended very much to his dissatisfaction, by
our not rightly understanding each other's meaning. This idea struck
me at the moment, and I instantly determined that an

(01:28:21):
accidental dispute in which I might probably be as much
to blame as himself, should not deprive you of your brother.
If you remember, I left the room almost immediately. I
was resolved to lose no time in clearing those mistakes
as far as I could. The case was this, Frederica
had set herself violently against marrying Sir James. And can

(01:28:42):
your ladyship wonder that she should cried I with some warmth.
Frederica has an excellent understanding, and Sir James has none.
I am at least very far from regretting it, dear sister,
said she On the contrary, I am grateful for so
favorable a sign of my daughter's sense. Sir James is
certainly below par. His boyish manners make him appear worse.

(01:29:05):
And had Frederica possessed the penetration and abilities I could
have wished for my daughter, or had I even known
her to possess as much as she does, I should
not have been anxious for the match. It is odd
that you should be alone ignorant of your daughter's sense.
Frederica never does justice to herself. Her manners are shy
and childish, and besides, she is afraid of me. During

(01:29:27):
her poor father's life, she was a spoiled child. The
severity which it has since been necessary for me to show,
has alienated her affection. Neither has she any of that
brilliancy of intellect, that genius or vigor of mind which
will force itself forward. Say rather that she has been
unfortunate in her education. Heaven knows, my dearest missus Vernon,

(01:29:50):
how fully I am aware of that. But I would
wish to forget every circumstance that might throw blame on
the memory of one whose name is sacred.

Speaker 6 (01:29:59):
With me.

Speaker 3 (01:30:00):
Here she pretended to cry and I was out of
patience with her. But what said I was your ladyship
going to tell me about your disagreement with my brother?
It originated in an action of my daughter, which equally
marks her want of judgment and the unfortunate dread of
me I have been mentioning, She wrote to mister de Courcy,
I know she did. You had forbidden her speaking to

(01:30:22):
mister Vernon or to me on the cause of her distress?
What could she do there for but apply to my brother?
Good God, she exclaimed, What an opinion you must have
of me? Can you possibly suppose that I was aware
of her unhappiness, that it was my object to make
my own child miserable, and that I had forbidden her
speaking to you on the subject from a fear of

(01:30:44):
your interpreting the diabolical scheme? Do you think me destitute
of every honest, every natural feeling, and capable of consigning
her to everlasting misery whose welfare it is my first
earthly duty to promote the idea? Is horrible? What then
was your intention when you insisted on her silence? Of

(01:31:06):
what use my dear sister could be any application to you?
However the affair might stand. Why should I subject you
to entreaties which I refuse to attend to myself, neither
for your sake or for hers, nor for my own?
Could such a thing be desirable? When my own resolution
I was taken, I could not wish for the interference, however,

(01:31:28):
friendly of another person. I was mistaken, it is true,
but I believed myself right. But what was this mistake
to which your ladyship so often alludes from where arose
so astonishing a misconception of your daughter's feelings? Did you
not know that she disliked Sir James. I knew that
he was not absolutely the man she would have chosen,

(01:31:50):
But I was persuaded that her objection to him was
not from any perception of his deficiency. You must not
question me, however, my dear sister too minutely on this point,
continued she taking me affectionately by the hand. I honestly
own that there is something to conceal Frederica makes me
very unhappy. Her applying to mister de Courcy hurt me. Particularly.

(01:32:12):
What is it you mean to infer, said I by
this appearance of mystery? If you think your daughter at
all attached to Reginald her objection to Sir James, could
not less deserve to be attended to than if the
cause of her objection had been a consciousness of his folly.
And why should your ladyship at any rate quarrel with
my brother for an interference which you must know it

(01:32:34):
is not in his nature to refuse when urged in
such a manner. His disposition, you know, is warm, and
he came to expostulate with me his compassion all alive
for this ill used girl, the heroine in distress. We
misunderstood each other. He believed me more to blame than
I really was. I considered his interference less excusable than

(01:32:55):
I now find it. I have a real regard for him,
and was beyond rsh mortified to find it. So, I
thought so Ill bestowed. We were both warm, and of
course both to blame. His resolution of leaving Churchill was
consistent with his general eagerness. When I understood his intention, however,
and at the same time began to think that we

(01:33:16):
had both perhaps equally mistaken each other's meaning, I resolved
to have an explanation before it was too late for
any member of your family. I must always feel a
degree of affection and I own it would have sensibly
hurt me if my acquaintance with mister de Courcy had
ended so gloomily. I have now only to say further that,
as I am convinced of Frederica's having a reasonable dislike

(01:33:39):
for Sir James, I shall instantly inform him that he
must give up all hope of her. I reproach myself
for having, even though innocently, made her unhappy. On that score,
she shall have all the retribution in my power to
make if she value her own happiness as much as
I do, If she judge wisely and commend herself as

(01:33:59):
she might, she may now be easy excuse me, my
dear sister, for thus trespassing on your time. But I
owe it to my own character. And after this explanation,
I trust that I am no danger of sinking in
your opinion. I could have said not much, indeed, but
I left her almost in silence. It was the greatest

(01:34:19):
stretch of forbearance I could practice. I could not have
stopped myself had I begun her assurance her deceit. But
I will not allow myself to dwell on them. They
will strike you sufficiently. My heart sickens within me. As
soon as I was tolerably composed, I returned to the parlor.
Sir James's carriage was at the door, and he, merry

(01:34:40):
as usual, soon afterward took his leave. How easy does
her ladyship encourage or dismiss a lover. In spite of
this release, Frederica still looks unhappy, still fearful perhaps of
her mother's anger, and though dreading my brother's departure, jealous
it may be, of his staying. I see how closely
she observes him, and Lady Susan poor girl. I have

(01:35:02):
no hope for her. There is not a chance of
her affection being returned. He thinks very differently of her
from what he used to do. He does her some justice,
but his reconciliation with her mother precludes every dearer hope.
Prepare my dear mother for the worst. The probability of
their marrying is surely heightened. He is more securely hers
than ever. When that wretched event takes place, Frederica must

(01:35:25):
wholly belong to me. I am thankful that my last
letter will precede this by so little as every moment
that you can be saved from feeling a joy which
leads only to disappointment.

Speaker 1 (01:35:36):
Chapter twenty five. Lady Susan Vernon to missus Johnson Churchill.

Speaker 2 (01:35:44):
I call on you, dear Alicia, for congratulations. I am
my own self gay and triumphant. When I wrote you
the other day, I was in truth, in high irritation,
and with ample cause. Nay, I know not whether I
ought to be quite tranquil now, for I have had
more trouble in restoring peace than I ever intended to

(01:36:04):
submit to a spirit too, resulting from a fancied sense
of superior integrity which is peculiarly insolent. I shall not
easily forgive him. I assure you he was actually on
the point of leaving Churchhill. I had scarcely concluded my
last when Wilson brought me word of it. I found

(01:36:25):
therefore that something must be done, For I did not
choose to leave my character at the mercy of a
man whose passions are so violent and so revengeful. It
would have been trifling with my reputation to allow of
his departing with such an impression in my disfavor. In
this light, condescension was necessary. I sent Wilson to say

(01:36:46):
that I desired to speak with him before he went.
He came immediately. The angry emotions which had marked every
feature when we last parted, were partially subdued. He seemed
astonished at the summons, and looked as if half wishing
and half fearing to be softened by what I might
say if my countenance expressed what I aimed at. It

(01:37:08):
was composed and dignified, and yet with a degree of
pensiveness which might convince him that I was not quite happy.
I beg your pardon, sir, for the liberty I have
taken in sending for you, said I. But as I
have just learnt your intention of leaving this place to day,
I feel it my duty to entreat that you will not,

(01:37:30):
on my account, shorten your visit here even an hour.
I am perfectly aware that after what has passed between us,
it would ill suit the feelings of either to remain
longer in the same house. So very great, so total
a change from the intimacy of our friendship must render
any future intercourse the severest punishment, and your resolution of

(01:37:51):
quitting Churchill as undoubtedly in unison with our situation and
with those lively feelings which I know you to possess.
But at the same time it is not for me
to suffer such a sacrifice as it must be to
leave relations to whom you are so much attached and
are so dear. My remaining here cannot give that pleasure

(01:38:14):
to mister and missus vernon which your society must, And
my visit has already perhaps been too long. My removal, therefore,
which must at any rate take place soon, may with
perfect convenience, be hastened. And I make it my particular
request that I may not in any way be instrumental

(01:38:36):
in separating a family so affectionately attached to each other.
Where I go is of no consequence to any one,
of very little to myself. But you are of importance
to all your connections here, I concluded, and I hope
you will be satisfied with my speech. Its effect on
Reginald justifies some portion of vanity, for it was no

(01:38:59):
less favorable than instantaneous. Oh how delightful it was to
watch the variations of his countenance while I spoke, to
see the struggle between returning tenderness and the remains of displeasure.
There is something agreeable in feelings so easily worked on,

(01:39:19):
Not that I envy him their possession, nor would for
the world have such myself. But they are very convenient
when one wishes to influence the passions of another. And
yet this Reginald, whom a very few words from me
softened at once into the utmost submission and rendered more tractable,
more attached, more devoted than ever would have left me

(01:39:42):
in the first angry swelling of his proud heart without
designing to seek an explanation. Humbled as he now is,
I cannot forgive him such an instance of pride, and
am doubtful whether I ought not to punish him by
dismissing him at once after his reconciliation, or by marrying
and teasing him forever. But these measures are each too

(01:40:04):
violent to be adopted without some deliberation. At present, my
thoughts are fluctuating between various schemes. I have many things
to compass. I must punish Frederica, and pretty severely too,
for her application to Reginald. I must punish him for
receiving it so favorably, and for the rest of his conduct.

(01:40:26):
I must torment my sister in law for the insolent
triumph of her look and manner, since Sir James had
been dismissed for in reconciling Reginald. To me, I was
not able to save that ill fated young man, and
I must make myself amends for the humiliation to which
I have stooped within these few days. To effect all this,

(01:40:47):
I have various plans. I have also an idea of
being soon in town, and whatever may be my determination
as to the rest, I shall probably put that project
in execution, for London will always be the fairest field
of action, however my views may be directed, and at
any rate I shall there be rewarded by your society

(01:41:10):
and a little dissipation for ten weeks penance at Churchill.
I believe I owe it to my character to complete
the match between my daughter and Sir James, after having
so long intended it. Let me know your opinion on
this point. Flexibility of mind, a disposition easily biased by others,

(01:41:30):
is an attribute which you know I am not very
desirous of obtaining. Nor has Frederica any claim to the
indulgence of her notions at the expense of her mother's inclinations,
her idle love for Reginald two. It is surely my
duty to discourage such romantic nonsense. All things considered, therefore,
it seems incumbent on me to take her to town

(01:41:53):
and marry her immediately. To Sir James, when my own
will is effected contrary to his, I shall have I
have some credit in being on good terms with Reginald,
which at present in fact I have not, for though
he is still in my power, I have given up
the very article by which our quarrel was produced, and
at best the honor of victory is doubtful. Send me

(01:42:16):
your opinion on all these matters, my dear Alicia, and
let me know whether you can get lodgings to suit
me within a short distance of you, Your most attached
s Vernon.

Speaker 1 (01:42:27):
Chapter twenty six, missus Johnson to Lady Susan Edward Street.
I am gratified by your reference, and this is my
advice that you come to town yourself without loss of time,
but that you leave Frederica behind. It would surely be

(01:42:49):
more to the purpose to get yourself well established by
marrying mister de Courcy than to irritate him and the
rest of his family by making her Mary. Sir James,
you should think more of yourself and less of your daughter.
She is not of a disposition to do you credit
in the world, and seems precisely in her proper place

(01:43:13):
at Churchill with the Vernons. But you are fitted for society,
and it is shameful to have you exiled from it.
Leave Frederica therefore, to punish herself for the plague she
has given you by indulging that romantic tender heartedness which
will always ensure her misery. Enough, and come to London

(01:43:38):
as soon as you can. I have another reason for
urging this. Mainwaring came to town last week and has contrived,
in spite of mister Johnson, to make opportunities of seeing me.
He is absolutely miserable about you, and jealous to such

(01:43:59):
a degree of the COURSI that it would be highly
unadvisable for them to meet at present. And yet if
you do not allow him to see you here, I
cannot answer for his not committing some great imprudence, such
as going to Churchill, for instance, which would be dreadful. Besides,

(01:44:21):
if you take my advice and resolve to marry de Corsi,
it will be indispensably necessary to you to get Main
Wearing out of the way, and you only can have
influence enough to send him back to his wife. I
have still another motive for your coming. Mister Johnson leaves

(01:44:43):
London next Tuesday. He is going for his health to Bath, where,
if the waters are favorable to his constitution and my wishes,
he will be laid up with the gown many weeks
during his absence. We shall be able to choose our
own societnxiety, and to have true enjoyment. I would ask

(01:45:04):
you to Edward Street, but that once he forced for
me a kind of promise never to invite you to
my house. Nothing but my being in the utmost distress
for money, should have extorted it from me. I can
get you, however, a nice drawing room apartment in upper
Seymour Street, and we may be always together.

Speaker 8 (01:45:27):
There or here.

Speaker 1 (01:45:29):
For I consider my promise to mister Johnson as comprehending.
Only at least in his absence you are not sleeping
in the house. Poor Mainwaring gives me such histories of
his wife's jealousy. Silly woman to expect constancy from so
charming a man, But she always was silly, intolerably so

(01:45:52):
in marrying him at all. She the heiress of a
large fortune, and he without a shilling one title I
know she might have had besides Baronet's. Her folly informing
the connection was so great that though mister Johnson was
her guardian, and I do not in general share his feelings,

(01:46:13):
I can never forgive her Adieu yours ever, Alicia. Chapter
twenty seven. Missus Vernon to Lady de.

Speaker 3 (01:46:25):
Courcy Churchill, this letter my dear mother will be brought
you by Reginald. His long visit is about to be
concluded at last, But I fear the separation takes place
too late to do us any good. She is going
to London to see her particular friend, Missus Johnson. It
was first her intention that Frederica should accompany her for
the benefit of masters, but we overruled her there. Frederica

(01:46:48):
was wretched in the idea of going, and I could
not bear to have her at the mercy of her mother.
Not all the masters in London could compensate for the
ruin of her comfort. I should have feared too, for
her health and everything, but her principles there I believe
she is not to be injured by her mother or
her mother's friends. But with those friends she must have
mixed very bad set, I doubt not, or have been

(01:47:11):
left in total solitude, And I can hardly tell which
would have been worse for her. If she is with
her mother. Moreover, she must alas in all probability, be
with Reginald, and that would be the greatest evil of all.
Here we shall, in time be in peace, our regular employment,
our books and conversations with exercise, the children, and every

(01:47:32):
domestic pleasure in my power to produce her will I
trust gradually overcome this youthful attachment. I should have no
doubt of it were she slighted for any other woman
in the world but her own mother. How long Lady
Susan will be in town, or whether she returns here again,
I know not. I could not be cordial in my invitation,

(01:47:53):
But if she chooses to come, no want of cordiality on.

Speaker 4 (01:47:56):
My part will keep her away.

Speaker 3 (01:48:00):
I could not help asking Reginald if he intended being
in town this winter, as soon as I found her,
Ladyship's steps would be bent thither. And though he professed
himself quite undetermined, there was something in his look and
voice as he spoke that contradicted his words. I have
done with lamentation. I look upon the event as so
far decided that I resign myself to it in despair.

(01:48:23):
If he leaves you soon for London, everything will be concluded.
Yours affectionately, Catherine.

Speaker 1 (01:48:29):
Verne, Chapter twenty eight. Missus Johnson to Lady Susan Edward Street,
My dearest friend, I write in the greatest distress. The
most unfortunate event has just taken place. Mister Johnson has
hit on the most effectual manner of plaguing us all

(01:48:53):
he has heard, I imagine by some means or other
that you were soon to be in London, and immediately
contrived to have such an attack of the gout as
must at least delay his journey to Bath, if not
wholly prevented. I am persuaded the gout is brought on
or kept off at pleasure. It was the same when
I wanted to join the Hamiltons to the Lakes, and

(01:49:16):
three years ago, when I had a fancy for Bath,
nothing could induce him to have a gouty symptom. I
am pleased to find that my letter hath so much
effect on you, and that de Corsi is certainly your own.
Let me hear from you as soon as you arrive
and in particular, tell me what you mean to do
with Main Wearing. It is impossible to say when I

(01:49:36):
shall be able to come to you. My confinement must
be great. It is such an abominable trick to be
ill here instead of at bath, that I can scarcely
command myself at all. At bath, his old aunts would
have nursed him. But here it all falls upon me,
and he bears pain with such patience that I have
not the common excuse for losing my temper yours, Chapter

(01:50:04):
twenty nine, Lady Susan Vernon to missus Johnson.

Speaker 2 (01:50:09):
Uper Seymour Street. My dear Alicia, there needed not this
last fit of gout to make me detest mister Johnson.
But now the extent of my aversion is not to
be estimated to have you confined as a nurse in
his apartment. My dear Alicia, of what a mistake were

(01:50:29):
you guilty in marrying a man of his age just
old enough to be formal, ungovernable, and a half a gout,
too old to be agreeable, too young to die. I
arrived last night about five, and had scarcely swallowed my
dinner when Man Wearing made his appearance. I will not

(01:50:50):
dissemble what real pleasure his sight afforded me, nor how
strongly I felt the contrast between his person and manners
and those of Reginald to the infinite disadvantage of the latter.
For an hour or two I was even staggered in
my resolution of marrying him. And though this was too

(01:51:10):
idle and nonsensical an idea to remain long on my mind,
I do not feel very eager for the conclusion of
my marriage, nor look forward with much impatience to the
time when Reginald, according to our agreement, is to be
in town. I shall probably put off his arrival under
some pretense or other. He must not come till Man

(01:51:33):
Wearing is gone. I am still doubtful at times as
to marrying. If the old man would die, I might
not hesitate. But a state of dependence on the caprice
of Sir Reginald will not suit the freedom of my spirit.
And if I resolved to wait for that event, I
shall have excuse enough. At present, in having been scarcely
ten months a widow, I have not given Man Wearing

(01:51:56):
any hint of my intention, or allowed him to consider
my acquainted with Reginald as more than the commonest flirtation,
and he is tolerably appeased, ads you till we meet.
I am in shame.

Speaker 1 (01:52:13):
Chapter thirty Lady Susan two, Mister de COURSI.

Speaker 2 (01:52:17):
Upper Seymour Street. I have received your letter, and though
I do not attempt to conceal that I am gratified
by your impatience for the hour of our meeting, I
yet feel myself under the necessity of delaying that hour
beyond the time originally fixed. Do not think be unkind
for such an exercise of my power, nor accuse me

(01:52:40):
of instability without first hearing my reasons. In the course
of my journey from Churchill, I had ample leisure for
reflection on the present state of our affairs, and every
review has served to convince me that they require a
delicacy and cautiousness of conduct to which we have hitherto

(01:53:00):
been too little attentive. We have been hurried on by
our feelings to a degree of precipitation which ill accords
with the claims of our friends or the opinion of
the world. We have been unguarded in forming this hasty engagement.
But we must not complete the imprudence by ratifying it

(01:53:24):
while there is so much reason to fear the connection
would be opposed by those friends on whom you depend.
It is not for us to blame any expectations on
your father's side of your marrying to advantage. Where possessions
are so extensive as those of your family, the wish
of increasing them, if not strictly reasonable, is too common

(01:53:47):
to excite surprise or resentment. He has a right to
require a woman of fortune in his daughter in law,
and I am sometimes quarreling with myself for suffering you
to form a connection so imprudent. But the influence of
reason is often acknowledged too late by those who feel
like me. I have now been but a few months

(01:54:10):
a widow, and however little indebted to my husband's memory
for any happiness derived from him during a union of
some years. I cannot forget that the indelicacy of so
early a second marriage must subject me to the censure
of the world, and incur what would be still more insupportable,

(01:54:33):
the displeasure of mister Vernon. I might perhaps harden myself
in time against the injustice of general reproach, but the
loss of his valued esteem I am, as you well know,
ill fitted to endure, and when to this may be
out of the consciousness of having injured you with your family,

(01:54:55):
How am I to support myself with feelings so poignant
as mine. The conviction of having divided the son from
his parents would make me, even with you, the most
miserable of beings. It will surely therefore be advisable to
delay our union, to delay it till appearances are more promising,

(01:55:18):
till affairs have taken a more favorable turn to assist
us in such a resolution. I feel that absence will
be necessary. We must not meet cruel as this sentence
may appear. The necessity of pronouncing it, which can alone
reconcile it to myself, will be evident to you. When

(01:55:41):
you have considered our situation in the light in which
I have found myself imperiously obliged to place it, You
may be you must be well assured that nothing but
the strongest conviction of duty could induce me to wound
my own feelings by urging a lengthened separation, and of

(01:56:01):
insensibility to yours, you will hardly suspect me.

Speaker 6 (01:56:06):
Again.

Speaker 2 (01:56:06):
Therefore, I say that we ought not, We must not
yet meet by a removal for some months from each other,
we shall tranquilize the sisterly fears of Missus Vernon, who
accustomed herself to the enjoyment of riches, considers fortune as
necessary everywhere, and whose sensibilities are not of a nature

(01:56:30):
to comprehend ours. Let me hear from you soon, very soon.
Tell me that you submit to my arguments, and do
not reproach me for using such I cannot bear reproaches.
My spirits are not so high as to need being repressed.

(01:56:50):
I must endeavor to seek amusement. And fortunately many of
my friends are in town. Amongst them the man wearings.
You know how sincerely I regard both husband and wife.
I am very faithfully yours, s Ernie.

Speaker 1 (01:57:08):
Chapter thirty one. Lady Susan Vernon to Missus Johnson.

Speaker 2 (01:57:14):
Upper Seymour Street, My dear friend, that tormenting creature, Reginald
is here. My letter, which was intended to keep him
longer in the country, has hastened him to town. Much
as I wish him away. However, I cannot help being
pleased with such a proof of attachment. He is devoted

(01:57:35):
to me heart and soul. He will carry this note himself,
which is to serve as an introduction to you, with
whom he longs to be acquainted. Allow him to spend
the evening with you, that I may be in no
danger of his returning here. I have told him that
I am not quite well and must be alone, and
should he call again, there might be confusion, for it

(01:57:57):
is impossible to be sure of servants keep him. Therefore
I entreat you in Edward Street. You will not find
him a heavy companion, and I allow you to flirt
with him as much as you like. At the same time,
do not forget my real interest. Say all that you
can to convince him that I shall be quite wretched

(01:58:18):
if he remains here. You know my reasons, propriety and
so forth. I would urge them more myself, but that
I am impatient to be rid of him, as man
Wearing comes within half an hour at you asked vernon.

Speaker 1 (01:58:29):
Chapter twenty eight. Missus Johnson to Lady Susan Edward Street,
My dear creature, I am in agonies and know not
what to do. Mister de Courcy arrived just when he
should not. Missus Mainwaring had that instant entered the house

(01:58:51):
and forced herself into her guardian's presence. Though I did
not know a syllable of it till afterwards, for I
was out when both she and Reginald came, or I
should have sent him away at all events, but she
was shut up with mister Johnson while he waited in
the drawing room for me. She arrived yesterday in pursuit
of her husband. But perhaps you know this already from himself.

(01:59:14):
She came to his house to entreat my husband's interference,
and before I could be aware of it, everything that
you could wish to be concealed was known to him,
And unluckily she had wormed out of Mainwaring servant that
he had visited you every day since you were being
in town, and had just watched him to your door herself.

Speaker 6 (01:59:36):
What could I do?

Speaker 1 (01:59:38):
Facts are such horrid things. All is by this time
known to de Corsi, who is now alone with mister Johnson.
Do not accuse me. Indeed, it was impossible to prevent it.
Mister Johnson has for some time suspected, de course you
of intending to marry you, and would speak with him

(02:00:00):
alone as soon as he knew him to be in
the house. That detestable missus Mainwaring, who for your comfort
has fretted herself. Thinner and a glare than ever is
still here, and they have been all closeted together. What
can be done at any rate? I hope he will

(02:00:22):
plague his wife more than ever with anxious wishes. Yours faithfully, Alicia.
This is a liprivox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, visit

(02:00:42):
www dot liprivox dot org. Lady Susan a novel by
Jane Austen, read for Liprivox by Brenda Dayne, Chapter thirty three,
Lady Susan Vernon to missus Johnson.

Speaker 2 (02:01:01):
Upper Seymour Street. This eclerciusment is rather provoking. How unlucky
that you should have been from home. I thought myself
sure of you at seven. I am undismayed. However, do
not torment yourself with fears. On my account, depend on it.
I can make my story good. With Reginald man wearing
is just gone. He brought me the news of his

(02:01:23):
wife's arrival. Silly woman. What does she expect by such maneuvers?

Speaker 8 (02:01:27):
Yet?

Speaker 2 (02:01:28):
I wish she had stayed quietly at Langford. Reginald will
be a little enraged at first.

Speaker 1 (02:01:40):
Chapter thirty four, Mister de Courci to Lady Susan.

Speaker 9 (02:01:46):
Blank Hotel, all right, only to bid you farewell. The
spell is removed. I see you as you are since
we parted yesterday. I've received from indisputable authorities such a
history of you as must bring the most mortified conviction
of the imposition I have been under, and the absolute
necessity of an immediate and eternal separation from you. You

(02:02:10):
cannot doubt to what I allude, Langford, Langford, that word
will be sufficient. I received my information in mister Johnson's
house from Missus main Warring herself. You know how I've
loved you. You can intimately judge of my present feelings,
But I am not so weak as to find indulgent
in describing them to a woman who will glory in

(02:02:30):
having excited their anguish, but whose affection they have never
been able to gain.

Speaker 1 (02:02:38):
Chapter thirty five, Lady Susan to mister de.

Speaker 2 (02:02:42):
Courci, Upper Seymour Street. I will not attempt to describe
my astonishment in reading the note this moment received from you.
I am bewildered in my endeavors to form some rational
conjecture of what Missus Manwarin can have told you to
occasion so extraordinary a change in your sentiments? Have I

(02:03:04):
not explained everything to you with respect to myself which
could bear a doubtful meaning, and which the ill nature
of the world had interpreted to my discredit? What can
you now have heard to stagger your esteem from me?
Have I ever had a concealment from you? Reginald? You
agitate me beyond expression. I cannot suppose that the old
story of missus Manwaring's jealousy can be revived again, or

(02:03:27):
at least be listened to again. Come to me immediately
and explain what is at present absolutely incomprehensible. Believe me,
the single word of Langford is not such a potent
intelligence as to supersede the necessity of more. If we
are to part, it will at least be handsome to
take your personal leave. But I have little heart to jest.

(02:03:51):
In truth, I am serious enough for to be sunk, though,
but for an hour in your esteem is a humiliation
which I know not how to submit. I shall count
every minute till you are arrived.

Speaker 1 (02:04:05):
Chapter thirty six. Mister de Courcy to Lady Susan.

Speaker 9 (02:04:11):
Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars.
But since it must be so, I am obliged to
declare that all the accounts of your misconduct during the
life and since the death of mister Vernon, which had
reached me in common with the world in general, and
gained my entire belief before I saw you be, which you,
by the exertion of your perverted abilities, had made me

(02:04:32):
resolve to disallow, have been unanswerably proved to me. Nay more,
I am assured that a connection of which I had
never before entertained a thought, has for some time existed,
and still continues to exist between you and the man
whose family you robbed of its peace in return for
the hospitality with which you were received into It that
you have corresponded with him ever since your leaving Langford,

(02:04:52):
not with his wife, but with him, and that he
now visits you every day? Can you Dare you deny it?
And all this at the time when I was encouraged
an accepted lover, from what have I not escaped? I
have only to be grateful. Far from me be all complained,
every sigh of regret my own folly had endangered me
my preservation. I owed to the kindness the integrity of another.

(02:05:15):
But the unfortunate Missus Mainwaring, whose agonies, while she related
the past, seemed to threaten her reason, how is she
to be consoled after such a discovery as this? You
will scarcely affect further wonder at my meaning in bidding
you a jew. My understanding is at length restored, and
teaches no less to abhore the artifices which had subdued
me than to despise myself for the weakness on which

(02:05:37):
their strength is founded.

Speaker 1 (02:05:39):
R declared Chapter thirty seven, Lady Susan to mister de.

Speaker 2 (02:05:46):
Courci, Upper Seymour Street. I am satisfied and will trouble
you no more when these few lines are dismissed. The
engagement which you were so eager to form a fortnight
ago is no long longer compatible with your views, and
I rejoice to find that the prudent advice of your
parents has not been given in vain. Your restoration to

(02:06:08):
peace will I doubt not speedily follow this act of
filial obedience, And I flatter myself with the hope of
surviving my share.

Speaker 1 (02:06:15):
In chapter thirty eight, Missus Johnson to Lady Susan Vernon
Edward Street, I am grieved, though I cannot be astonished
at your rupture with mister de Courcy. He has just
informed mister Johnson of it by letter he leaves London.

(02:06:39):
He says, today, be assured that I've partaken all your feelings,
and do not be angry. If I say that our intercourse,
even by letter, must soon be given up. It makes
me miserable. But mister Johnson vows that if I persist
in the connection, you will settle in the country for

(02:07:02):
the rest of his life. And you know it is
impossible to submit to such an extremity while any other
alternative remains. You have heard, of course, that the mainwarings
are to part, and I am afraid missus m will
come home to us again. But she's still so fond
of her husband and frets so much about him that

(02:07:24):
perhaps she may not live long. Miss Mainwaring is just
come to town to be with her aunt, and they
say that she declares she will have Sir James Martin
before she leaves London again. If I were you, I
would certainly get him myself. I had almost forgot to
give you my opinion of mister de Courcy. I really

(02:07:47):
am delighted with him. He is full, as handsome, I think,
as mainwaring, and with such an open, good humored countenance
that one cannot help loving him at first sight. Mister Johnson,
and here are the greatest friends in the world. Adieu,
my dearest Susan. I wish matters did not go so

(02:08:08):
perversely that unlucky visit to Langford. But I dare say
you did all for the best, and there is no
defying destiny. Yours, sincerely, attached, Alicia. Chapter thirty nine, Lady
Susan Vernon to missus Johnson.

Speaker 2 (02:08:30):
Upper Seymour Street. My dear Alicia, I yield to the
necessity which parts us under circumstances you could not act otherwise.
Our friendship cannot be impaired by it, and in happier times,
when your situation is as independent as mine, it will
unite us again in the same intimacy as ever. For

(02:08:53):
this I shall impatiently wait, and meanwhile can safely assure
you that I never was more at ease or better
satisfied with myself at everything about me than at the
present hour. Your husband I abhor Reginald. I despise, and
I am secure of never seeing either again. Have I

(02:09:14):
not reason to rejoice. Man Wearing is more devoted to
me than ever, and here we are at liberty. I
doubt if I could resist even matrimony offered by him
this event. If his wife live with you, it may
be in your power to hasten the violence of her feelings,
which must wear her out, may be easily kept in irritation.

(02:09:35):
I rely on your friendship for this. I am now
satisfied that I never could have brought myself to marry Reginald.
And I am equally determined that Frederica never shall tomorrow.
I shall fetch her from Churchill, and let Mariah man
Wearing tremble. For the consequence, Frederica shall be Sir James's
wife before she quits my house. And she may whimper,

(02:09:56):
and the vernons may storm, I regard them not I.
I am tired of submitting my will to the caprices
of others, of resigning my own judgment in deference to
those to whom I owe no duty and for whom
I feel no respect. I have given up too much,
have been too easily worked on. But Frederica shall now

(02:10:16):
feel the difference. Adieu, dearest of friends. May the next
gouty attack be more favorable, and may you always regard
me as unalterably yours, s Vernon.

Speaker 1 (02:10:30):
Chapter forty. Lady de Courcy to missus Vernon.

Speaker 8 (02:10:36):
My dear Catherine, I have charming news for you, and
if I had not sent off my letter this morning,
you might have been spared the vexation of knowing of
Reginald's being gone to London. For he is returned. Reginald
is returned not to ask our consent to his marrying
Lady Susan, but to tell us they are parted forever.

(02:10:58):
He has been only an hour in the house house,
and I have not been able to learn particulars, for
he is so very low that I have not the
heart to ask questions. But I hope we shall soon
know all. This is the most joyful hour he has
ever given us since the day of his birth. Nothing
is wanting but to have you here, and it is

(02:11:19):
our particular wish and entreaty that you would come to
us as soon as you can. You have owed us
a visit many long weeks. I hope nothing will make
it inconvenient to mister Vernon, and pray bring all my
grandchildren and your dear niece is included. Of course I
long to see her. It has been a sad, heavy
winter hitherto without Reginald and seeing nobody from Churchhill. I

(02:11:45):
never found the season so dreary before, But this happy
meeting will make us young again. Frederica runs much in
my thoughts. And when Reginald has recovered his usual good spirits,
as I trust he soon will, we will try to
rob him of his heart once more. And I am
full of hopes of seeing their hands joined at no

(02:12:06):
great distance your affectionate mother see de Corsi.

Speaker 1 (02:12:11):
Chapter forty one. Missus Vernon to Lady.

Speaker 3 (02:12:15):
De Corsi Churchill. My dear Madam, your letter has surprised
me beyond measure. Can it be true that they are
really separated and forever? I should be overjoyed if I
dared depend upon it. But after all that I have seen,
how can one be secure and Reginald really with you?

(02:12:37):
My surprise is the greater because on Wednesday, the very
day of his coming to Parkland's, we had a most
unexpected and unwelcome visit from Lady Susan, looking all cheerfulness
and good humor, and seeming more as if she were
to marry him when she got to London, than as
if parted from him forever. She stayed nearly two hours,
was as affectionate and agreeable as ever, and not a syllable,

(02:13:00):
not a hint was dropped of any disagreement or coolness
between them. I asked her whether she had seen my
brother since she arrived in town, not as you may suppose,
with any doubt of the fact, but merely to see
how she looked. She immediately answered, without any embarrassment, that
he had been kind enough to call on her on Monday,

(02:13:20):
but she believed he had already returned home, which I
was very far from crediting. Your very kind invitation is
accepted by us and with pleasure, and on Thursday next
we and our little ones will be with you. Pray heaven,
Reginald may not be in town again by that time.
I wish we could bring dear Frederica too, But I
am sorry to say that her mother's errand hither was

(02:13:42):
to fetch her away, and miserable as it made the
poor girl, it was impossible to detain her. I was
thoroughly unwilling to let her go, and so was her uncle,
and all that could be urged we did urge, but
Lady Susan declared that as she was now about to
fix herself in town for several month, she could not
be easy if her daughter were not with her. For masters.

(02:14:04):
Her manners, to be sure, were very kind and proper.
And mister Vernon believes that Frederica will now be treated
with faction. I wish I could think so too. The
poor girl's heart was almost broke at taking leave of us.
I charged her to write to me very often, and
to remember that if she were in any distress, we
should be always her friends. I took care to see

(02:14:26):
her alone that I might say all this, and I
hope made her a little more comfortable. But I shall
not be easy until I go to town and judge
her situation myself. I wish there were a better proposal
than now appears at the match, which the conclusion of
your letter declared your expectation of at present, It is
not very likely, yours, Catherine.

Speaker 1 (02:14:48):
Vernon, end of chapter forty one. Conclusion this correspondence, by
a meeting between some of the parties and a separation
between the others, could not, to the great detriment of
the post office revenue, be continued any longer, very little
assistance to the state could be derived from the epistolary

(02:15:11):
intercourse of Missus Vernon and her niece. For the former,
soon perceived by the style of Frederica's letters that they
were written under her mother's inspection, and, therefore deferring all
particular enquiry till she could make it personally in London,
ceased writing minutely or often, having learnt enough in the

(02:15:32):
meanwhile from her open hearted brother of what had passed
between him and Lady Susan to sink the latter lower
than ever. In her opinion, she was proportionably more anxious
to get Frederica removed from such a mother and placed
under her own care, and, though with little hope of success,
was resolved to leave nothing unattempted that might offer a

(02:15:55):
chance of obtaining her sister in law's consent to it.
Her anxiety on the side subject made her press for
an early visit to London, and mister Vernon, who, as
it must already have appeared, lived only to do whatever
he was desired, soon found some accommodating business to call
him thither.

Speaker 6 (02:16:13):
With a heart full of.

Speaker 1 (02:16:14):
The matter, Missus Vernon waited on Lady Susan shortly after
her arrival in town, and was met with such an
easy and cheerful affection as made her almost turn from
her with horror. No remembrance of Reginald, no consciousness of guilt,
gave one look of embarrassment. She was in excellent spirits

(02:16:35):
and seemed eager to show at once by every possible
attention to her brother and sister her sense of their
kindness and her pleasure in their society. Frederica was no
more altered than Lady Susan, the same restrained manners, the
same timid look in the presence of her mother, as
heretofore assured her aunt of her situation being uncomfortable, and

(02:16:58):
confirmed her in the plan of alternate it. No unkindness, however,
on the part of Lady Susan, appeared. Persecution on the
subject of Sir James was entirely at an end. His
name merely mentioned to say that he was not in London,
and indeed, in all her conversation she was solicitous only

(02:17:18):
for the welfare and improvement of her daughter, acknowledging in
terms of grateful delight that Frederica was now growing every
day more and more what a parent could desire. Missus Vernon,
surprised and incredulous, knew not what to suspect, and without
any change in her own views, only feared greater difficulty

(02:17:38):
in accomplishing them. The first hope of anything better was
derived from Lady Susan's asking her whether she thought Frederica
looked quite as well as she had done at Churchhill.
As she must confess herself to have sometimes an anxious
doubt of London's perfectly agreeing with her, Missus Vernon, encouraging

(02:17:59):
the doubt, directly proposed her niece's returning with them into
the country. Lady Susan was unable to express her sense
of such kindness, yet knew not, from a variety of reasons,
how to part with her daughter, and as though her
own plans were not yet wholly fixed, she trusted it
would e'er be long in her power to take Frederica

(02:18:20):
into the country. Herself concluded by declining entirely to profit
by such unexampled attention, Missus Vernon persevered, however, in the
offer of it, and though Lady Susan continued to resist
her resistance, in the course of a few days seemed
somewhat less formidable. The lucky alarm of an influenza decided

(02:18:42):
what might not have been decided quite so soon. Lady
Susan's maternal fears were then too much awakened for her
to think of anything but Frederica's removal from the risk
of infection. Above all disorders in the world, she most
dreaded the influenza for her daughter's constance. Frederica returned to
Churchill with her uncle and aunt, and three weeks afterwards

(02:19:06):
Lady Susan announced her being married to Sir James Martin.
Missus Vernon was convinced of what she had only suspected before,
that she might have spared herself all the trouble of
urging a removal, which Lady Susan had doubtless resolved on
from the first. Frederica's visit was nominally for six weeks,
but her mother, though inviting her to return in one

(02:19:28):
or two affectionate letters, was very ready to oblige the
whole party by consenting to a prolongation of her stay,
and in the course of two months ceased to write
of her absence, and in the course of two or
more to write to.

Speaker 9 (02:19:43):
Her at all.

Speaker 1 (02:19:45):
Frederica was therefore fixed in the family of her uncle
and aunt till such time as Reginald de Corsi could
be talked, flattered and finessed into an affection for her, which,
allowing leisure for the conquest of his attachment to her mother,
for his abjuring all future attachments, and detesting the sex,
might be reasonably looked for in the course of a twelvemonth.

(02:20:08):
Three months might have done it in general, but Reginald's
feelings were no less lasting than lively. Whether Lady Susan
was or was not happy in her second choice, I
do not see how it can ever be ascertained, for
who would take her assurance of it? On either side
of the question. The world must judge from probabilities. She

(02:20:31):
had nothing against her but her husband and her conscience.
Sir James may seem to have drawn a harder lot
than mere folly merited. I leave him therefore to all
the pity that anybody can give him. For myself, I
confess that I can pity only Miss Mainwaring, who coming
to town and putting herself to an expense in clothes

(02:20:55):
which impoverished her for two months on purpose to secure him,
was defrauded of her due by a woman ten years
older than herself

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