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 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 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 Mainwaring comes within half an hour.

Adieu !
S VERNON

XXXII
MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN

Edward Street.
My dear Creature,--I am in agonies, and know not what to do. Mr. De

Courcy arrived just when he should not. Mrs. Mainwaring had that instant
entered the house, 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 Mr. 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. She came to this 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's servant that he had visited you every day since your being in

town, and had just watched him to your door herself! What could I do! Facts
are such horrid things! All is by this time known to De Courcy, who is now

alone with Mr. Johnson. Do not accuse me; indeed, it was impossible to
prevent it. Mr. Johnson has for some time suspected De Courcy of intending

to marry you, and would speak with him alone as soon as he knew him to be
in the house. That detestable Mrs. Mainwaring, who, for your comfort, has

fretted herself thinner and uglier than ever, is still here, and they have
been all closeted together. What can be done? At any rate, I hope he will

plague his wife more than ever. With anxious wishes,
Yours faithfully,

ALICIA.
XXXIII

LADY SUSAN TO MRS. JOHNSON
Upper Seymour Street.

This eclaircissement 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. Mainwaring is just gone; he brought

me the news of his wife's arrival. Silly woman, what does she expect by
such manoeuvres.? Yet I wish she had stayed quietly at Langford. Reginald

will be a little enraged at first, but by to-morrow's dinner, everything
will be well again.

Adieu!
S. V.

XXXIV
MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN

--- Hotel
I write only to bid you farewell, the spell is removed; I see you as you

are. Since we parted yesterday, I have received from indisputable authority
such a history of you as must bring the most mortifying conviction of the

imposition I have been under, and the absolute necessity of an immediate
and eternalseparation from you. You cannot doubt to what I allude.

Langford! Langford! that word will be sufficient. I received my information
in Mr. Johnson's house, from Mrs. Mainwaring herself. You know how I have

loved you; you can intimately judge of my present feelings, but I am not so
weak as to find indulgence in describing them to a woman who will glory in

having excited their anguish, but whose affection" target="_blank" title="n.友爱；慈爱">affection they have never been able
to gain.

R. DE COURCY.
XXXV

LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY
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 endeavours to form some

rational conjecture of what Mrs. Mainwaring can have told you to occasion
so extraordinary a change in your sentiments. Have I 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 for me? Have
I ever had a concealment from you? Reginald, you agitate me beyond

expression, I cannot suppose that the old story of Mrs. Mainwaring's
jealousy can be revived again, or 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 of such 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;

in truth, I am serious enough; for to be sunk, though but for an hour, in
your esteem Is a humiliation to which I know not how to submit. I shall

count every minute till your arrival.
S. V.

XXXVI
MR. DE COURCY TO LADY SUSAN

---- Hotel.
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 Mr. Vernon, which had

reached me, in common with the world in general, and gained my entire
belief before I saw you, but which you, by the exertion of your perverted

abilities, had made me resolved 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; 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 an encouraged, an

accepted lover! From what have I not escaped! I have only to be grateful.
Far from me be all complaint, every sigh of regret. My own folly had

endangered me, my preservation I owe to the kindness, the integrity of
another; but the unfortunate Mrs. 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 adieu. My understanding is at length restored,
and teaches no less to abhor the artifices which had subdued me than to

despise myself for the weakness on which their strength was founded.
R. DE COURCY.

XXXVII
LADY SUSAN TO MR. DE COURCY

Upper Seymour Street.
I am satisfied, and will trouble you no more when these few lines are

dismissed. The engagement which you were eager to form a fortnight ago is
no 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 peace will, I doubt not, speedily follow this act of filial obedience,

and I flatter myself with the hope of surviving my share in this
disappointment.

S. V.
XXXVIII

MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY SUSAN VERNON
Edward Street

I am grieved, though I cannot be astonished at your rupture with Mr. De
Courcy; he has just informed Mr. Johnson of it by letter. He leaves London,