Lady Susan

LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. 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 were mistaken, for I have seldom spent three months more agreeably than those which have just flown away.  At present, nothing goes smoothly; the females of the family are united against me.  You foretold how it would be when I first came to Langford, and Mainwaring 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 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 Mainwaring’s.  I have avoided all general flirtation whatever; I have distinguished no creature besides, of all the numbers resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on whom I bestowed a little notice, in order to detach him from Miss Mainwaring; but, if the world could know my motive there they would honour me.  I have been called an unkind mother, but it was the sacred impulse of maternal affection, it was the advantage of my 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 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:  Sir James is gone, Maria highly incensed, and Mrs. Mainwaring insupportably jealous; so jealous, in short, and so enraged against me, that, in the fury of her temper, I should not be surprized 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 life was his throwing her off for ever 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 Mainwaring scarcely dares speak to me.  It is time for me to be gone; I have therefore determined on leaving them, and shall spend, I hope, a comfortable day with you in town within this week.  If I am as little in favour with Mr. Johnson as ever, you must come to me at 10 Wigmore street; but I hope this may not be the case, for as Mr. Johnson, with all his faults, is a man to whom that great word “respectable” is always given, and I am known to 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 am really going to Churchhill.  Forgive me, my dear friend, it is my last resource.  Were there another place in England open to me I would prefer it.  Charles Vernon is my aversion; and I am afraid of his wife.  At Churchhill, 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 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. Vernon.