XIII. Lady De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon

by Jane Austen

　　Parklands.My dear Catherine,--Unluckily I was confined to my room when your lastletter came, by a cold which affected my eyes so much as to prevent myreading it myself, so I could not refuse Your father when he offered toread it to me, by which means he became acquainted, to my great vexation,with all your fears about your brother. I had intended to write to Reginaldmyself 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 LadySusan, to a young man of his age, and high expectations. I meant,moreover, to have reminded him of our being quite alone now, and very muchin need of him to keep up our spirits these long winter evenings. Whetherit would have done any good can never be settled now, but I am excessivelyvexed that Sir Reginald should know anything of a matter which we foresawwould make him so uneasy. He caught all your fears the moment he had readyour letter, and I am sure he has not had the business out of his headsince. He wrote by the same post to Reginald a long letter full of it all,and particularly asking an explanation of what he may have heard from LadySusan to contradict the late shocking reports. His answer came thismorning, 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 adetermination to think well of Lady Susan, that his assurances as tomarriage, &c., do not set my heart at ease. I say all I can, however, tosatisfy your father, and he is certainly less uneasy since Reginald'sletter. How provoking it is, my dear Catherine, that this unwelcome guestof yours should not only prevent our meeting this Christmas, but be theoccasion of so much vexation and trouble! Kiss the dear children for me.Your affectionate mother,C. DE COURCY.