XXI. Miss Vernon to Mr. De Courcy

by Jane Austen

　　Sir,--I hope you will excuse this liberty; I am forced upon it by thegreatest distress, or I should be ashamed to trouble you. I am verymiserable about Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the world ofhelping myself but by writing to you, for I am forbidden even speaking tomy uncle and aunt on the subject; and this being the case, I am afraid myapplying to you will appear no better than equivocation, and as if Iattended to the letter and not the spirit of mamma's commands. But if youdo not take my part and persuade her to break it off, I shall be halfdistracted, for I cannot bear him. No human being but you could have anychance of prevailing with her. If you will, therefore, have the unspeakablygreat kindness of taking my part with her, and persuading her to send SirJames away, I shall be more obliged to you than it is possible for me toexpress. I always disliked him from the first: it is not a sudden fancy, Iassure you, sir; I always thought him silly and impertinent anddisagreeable, and now he is grown worse than ever. I would rather work formy bread than marry him. I do not know how to apologize enough for thisletter; I know it is taking so great a liberty. I am aware how dreadfullyangry it will make mamma, but I remember the risk.I am, Sir, your most humble servant,F. S. V.