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Lady Susan - Jane Austen · Classic Fiction Book Collection

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  Speaker 1: Chapter one. Lady Susan Vernon to mister.
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  Speaker 2: Vernon, Langford, December, My dear brother, I can no longer
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  Speaker 2: refuse myself the pleasure of profiting by your kind invitation
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  Speaker 2: when last we parted of spending some weeks with you
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  Speaker 2: at Churchill, And therefore, if quite convenient to you and
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  Speaker 2: missus Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope
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  Speaker 2: within a few days to be introduced to a sister
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  Speaker 2: whom I have so long desired to be acquainted with.
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  Speaker 2: My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent with me
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  Speaker 2: to prolong my stay, but their hospitable and cheerful dispositions
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  Speaker 2: lead them too much into society for my present situation
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  Speaker 2: and state of mind, and I impatiently look forward to
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  Speaker 2: the hour when I shall be admitted into your delightful retirement.
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  Speaker 2: I long to be made known to your dear little children,
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  Speaker 2: in whose hearts I shall be very eager to secure,
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  Speaker 2: an interest I shall soon have need for all my fortitude.
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  Speaker 2: As I am on the point of separation from my
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  Speaker 2: own daughter. The long illness of her dear father prevented
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  Speaker 2: my paying her that attention which duty and affection equally dictated,
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  Speaker 2: and I have too much reason to fear that the
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  Speaker 2: governess to whose care I consign her was unequal to
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  Speaker 2: the charge. I have therefore resolved in placing her at
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  Speaker 2: one of the best private schools in town, where I
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  Speaker 2: shall have an opportunity of leaving her myself in my way.
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  Speaker 2: To you, I am determined, you see, not to be
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  Speaker 2: denied admittance at Churchill. It would indeed give me the
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  Speaker 2: most painful sensations to know that it were not in
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  Speaker 2: your power to receive me your most obliged.
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  Speaker 1: Chapter two, Lady Susan Vernon to missus.
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  Speaker 2: Johnson, Langford. You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing
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  Speaker 2: me fixed at this place for the rest of the winter.
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  Speaker 2: It grieves me to say how greatly you are mistaken,
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  Speaker 2: for I have seldom spent three months more agreeably than
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  Speaker 2: those which have just flown away. At present, nothing goes smoothly.
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  Speaker 2: The females of the family are united against me. You
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  Speaker 2: foretold how it would be when I first came to Langford,
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  Speaker 2: and manwaring is so uncommonly pleasing that I was not
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  Speaker 2: without apprehensions for myself. I remember saying to myself as
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  Speaker 2: I drove to the house I like this man, pray
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  Speaker 2: heaven no harm come of it. But I was determined
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  Speaker 2: to be discreet, to bear in mind my being only
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  Speaker 2: four months a widow, and to be as quiet as possible.
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  Speaker 2: And I have been so, my dear creature. I have
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  Speaker 2: admitted no one's attentions but man wearings. I have avoided
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  Speaker 2: all general flirtation whatever. I have distinguished no creature besides
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  Speaker 2: all of a number's resorting hither except Sir James Martin,
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  Speaker 2: on whom I bestowed a little noticed in order to
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  Speaker 2: detach him from Miss Manwaring. But if the world could
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  Speaker 2: know my motive there, they would honor me. I have
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  Speaker 2: been called an unkind mother, but it was the sacred
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  Speaker 2: impulse of maternal affection. It was the advantage of my
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  Speaker 2: daughter that led me on. And if that daughter were
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  Speaker 2: not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might have been
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  Speaker 2: rewarded for my exertions as I ought. Sir James did
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  Speaker 2: make proposals to me for Frederica, But Frederica, who was
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  Speaker 2: born to be the torment of my life, chose to
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  Speaker 2: set herself so violently against the match that I thought
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  Speaker 2: it better to lay aside the scheme for the present
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  Speaker 2: I have more than once repented that I did not
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  Speaker 2: marry him myself, and were he but one degree less
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  Speaker 2: contemptibly weak, I certainly should. But I must own myself
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  Speaker 2: rather romantic in that respect, and that riches only will
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  Speaker 2: not satisfy me. The event of all this is very provoking.
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  Speaker 2: Sir James is gone, Mariah highly incensed, and missus Manwaring
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  Speaker 2: insupportably jealous, so jealous in short, and so enraged against me,
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  Speaker 2: that in the fury of her temper, I should not
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  Speaker 2: be surprised at her appealing to her guardian if she
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  Speaker 2: had the liberty of addressing him. But there your husband stands,
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  Speaker 2: my friend, and the kindest, most amiable action of his
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  Speaker 2: life was his throwing her off forever on her marriage.
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  Speaker 2: Keep up his resentment. Therefore, I charge you, we are
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  Speaker 2: now in a sad state. No house was ever more altered,
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  Speaker 2: the whole party are at war, and Man Wearing scarcely
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  Speaker 2: dares speak to me me it is time for me
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  Speaker 2: to be gone. I have therefore determined on leaving them,
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  Speaker 2: and shall spend I hope a comfortable day with you
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  Speaker 2: in town within this week. If I am as little
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  Speaker 2: in favor with mister Johnson. As ever, you must come
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  Speaker 2: to me at ten Weegmore Street. But I hope this
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  Speaker 2: may not be the case. For as mister Johnson, with
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  Speaker 2: all his faults, is a man to whom that great
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  Speaker 2: word respectable is always given, and I am known to
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  Speaker 2: be so intimate with his wife, his slighting me has
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  Speaker 2: an awkward look. I take London in my way to
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  Speaker 2: that insupportable spot, a country village, for I really am
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  Speaker 2: going to Churchill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is
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  Speaker 2: my last resource. Were there another place in England open
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  Speaker 2: to me, I would prefer it. Charles Vernon is my aversion,
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  Speaker 2: and I am afraid of his wife at Churchill. However,
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  Speaker 2: I must remain till I have something better in view.
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  Speaker 2: My young lady accompanies me to town, where I shall
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  Speaker 2: deposit her under the care of Miss Summers in Wigmore
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  Speaker 2: Street till she becomes a little more reasonable. She will
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  Speaker 2: make good connections there, as the girls are all of
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  Speaker 2: the best families. The price is immense and much beyond
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  Speaker 2: what I can ever attempt to pay. Adieu. I will
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  Speaker 2: send you a line as soon as I arrive in town. Yours, ever,
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  Speaker 2: s vern.
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  Speaker 1: Chapter three, Missus Vernon to Lady de Courcy.
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  Speaker 3: Church Hill, my dear mother, I am very sorry to
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  Speaker 3: tell you that it will not be within our power
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  Speaker 3: to keep our promise of spending our Christmas with you,
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  Speaker 3: and we are prevented that happiness by a circumstance which
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  Speaker 3: is not likely to make us any amends. Lady Susan,
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  Speaker 3: in a letter to her brother in law, has declared
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  Speaker 3: her intention of visiting us almost immediately, and as such
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  Speaker 3: a visit is, in all probability merely an affair of convenience,
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  Speaker 3: it is impossible to conjecture its length. I was by
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  Speaker 3: no means prepared for such event, nor can I now
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  Speaker 3: account for her ladyship's conduct. Langford appeared so exactly the
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  Speaker 3: place for her in every respect, as well from the
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  Speaker 3: elegant and expensive style of living there, as well as
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  Speaker 3: from her particular attachment to mister Mainwaring that I was
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  Speaker 3: very far from expecting so speedy a distinction, though I
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  Speaker 3: always imagined, from her increasing friendship for us since her
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  Speaker 3: husband's death, that we should, at some future period be
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  Speaker 3: obliged to receive her. Mister Vernon, I think was a
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  Speaker 3: great deal too kind to her when he was in Staffordshire.
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  Speaker 3: Her behavior to him, independent of her general character, has
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  Speaker 3: been so inexcusably artful and ungenerous since her marriage was
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  Speaker 3: first in agitation, that no one less amiable and mild
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  Speaker 3: than himself could overlook it all. And though as his
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  Speaker 3: brother's widow, and in narrow circumstances, and it was proper
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  Speaker 3: to render her pecuniary assistance, I cannot help thinking that
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  Speaker 3: his pressing invitation to her to visit us at church
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  Speaker 3: Hill perfectly unnecessary disposed. However, as he always is to
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  Speaker 3: think the best of every one, her displays of grief
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  Speaker 3: and professions of regret, and general resolutions of prudence were
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  Speaker 3: sufficient to soften his heart and make him really confide
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  Speaker 3: in her sincerity. But as for myself, I remain unconvinced,
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  Speaker 3: as her ladyship has now written, and I cannot make
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  Speaker 3: up my mind until I better understand her real meaning
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  Speaker 3: in coming to us, You may guess. Therefore, my dear mother,
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  Speaker 3: with what feelings I look forward to her arrival. She
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  Speaker 3: will have occasion for all those attractive powers for which
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  Speaker 3: she is celebrated, to gain any share of my regard,
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  Speaker 3: and I shall certainly endeavor to guard myself against her influence,
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  Speaker 3: if not accompanied by something more substantial. She expresses a
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  Speaker 3: most eager desire of becoming acquainted with me, and makes
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  Speaker 3: very gracious mention of my children, though I am not
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  Speaker 3: quite weak enough to suppose a woman who has behaved
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  Speaker 3: with inattention, if not unkindness, to her own child, should
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  Speaker 3: be attack to any of mine. Miss Vernon is to
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  Speaker 3: be placed in a school in London before her mother
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  Speaker 3: comes to us, which I am glad of. For her
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  Speaker 3: sake and my own. It must be to her advantage
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  Speaker 3: to be separated from her mother, and a girl of
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  Speaker 3: sixteen who has received so wretched an education could not
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  Speaker 3: be very desirable company here. Reginald has long wished, I know,
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  Speaker 3: to see the captivating lady Susan, and he will depend
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  Speaker 3: on joining our party soon. I am glad to hear
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  Speaker 3: that my father continues so well.
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  Speaker 1: Chapter four. Mister de Courcy to missus.
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  Speaker 4: Vernon Parklings, My dear sister, I congratulate you and mister
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  Speaker 4: Vernon on being about to receive into your family the
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  Speaker 4: most accomplished coquette in England. As a very distinguished flirt.
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  Speaker 4: I have always been taught to consider her, but it
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  Speaker 4: has lately fallen in my way to hear some particulars
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  Speaker 4: of her conduct at Langford, which prove that she does
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  Speaker 4: not confine herself to the sort of honest flirte which
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  Speaker 4: satisfies most people, but aspires to the more delicious gratification
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  Speaker 4: of making a whole family miserable. By her behavior to
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  Speaker 4: mister Mainwaring, she gave jealousy and wretchedness to his wife,
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  Speaker 4: and by her attentions to a young man previously attached
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  Speaker 4: to mister Maynwarring's sister, deprived an amiable girl of her lover.
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  Speaker 4: I learned all this from mister Smith, now in this neighborhood.
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  Speaker 4: I have dined with him at Hurst and Wilfrid, who
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  Speaker 4: has just come from Langford, where he was a fortnight
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  Speaker 4: ago with her Ladyship, and who is therefore well qualified
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  Speaker 4: to make the communication what a woman she must be.
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  Speaker 4: I long to see her, and shall certainly accept your
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  Speaker 4: kind invitation that I may form some idea of those
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  Speaker 4: bewitching powers which can do so much engaging at the
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  Speaker 4: same time, and in the same house, the affections of
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  Speaker 4: two men who were neither of them at liberty to
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  Speaker 4: bestow them, and all this without the charm of youth.
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  Speaker 4: I am glad to find Miss Vernon does not accompany
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  Speaker 4: her mother to Churchill, as she has not even manners
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  Speaker 4: to recommend her, and, according to mister Smith's account, is
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  Speaker 4: equally dull and proud. Where pride and stupidity unite, there
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  Speaker 4: can be no dissimulation worthy notice, and Miss Vernon shall
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  Speaker 4: be consigned to unrelenting contempt. But by all that I
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  Speaker 4: can gather, Lady Susan possesses a degree of captivating deceit,
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  Speaker 4: which it must be pleasing to witness and detect. I
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  Speaker 4: shall be with you very soon, and am ever your
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  Speaker 4: affectionate brother are Decourse.
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  Speaker 1: Chapter five, Lady Susan Vernon two, missus Johnson Churchhill.
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  Speaker 2: I received your note, my dear Alicia, just before I
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  Speaker 2: left town, and rejoiced to be assured that mister Johnson
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  Speaker 2: suspected nothing of your engagement the evening before. It is
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  Speaker 2: undoubtedly better to deceive him entirely, and since he will
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  Speaker 2: be stubborn, he must be tricked. I arrived here in
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  Speaker 2: safety and have no reason to complain of my reception
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  Speaker 2: from mister Vernon, but I confess myself not equally satisfied
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  Speaker 2: with the behavior of his lady. She is perfectly well bred, indeed,
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  Speaker 2: and has the air of a woman of fashion. But
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  Speaker 2: her manners are not such as can persuade me of
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  Speaker 2: her being prepossessed in my favor. I wanted her to
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  Speaker 2: be delighted at seeing me. I was as amiable as
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  Speaker 2: possible on the occasion, but all in vain. She does
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  Speaker 2: not like me, to be sure, when we consider that
• 12:18
  Speaker 2: I did take some pains to prevent my brother in
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  Speaker 2: law's marrying her, this want of cordiality is not very surprising,
• 12:25
  Speaker 2: and yet it shows an illiberal and vindictive spirit to
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  Speaker 2: resent a project which influenced me six years ago, and
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  Speaker 2: which never succeeded at last. I am sometimes disposed to
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  Speaker 2: repent that I did not let Charles buy Vernon Castle
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  Speaker 2: when we were obliged to sell it. But it was
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  Speaker 2: a trying circumstance, especially as the sale took place exactly
• 12:49
  Speaker 2: at the time of his marriage, and everybody ought to
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  Speaker 2: respect the delicacy of those feelings, which could not endure
• 12:55
  Speaker 2: that my husband's dignity should be lessened by his younger
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  Speaker 2: brother's having possession of the family estate. Could matters have
• 13:04
  Speaker 2: been so arranged as to prevent the necessity of our
• 13:06
  Speaker 2: leaving the castle. Could we have lived with Charles and
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  Speaker 2: kept him single, I should have been very far from
• 13:12
  Speaker 2: persuading my husband to dispose of it elsewhere. But Charles
• 13:16
  Speaker 2: was on the point of marrying Miss de Corsi, and
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  Speaker 2: the event has justified me. Here are children in abundance,
• 13:24
  Speaker 2: and what benefit could have accrued to me from his
• 13:26
  Speaker 2: purchasing vernon? My having prevented it. May perhaps have given
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  Speaker 2: his wife an unfavorable impression, But where there is a
• 13:35
  Speaker 2: disposition to dislike, a motive will never be wanting. And
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  Speaker 2: as to money matters, it has not withheld him from
• 13:42
  Speaker 2: being very useful to me. I really have a regard
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  Speaker 2: for him. He is so easily imposed upon. The house
• 13:50
  Speaker 2: is a good one, the furniture fashionable, and everything announces
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  Speaker 2: plenty and elegance. Charles is very rich. I'm sure when
• 13:58
  Speaker 2: a man has once got his name in a banking house,
• 14:01
  Speaker 2: he rolls in money, but they do not know what
• 14:04
  Speaker 2: to do with it, keeping very little company and never
• 14:07
  Speaker 2: go to London. But on business we shall be as
• 14:10
  Speaker 2: stupid as possible. I mean to win my sister in
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  Speaker 2: law's heart through the children. I know all their names already,
• 14:17
  Speaker 2: and I am going to attach myself with the greatest
• 14:20
  Speaker 2: sensibility to one in particular, a young Frederick, whom I
• 14:25
  Speaker 2: take on my lap and sigh over for his dear
• 14:28
  Speaker 2: uncle's sake, poor man wearing. I need not tell you
• 14:33
  Speaker 2: how much I miss him, how perpetually he is in
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  Speaker 2: my thoughts. I found a dismal letter from him on
• 14:39
  Speaker 2: my arrival here, full of complaints of his wife and sister,
• 14:43
  Speaker 2: and lamentations on the cruelty of his fate. I passed
• 14:48
  Speaker 2: off the letter as his wife's to the Vernons, and
• 14:51
  Speaker 2: when I write to him, it must be under cover.
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  Speaker 2: To you, ever, yours s Vernon.
• 14:57
  Speaker 1: Chapter six, Missus ver to mister de Courcy church Hill.
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  Speaker 3: Well, my dear Reginald, I have seen this dangerous creature
• 15:08
  Speaker 3: and must give you some description of her, though I
• 15:11
  Speaker 3: hope you will soon be able to form your own judgment.
• 15:14
  Speaker 3: She is really excessively pretty. However you may choose to
• 15:18
  Speaker 3: question the allurements of a lady no longer young. I must,
• 15:21
  Speaker 3: for my own part, declare that I have seldom seen
• 15:25
  Speaker 3: so lovely a woman as Lady Susan. She is delicately fair,
• 15:28
  Speaker 3: with fine gray eyes and dark eyelashes, and from her
• 15:32
  Speaker 3: appearance one would not suspect her more than five and twenty,
• 15:35
  Speaker 3: though she must in fact be ten years older. I
• 15:38
  Speaker 3: was certainly not disposed to admire her, though always hearing
• 15:42
  Speaker 3: she was beautiful, But I cannot help feeling that she
• 15:44
  Speaker 3: possesses an uncommon union of symmetry, brilliancy, and grace. Her
• 15:49
  Speaker 3: address to me was so gentle, frank, and even affectionate,
• 15:52
  Speaker 3: that if I had not known how much she always
• 15:54
  Speaker 3: disliked me for marrying mister Vernon, and that we had
• 15:57
  Speaker 3: never met before, I should have imagined her in attached friend.
• 16:01
  Speaker 3: One is apt I believe to connect assurance of manner
• 16:04
  Speaker 3: with coquetry, and to expect that an impudent address will
• 16:08
  Speaker 3: naturally attend an impudent mind. At least I was myself
• 16:12
  Speaker 3: prepared for an improper degree of confidence in Lady Susan.
• 16:16
  Speaker 3: But her countenance is absolutely sweet, and her voice and
• 16:19
  Speaker 3: manner winningly mild. I am sorry this is so, for
• 16:22
  Speaker 3: what is this but deceit? Unfortunately, one knows her too well.
• 16:27
  Speaker 3: She is clever and agreeable, has all the knowledge of
• 16:30
  Speaker 3: the world which makes conversation easy, and talks well, with
• 16:33
  Speaker 3: a happy command of language which is too often used.
• 16:37
  Speaker 3: I believe to make black a pear white. She has
• 16:40
  Speaker 3: already almost persuaded me of being warmly attached to her daughter,
• 16:45
  Speaker 3: though I have been so long convinced to the contrary.
• 16:47
  Speaker 3: She speaks of her with so much tenderness and anxiety,
• 16:51
  Speaker 3: lamenting so bitterly the neglect of her education, which she represents, however,
• 16:55
  Speaker 3: as wholly unavoidable. Though I am forced to recollect how
• 16:59
  Speaker 3: many successive springs her ladyship spent in town while her
• 17:03
  Speaker 3: daughter was left in Staffordshire to the care of servants
• 17:06
  Speaker 3: or a governess, very little better to prevent my believing
• 17:09
  Speaker 3: what she says. If her manners have so great an
• 17:12
  Speaker 3: influence on my resentful heart, you may judge how much
• 17:16
  Speaker 3: more strongly they operate on mister Vernon's generous temper. I
• 17:20
  Speaker 3: wish I could be as well satisfied as he is
• 17:22
  Speaker 3: that it was really her choice to leave Langford for
• 17:25
  Speaker 3: church Hill, that if she had not stayed there for
• 17:27
  Speaker 3: months before she discovered that her friend's manner of living
• 17:30
  Speaker 3: did not suit her situation or feelings, I might have
• 17:33
  Speaker 3: believed that concern for the loss of such a husband
• 17:36
  Speaker 3: as mister Vernon, to whom her own behavior was far
• 17:39
  Speaker 3: from unexceptionable might for a time make her wish for retirement.
• 17:44
  Speaker 3: But I cannot forget the length of her visit to
• 17:46
  Speaker 3: the Main Wearings. When I reflect on the different mode
• 17:49
  Speaker 3: of life she led with them from that to which
• 17:52
  Speaker 3: she must now submit, I can only suspect that the
• 17:55
  Speaker 3: wish of establishing her reputation by following, though late, the
• 17:58
  Speaker 3: path of propriety of occasioned her removal from a family
• 18:02
  Speaker 3: where she must, in reality have been particularly happy. Your
• 18:06
  Speaker 3: friend mister Smith's story, however, cannot be quite correct, as
• 18:10
  Speaker 3: she corresponds regularly with Missus Mainwaring. At any rate, it
• 18:13
  Speaker 3: must be exaggerated. It is scarcely possible that two men
• 18:16
  Speaker 3: should be grossly described.
• 18:21
  Speaker 1: Chapter seven. Lady Susan Vernon to Missus Johnson.
• 18:27
  Speaker 2: Churchill, My dear Alicia, you are very good in taking
• 18:33
  Speaker 2: notice of Frederica, and I am grateful for it as
• 18:36
  Speaker 2: a mark of your friendship. But as I cannot have
• 18:38
  Speaker 2: any doubt of the warmth of your affection, I am
• 18:41
  Speaker 2: far from exacting so heavy a sacrifice. She is a
• 18:45
  Speaker 2: stupid girl and has nothing to recommend her. I would not, therefore,
• 18:50
  Speaker 2: on my account, have you encumber one moment of your
• 18:53
  Speaker 2: precious time by sending for her to Edward Street, especially
• 18:58
  Speaker 2: as every visit is so much to day from the
• 19:00
  Speaker 2: grand affair of education, which I really wish to have
• 19:04
  Speaker 2: attended to. While she remains at Miss Summers, I want
• 19:08
  Speaker 2: her to play and sing with some portion of taste
• 19:12
  Speaker 2: and a good deal of assurance, as she has my hand,
• 19:15
  Speaker 2: an arm and a tolerable voice. I was so much
• 19:19
  Speaker 2: indulged in my infant years that I was never obliged
• 19:22
  Speaker 2: to attend to anything, and consequently, and without the accomplishments
• 19:25
  Speaker 2: which are now necessary to finish a pretty woman. Not
• 19:30
  Speaker 2: that I'm an advocate for the prevailing fashion of acquiring
• 19:33
  Speaker 2: a perfect knowledge of all languages, arts and sciences. It
• 19:37
  Speaker 2: is throwing time away to be mistress of French, Italian
• 19:40
  Speaker 2: and German music. Singing and drawing, et cetera. Will gain
• 19:44
  Speaker 2: a woman some applause, but it will not add one
• 19:47
  Speaker 2: lover to her list. Grace and manner, after all, are
• 19:52
  Speaker 2: of the greatest importance. I do not mean, therefore, that
• 19:56
  Speaker 2: Frederica's acquirements should be more than superficial, and I flatter
• 20:01
  Speaker 2: myself that she will not remain long enough at school
• 20:04
  Speaker 2: to understand anything thoroughly. I hope to see her the
• 20:08
  Speaker 2: wife of Sir James within a twelvemonth. You know on
• 20:12
  Speaker 2: what I ground my hope, and it is certainly a
• 20:14
  Speaker 2: good foundation for school. Must be very humiliating to a
• 20:18
  Speaker 2: girl of Frederica's age, and by the bye, you had
• 20:23
  Speaker 2: better not invite her any more on that account, as
• 20:25
  Speaker 2: I wish her to find her situation as unpleasant as possible.
• 20:31
  Speaker 2: I am sure of Sir James at any time, and
• 20:33
  Speaker 2: could make him renew his application by a line I
• 20:36
  Speaker 2: shall trouble you meanwhile, to prevent his forming any other
• 20:39
  Speaker 2: attachment when he comes to town, ask him to your
• 20:43
  Speaker 2: house occasionally and talk to him of Frederica, that he
• 20:47
  Speaker 2: may not forget her. Upon the whole I commend my
• 20:51
  Speaker 2: own conduct in this affair extremely and regard it as
• 20:55
  Speaker 2: a very happy instance of circumspection and tenderness. Some would
• 21:00
  Speaker 2: have insisted on their daughters accepting so good an offer
• 21:03
  Speaker 2: on the first overture, but I could not reconcile it
• 21:07
  Speaker 2: to myself to force Frederica into a marriage from which
• 21:11
  Speaker 2: her heart revolted, and instead of adopting so harsh a measure,
• 21:16
  Speaker 2: merely proposed to make it her own choice by rendering
• 21:20
  Speaker 2: her thoroughly uncomfortable till she does accept him. But enough
• 21:24
  Speaker 2: of this tiresome girl. You may well wonder how I
• 21:27
  Speaker 2: contrive to pass my time here. And for the first
• 21:29
  Speaker 2: week it was insufferably dull. Now, however, we begin to mend.
• 21:35
  Speaker 2: Our party is enlarged by Missus Vernon's brother, a handsome
• 21:39
  Speaker 2: young man who promises me some amusement. There is something
• 21:43
  Speaker 2: about him which rather interests me, a sort of sauciness
• 21:47
  Speaker 2: and familiarity which I shall teach him to correct. He
• 21:50
  Speaker 2: is lively and seems clever, and when I have inspired
• 21:54
  Speaker 2: him with greater respect for me than his sister's kind
• 21:57
  Speaker 2: offices have implanted, he may be an agreeable flirt. There
• 22:02
  Speaker 2: is an exquisite pleasure in subduing an insolent spirit, in
• 22:06
  Speaker 2: making a person predetermined to dislike acknowledge one's superiority. I
• 22:12
  Speaker 2: have disconcerted him already by my calm reserve, and it
• 22:15
  Speaker 2: shall be my endeavor to humble the pride of these
• 22:17
  Speaker 2: self important decorsi still lower. To convince Missus Vernon that
• 22:22
  Speaker 2: her sisterly cautions have been bestowed in vain, and to
• 22:26
  Speaker 2: persuade Reginald that she has scandalously belied me. This project
• 22:31
  Speaker 2: will serve at least to amuse me and prevent my
• 22:34
  Speaker 2: feelings so acutely this dreadful separation from you and all
• 22:38
  Speaker 2: whom I love yours ever.
• 22:42
  Speaker 1: Chapter eight, Missus Vernon to Lady de Corsi.
• 22:48
  Speaker 3: Should you, my dear mother, you must not expect Reginald
• 22:52
  Speaker 3: back again for some time. He desires me to tell
• 22:55
  Speaker 3: you that the current open weather induces him to accept
• 22:58
  Speaker 3: mister Vernon's invitation, that he proved long his stay in Sussex,
• 23:01
  Speaker 3: that they may have some hunting together. He means to
• 23:03
  Speaker 3: send for his horses immediately, and it is impossible to
• 23:06
  Speaker 3: say when you may see him in Ghent. I will
• 23:09
  Speaker 3: not disguise my sentiments on this change from you, my
• 23:11
  Speaker 3: dear mother, though I think you had better not communicate
• 23:14
  Speaker 3: them to my father, whose excessive anxiety about Reginald would
• 23:18
  Speaker 3: subject him to an alarm which might seriously affect his
• 23:20
  Speaker 3: health and spirits. Lady Susan has certainly contrived, in the
• 23:24
  Speaker 3: space of a fortnight to make my brother like her.
• 23:28
  Speaker 3: In short, I am persuaded that his continuing here beyond
• 23:31
  Speaker 3: the time originally fixed for his visit is occasioned as
• 23:34
  Speaker 3: much by a degree of fascination toward her, as by
• 23:37
  Speaker 3: the wish of hunting with mister Vernon, And of course
• 23:40
  Speaker 3: I cannot receive that pleasure from the length of his
• 23:43
  Speaker 3: visit which my brother's company would otherwise give me. I
• 23:46
  Speaker 3: am indeed provoked at the artifice of this unprincipled woman.
• 23:50
  Speaker 3: What stronger proof of her dangerous abilities can be given
• 23:53
  Speaker 3: than this perversion of Reginald's judgment, which, when he entered
• 23:57
  Speaker 3: this house was so decidedly against her. In his last
• 24:00
  Speaker 3: letter he actually gave me some particulars of her behavior
• 24:03
  Speaker 3: at Langford, such as he received from a gentleman who
• 24:06
  Speaker 3: knew her perfectly well, which if true, rays abhorrence against her,
• 24:10
  Speaker 3: and which Reginald himself was entirely disposed to credit. His
• 24:14
  Speaker 3: opinion of her, I am sure was as low as
• 24:16
  Speaker 3: any woman in England, and when he first came it
• 24:19
  Speaker 3: was evident that he considered her as one entitled neither
• 24:22
  Speaker 3: to delicacy or respect, and that he felt she would
• 24:25
  Speaker 3: be delighted with the attentions of any man inclined to
• 24:28
  Speaker 3: flirt with her. Her behavior, I confess, has been calculated
• 24:30
  Speaker 3: to do away with such an idea. I have not
• 24:33
  Speaker 3: detected the slightest impropriety in her, nothing of vanity, of
• 24:37
  Speaker 3: pretension of levity, And she is altogether so attractive that
• 24:40
  Speaker 3: I should not wonder at his being delighted with her,
• 24:43
  Speaker 3: had he known nothing of her previous to this personal acquaintance,
• 24:46
  Speaker 3: and against reason, against conviction, to be so well pleased
• 24:49
  Speaker 3: with her, as I am sure he is, does really
• 24:51
  Speaker 3: astonish me. His admiration was at first very strong, but
• 24:55
  Speaker 3: no more than was natural, and I did not wonder
• 24:58
  Speaker 3: at his being much struck with the je and delicacy
• 25:01
  Speaker 3: of her manners. But when he has mentioned her of late,
• 25:04
  Speaker 3: it has been in terms of more extraordinary praise. Yesterday
• 25:07
  Speaker 3: he actually said that he could not be surprised at
• 25:09
  Speaker 3: any effect produced on the heart of man by such
• 25:12
  Speaker 3: loveliness and such abilities. And when I lamented in reply
• 25:16
  Speaker 3: the badness of her disposition, he observed that whatever might
• 25:19
  Speaker 3: have been her errors, they were to be imputed to
• 25:22
  Speaker 3: her neglected education and early marriage, and that she was
• 25:25
  Speaker 3: altogether a wonderful woman. This tendency to excuse her conduct,
• 25:29
  Speaker 3: or to forget it in the warmth of admiration, vexes me.
• 25:33
  Speaker 3: And if I did not know that Reginald is too
• 25:35
  Speaker 3: much at home at church Hill to need invitation for
• 25:38
  Speaker 3: lengthening his visit. I should regret mister Vernon's giving him any.
• 25:41
  Speaker 3: Lady Susan's intentions are, of course close to those of
• 25:45
  Speaker 3: coquetry and a desire of universal admiration. I cannot for
• 25:49
  Speaker 3: a moment imagine that she has anything more serious in view.
• 25:52
  Speaker 3: But it mortifies me to see a young man of
• 25:54
  Speaker 3: Reginald's sense duped by her at all.
• 26:00
  Speaker 1: Chapter nine, Missus Johnson to Lady s Vernon Edward Street,
• 26:08
  Speaker 1: my dearest friend, I congratulate you on mister de Corcey's arrival,
• 26:13
  Speaker 1: and I advise you by all means to marry him.
• 26:16
  Speaker 1: His father's estate is we know, considerable, and I believe
• 26:20
  Speaker 1: certainly entailed. Sir Reginald is very infirm and not likely
• 26:25
  Speaker 1: to stand in your way. Long I hear the young
• 26:28
  Speaker 1: man well spoken of, And though no one can really
• 26:32
  Speaker 1: deserve you, my dearest Susan, mister de Courcy may be
• 26:35
  Speaker 1: worth having main wearing will storm, of course, but you
• 26:39
  Speaker 1: easily pacify him. Besides, the most scrupulous point of honor
• 26:43
  Speaker 1: could not require you to wait for his emancipation. I
• 26:47
  Speaker 1: have seen Sir James He came to town for a
• 26:50
  Speaker 1: few days last week and called several times in Edward Street.
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: I talked to him about you and your daughter, and
• 26:57
  Speaker 1: he is so far from having forgotten you that I
• 26:59
  Speaker 1: am sure or he would marry either of you with pleasure.
• 27:02
  Speaker 1: I gave him hopes of Frederica's relenting and told him
• 27:05
  Speaker 1: a great deal of her improvements. I scolded him from
• 27:09
  Speaker 1: making love to Maria Mainwaring. He protested that he had
• 27:12
  Speaker 1: been only in joke, and we both laughed heartily at
• 27:14
  Speaker 1: her disappointment, and in short were very agreeable. He is
• 27:19
  Speaker 1: as silly as that.
• 27:24
  Speaker 5: Ten lady Susan Vernon. To missus Johnson Churchill, I am
• 27:31
  Speaker 5: much obliged to you, my dear friend, for your advice
• 27:34
  Speaker 5: respecting mister de Courcy, which I know was given with
• 27:37
  Speaker 5: the full conviction of its expediency, though I am not
• 27:41
  Speaker 5: quite determined on following it. I cannot easily resolve on
• 27:45
  Speaker 5: anything so serious as marriage, especially as I am not
• 27:49
  Speaker 5: at present in want of money, and might, perhaps till
• 27:53
  Speaker 5: the old Gentleman's death, be very little benefited by the match.
• 27:58
  Speaker 5: It is true that I am vain enough to believe
• 28:00
  Speaker 5: it within my reach. I have made him sensible of
• 28:03
  Speaker 5: my power, and can now enjoy the pleasure of triumphing
• 28:07
  Speaker 5: over a mind prepared to dislike me and prejudiced against
• 28:11
  Speaker 5: all my past actions. His sister, too, is, I hope,
• 28:15
  Speaker 5: convinced how little the ungenerous representations of any one to
• 28:20
  Speaker 5: the disadvantage of another will avail when opposed by the
• 28:24
  Speaker 5: immediate influence of intellect and manner. I see plainly that
• 28:28
  Speaker 5: she is uneasy at my progress in the good opinion
• 28:31
  Speaker 5: of her brother, and conclude that nothing will be wanted
• 28:34
  Speaker 5: on her part to counterattack me. But having once made
• 28:38
  Speaker 5: him doubt the justice of her opinion of me, I think.
• 28:42
  Speaker 6: I may defy her.
• 28:44
  Speaker 5: It has been delightful to me to watch his advances
• 28:46
  Speaker 5: towards intimacy, especially to observe his altered manner, in consequence
• 28:51
  Speaker 5: of my repressing by the cool dignity of my deportment,
• 28:54
  Speaker 5: his insolent approach to direct familiarity. My conduct has been
• 28:59
  Speaker 5: equally guarded from the first, and I never behaved less
• 29:03
  Speaker 5: like a coquette in the whole course of my life.
• 29:06
  Speaker 5: Though perhaps my desire of dominion was never more decided.
• 29:11
  Speaker 5: I have subdued him entirely by sentiment and serious conversation,
• 29:16
  Speaker 5: and made him I may venture to say at least
• 29:19
  Speaker 5: half in love with me without the semblance of the
• 29:22
  Speaker 5: most commonplace flirtation. Missus Vernon's consciousness of deserving every sort
• 29:29
  Speaker 5: of revenge that it can be in my power to
• 29:31
  Speaker 5: inflict for her ill offices could alone enable her to
• 29:36
  Speaker 5: perceive that I am actuated by any design in behavior
• 29:39
  Speaker 5: so gentle and unpretending. Let her think an act as
• 29:43
  Speaker 5: she chooses. However, I have never yet found that the
• 29:46
  Speaker 5: advice of a sister could prevent a young man's being
• 29:49
  Speaker 5: in love if he chose. We are advancing now to
• 29:53
  Speaker 5: some kind of confidence, and in short, are likely to
• 29:57
  Speaker 5: be engaged in a sort of platonic friendship. On my side,
• 30:01
  Speaker 5: you may be sure of its never being more. For
• 30:04
  Speaker 5: if I were not attached to another person, as much
• 30:06
  Speaker 5: as I can be to any one, I should make
• 30:09
  Speaker 5: a point of not bestowing my affection on a man
• 30:11
  Speaker 5: who had dared to think so meanly of me. Reginald
• 30:15
  Speaker 5: has a good figure and is not unworthy the praise
• 30:18
  Speaker 5: you have heard given him, but is still greatly inferior
• 30:21
  Speaker 5: to our friend at Langford. He is less polished, less
• 30:25
  Speaker 5: insinuating than mannering, and is comparatively deficient in the power
• 30:30
  Speaker 5: of saying those delightful things which put one in good
• 30:33
  Speaker 5: humor with oneself and all the world. He is quite
• 30:37
  Speaker 5: agreeable enough, however, to afford me amusement, and to make
• 30:41
  Speaker 5: many of those hours pass very pleasantly, which would otherwise
• 30:45
  Speaker 5: be spent in endeavoring to overcome my sister in law's
• 30:47
  Speaker 5: reserve and listening to the insipid talk of her husband.
• 30:52
  Speaker 5: Your account of Sir James is most satisfactory. I mean
• 30:56
  Speaker 5: to give Miss Frederica a hint of my intentions very soon, yours,
• 31:01
  Speaker 5: et cetera.
• 31:03
  Speaker 1: S Vernon, Chapter eleven, missus Vernon to Lady de Courcy Churchill.
• 31:11
  Speaker 3: I really grow quite uneasy, my dear mother about Reginald,
• 31:15
  Speaker 3: from witnessing the very rapid increase of Lady Susan's influence.
• 31:19
  Speaker 3: They are now on terms of the most particular friendship,
• 31:22
  Speaker 3: frequently engaged in long conversations together, and she has contrived,
• 31:26
  Speaker 3: by the most artful coquetry, to subdue his judgment for
• 31:29
  Speaker 3: her own purposes. It is impossible to see the intimacy
• 31:32
  Speaker 3: between them so very soon established without some alarm, though
• 31:36
  Speaker 3: I can hardly suppose Lady Susan's views extend to marriage.
• 31:40
  Speaker 3: I wish you could get Reginald home again under any
• 31:43
  Speaker 3: plausible pretense. He is not at all disposed to leave us,
• 31:46
  Speaker 3: and I have given him as many hints of my
• 31:48
  Speaker 3: father's precarious state of health as common decency will allow
• 31:52
  Speaker 3: me to do in my own house. Her power over
• 31:55
  Speaker 3: him must now be boundless, as she has affected all
• 31:58
  Speaker 3: his former ill opinion and persuaded him, not entirely to forget,
• 32:02
  Speaker 3: but to justify her conduct. Mister Smith's account of her
• 32:07
  Speaker 3: proceedings at Langford, where he accused her of having made
• 32:10
  Speaker 3: mister Mainwaring and a young man engaged to Miss Mainwaring
• 32:13
  Speaker 3: distractedly in love with her, which Reginald firmly believed when
• 32:17
  Speaker 3: he came to church Hill is now he is persuaded
• 32:21
  Speaker 3: only a scandalous invention. He has told me so in
• 32:24
  Speaker 3: a warmth of manner, which spoke his regret at having
• 32:27
  Speaker 3: ever believed the contrary himself. How sincerely do I grieve
• 32:31
  Speaker 3: that she ever entered this house? I had always looked
• 32:34
  Speaker 3: forward to her coming with uneasiness, but very far it
• 32:38
  Speaker 3: was from originating in anxiety for Reginald. I expected a
• 32:42
  Speaker 3: most disagreeable companion for myself, but could not imagine that
• 32:45
  Speaker 3: my brother would be in the smallest danger of being
• 32:48
  Speaker 3: captivated by a woman with whose principles he was so
• 32:51
  Speaker 3: well acquainted, and whose character he is so heartily despised.
• 32:56
  Speaker 3: If you can get him away, it will be a
• 32:57
  Speaker 3: good thing, Very affectionately, Catherine.
• 33:00
  Speaker 1: Vernon, end of Chapter eleven, Chapter twelve.
• 33:07
  Speaker 7: Park Lands. I know that young men in general do
• 33:11
  Speaker 7: not admit of any inquiry, even from their nearest relations,
• 33:14
  Speaker 7: into affairs of the heart. But I hope, my dear Reginald,
• 33:17
  Speaker 7: that you will be superior to such as allowed nothing
• 33:20
  Speaker 7: for a father's anxiety, and think themselves privileged to refuse
• 33:24
  Speaker 7: him their confidence and slight his advice. You must be
• 33:28
  Speaker 7: sensible that, as an only son and the representative of
• 33:31
  Speaker 7: an ancient family, your conduct in life is most interesting
• 33:35
  Speaker 7: to your connections, and in the very important concern of marriage, especially,
• 33:40
  Speaker 7: there is everything at stake your own happiness, that of
• 33:43
  Speaker 7: your parents, and the credit of your name. I do
• 33:46
  Speaker 7: not suppose that you would deliberately form an absolute engagement
• 33:50
  Speaker 7: of that nature without acquainting your mother and myself, or
• 33:53
  Speaker 7: at least without being convinced that we should approve of
• 33:55
  Speaker 7: your choice. But I cannot help fearing that you may
• 33:59
  Speaker 7: be drawn in by the lady who has lately attached
• 34:01
  Speaker 7: you to a marriage which the whole of your family
• 34:04
  Speaker 7: far and near, must highly reprobate. Lady Susan's age is
• 34:09
  Speaker 7: itself a material objection, but her want of character is
• 34:12
  Speaker 7: one so much more serious that the difference of even
• 34:15
  Speaker 7: twelve years becomes in comparison of small amount. Were you
• 34:20
  Speaker 7: not blinded by a sort of fascination, it would be
• 34:22
  Speaker 7: ridiculous in me to repeat the instances of great misconduct
• 34:26
  Speaker 7: on her side, so very generally known. Her neglect of
• 34:31
  Speaker 7: her husband, her encouragement of other men, her extravagance and
• 34:34
  Speaker 7: dissipation were so gross and notorious that no one could
• 34:38
  Speaker 7: be ignorant of them at the time, nor can now
• 34:40
  Speaker 7: have forgotten them. To our family, she has always been
• 34:44
  Speaker 7: represented in softened colors by the benevolence of mister Charles Vernon,
• 34:47
  Speaker 7: and yet in spite of his generous endeavors to excuse her,
• 34:51
  Speaker 7: we know that she did, from the most selfish motives,
• 34:54
  Speaker 7: take all possible pains to prevent his marriage with Catherine.
• 34:59
  Speaker 7: My years and increasing infirmities make me very desirous of
• 35:02
  Speaker 7: seeing you settled in the world to the fortune of
• 35:05
  Speaker 7: a wife. The goodness of my own will make me indifferent,
• 35:08
  Speaker 7: but her family and character must be equally unexceptionable. When
• 35:13
  Speaker 7: your choice is fixed so that no objection can be
• 35:15
  Speaker 7: made to it, then I can promise you a ready
• 35:18
  Speaker 7: and cheerful consent. But it is my duty to oppose
• 35:22
  Speaker 7: a match which deep art only could render possible, and
• 35:25
  Speaker 7: must in the end make wretched. It is possible her
• 35:29
  Speaker 7: behavior may arise only from vanity or the wish of
• 35:32
  Speaker 7: gaining the admiration of a man whom she must imagine
• 35:35
  Speaker 7: to be particularly prejudiced against her. But it is more
• 35:39
  Speaker 7: likely that she should aim at something further. She is
• 35:43
  Speaker 7: poor and may naturally seek an alliance which must be
• 35:45
  Speaker 7: advantageous to herself. You know your own rights, and that
• 35:49
  Speaker 7: it is out of my power to prevent your inheriting
• 35:51
  Speaker 7: the family estate. My ability of distressing you during my
• 35:55
  Speaker 7: life would be a species of revenge to which I
• 35:58
  Speaker 7: could hardly stoop under any circlcecumstances. I honestly tell you
• 36:03
  Speaker 7: my sentiments and intentions. I do not wish to work
• 36:05
  Speaker 7: on your fears, but on your sense and affection. It
• 36:09
  Speaker 7: would destroy every comfort of my life to know that
• 36:11
  Speaker 7: you were married to Lady Susan Vernon. It would be
• 36:14
  Speaker 7: the death of that honest pride with which I have
• 36:17
  Speaker 7: hitherto considered my son. I should blush to see him,
• 36:20
  Speaker 7: to hear of him, to think of him. I may
• 36:23
  Speaker 7: perhaps do no good but that of relieving my own
• 36:26
  Speaker 7: mind by this letter. But I felt it my duty
• 36:29
  Speaker 7: to tell you that your partiality for Lady Susan is
• 36:31
  Speaker 7: no secret to your friends, and to warn you against her.
• 36:36
  Speaker 7: I should be glad to hear of your reasons for
• 36:38
  Speaker 7: disbelieving missus Smith's intelligence. You had no doubt of his
• 36:41
  Speaker 7: authenticity a month ago. If you can give me your
• 36:45
  Speaker 7: assurance of having no design beyond enjoying the conversation of
• 36:48
  Speaker 7: a clever woman for a short period, and of yielding
• 36:52
  Speaker 7: admiration only to her beauty and abilities, without being blinded
• 36:56
  Speaker 7: by them to her faults, you will restore me to happiness.
• 37:00
  Speaker 7: But if you cannot do this, explain to me at
• 37:02
  Speaker 7: least what has occasioned so great an alteration in your
• 37:06
  Speaker 7: opinion of her. I am et cetera, et cetera.
• 37:10
  Speaker 1: Reginald de Courcy Chapter thirteen, Lady de Courcy to missus.
• 37:17
  Speaker 8: Vernon Parkland's, my dear Catherine. Unluckily, I was confined to
• 37:23
  Speaker 8: my room when your last letter came by a cold
• 37:26
  Speaker 8: which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my
• 37:29
  Speaker 8: reading it myself, so I could not refuse your father
• 37:32
  Speaker 8: when he offered to read it to me, by which
• 37:35
  Speaker 8: means he became acquainted, to my great vexation with all
• 37:39
  Speaker 8: your fears about your brother. I had intended to write
• 37:43
  Speaker 8: to Reginald myself as soon as my eyes would let me,
• 37:46
  Speaker 8: to point out as well as I could the danger
• 37:50
  Speaker 8: of an intimate acquaintance with so artful a woman as
• 37:52
  Speaker 8: Lady Susan, to a young man of his age and
• 37:56
  Speaker 8: high expectations. I meant moreover to have reminded him of
• 38:01
  Speaker 8: our being quite alone now, and very much in need
• 38:04
  Speaker 8: of him to keep up our spirits these long winter evenings.
• 38:08
  Speaker 8: Whether it would have done any good can never be
• 38:11
  Speaker 8: settled now. But I am excessively vexed that Sir Reginald
• 38:15
  Speaker 8: should know anything of a matter which we foresaw would
• 38:18
  Speaker 8: make him so uneasy. He caught all your fears the
• 38:23
  Speaker 8: moment he had read your letter, and I am sure
• 38:25
  Speaker 8: he has not had the business out of his head
• 38:27
  Speaker 8: since he wrote, by the same poster Reginald, a long letter,
• 38:31
  Speaker 8: full of it all, and particularly asking an explanation of
• 38:35
  Speaker 8: what he may have heard from Lady Susan to contradict
• 38:38
  Speaker 8: the late shocking reports. His answer came this morning, which
• 38:43
  Speaker 8: I shall enclose to you, as I think you will
• 38:45
  Speaker 8: like to see it. I wish it was more satisfactory,
• 38:48
  Speaker 8: but it seems written with such a determination to think
• 38:51
  Speaker 8: well of Lady Susan, that all his assurances as to marriage,
• 38:55
  Speaker 8: et cetera, do not set my heart at ease. I
• 39:00
  Speaker 8: day all I can, however, to satisfy your father, and
• 39:03
  Speaker 8: he is certainly less uneasy since Reginald's letter. How provoking
• 39:07
  Speaker 8: it is, my dear Catherine, that this unwelcome guest of
• 39:10
  Speaker 8: yours should not only prevent our meeting this Christmas, but
• 39:14
  Speaker 8: be the occasion of so much vexation and trouble. Kiss
• 39:19
  Speaker 8: the dear children for me, your affectionate mother see De Corsi.
• 39:26
  Speaker 1: Chapter thirteen, Lady de Courcy to missus.
• 39:31
  Speaker 8: Vernon Parklands, My dear Catherine. Unluckily I was confined to
• 39:37
  Speaker 8: my room when your last letter came by a cold
• 39:40
  Speaker 8: which affected my eyes so much as to prevent my
• 39:43
  Speaker 8: reading it myself, so I could not refuse your father
• 39:46
  Speaker 8: when he offered to read it to me, by which
• 39:48
  Speaker 8: means he became acquainted, to my great vexation with all
• 39:52
  Speaker 8: your fears about your brother. I had intended to write
• 39:57
  Speaker 8: to Reginald myself as soon as my eyes would let,
• 40:00
  Speaker 8: to point out as well as I could the danger
• 40:04
  Speaker 8: of an intimate acquaintance with so artful a woman as
• 40:06
  Speaker 8: Lady Susan to a young man of his age and
• 40:10
  Speaker 8: high expectations. I meant moreover to have reminded him of
• 40:15
  Speaker 8: our being quite alone now and very much in need
• 40:18
  Speaker 8: of him to keep up our spirits these long winter evenings.
• 40:22
  Speaker 8: Whether it would have done any good can never be
• 40:24
  Speaker 8: settled now.
• 40:26
  Speaker 9: But I am.
• 40:26
  Speaker 8: Excessively vexed that Sir Reginald should know anything of a
• 40:30
  Speaker 8: matter which we foresaw would make him so uneasy. He
• 40:35
  Speaker 8: caught all your fears the moment he had read your letter,
• 40:38
  Speaker 8: and I am sure he has not had the business
• 40:40
  Speaker 8: out of his head since he wrote, by the same
• 40:43
  Speaker 8: poster Reginald, a long letter full of it all, and
• 40:46
  Speaker 8: particularly asking an explanation of what he may have heard
• 40:50
  Speaker 8: from Lady Susan to contradict the late shocking reports. His
• 40:55
  Speaker 8: answer came this morning, which I shall enclose to you,
• 40:58
  Speaker 8: as I think you will like to see it. I
• 41:00
  Speaker 8: wish it was more satisfactory, but it seems written with
• 41:04
  Speaker 8: such a determination to think well of Lady Susan, that
• 41:07
  Speaker 8: all his assurances as to marriage, et cetera do not
• 41:10
  Speaker 8: set my heart at ease. I say all I can, however,
• 41:15
  Speaker 8: to satisfy your father, and he is certainly less uneasy
• 41:18
  Speaker 8: since Reginald's letter. How provoking it is, my dear Catherine,
• 41:23
  Speaker 8: that this unwelcome guest of yours should not only prevent
• 41:26
  Speaker 8: our meeting this Christmas, but be the occasion of so
• 41:30
  Speaker 8: much vexation and trouble. Kiss the dear children for me,
• 41:35
  Speaker 8: your affectionate mother. See De Corsi, chapter fourteen.
• 41:42
  Speaker 1: Mister de Corsi to Sir Reginald Churchhill.
• 41:46
  Speaker 4: My dear Sir, I have this moment received a letter
• 41:49
  Speaker 4: which has given me more astonishment than I ever felt before.
• 41:53
  Speaker 4: I am to thank my sister, I suppose, for having
• 41:55
  Speaker 4: represented me in such a lot as to injure me
• 41:57
  Speaker 4: in your opinion and give you all this alarm. I
• 42:01
  Speaker 4: know not why she should choose to make herself and
• 42:03
  Speaker 4: her family uneasy by apprehending an event which no one
• 42:06
  Speaker 4: but herself, I can affirm, would ever have thought possible.
• 42:09
  Speaker 4: To impute such a design to Lady Susan would be
• 42:12
  Speaker 4: taking from her every claim to that excellent understanding which
• 42:15
  Speaker 4: her bitterest enemies have never denied her, and equally low
• 42:18
  Speaker 4: must sink my pretensions to common sense. If I am
• 42:21
  Speaker 4: suspected of matrimonial views in my behavior to her, our
• 42:25
  Speaker 4: difference of age must be an insuperable objection, And I
• 42:27
  Speaker 4: entreat you, my dear father, to quiet your mind and
• 42:30
  Speaker 4: no longer harbor a suspicion which cannot be more injurious
• 42:33
  Speaker 4: to your own peace than our understandings. I can have
• 42:36
  Speaker 4: no other view in remaining with Lady Susan than to enjoy,
• 42:39
  Speaker 4: for a short time, as you have yourself expressed it,
• 42:42
  Speaker 4: the conversation of a woman of high intellectual powers, missus Vernon,
• 42:46
  Speaker 4: would allow something to my affection for herself and her
• 42:49
  Speaker 4: husband in the length of my visit. She would do
• 42:52
  Speaker 4: more justice to us all, but my sister is unhappily
• 42:55
  Speaker 4: prejudiced beyond the hope of conviction against Lady Susan from
• 42:58
  Speaker 4: an attachment to her husband, which in itself does honor
• 43:01
  Speaker 4: to both. She cannot forgive the endeavors at preventing their
• 43:04
  Speaker 4: union which have been attributed to selfishness in Lady Susan.
• 43:07
  Speaker 4: But in this case, as well as in many others,
• 43:10
  Speaker 4: the world has most grossly injured that lady by supposing
• 43:13
  Speaker 4: the worst. Where the motives in her conduct have been doubtful,
• 43:16
  Speaker 4: Lady Susan had heard something so materially to the disadvantage
• 43:19
  Speaker 4: of my sister as to persuade her that the happiness
• 43:22
  Speaker 4: of mister Vernon, to whom she was always much attached,
• 43:25
  Speaker 4: would be wholly destroyed by the marriage and the circumstance.
• 43:28
  Speaker 4: While it explains the true motive of Lady Susan's conduct
• 43:31
  Speaker 4: and removes all the blame which has been so lavished
• 43:33
  Speaker 4: on her, may also convince us how little the general
• 43:36
  Speaker 4: report of anyone ought to be credited, since no character,
• 43:39
  Speaker 4: however upright, can escape the benevolent of slander. If my sister,
• 43:44
  Speaker 4: in the security of retirement, with as little opportunity as
• 43:47
  Speaker 4: inclination to do evil, could not avoid censure, we must
• 43:50
  Speaker 4: not rashly condemn those who living in the world and
• 43:52
  Speaker 4: surrounded with temptations, should be accused of errors which they
• 43:55
  Speaker 4: are known to have the power of committing. I blame
• 43:58
  Speaker 4: myself severely for having so eas easily believe the slanderous
• 44:01
  Speaker 4: tales invented by Charles Smith to the prejudice of Lady Susan,
• 44:05
  Speaker 4: as I am now convinced how greatly they have produced her.
• 44:08
  Speaker 4: As to Missus Mainwaring's jealousy, it was totally his own invention,
• 44:11
  Speaker 4: and his account of her attaching Miss Mainwaring's lover was
• 44:14
  Speaker 4: scarcely better founded. Sir James Martin had been drawn in
• 44:17
  Speaker 4: by that young lady to pay her some attention, and
• 44:20
  Speaker 4: as he is a man of fortune, it is easy
• 44:22
  Speaker 4: to see her views extended to marriage. It is well
• 44:24
  Speaker 4: known that Miss m is absolutely on the catch for
• 44:27
  Speaker 4: her husband, and no one can therefore pity her for losing,
• 44:29
  Speaker 4: by the superior attractions of another woman, the chance of
• 44:32
  Speaker 4: being able to make worthy man completely wretched. Lady Susan
• 44:36
  Speaker 4: was far from intending such a conquest, and on finding
• 44:38
  Speaker 4: how warmly Miss Mainwarings resented her lover's disaffection, determined in
• 44:43
  Speaker 4: spite of mister and Missus Mainwaring's most urgent entreaties to
• 44:46
  Speaker 4: leave the family. I have reason to imagine she did
• 44:48
  Speaker 4: receive serious proposals from Sir James, But her removing to
• 44:52
  Speaker 4: Langford immediately on the discovery of his attachment must acquit
• 44:55
  Speaker 4: her on that article. With any mind of common candor,
• 44:59
  Speaker 4: you will, I am sure, my dear Sir, feel the
• 45:02
  Speaker 4: truth of this, and will hereby learn to do justice
• 45:04
  Speaker 4: to the character of a very injured woman. I know
• 45:07
  Speaker 4: that Lady Susan is coming to Churchill was governed only
• 45:10
  Speaker 4: by the most honorable and amiable intentions. Her prudence and
• 45:13
  Speaker 4: economy are exemplary, her regard for mister Vernon equal to
• 45:17
  Speaker 4: his deserts, and her wish of obtaining my sister's good
• 45:20
  Speaker 4: opinion merits a better return than it is received. As
• 45:23
  Speaker 4: a mother, she is unexceptionable. Her solid affection for her
• 45:27
  Speaker 4: child is shown by placing her in hands where her
• 45:29
  Speaker 4: education will be properly attended to. But because she is
• 45:32
  Speaker 4: not the blind and weak partiality of most mothers, she
• 45:35
  Speaker 4: is accused of wanting maternal tenderness. Every person of sense, however,
• 45:39
  Speaker 4: will know how to value and command her a well
• 45:41
  Speaker 4: directed affection, and will join me in wishing that Frederica
• 45:44
  Speaker 4: Vernon may prove more worthy than she has done of
• 45:46
  Speaker 4: her mother's tender care. I have now my dear father
• 45:49
  Speaker 4: written my real sentiments of Lady Susan. You will know
• 45:52
  Speaker 4: from this letter how highly I admire her abilities and
• 45:55
  Speaker 4: esteem her character. But if you are not equally convinced
• 45:57
  Speaker 4: of my full and solemn assurance that your fears have
• 46:00
  Speaker 4: been most idly created, you will deeply mortify and distress me.
• 46:04
  Speaker 4: I am.
• 46:06
  Speaker 1: Chapter six, Missus Vernon to Lady de Courcy.
• 46:11
  Speaker 3: Churchill, my dear mother. I return you Reginald's letter and
• 46:15
  Speaker 3: rejoice with all my heart that my father is made
• 46:18
  Speaker 3: easy by it. Tell him so with my congratulations. But
• 46:21
  Speaker 3: between ourselves I must own it has only convinced me
• 46:24
  Speaker 3: of my brother's having no present intention of marrying Lady Susan,
• 46:28
  Speaker 3: not that he is in no danger of doing so.
• 46:30
  Speaker 3: Three months hands he gives a very plausible account of
• 46:33
  Speaker 3: her behavior at Langford. I wish it may be true,
• 46:36
  Speaker 3: but his intelligence must come from herself, and I am
• 46:39
  Speaker 3: less disposed to believe it than to lament the degree
• 46:41
  Speaker 3: of intimacy subsisting between them implied by the discussion of
• 46:44
  Speaker 3: such a subject. I am also sorry to have incurred
• 46:47
  Speaker 3: his displeasure, but can expect nothing better. While he is
• 46:50
  Speaker 3: so very eager in Lady Susan's justification, he is very
• 46:54
  Speaker 3: severe against me, indeed, and yet I hope I have
• 46:57
  Speaker 3: not been hasty in my judgment of her. Poor woman.
• 47:00
  Speaker 3: Though I have reasons enough for my dislike, I cannot
• 47:03
  Speaker 3: help pitying her at present, as she is in real
• 47:06
  Speaker 3: distress and with too much cause. She had this morning
• 47:09
  Speaker 3: a letter from the lady with whom she has placed
• 47:11
  Speaker 3: her daughter, to request that Miss Vernon might be immediately removed,
• 47:15
  Speaker 3: as she had been detected in an attempt to run away.
• 47:18
  Speaker 3: Why or whether she intended to go does not appear,
• 47:21
  Speaker 3: but as her situation seems to have been unexceptionable, it
• 47:24
  Speaker 3: is a sad thing, and of course highly afflicting to
• 47:27
  Speaker 3: Lady Susan. Frederica must be as much as sixteen and
• 47:30
  Speaker 3: ought to know better. But from what her mother insinuates,
• 47:33
  Speaker 3: I am afraid she is a perverse girl. She has
• 47:36
  Speaker 3: been sadly neglected, however, and her mother ought to remember it.
• 47:40
  Speaker 3: Mister Vernon set off to town as soon as she
• 47:43
  Speaker 3: had determined what should be done. He is, if possible
• 47:46
  Speaker 3: to prevail upon Miss Somers to let Frederica continue with her, and,
• 47:50
  Speaker 3: if he cannot succeed, to bring her to church Hill
• 47:53
  Speaker 3: for the present till some other situation can be found
• 47:55
  Speaker 3: for her. Her Ladyship is comforting herself meanwhile by strolling
• 47:59
  Speaker 3: along the shrubbery with Reginald and calling forth all his
• 48:02
  Speaker 3: tender feelings. I suppose on this distressing occasion she has
• 48:07
  Speaker 3: been talking a great deal about it to me. She
• 48:09
  Speaker 3: talks vastly well. I am afraid of being ungenerous, or
• 48:13
  Speaker 3: I should say too well, to feel very deeply, but
• 48:16
  Speaker 3: I will not look for faults. She may be Reginald's wife,
• 48:18
  Speaker 3: Heaven forbid it, But why should I be quicker sighted
• 48:21
  Speaker 3: than any one else? Mister Vernon declares that he never
• 48:24
  Speaker 3: saw deeper distress than hers on receipt of the letter,
• 48:27
  Speaker 3: and is his judgment inferior to mine. She was very
• 48:30
  Speaker 3: unwilling that Frederica should be allowed to come to Church Hill,
• 48:33
  Speaker 3: and justly enough, as it seems a sort of reward
• 48:36
  Speaker 3: to behavior deserving very differently. It was impossible to take
• 48:39
  Speaker 3: her anywhere else, and she is not to remain here long.
• 48:44
  Speaker 3: It will be absolutely necessary, said she, as you my
• 48:46
  Speaker 3: dear sister must be sensible to treat my daughter with
• 48:49
  Speaker 3: some severity while she is here. A most painful necessity,
• 48:53
  Speaker 3: but I will endeavor to submit to it. I am
• 48:56
  Speaker 3: afraid I have often been too indulgent, but my poor
• 48:59
  Speaker 3: Frederica's temper could never bear opposition. Well, you must support
• 49:03
  Speaker 3: and encourage me. You must urge the necessity of reproof
• 49:06
  Speaker 3: if you see me too lenient. All this sounds very reasonably.
• 49:10
  Speaker 3: Reginald is incensed against the poor silly girl. Surely it
• 49:13
  Speaker 3: is not to Lady Susan's credit that he be so
• 49:15
  Speaker 3: bitter against her daughter. His idea of her must be
• 49:19
  Speaker 3: drawn from the mother's description. Well, whatever may be his fate,
• 49:22
  Speaker 3: we have the comfort of knowing we have done the
• 49:24
  Speaker 3: utmost to save him.
• 49:31
  Speaker 1: Chapter sixteen, Lady Susan Vernon to missus Johnson Churchill.
• 49:39
  Speaker 2: Never, my dearest Alicia, was I so provoked in my
• 49:42
  Speaker 2: life as by a letter this morning for Miss Summers,
• 49:46
  Speaker 2: that horrid girl of mine has been trying to run away.
• 49:50
  Speaker 2: I had not a notion of her being such a
• 49:52
  Speaker 2: little devil. Before she seemed to have all the Vernon milkiness.
• 49:56
  Speaker 2: But on receiving the letter in which I declared my
• 49:58
  Speaker 2: intention about Sir James. She actually attempted to elope at
• 50:02
  Speaker 2: least I cannot otherwise account for her doing it. She
• 50:06
  Speaker 2: meant I suppose to go to the Clark's in Staffordshire,
• 50:09
  Speaker 2: for she has no other acquaintances. But she shall be punished.
• 50:13
  Speaker 2: She shall have him. I sent Charles to town to
• 50:16
  Speaker 2: make matters up if he can, for I do not,
• 50:18
  Speaker 2: by any means want her here. If Miss Summers will
• 50:22
  Speaker 2: not keep her, you must find me out another school
• 50:25
  Speaker 2: unless we can get her married immediately. Miss s writes
• 50:28
  Speaker 2: word that she could not get the young lady to
• 50:30
  Speaker 2: assign any cause for her extraordinary conduct, which confirms me
• 50:34
  Speaker 2: in my own previous explanation of it. Frederica is too shy,
• 50:37
  Speaker 2: I think, and too much in awe of me to
• 50:39
  Speaker 2: tell tales. But if the mildness of her uncle should
• 50:42
  Speaker 2: get anything out of her, I am not afraid. I
• 50:45
  Speaker 2: trust I shall be able to make my story as
• 50:47
  Speaker 2: good as hers. If I am vain of anything, it
• 50:50
  Speaker 2: is of my eloquence, consideration, and esteem, as surely follow
• 50:54
  Speaker 2: command of language, as admiration waits on beauty, And here
• 50:58
  Speaker 2: I have opportunity enough for the exercise of my talent,
• 51:01
  Speaker 2: as the chief of my time is spent in conversation.
• 51:05
  Speaker 2: Reginald is never easy unless we are by ourselves, and
• 51:09
  Speaker 2: when the weather is tolerable we pace the shrubbery for
• 51:12
  Speaker 2: hours together. I like him on the whole very well.
• 51:16
  Speaker 2: He is clever and has a good deal to say,
• 51:19
  Speaker 2: but he is sometimes impertinent and troublesome. There is a
• 51:22
  Speaker 2: sort of ridiculous delicacy about him which requires the fullest
• 51:26
  Speaker 2: explanation of whatever he may have heard, to my disadvantage,
• 51:29
  Speaker 2: and is never satisfied till he thinks he has ascertained
• 51:32
  Speaker 2: the beginning and end of everything. This is one sort
• 51:35
  Speaker 2: of love, but I confess it does not particularly recommend
• 51:39
  Speaker 2: itself to me. I infinitely prefer of a tender and
• 51:42
  Speaker 2: liberal spirit of man Wearing, which impressed with the deepest
• 51:46
  Speaker 2: conviction of my merit is satisfied that whatever I do
• 51:49
  Speaker 2: must be right, and look with a degree of contempt
• 51:52
  Speaker 2: on the inquisitive and doubtful fancies of that heart which
• 51:55
  Speaker 2: seems always debating on the reasonableness of its emotions. Man
• 52:00
  Speaker 2: Wearing is indeed, beyond all compare, superior to Reginald, superior
• 52:04
  Speaker 2: in everything but the power of being with me, poor fellow.
• 52:09
  Speaker 2: He is much distracted by jealousy, which I am not
• 52:11
  Speaker 2: sorry for, as I know no better support of love.
• 52:15
  Speaker 2: He has been teasing me to allow of his coming
• 52:17
  Speaker 2: into this country and lodging somewhere near in cog But
• 52:21
  Speaker 2: I forbad anything of the kind. Those women are inexcusable,
• 52:25
  Speaker 2: who forget what is due to themselves and the opinion
• 52:28
  Speaker 2: of the world yours ever.
• 52:32
  Speaker 1: Chapter seventeen, missus Vernon to Lady de.
• 52:37
  Speaker 3: Courcy Churchhill, my dear mother. Mister Vernon returned on Thursday night,
• 52:43
  Speaker 3: bringing his niece with him. Lady Susan had received a
• 52:46
  Speaker 3: letter from him by that day's post informing her that
• 52:49
  Speaker 3: Miss Summers had absolutely refused to allow Miss Vernon's continuance
• 52:52
  Speaker 3: in her academy. We were therefore prepared for her arrival
• 52:56
  Speaker 3: and expected it impatiently the whole evening. They came while
• 52:59
  Speaker 3: we were at tea, and I never saw any creature
• 53:02
  Speaker 3: look so frightened as Frederica when she entered the room.
• 53:06
  Speaker 3: Lady Susan, who had been shedding tears before and showing
• 53:09
  Speaker 3: great agitation at the idea of the meeting, received her
• 53:12
  Speaker 3: with perfect self command and without betraying the least tenderness
• 53:16
  Speaker 3: of spirit. She hardly spoke to her, and on Frederica's
• 53:20
  Speaker 3: bursting into tears as soon as we were seated, took
• 53:23
  Speaker 3: her out of the room and did not return for
• 53:25
  Speaker 3: some time. When she did, her eyes looked very red,
• 53:29
  Speaker 3: and she was as much agitated as before. We saw
• 53:32
  Speaker 3: no more of her daughter. Poor Reginald was beyond measure
• 53:35
  Speaker 3: concerned to see his fair friend in such distress, and
• 53:38
  Speaker 3: watched her with so much tender solicitude that I, who
• 53:42
  Speaker 3: occasionally caught her observing his countenance with exultation, was quite
• 53:46
  Speaker 3: out of patience. This pathetic representation lasted the whole evening,
• 53:51
  Speaker 3: and so ostentatious and artful a display had entirely convinced
• 53:55
  Speaker 3: me that she did, in fact feel nothing. I am
• 53:57
  Speaker 3: more angry with her than ever since I have seen
• 54:00
  Speaker 3: in her daughter. The poor girl looks so unhappy that
• 54:03
  Speaker 3: my heart aches for her. Lady Susan is surely too severe,
• 54:07
  Speaker 3: for Frederica does not seem to have the sort of
• 54:09
  Speaker 3: temper to make severity necessary. She looks perfectly timid, dejected,
• 54:13
  Speaker 3: and penitent. She is very pretty, though not so handsome
• 54:16
  Speaker 3: as her mother, nor at all like her her complexion
• 54:20
  Speaker 3: is delicate, but neither so fair nor blooming as Lady Susan's.
• 54:24
  Speaker 3: And she has quite the vernon cast of countenance, the
• 54:27
  Speaker 3: oval face and mild dark eyes. And there is a
• 54:29
  Speaker 3: peculiar sweetness in her look when she speaks, either to
• 54:32
  Speaker 3: her uncle or me. For as we behave kindly to her,
• 54:35
  Speaker 3: we have of course engaged her gratitude. Her mother has
• 54:38
  Speaker 3: insinuated that her temper is untractable. But I never saw
• 54:42
  Speaker 3: a face less indicative of any evil disposition than hers.
• 54:46
  Speaker 3: And from what I now see of the behavior each
• 54:48
  Speaker 3: to the other, the invariable severity of Lady Susan and
• 54:52
  Speaker 3: the silent dejection of Frederica, I am led to believe,
• 54:55
  Speaker 3: as heretofore, that the former has no real love for
• 54:59
  Speaker 3: her daughter, has never done her justice or treated her affectionately.
• 55:03
  Speaker 9: I have not yet been.
• 55:04
  Speaker 3: Able to have any conversation with my niece. She is shy,
• 55:07
  Speaker 3: and I think I can see that some pains are
• 55:09
  Speaker 3: taken to prevent her from being much with me. Nothing
• 55:12
  Speaker 3: satisfactory transpires as to her reason for running away. Her
• 55:17
  Speaker 3: kind hearted uncle, you may be sure, was too fearful
• 55:20
  Speaker 3: of distressing her to ask many questions as they traveled.
• 55:23
  Speaker 3: I wish it had been possible for me to fetch
• 55:25
  Speaker 3: her instead of him. I think I should have discovered
• 55:28
  Speaker 3: the truth in the course of a thirty mile journey.
• 55:30
  Speaker 3: The small Pianoforte has been removed within these few days
• 55:34
  Speaker 3: at Lady Susan's request, into her dressing room, and Frederica
• 55:38
  Speaker 3: spends a great part of her day there practicing it
• 55:41
  Speaker 3: is called. But I seldom hear any noise when I
• 55:43
  Speaker 3: pass that way. What she does with herself there I
• 55:46
  Speaker 3: do not know. There are plenty of books in the room,
• 55:50
  Speaker 3: but it is not every girl that has been running
• 55:52
  Speaker 3: wild for the first fifteen years of her life that
• 55:55
  Speaker 3: can or will read poor creature. The prospect from her
• 55:59
  Speaker 3: will window is not very instructive, for the room overlooks
• 56:03
  Speaker 3: the lawn, you know, with the shrubbery to one side,
• 56:05
  Speaker 3: where she can see her mother walking for an hour together.
• 56:08
  Speaker 3: In earnest conversation with Reginald, a girl of Frederica's age
• 56:12
  Speaker 3: must be childish. Indeed, if such things do not strike her,
• 56:15
  Speaker 3: is it not inexcusable to give such an example to
• 56:17
  Speaker 3: a daughter? Yet Reginald still thinks Lady Susan the best
• 56:21
  Speaker 3: of mothers still condemns Frederica as a worthless girl. He
• 56:25
  Speaker 3: is convinced that her attempt to run away proceeded from
• 56:28
  Speaker 3: no profitable cause and had no provocation. I am sure
• 56:32
  Speaker 3: I cannot say that it had. While Miss Summers declared
• 56:35
  Speaker 3: that Miss Vernon showed no signs of obstinacy or perverseness
• 56:39
  Speaker 3: during her whole stay in Wigmore Street until she was
• 56:42
  Speaker 3: detected in the scheme, I cannot so readily credit what
• 56:45
  Speaker 3: Lady Susan has made him and wants to make me
• 56:48
  Speaker 3: believe that it was merely an impatience of restraint and
• 56:51
  Speaker 3: a desire of escaping from the tuition of masters, which
• 56:54
  Speaker 3: brought on the plan of elopement. Oh, Reginald, how is
• 56:57
  Speaker 3: your judgment enslaved? He scarcely dared even allow her to
• 57:01
  Speaker 3: be handsome, and when I speak of her beauty, replies
• 57:04
  Speaker 3: only that her eyes have no brilliancy. Sometimes he is
• 57:07
  Speaker 3: sure she is deficient in understanding, and other times that
• 57:10
  Speaker 3: her temper is in fault. In short, when a person
• 57:13
  Speaker 3: is always to deceive, it is impossible to be consistent.
• 57:17
  Speaker 3: Lady Susan finds it necessary for Frederica should be to
• 57:19
  Speaker 3: blame and probably has sometimes judged it expedient to accuse
• 57:23
  Speaker 3: her of ill nature, and sometimes to lament her want
• 57:26
  Speaker 3: of sense. Reginald is only repeating after her ladyship.
• 57:31
  Speaker 1: I am Catherine, Chapter eighteen, Missus Vernon to Lady de Courcy.
• 57:41
  Speaker 3: Churchhill, my dear mother. I am very glad to find
• 57:45
  Speaker 3: that my description of Frederica Vernon has interested you, for
• 57:48
  Speaker 3: I believe her truly deserving of your regard. And when
• 57:51
  Speaker 3: I have communicated a notice which has recently struck me
• 57:54
  Speaker 3: your kind impressions in her favor, will I am sure
• 57:57
  Speaker 3: be heightened. I cannot help fancying that she is growing
• 58:00
  Speaker 3: partial to my brother. I so very often see her
• 58:03
  Speaker 3: eyes fixed on his face with a remarkable expression of
• 58:06
  Speaker 3: pensive admiration. He is certainly very handsome, and yet more,
• 58:11
  Speaker 3: there is an openness in his manner that must be
• 58:14
  Speaker 3: highly prepossessing, and I am sure she feels it so
• 58:17
  Speaker 3: thoughtful and pensive. In general, her countenance always brightens into
• 58:21
  Speaker 3: a smile when Reginald says anything amusing. And let the
• 58:24
  Speaker 3: subject be ever so serious that he may be conversing on.
• 58:28
  Speaker 3: I am much mistaken if a syllable of his uttering
• 58:31
  Speaker 3: escapes her. I want to make him sensible of all this,
• 58:35
  Speaker 3: for the power of gratitude on such a heart as his.
• 58:37
  Speaker 3: And could Frederica's artless affection detach him from her mother?
• 58:41
  Speaker 3: We might bless the day which brought her to Church Hill.
• 58:44
  Speaker 3: I think, my dear Madam, you would not disapprove of
• 58:47
  Speaker 3: her as a daughter. She is extremely young, to be sure,
• 58:50
  Speaker 3: has had a wretched education and a dreadful example of
• 58:54
  Speaker 3: levity in her mother. But yet I can pronounce her
• 58:57
  Speaker 3: disposition to be excellent, and her natural abilities very good.
• 59:01
  Speaker 3: Though totally without accomplishments, she is by no means so
• 59:04
  Speaker 3: ignorant as one might expect to find her, being fond
• 59:07
  Speaker 3: of books and spending the chief of her time in reading.
• 59:10
  Speaker 3: Her mother leaves her more to herself now than she did.
• 59:13
  Speaker 3: And I have her with me as much as possible,
• 59:15
  Speaker 3: and have taken great pains to overcome her timidity. We
• 59:19
  Speaker 3: are very good friends. And though she never opens her
• 59:22
  Speaker 3: lips before her mother, she talks enough when alone with
• 59:26
  Speaker 3: me to make it clear that if properly treated by
• 59:28
  Speaker 3: Lady Susan, she would always appear too much greater advantage.
• 59:32
  Speaker 3: There cannot be a more gentle, affectionate heart or more
• 59:36
  Speaker 3: obliging manners when acting without restraint. Her little cousins are
• 59:40
  Speaker 3: all very fond of her. Yours affectionately, Catherine Vernon.
• 59:45
  Speaker 1: End of Chapter eight, Chapter nineteen. Lady Susan Vernon to
• 59:52
  Speaker 1: missus Johnson Churchill.
• 59:56
  Speaker 2: You will be eager, I know, to hear something further
• 59:58
  Speaker 2: of Frederica, and perhaps may think me negligent for not
• 1:00:01
  Speaker 2: writing before she arrived with her uncle last Thursday fortnight, when,
• 1:00:06
  Speaker 2: of course I lost no time in demanding a cause
• 1:00:09
  Speaker 2: of her behavior, and soon found myself to have been
• 1:00:12
  Speaker 2: perfectly right in attributing it to my own letter. The
• 1:00:17
  Speaker 2: prospect of it frightened her so thoroughly that, with a
• 1:00:20
  Speaker 2: mixture of true girlish perverseness and folly, she resolved on
• 1:00:25
  Speaker 2: getting out of the house and proceeding directly by the
• 1:00:27
  Speaker 2: stage to her friends the Clarks, and had really got
• 1:00:31
  Speaker 2: as far as the length of two streets in her
• 1:00:33
  Speaker 2: journey when she was fortunately missed, pursued, and overtaken. Such
• 1:00:40
  Speaker 2: was the first distinguished exploit of Miss Frederica Vernon, And
• 1:00:44
  Speaker 2: if we consider that it was achieved at the tender
• 1:00:46
  Speaker 2: age of sixteen, we shall have room for the most
• 1:00:49
  Speaker 2: flattering prognostics of her future renown. I am excessively provoked, however,
• 1:00:55
  Speaker 2: at the parade of propriety which prevented Miss Summers from
• 1:00:58
  Speaker 2: keeping the girl. And it seems means so extraordinary a
• 1:01:01
  Speaker 2: piece of nicety, considering my daughter's family connections. But I
• 1:01:06
  Speaker 2: can only suppose the lady to be governed by the
• 1:01:08
  Speaker 2: fear of never getting her money. Be that as it may. However,
• 1:01:13
  Speaker 2: Frederica is returned on my hands, and having nothing else
• 1:01:17
  Speaker 2: to employ, her is busy in pursuing the plan of
• 1:01:19
  Speaker 2: romance begun at Blangford. She is actually falling in love
• 1:01:23
  Speaker 2: with Reginald de COURSI to disobey her mother by refusing
• 1:01:28
  Speaker 2: an unexceptionable offer is not enough. Her affections must also
• 1:01:32
  Speaker 2: be given without her mother's approbation. I never saw a
• 1:01:35
  Speaker 2: girl of her age bid fairer to be the sport
• 1:01:37
  Speaker 2: of mankind. Her feelings are tolerably acute, and she is
• 1:01:41
  Speaker 2: so charmingly artless in their display as to afford the
• 1:01:44
  Speaker 2: most reasonable hope of her being ridiculous and despise by
• 1:01:48
  Speaker 2: every man who sees her artlessness will never do in
• 1:01:52
  Speaker 2: love matters. And that girl is born a simpleton who
• 1:01:55
  Speaker 2: has it either by nature or affectation. I am not
• 1:01:59
  Speaker 2: yet certain that her Reginald sees what she is about,
• 1:02:02
  Speaker 2: nor is it of much consequence. She is now an
• 1:02:05
  Speaker 2: object of indifference to him, and she would be one
• 1:02:07
  Speaker 2: of contempt were he to understand her emotions. Her beauty
• 1:02:11
  Speaker 2: is much admired by the Vernons, but it has no
• 1:02:14
  Speaker 2: effect on him. She is in high favor with her
• 1:02:17
  Speaker 2: aunt altogether because she is so little like myself. Of course,
• 1:02:21
  Speaker 2: she is exactly the companion from Missus Vernon, who dearly
• 1:02:25
  Speaker 2: loves to be firm and to have all the sense
• 1:02:27
  Speaker 2: and all the wit of the conversation to herself. Frederica
• 1:02:30
  Speaker 2: will never eclipse her. When she first came, I was
• 1:02:34
  Speaker 2: at some pains to prevent her seeing much of her aunt.
• 1:02:37
  Speaker 2: But I have relaxed, as I believe I may depend
• 1:02:39
  Speaker 2: on her observing the rules I have laid down for
• 1:02:42
  Speaker 2: their discourse. But do not imagine that with all this lenienty,
• 1:02:46
  Speaker 2: I have for a moment given up my plan of
• 1:02:48
  Speaker 2: her marriage. No, I am unalterably fixed on this point,
• 1:02:53
  Speaker 2: though I have not yet quite decided on the manner
• 1:02:55
  Speaker 2: of bringing it about. I should not choose to have
• 1:02:58
  Speaker 2: the business brought on here and canvassed by the wise
• 1:03:02
  Speaker 2: heads of mister and Missus Vernon, and I cannot just
• 1:03:05
  Speaker 2: now afford to go to town. Miss Frederica must therefore wait
• 1:03:10
  Speaker 2: a little yours Ever.
• 1:03:14
  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty, Missus Vernon to Lady de Courcy.
• 1:03:19
  Speaker 3: Church Hill, we have a very unexpected guest with us
• 1:03:23
  Speaker 3: at present, my dear mother. He arrived yesterday. I heard
• 1:03:27
  Speaker 3: a carriage at the door as I was sitting with
• 1:03:29
  Speaker 3: my children while they dined, and supposing I should be wanted,
• 1:03:32
  Speaker 3: left the nursery soon afterwards and was half way downstairs
• 1:03:36
  Speaker 3: when Frederica, as pale as ashes, came running up and
• 1:03:39
  Speaker 3: rushed by me into her own room. I immediately followed
• 1:03:42
  Speaker 3: and asked her what was the matter? Oh, cried she
• 1:03:45
  Speaker 3: He is come, Sir James has come, and what am
• 1:03:48
  Speaker 3: I to do? There was no explanation. I begged her
• 1:03:52
  Speaker 3: to tell me what she meant. At that moment, we
• 1:03:54
  Speaker 3: were interrupted by a knock at the door. It was Reginald,
• 1:03:57
  Speaker 3: who came by Lady Susan's direction to call Frederica down.
• 1:04:01
  Speaker 3: It is mister de Courcy, said she coloring violently. Mamma's
• 1:04:05
  Speaker 3: sent for me, and I must go we all three
• 1:04:07
  Speaker 3: went down together, and I saw my brother examining the
• 1:04:10
  Speaker 3: terrified face of Frederica. In surprise, in the breakfast room,
• 1:04:14
  Speaker 3: we found Lady Susan and a young man of gentle appearance,
• 1:04:17
  Speaker 3: whom she introduced to me by the name of Sir
• 1:04:19
  Speaker 3: James Martin, the very person, as you may remember, who
• 1:04:23
  Speaker 3: it was said she had been at pains to detach
• 1:04:25
  Speaker 3: from Miss Mainwaring, but the conquest, it seemed, was not
• 1:04:29
  Speaker 3: designed for herself, or she has since transferred it to
• 1:04:32
  Speaker 3: her daughter. For Sir James is now desperately in love
• 1:04:35
  Speaker 3: with Frederica, and with full encouragement from Mamma. The poor girl,
• 1:04:39
  Speaker 3: I am sure, however, dislikes him, and though his person
• 1:04:42
  Speaker 3: and address are very well, he appears both to mister
• 1:04:45
  Speaker 3: Vernon and me, a very weak young man. Frederica looked
• 1:04:49
  Speaker 3: so shy, so confused when we entered the room that
• 1:04:52
  Speaker 3: I felt for her exceedingly. Lady Susan behaved with great
• 1:04:56
  Speaker 3: attention to her visitor, and yet I thought I could
• 1:04:58
  Speaker 3: perceive that she had no particular pleasure in seeing him.
• 1:05:02
  Speaker 3: Sir James talked a great deal and made many civil
• 1:05:05
  Speaker 3: excuses to me for the liberty he had taken in
• 1:05:08
  Speaker 3: coming to Church Hill, making more frequent laughter with his
• 1:05:11
  Speaker 3: discourse than the subject required, said many things over and
• 1:05:15
  Speaker 3: over again, and told Lady Susan three times that he
• 1:05:18
  Speaker 3: had seen missus Johnson a few evenings before he now
• 1:05:22
  Speaker 3: and then addressed Frederica, but more frequently her mother. The
• 1:05:26
  Speaker 3: poor girl sat all this time without opening her lips,
• 1:05:29
  Speaker 3: her eyes cast down, and her color varying every instant,
• 1:05:33
  Speaker 3: while Reginald observed all that passed in perfect silence. At length,
• 1:05:37
  Speaker 3: Lady Susan, weary I believe of her situation, proposed walking,
• 1:05:41
  Speaker 3: and we left the two gentlemen together to put on
• 1:05:43
  Speaker 3: our palaces. As we went upstairs, Lady Susan begged permission
• 1:05:48
  Speaker 3: to attend me for a few moments in my dressing room,
• 1:05:50
  Speaker 3: as she was anxious to speak with me in private.
• 1:05:53
  Speaker 3: I led her thither accordingly, and as soon as the
• 1:05:56
  Speaker 3: door was closed, she said, I never was more surprised
• 1:05:59
  Speaker 3: in my life than by Sir James's arrival, and the
• 1:06:02
  Speaker 3: suddenness of it requires some apology to you, my dear sister,
• 1:06:06
  Speaker 3: though to me as a mother, it is highly flattering.
• 1:06:09
  Speaker 3: He is so extremely attracted to my daughter that he
• 1:06:12
  Speaker 3: could not exist longer without seeing her. Sir James is
• 1:06:15
  Speaker 3: a young man of an amiable disposition and an excellent character.
• 1:06:19
  Speaker 3: A little too much of the rattle, perhaps, but a
• 1:06:21
  Speaker 3: year or two will rectify that. And he is, in
• 1:06:24
  Speaker 3: other respects so very eligible a match for Frederica that
• 1:06:28
  Speaker 3: I have always observed his attachment with the greatest pleasure,
• 1:06:31
  Speaker 3: and am persuaded that you and my brother will give
• 1:06:33
  Speaker 3: the alliance your hearty approbation. I have never before mentioned
• 1:06:37
  Speaker 3: the likelihood of its taking place to any one, because
• 1:06:40
  Speaker 3: I thought that while Frederica continued at school, it had
• 1:06:42
  Speaker 3: better not be known to exist. But now I am
• 1:06:46
  Speaker 3: convinced that Frederica is too old ever to submit to
• 1:06:48
  Speaker 3: school confinement. I have therefore begun to consider her union
• 1:06:52
  Speaker 3: with Sir James as not very distant. I had intended
• 1:06:56
  Speaker 3: within a few days to acquaint yourself and mister Vernon
• 1:06:59
  Speaker 3: with the whole business. I am sure, my dear sister,
• 1:07:02
  Speaker 3: you will excuse my remaining silent so long, and agree
• 1:07:05
  Speaker 3: with me that such circumstances, while they continue from any
• 1:07:08
  Speaker 3: cause in suspense, cannot be too cautiously concealed. When you
• 1:07:12
  Speaker 3: have the happiness of bestowing your sweet little Catherine some
• 1:07:15
  Speaker 3: years hence on a man who in connection and character
• 1:07:18
  Speaker 3: is alike unexceptionable. You will know what I feel now, though,
• 1:07:22
  Speaker 3: thank Heaven, you cannot have all my reasons for rejoicing
• 1:07:25
  Speaker 3: in such an event. Catherine will be amply provided for,
• 1:07:29
  Speaker 3: and not like my Frederica, indebted to a fortunate establishment
• 1:07:33
  Speaker 3: for the comfort of life. She concluded by demanding my congratulations.
• 1:07:38
  Speaker 3: I gave them somewhat awkwardly. I believe, in fact, the
• 1:07:41
  Speaker 3: sudden disclosure of so important a matter took me from
• 1:07:44
  Speaker 3: the power of speaking with any clearness. She thanked me, however,
• 1:07:48
  Speaker 3: most affectionately for my kind concern in the welfare of
• 1:07:51
  Speaker 3: herself and daughter, and then said, I am not apt
• 1:07:55
  Speaker 3: to deal in professions, my dear missus Vernon, and I
• 1:07:58
  Speaker 3: never had the convenient talent of affecting sensations foreign to
• 1:08:02
  Speaker 3: my heart, and therefore I trust you will believe me
• 1:08:05
  Speaker 3: when I declare that, much as I had heard in
• 1:08:08
  Speaker 3: your praise, before I knew you, I had no idea
• 1:08:11
  Speaker 3: that I should ever love you as I now do.
• 1:08:14
  Speaker 3: And I must further say that your friendship toward me
• 1:08:17
  Speaker 3: is more particularly gratifying because I have reason to believe
• 1:08:20
  Speaker 3: that some attempts were made to prejudice you against me.
• 1:08:23
  Speaker 3: I only wish that they, whoever they are, to whom
• 1:08:27
  Speaker 3: I am indebted for such kind intentions, could see the
• 1:08:30
  Speaker 3: terms on which we are now together and understand the
• 1:08:33
  Speaker 3: real affection we feel for each other. But I will
• 1:08:36
  Speaker 3: not detain you any longer. God bless you for your
• 1:08:39
  Speaker 3: goodness to me and my girl, and continue to you
• 1:08:42
  Speaker 3: all your present happiness. What can one say to such
• 1:08:47
  Speaker 3: a woman, my dear mother, such earnestness, such solemnity of expression,
• 1:08:52
  Speaker 3: And yet I cannot help suspecting the truth of everything
• 1:08:55
  Speaker 3: she said. As for Reginald, I believe he does not
• 1:08:59
  Speaker 3: know what to make of the matter. When Sir James came,
• 1:09:02
  Speaker 3: he appeared in astonishment and perplexity. The folly of the
• 1:09:06
  Speaker 3: young man and the confusion of Frederica entirely engrossed him,
• 1:09:10
  Speaker 3: And though a little private discourse with Lady Susan has
• 1:09:13
  Speaker 3: since had its effect, he is still hurt. I am
• 1:09:16
  Speaker 3: sure at her allowing of such a man's attentions to
• 1:09:19
  Speaker 3: her daughter. Sir James invited himself, with great composure to
• 1:09:23
  Speaker 3: remain here for a few days, hoped we would not
• 1:09:26
  Speaker 3: think it odd was aware of its being very impertinent,
• 1:09:29
  Speaker 3: but he took the liberty of a relation, and concluded
• 1:09:32
  Speaker 3: by wishing with a laugh, that he might be really
• 1:09:35
  Speaker 3: one soon. Even Lady Susan seemed a little disconcerted by
• 1:09:38
  Speaker 3: this forwardness in her heart. I am persuaded she sincerely
• 1:09:42
  Speaker 3: wishes him gone. But something must be done for this
• 1:09:45
  Speaker 3: poor girl. If her feelings are such as both her
• 1:09:48
  Speaker 3: uncle and I believe them to be, she must not
• 1:09:51
  Speaker 3: be sacrificed to policy or ambition. She must not be
• 1:09:54
  Speaker 3: left to suffer from the dread of it. The girl
• 1:09:56
  Speaker 3: whose heart can distinguish Reginald de Courcy deserve, however he
• 1:10:01
  Speaker 3: may slight her a better fate than to be Sir
• 1:10:03
  Speaker 3: James Martin's wife.
• 1:10:05
  Speaker 1: As soon as I.
• 1:10:06
  Speaker 3: Can get her alone, I will discover the real truth.
• 1:10:09
  Speaker 3: But she seems to wish to avoid me. I hope
• 1:10:12
  Speaker 3: this does not proceed from anything wrong, and that I
• 1:10:15
  Speaker 3: shall not find out I have thought too well of her.
• 1:10:18
  Speaker 3: Her behavior to Sir James certainly speaks the greatest consciousness
• 1:10:22
  Speaker 3: and embarrassment, But I see nothing in it more like encouragement. Adieu,
• 1:10:27
  Speaker 3: my dear mother, yours.
• 1:10:33
  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty one, Miss Vernon to mister de Courcy.
• 1:10:39
  Speaker 6: Sir, I hope you will excuse this liberty. I am
• 1:10:44
  Speaker 6: forced upon it by the greatest distress, or I should
• 1:10:47
  Speaker 6: be ashamed to trouble you. I am very miserable about
• 1:10:51
  Speaker 6: Sir James Martin, and have no other way in the
• 1:10:54
  Speaker 6: world of helping myself but by writing to you, for
• 1:10:57
  Speaker 6: I am forbidden even speaking to my uncle and aunt
• 1:10:59
  Speaker 6: on the subject. And this being the case, I am
• 1:11:03
  Speaker 6: afraid my applying to you will appear no better than equivocation,
• 1:11:07
  Speaker 6: and as if I intended to the letter and not
• 1:11:11
  Speaker 6: the spirit of Mamma's commands. But if you do not
• 1:11:14
  Speaker 6: take my part and persuade her to break it off,
• 1:11:17
  Speaker 6: I shall be half distracted, for I cannot bear him
• 1:11:21
  Speaker 6: no human being. But you could have any chance of
• 1:11:24
  Speaker 6: prevailing with her. If you will therefore have the unspeakably
• 1:11:28
  Speaker 6: great kindness of taking my part with her and persuading
• 1:11:32
  Speaker 6: her to send Sir James away, I shall be more
• 1:11:35
  Speaker 6: obliged to you than it is possible for me to express.
• 1:11:39
  Speaker 6: I always disliked him from the first. It is not
• 1:11:41
  Speaker 6: a sudden fancy, I assure you, Sir, I always thought
• 1:11:45
  Speaker 6: him silly and impertinent and disagreeable, and now he has
• 1:11:48
  Speaker 6: grown worse than ever. I would rather work for my
• 1:11:51
  Speaker 6: bread than marry him. I do not know how to
• 1:11:54
  Speaker 6: apologize for this letter. I know it is taking so
• 1:11:57
  Speaker 6: great a liberty. I am aware how dreadfully angry it
• 1:12:00
  Speaker 6: will make Mamma, but I remember the risk I am, Sir,
• 1:12:05
  Speaker 6: your most humble servant.
• 1:12:07
  Speaker 1: F Chapter twenty two, Lady Susan Vernon to Missus Johnson.
• 1:12:16
  Speaker 2: This is insufferable, my dearest friend. I was never so
• 1:12:20
  Speaker 2: enraged before, and must relieve myself by writing to you,
• 1:12:24
  Speaker 2: who I know will enter into all my feelings. Who
• 1:12:27
  Speaker 2: should come on Tuesday? But, Sir James Martin, guess my
• 1:12:32
  Speaker 2: astonishment and vexation, For as you well know, I never
• 1:12:36
  Speaker 2: wished him to be seen at Churchill. What a pity
• 1:12:39
  Speaker 2: that you should not have known his intentions. Not content
• 1:12:43
  Speaker 2: with coming, he actually invited himself to remain here a
• 1:12:46
  Speaker 2: few days. I could have poisoned him. I made the
• 1:12:51
  Speaker 2: best of it, however, and told my story with great
• 1:12:53
  Speaker 2: success to Missus Vernon, who, whatever might be her real sentiments,
• 1:12:58
  Speaker 2: said nothing in opposition to mine. I made a point
• 1:13:01
  Speaker 2: also of Frederica's behaving civilly to Sir James, and gave
• 1:13:05
  Speaker 2: her to understand that I was absolutely determined on her
• 1:13:08
  Speaker 2: marrying him. She said something of her misery, but that
• 1:13:12
  Speaker 2: was all. I have for some time been more particularly
• 1:13:17
  Speaker 2: resolved on the match, from seeing the rapid increase of
• 1:13:19
  Speaker 2: her affection for Reginald, and from not feeling secure that
• 1:13:23
  Speaker 2: a knowledge of such affection might not, in the end
• 1:13:26
  Speaker 2: awaken a return contemptible as a regard found it only
• 1:13:31
  Speaker 2: on compassion must make them both in my eyes, I felt,
• 1:13:34
  Speaker 2: by no means assured that such might not be the consequence.
• 1:13:39
  Speaker 2: It is true that Reginald had not in any degree
• 1:13:42
  Speaker 2: grown cool towards me, But yet he has lately mentioned
• 1:13:46
  Speaker 2: Frederica spontaneously and unnecessarily, and once said something in praise
• 1:13:52
  Speaker 2: of her person. He was all astonishment at the appearance
• 1:13:56
  Speaker 2: of my visitor, and at first observed Sir James with
• 1:13:59
  Speaker 2: an attention which I was pleased to see, not unmixed
• 1:14:02
  Speaker 2: with jealousy. But unluckily it was impossible for me to
• 1:14:06
  Speaker 2: really torment him, as Sir James, though extremely gallant to me,
• 1:14:11
  Speaker 2: very soon made the whole party understand that his heart
• 1:14:14
  Speaker 2: was devoted to my daughter. I had no great difficulty
• 1:14:18
  Speaker 2: in convincing de Corsi when we were alone, that I
• 1:14:22
  Speaker 2: was perfectly justified all things considered in desiring the match,
• 1:14:26
  Speaker 2: and the whole business seemed most comfortably arranged. They could
• 1:14:31
  Speaker 2: none of them help perceiving that Sir James was no Solomon.
• 1:14:34
  Speaker 2: But I had positively forbidden Frederica complaining to Charles Vernon
• 1:14:38
  Speaker 2: or his wife, and they had therefore no pretense for interference,
• 1:14:42
  Speaker 2: though my impertinent sister, I believe, wanted only opportunity for
• 1:14:46
  Speaker 2: doing so. Everything, however, was going on calmly and quietly,
• 1:14:51
  Speaker 2: and though I counted the hours of Sir James's stay,
• 1:14:54
  Speaker 2: my mind was entirely satisfied with the posture of affairs.
• 1:14:58
  Speaker 2: Guess then, what I must feel at the sudden disturbance
• 1:15:02
  Speaker 2: of all my schemes, and that too from a quarter
• 1:15:05
  Speaker 2: where I had least reason to expect it. Reginald came
• 1:15:09
  Speaker 2: this morning into my dressing room with a very unusual
• 1:15:12
  Speaker 2: solemnity of countenance, and after some preface, informed me in
• 1:15:16
  Speaker 2: so many words that he wished to reason with me
• 1:15:18
  Speaker 2: on the impropriety and unkindness of allowing Sir James Martin
• 1:15:22
  Speaker 2: to address my daughter contrary to her inclinations. I was
• 1:15:26
  Speaker 2: all amazement when I found that he was not to
• 1:15:30
  Speaker 2: be laughed out of his design. I calmly begged in explanation,
• 1:15:34
  Speaker 2: and desired to know by what he was impelled and
• 1:15:36
  Speaker 2: by whom commissioned to reprimand me. He then told me,
• 1:15:41
  Speaker 2: mixing in his speech a few insolent compliments and ill
• 1:15:44
  Speaker 2: timed expressions of tenderness, to which I listened with perfect indifference,
• 1:15:48
  Speaker 2: that my daughter had acquainted him with some circumstances concerning herself,
• 1:15:53
  Speaker 2: Sir James, and me, which had given him great uneasiness.
• 1:15:58
  Speaker 2: In short, I found that she had, in the first place,
• 1:16:01
  Speaker 2: actually written to him to request his interference, and that
• 1:16:04
  Speaker 2: on receiving her letter, he had conversed with her on
• 1:16:07
  Speaker 2: the subject of it, in order to understand the particulars
• 1:16:11
  Speaker 2: and to assure himself of her real wishes. I have
• 1:16:15
  Speaker 2: not a doubt but that the girl took this opportunity
• 1:16:18
  Speaker 2: of making downright love to him. I am convinced of
• 1:16:20
  Speaker 2: it by the manner in which he spoke of her.
• 1:16:23
  Speaker 2: Much good may such love do him? I shall ever
• 1:16:26
  Speaker 2: despise the man who can be gratified by the passion
• 1:16:28
  Speaker 2: which he never wished to inspire, nor solicited the avowal
• 1:16:31
  Speaker 2: of I shall always detest them both. He can have
• 1:16:35
  Speaker 2: no true regard for me, or he would not have
• 1:16:37
  Speaker 2: listened to her, and she, with her little rebellious heart
• 1:16:40
  Speaker 2: and indelicate feelings, to throw herself into the protection of
• 1:16:44
  Speaker 2: a young man with whom she has scarcely ever exchanged
• 1:16:47
  Speaker 2: two words before. I am equally confounded at her impudence
• 1:16:51
  Speaker 2: and his credulity. How dared he believe what she told
• 1:16:55
  Speaker 2: him in my disfavor? Ought he not to have felt
• 1:16:58
  Speaker 2: assured that I must have un air answerable motives for
• 1:17:01
  Speaker 2: all that I had done. Where was his reliance on
• 1:17:04
  Speaker 2: my sense and goodness?
• 1:17:05
  Speaker 8: Then?
• 1:17:06
  Speaker 2: Where the resentment which true love would have dictated against
• 1:17:08
  Speaker 2: the person defaming me? That person too, a chit, a
• 1:17:12
  Speaker 2: child without talent or education, whom he had always been.
• 1:17:16
  Speaker 3: Taught to despise.
• 1:17:17
  Speaker 2: I was calm for some time, But the greatest degree
• 1:17:21
  Speaker 2: of forbearance may be overcome, and I hope I was
• 1:17:23
  Speaker 2: afterwards sufficiently keen. He endeavored, long endeavored to soften my resentment.
• 1:17:31
  Speaker 2: But that woman is a fool, indeed, who, while insulted
• 1:17:33
  Speaker 2: by accusation, can be worked on by compliments. At length
• 1:17:38
  Speaker 2: he left me as deeply provoked as myself, and he
• 1:17:41
  Speaker 2: showed his anger more. I was quite cool, but he
• 1:17:44
  Speaker 2: gave way to the most violent indignation. I may therefore
• 1:17:47
  Speaker 2: expect it will the sooner subside, and perhaps his may
• 1:17:50
  Speaker 2: be vanished forever, while mine will be found still fresh
• 1:17:53
  Speaker 2: and implacable. He is now shut up in his apartment
• 1:17:57
  Speaker 2: whither I heard him go on leaving mine. How unpleasant
• 1:18:01
  Speaker 2: one would think must be his reflections. But some people's
• 1:18:04
  Speaker 2: feelings are incomprehensible. I have not yet tranquilized myself enough
• 1:18:08
  Speaker 2: to see Frederica. She shall not soon forget the occurrences
• 1:18:12
  Speaker 2: of this day. She shall find that she has poured
• 1:18:15
  Speaker 2: forth her tender tale of love in vain, and exposed
• 1:18:18
  Speaker 2: herself forever to the contempt of the whole world and
• 1:18:21
  Speaker 2: the severest resentment of her injured mother.
• 1:18:28
  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty three. Missus Vernon to Lady de.
• 1:18:32
  Speaker 3: Courcy, church Hill. Let me congratulate you, my dear mother.
• 1:18:38
  Speaker 3: The affair which has given us so much anxiety is
• 1:18:41
  Speaker 3: drawing to a happy conclusion. Our prospect is most delightful,
• 1:18:46
  Speaker 3: And since matters have now taken so favorable a turn.
• 1:18:49
  Speaker 3: I am quite sorry that I ever imparted my apprehensions
• 1:18:52
  Speaker 3: to you, how the pleasure of learning that the danger
• 1:18:54
  Speaker 3: is over is perhaps dearly purchased by all that you
• 1:18:57
  Speaker 3: have previously suffered. I am so agitated by delight that
• 1:19:01
  Speaker 3: I can scarcely hold a pen. But am determined to
• 1:19:04
  Speaker 3: send you a few short lines by James, that you
• 1:19:07
  Speaker 3: may have some explanation of what must so greatly astonish you,
• 1:19:11
  Speaker 3: as that Reginald should be returning to Parkland's. I was
• 1:19:15
  Speaker 3: sitting about half an hour ago with Sir James in
• 1:19:17
  Speaker 3: the breakfast parlor when my brother called me out of room.
• 1:19:21
  Speaker 3: I instantly saw that something was the matter. His complexion
• 1:19:24
  Speaker 3: was raised, and he spoke with great emotion. You know
• 1:19:27
  Speaker 3: his eager manner, my dear Madam, when his mind is interested.
• 1:19:30
  Speaker 3: Catherine said he, I am going home to day, and
• 1:19:33
  Speaker 3: I am sorry to leave you, but I must go.
• 1:19:36
  Speaker 3: It is a great while since I have seen my
• 1:19:37
  Speaker 3: father and mother. I am going to send James forward
• 1:19:40
  Speaker 3: with my hunters immediately. If you have any letters, therefore,
• 1:19:44
  Speaker 3: he can take it. I shall not be home myself
• 1:19:46
  Speaker 3: till Wednesday or Thursday, as I shall go through London
• 1:19:49
  Speaker 3: where I have business. But before I leave you, he continued,
• 1:19:52
  Speaker 3: speaking in a loud voice and with still greater energy,
• 1:19:56
  Speaker 3: I must warn you of one thing. Do not let
• 1:19:59
  Speaker 3: Frederick Vernon be made unhappy by that Martin. He wants
• 1:20:03
  Speaker 3: to marry her. Her mother promotes the match, but she
• 1:20:07
  Speaker 3: cannot endure the idea of it. Be assured that I
• 1:20:10
  Speaker 3: speak from the fullest conviction of the truth of what
• 1:20:12
  Speaker 3: I say. I know that Frederica is made wretched by
• 1:20:16
  Speaker 3: Sir James, continuing here, she is a sweet girl and
• 1:20:19
  Speaker 3: deserves a better fate. Send him away immediately. He is
• 1:20:23
  Speaker 3: only a fool. But what her mother can mean, Heaven
• 1:20:27
  Speaker 3: only knows. Good Bye, he added, shaking my hand with earnestness.
• 1:20:32
  Speaker 3: I do not know when you will see me again.
• 1:20:35
  Speaker 3: But remember what I tell you of Frederica. You must
• 1:20:37
  Speaker 3: make it your business to see justice done her. She
• 1:20:41
  Speaker 3: is an amiable girl and has a very superior mind,
• 1:20:44
  Speaker 3: to which we have never given her credit for. He
• 1:20:47
  Speaker 3: then left me and ran upstairs. I would not try
• 1:20:49
  Speaker 3: to stop him, for I know what the feelings must
• 1:20:52
  Speaker 3: be the nature of mine. As I listened to him,
• 1:20:54
  Speaker 3: I need not attempt to describe. For a minute or two,
• 1:20:58
  Speaker 3: I remain in the same spot, overpowered by wonder of
• 1:21:02
  Speaker 3: a most agreeable sort. Indeed, yet it required some consideration
• 1:21:06
  Speaker 3: to be tranquility happy. In about ten minutes after my
• 1:21:10
  Speaker 3: return to the parlor, Lady Susan entered the room. I concluded,
• 1:21:14
  Speaker 3: of course, that she and Reginald had been quarreling, and
• 1:21:16
  Speaker 3: looked with anxious curiosity for a confirmation of my belief
• 1:21:20
  Speaker 3: in her face, Mistress of deceit. However, she appeared perfectly unconcerned, and,
• 1:21:26
  Speaker 3: after chatting on indifferent subjects for a short time, said
• 1:21:29
  Speaker 3: to me, I find from Wilson that we are going
• 1:21:31
  Speaker 3: to lose mister de Courcy. Is it true that he
• 1:21:34
  Speaker 3: leaves Churchill this morning? I replied that it was. He
• 1:21:39
  Speaker 3: told me nothing of this last night, said she, laughing,
• 1:21:42
  Speaker 3: or even this morning at breakfast. But perhaps he did
• 1:21:45
  Speaker 3: not know it himself. Young men are often hasty in
• 1:21:48
  Speaker 3: their resolutions, and not more sudden informing their unsteady in
• 1:21:52
  Speaker 3: keeping them. I should not be surprised if he should
• 1:21:55
  Speaker 3: change his mind at last and not go. She soon
• 1:21:59
  Speaker 3: after left the room. I trust, however, my dear mother,
• 1:22:03
  Speaker 3: that we have no reason to fear the alteration of
• 1:22:06
  Speaker 3: his present plans. Things have gone too far. They must
• 1:22:10
  Speaker 3: have quarreled, and about Frederica too. What delight will be
• 1:22:13
  Speaker 3: yours in seeing him again, in seeing him still worthy
• 1:22:17
  Speaker 3: of your esteem, still capable of forming your happiness. When
• 1:22:22
  Speaker 3: I next write, I shall be able to tell you
• 1:22:24
  Speaker 3: that Sir James is gone, Lady Susan vanquished, and Frederica
• 1:22:28
  Speaker 3: at peace. We have much to do, but it shall
• 1:22:31
  Speaker 3: be done. I am all impatience to hear how the
• 1:22:33
  Speaker 3: astonishing change was affected. I finish as I begin, with
• 1:22:37
  Speaker 3: the warmest congratulations, yours ever, Catherine.
• 1:22:42
  Speaker 1: Vernon, Chapter twenty four, Missus Vernon to Lady de Courcy
• 1:22:52
  Speaker 1: church Hill.
• 1:22:53
  Speaker 3: Little did I imagine, my dear mother, when I sent
• 1:22:56
  Speaker 3: off my last letter, that the delightful perturbation of spirits
• 1:22:59
  Speaker 3: I will then in would undergo so speedy, so melancholy
• 1:23:03
  Speaker 3: a reverse. I never can sufficiently regret that I wrote
• 1:23:06
  Speaker 3: to you at all. Yet who could have foreseen what
• 1:23:08
  Speaker 3: has happened, my dear mother. Every hope which made me
• 1:23:12
  Speaker 3: so happy only two hours ago, has vanished. The quarrel
• 1:23:16
  Speaker 3: between Lady Susan and Reginald is made up, and we
• 1:23:18
  Speaker 3: are all as we were before. One point only is
• 1:23:21
  Speaker 3: gained Sir James Martin is dismissed. What are we now
• 1:23:25
  Speaker 3: to look forward to? I am indeed disappointed. Reginald was
• 1:23:29
  Speaker 3: all but gone, his horse was ordered, and all but
• 1:23:32
  Speaker 3: brought to the door. Who would have not felt safe?
• 1:23:34
  Speaker 3: For half an hour? I was in momentary expectation of
• 1:23:37
  Speaker 3: his departure. After I had sent off my letter to you,
• 1:23:41
  Speaker 3: I went to mister Vernon and sat with him in
• 1:23:43
  Speaker 3: his room, talking over the whole matter, and then determined
• 1:23:46
  Speaker 3: to look for Frederica, whom I had not seen since breakfast.
• 1:23:49
  Speaker 3: I met her on the stairs and saw that she
• 1:23:51
  Speaker 3: was crying. My dear aunt said she, he is gone,
• 1:23:55
  Speaker 3: Mister de Courcy is gone, and it is all my fault.
• 1:23:59
  Speaker 3: I am a you will be very angry with me,
• 1:24:02
  Speaker 3: but indeed I had no idea it would end so,
• 1:24:05
  Speaker 3: my love, I replied, do not think it necessary to
• 1:24:08
  Speaker 3: apologize to me on that account. I shall feel myself
• 1:24:11
  Speaker 3: under the obligation of any one who is the means
• 1:24:14
  Speaker 3: of sending my brother home, because recollecting myself. I know
• 1:24:18
  Speaker 3: my father wants very much to see him. But what
• 1:24:21
  Speaker 3: is it you have done to occasion all this? She
• 1:24:23
  Speaker 3: blushed deeply as she answered, I was so unhappy about
• 1:24:27
  Speaker 3: Sir James that I could not help. I have done
• 1:24:30
  Speaker 3: something very wrong, I know, But you have not an
• 1:24:33
  Speaker 3: idea of the misery I have been in. And Mamma
• 1:24:36
  Speaker 3: had ordered me never to speak to you or my
• 1:24:38
  Speaker 3: uncle about it, And you therefore spoke to my brother
• 1:24:41
  Speaker 3: to engage his interference, said I, to save her the explanation. No,
• 1:24:45
  Speaker 3: but I wrote to him. I did. Indeed, I got
• 1:24:48
  Speaker 3: up this morning before it was light and was two
• 1:24:51
  Speaker 3: hours about it. And when my letter was done, I
• 1:24:54
  Speaker 3: thought I should never have courage to give it after breakfast. However,
• 1:24:57
  Speaker 3: as I was going to my room, I met him
• 1:24:59
  Speaker 3: in the passage, and then, as I knew everything must
• 1:25:02
  Speaker 3: depend on that moment, I forced myself to give it.
• 1:25:06
  Speaker 3: He was so good as to take it immediately. I
• 1:25:08
  Speaker 3: dared not look at him and ran away directly. I
• 1:25:11
  Speaker 3: was in such affright I could hardly breathe. My dear aunt,
• 1:25:16
  Speaker 3: you do not know how miserable I have been, Frederica
• 1:25:19
  Speaker 3: said I. You ought to have told me all your distresses.
• 1:25:22
  Speaker 3: You would have found in me a friend always ready
• 1:25:25
  Speaker 3: to assist you. Do you think that your uncle or
• 1:25:28
  Speaker 3: I should not have espoused your cause as warmly as
• 1:25:31
  Speaker 3: my brother. Indeed, I do not doubt your kindness, said she,
• 1:25:36
  Speaker 3: coloring again. But I thought mister de Courcy could do
• 1:25:39
  Speaker 3: anything with my mother. But I was mistaken. They have
• 1:25:43
  Speaker 3: had a dreadful quarrel about it, and he is going away.
• 1:25:47
  Speaker 3: Mamma will never forgive me, and I shall be worse
• 1:25:49
  Speaker 3: off than ever. No, you shall not, I replied. In
• 1:25:53
  Speaker 3: such a point as this, your mother's prohibition should not
• 1:25:57
  Speaker 3: have prevented your speaking to me on the subject. She
• 1:25:59
  Speaker 3: has no right to make you unhappy, and she shall
• 1:26:03
  Speaker 3: not do it. Your applying, however, to Reginald, can be
• 1:26:07
  Speaker 3: productive only of good to all parties. I believe it
• 1:26:11
  Speaker 3: is best, as it is, depend upon it that you
• 1:26:13
  Speaker 3: shall not be made unhappy any longer. At that moment,
• 1:26:18
  Speaker 3: how great was my astonishment at seeing Reginald come out
• 1:26:21
  Speaker 3: of Lady Susan's dressing room. My heart misgave me instantly.
• 1:26:26
  Speaker 3: His confusion on seeing me was very evident. Frederica immediately disappeared.
• 1:26:31
  Speaker 3: Are you going, I said, you will find mister Vernon
• 1:26:34
  Speaker 3: in his own room. No, Catherine, he replied, I am
• 1:26:37
  Speaker 3: not going. Will you let me speak to you a
• 1:26:39
  Speaker 3: moment we went into my room I find, He continued,
• 1:26:43
  Speaker 3: his confusion increasing as he spoke, that I have been
• 1:26:46
  Speaker 3: acting with my usual foolish impetuosity. I have entirely misunderstood
• 1:26:51
  Speaker 3: Lady Susan and was on the point of leaving the
• 1:26:53
  Speaker 3: house under a false impression of her conduct. There has
• 1:26:56
  Speaker 3: been some very great mistake. We have been all mistaken.
• 1:27:01
  Speaker 3: I fear Freyka does not know her mother. Lady Susan
• 1:27:06
  Speaker 3: means nothing but her good, but she will not make
• 1:27:08
  Speaker 3: a friend of her. Lady Susan does not always know, therefore,
• 1:27:12
  Speaker 3: what will make her daughter happy. Besides, I could have
• 1:27:15
  Speaker 3: no right to interfere. Miss Vernon was mistaken in applying
• 1:27:19
  Speaker 3: to me. In short, Catherine, everything is gone wrong, but
• 1:27:24
  Speaker 3: it is now all happily settled. Lady Susan, I believe
• 1:27:27
  Speaker 3: wishes to speak to you about it, if you are
• 1:27:29
  Speaker 3: at leisure. Certainly, I replied, deeply, sighing at the recital
• 1:27:34
  Speaker 3: of so lame a story. I made no comment, however,
• 1:27:38
  Speaker 3: for words would have been vain. Reginald was glad to
• 1:27:41
  Speaker 3: get away, and I went to Lady Susan, curious, indeed
• 1:27:45
  Speaker 3: to hear her account of it. Did I not tell you?
• 1:27:48
  Speaker 3: Said she with a smile that your brother would not
• 1:27:51
  Speaker 3: leave us after all you did. Indeed, replied I very gravely,
• 1:27:56
  Speaker 3: But I have fettered myself. You would be mistaken. I
• 1:27:59
  Speaker 3: should not have had as it did such an opinion,
• 1:28:01
  Speaker 3: returned she, if it had not, at that moment occurred
• 1:28:05
  Speaker 3: to me that his resolution of going might be occasioned
• 1:28:08
  Speaker 3: by a conversation in which we had been this morning engaged,
• 1:28:12
  Speaker 3: and which had ended very much to his dissatisfaction, by
• 1:28:15
  Speaker 3: our not rightly understanding each other's meaning. This idea struck
• 1:28:18
  Speaker 3: me at the moment, and I instantly determined that an
• 1:28:21
  Speaker 3: accidental dispute in which I might probably be as much
• 1:28:25
  Speaker 3: to blame as himself, should not deprive you of your brother.
• 1:28:29
  Speaker 3: If you remember, I left the room almost immediately. I
• 1:28:32
  Speaker 3: was resolved to lose no time in clearing those mistakes
• 1:28:35
  Speaker 3: as far as I could. The case was this, Frederica
• 1:28:39
  Speaker 3: had set herself violently against marrying Sir James. And can
• 1:28:42
  Speaker 3: your ladyship wonder that she should cried I with some warmth.
• 1:28:46
  Speaker 3: Frederica has an excellent understanding, and Sir James has none.
• 1:28:50
  Speaker 3: I am at least very far from regretting it, dear sister,
• 1:28:53
  Speaker 3: said she On the contrary, I am grateful for so
• 1:28:57
  Speaker 3: favorable a sign of my daughter's sense. Sir James is
• 1:29:00
  Speaker 3: certainly below par. His boyish manners make him appear worse.
• 1:29:05
  Speaker 3: And had Frederica possessed the penetration and abilities I could
• 1:29:09
  Speaker 3: have wished for my daughter, or had I even known
• 1:29:11
  Speaker 3: her to possess as much as she does, I should
• 1:29:14
  Speaker 3: not have been anxious for the match. It is odd
• 1:29:16
  Speaker 3: that you should be alone ignorant of your daughter's sense.
• 1:29:19
  Speaker 3: Frederica never does justice to herself. Her manners are shy
• 1:29:23
  Speaker 3: and childish, and besides, she is afraid of me. During
• 1:29:27
  Speaker 3: her poor father's life, she was a spoiled child. The
• 1:29:30
  Speaker 3: severity which it has since been necessary for me to show,
• 1:29:34
  Speaker 3: has alienated her affection. Neither has she any of that
• 1:29:37
  Speaker 3: brilliancy of intellect, that genius or vigor of mind which
• 1:29:41
  Speaker 3: will force itself forward. Say rather that she has been
• 1:29:45
  Speaker 3: unfortunate in her education. Heaven knows, my dearest missus Vernon,
• 1:29:50
  Speaker 3: how fully I am aware of that. But I would
• 1:29:53
  Speaker 3: wish to forget every circumstance that might throw blame on
• 1:29:56
  Speaker 3: the memory of one whose name is sacred.
• 1:29:59
  Speaker 6: With me.
• 1:30:00
  Speaker 3: Here she pretended to cry and I was out of
• 1:30:02
  Speaker 3: patience with her. But what said I was your ladyship
• 1:30:06
  Speaker 3: going to tell me about your disagreement with my brother?
• 1:30:09
  Speaker 3: It originated in an action of my daughter, which equally
• 1:30:12
  Speaker 3: marks her want of judgment and the unfortunate dread of
• 1:30:15
  Speaker 3: me I have been mentioning, She wrote to mister de Courcy,
• 1:30:19
  Speaker 3: I know she did. You had forbidden her speaking to
• 1:30:22
  Speaker 3: mister Vernon or to me on the cause of her distress?
• 1:30:25
  Speaker 3: What could she do there for but apply to my brother?
• 1:30:28
  Speaker 3: Good God, she exclaimed, What an opinion you must have
• 1:30:32
  Speaker 3: of me? Can you possibly suppose that I was aware
• 1:30:35
  Speaker 3: of her unhappiness, that it was my object to make
• 1:30:39
  Speaker 3: my own child miserable, and that I had forbidden her
• 1:30:42
  Speaker 3: speaking to you on the subject from a fear of
• 1:30:44
  Speaker 3: your interpreting the diabolical scheme? Do you think me destitute
• 1:30:49
  Speaker 3: of every honest, every natural feeling, and capable of consigning
• 1:30:53
  Speaker 3: her to everlasting misery whose welfare it is my first
• 1:30:57
  Speaker 3: earthly duty to promote the idea? Is horrible? What then
• 1:31:02
  Speaker 3: was your intention when you insisted on her silence? Of
• 1:31:06
  Speaker 3: what use my dear sister could be any application to you?
• 1:31:10
  Speaker 3: However the affair might stand. Why should I subject you
• 1:31:14
  Speaker 3: to entreaties which I refuse to attend to myself, neither
• 1:31:18
  Speaker 3: for your sake or for hers, nor for my own?
• 1:31:21
  Speaker 3: Could such a thing be desirable? When my own resolution
• 1:31:24
  Speaker 3: I was taken, I could not wish for the interference, however,
• 1:31:28
  Speaker 3: friendly of another person. I was mistaken, it is true,
• 1:31:32
  Speaker 3: but I believed myself right. But what was this mistake
• 1:31:36
  Speaker 3: to which your ladyship so often alludes from where arose
• 1:31:40
  Speaker 3: so astonishing a misconception of your daughter's feelings? Did you
• 1:31:44
  Speaker 3: not know that she disliked Sir James. I knew that
• 1:31:47
  Speaker 3: he was not absolutely the man she would have chosen,
• 1:31:50
  Speaker 3: But I was persuaded that her objection to him was
• 1:31:53
  Speaker 3: not from any perception of his deficiency. You must not
• 1:31:56
  Speaker 3: question me, however, my dear sister too minutely on this point,
• 1:32:00
  Speaker 3: continued she taking me affectionately by the hand. I honestly
• 1:32:04
  Speaker 3: own that there is something to conceal Frederica makes me
• 1:32:07
  Speaker 3: very unhappy. Her applying to mister de Courcy hurt me. Particularly.
• 1:32:12
  Speaker 3: What is it you mean to infer, said I by
• 1:32:14
  Speaker 3: this appearance of mystery? If you think your daughter at
• 1:32:18
  Speaker 3: all attached to Reginald her objection to Sir James, could
• 1:32:21
  Speaker 3: not less deserve to be attended to than if the
• 1:32:24
  Speaker 3: cause of her objection had been a consciousness of his folly.
• 1:32:28
  Speaker 3: And why should your ladyship at any rate quarrel with
• 1:32:31
  Speaker 3: my brother for an interference which you must know it
• 1:32:34
  Speaker 3: is not in his nature to refuse when urged in
• 1:32:37
  Speaker 3: such a manner. His disposition, you know, is warm, and
• 1:32:40
  Speaker 3: he came to expostulate with me his compassion all alive
• 1:32:44
  Speaker 3: for this ill used girl, the heroine in distress. We
• 1:32:47
  Speaker 3: misunderstood each other. He believed me more to blame than
• 1:32:51
  Speaker 3: I really was. I considered his interference less excusable than
• 1:32:55
  Speaker 3: I now find it. I have a real regard for him,
• 1:32:58
  Speaker 3: and was beyond rsh mortified to find it. So, I
• 1:33:02
  Speaker 3: thought so Ill bestowed. We were both warm, and of
• 1:33:05
  Speaker 3: course both to blame. His resolution of leaving Churchill was
• 1:33:09
  Speaker 3: consistent with his general eagerness. When I understood his intention, however,
• 1:33:14
  Speaker 3: and at the same time began to think that we
• 1:33:16
  Speaker 3: had both perhaps equally mistaken each other's meaning, I resolved
• 1:33:20
  Speaker 3: to have an explanation before it was too late for
• 1:33:23
  Speaker 3: any member of your family. I must always feel a
• 1:33:26
  Speaker 3: degree of affection and I own it would have sensibly
• 1:33:29
  Speaker 3: hurt me if my acquaintance with mister de Courcy had
• 1:33:32
  Speaker 3: ended so gloomily. I have now only to say further that,
• 1:33:36
  Speaker 3: as I am convinced of Frederica's having a reasonable dislike
• 1:33:39
  Speaker 3: for Sir James, I shall instantly inform him that he
• 1:33:42
  Speaker 3: must give up all hope of her. I reproach myself
• 1:33:45
  Speaker 3: for having, even though innocently, made her unhappy. On that score,
• 1:33:50
  Speaker 3: she shall have all the retribution in my power to
• 1:33:53
  Speaker 3: make if she value her own happiness as much as
• 1:33:56
  Speaker 3: I do, If she judge wisely and commend herself as
• 1:33:59
  Speaker 3: she might, she may now be easy excuse me, my
• 1:34:03
  Speaker 3: dear sister, for thus trespassing on your time. But I
• 1:34:06
  Speaker 3: owe it to my own character. And after this explanation,
• 1:34:09
  Speaker 3: I trust that I am no danger of sinking in
• 1:34:12
  Speaker 3: your opinion. I could have said not much, indeed, but
• 1:34:16
  Speaker 3: I left her almost in silence. It was the greatest
• 1:34:19
  Speaker 3: stretch of forbearance I could practice. I could not have
• 1:34:22
  Speaker 3: stopped myself had I begun her assurance her deceit. But
• 1:34:26
  Speaker 3: I will not allow myself to dwell on them. They
• 1:34:29
  Speaker 3: will strike you sufficiently. My heart sickens within me. As
• 1:34:33
  Speaker 3: soon as I was tolerably composed, I returned to the parlor.
• 1:34:37
  Speaker 3: Sir James's carriage was at the door, and he, merry
• 1:34:40
  Speaker 3: as usual, soon afterward took his leave. How easy does
• 1:34:43
  Speaker 3: her ladyship encourage or dismiss a lover. In spite of
• 1:34:46
  Speaker 3: this release, Frederica still looks unhappy, still fearful perhaps of
• 1:34:51
  Speaker 3: her mother's anger, and though dreading my brother's departure, jealous
• 1:34:55
  Speaker 3: it may be, of his staying. I see how closely
• 1:34:58
  Speaker 3: she observes him, and Lady Susan poor girl. I have
• 1:35:02
  Speaker 3: no hope for her. There is not a chance of
• 1:35:04
  Speaker 3: her affection being returned. He thinks very differently of her
• 1:35:07
  Speaker 3: from what he used to do. He does her some justice,
• 1:35:10
  Speaker 3: but his reconciliation with her mother precludes every dearer hope.
• 1:35:14
  Speaker 3: Prepare my dear mother for the worst. The probability of
• 1:35:17
  Speaker 3: their marrying is surely heightened. He is more securely hers
• 1:35:21
  Speaker 3: than ever. When that wretched event takes place, Frederica must
• 1:35:25
  Speaker 3: wholly belong to me. I am thankful that my last
• 1:35:28
  Speaker 3: letter will precede this by so little as every moment
• 1:35:31
  Speaker 3: that you can be saved from feeling a joy which
• 1:35:34
  Speaker 3: leads only to disappointment.
• 1:35:36
  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty five. Lady Susan Vernon to missus Johnson Churchill.
• 1:35:44
  Speaker 2: I call on you, dear Alicia, for congratulations. I am
• 1:35:49
  Speaker 2: my own self gay and triumphant. When I wrote you
• 1:35:53
  Speaker 2: the other day, I was in truth, in high irritation,
• 1:35:56
  Speaker 2: and with ample cause. Nay, I know not whether I
• 1:35:59
  Speaker 2: ought to be quite tranquil now, for I have had
• 1:36:02
  Speaker 2: more trouble in restoring peace than I ever intended to
• 1:36:04
  Speaker 2: submit to a spirit too, resulting from a fancied sense
• 1:36:09
  Speaker 2: of superior integrity which is peculiarly insolent. I shall not
• 1:36:14
  Speaker 2: easily forgive him. I assure you he was actually on
• 1:36:18
  Speaker 2: the point of leaving Churchhill. I had scarcely concluded my
• 1:36:22
  Speaker 2: last when Wilson brought me word of it. I found
• 1:36:25
  Speaker 2: therefore that something must be done, For I did not
• 1:36:27
  Speaker 2: choose to leave my character at the mercy of a
• 1:36:29
  Speaker 2: man whose passions are so violent and so revengeful. It
• 1:36:34
  Speaker 2: would have been trifling with my reputation to allow of
• 1:36:37
  Speaker 2: his departing with such an impression in my disfavor. In
• 1:36:40
  Speaker 2: this light, condescension was necessary. I sent Wilson to say
• 1:36:46
  Speaker 2: that I desired to speak with him before he went.
• 1:36:49
  Speaker 2: He came immediately. The angry emotions which had marked every
• 1:36:54
  Speaker 2: feature when we last parted, were partially subdued. He seemed
• 1:36:59
  Speaker 2: astonished at the summons, and looked as if half wishing
• 1:37:01
  Speaker 2: and half fearing to be softened by what I might
• 1:37:03
  Speaker 2: say if my countenance expressed what I aimed at. It
• 1:37:08
  Speaker 2: was composed and dignified, and yet with a degree of
• 1:37:12
  Speaker 2: pensiveness which might convince him that I was not quite happy.
• 1:37:17
  Speaker 2: I beg your pardon, sir, for the liberty I have
• 1:37:20
  Speaker 2: taken in sending for you, said I. But as I
• 1:37:24
  Speaker 2: have just learnt your intention of leaving this place to day,
• 1:37:27
  Speaker 2: I feel it my duty to entreat that you will not,
• 1:37:30
  Speaker 2: on my account, shorten your visit here even an hour.
• 1:37:33
  Speaker 2: I am perfectly aware that after what has passed between us,
• 1:37:37
  Speaker 2: it would ill suit the feelings of either to remain
• 1:37:39
  Speaker 2: longer in the same house. So very great, so total
• 1:37:43
  Speaker 2: a change from the intimacy of our friendship must render
• 1:37:47
  Speaker 2: any future intercourse the severest punishment, and your resolution of
• 1:37:51
  Speaker 2: quitting Churchill as undoubtedly in unison with our situation and
• 1:37:55
  Speaker 2: with those lively feelings which I know you to possess.
• 1:38:00
  Speaker 2: But at the same time it is not for me
• 1:38:03
  Speaker 2: to suffer such a sacrifice as it must be to
• 1:38:06
  Speaker 2: leave relations to whom you are so much attached and
• 1:38:09
  Speaker 2: are so dear. My remaining here cannot give that pleasure
• 1:38:14
  Speaker 2: to mister and missus vernon which your society must, And
• 1:38:19
  Speaker 2: my visit has already perhaps been too long. My removal, therefore,
• 1:38:24
  Speaker 2: which must at any rate take place soon, may with
• 1:38:28
  Speaker 2: perfect convenience, be hastened. And I make it my particular
• 1:38:32
  Speaker 2: request that I may not in any way be instrumental
• 1:38:36
  Speaker 2: in separating a family so affectionately attached to each other.
• 1:38:41
  Speaker 2: Where I go is of no consequence to any one,
• 1:38:44
  Speaker 2: of very little to myself. But you are of importance
• 1:38:47
  Speaker 2: to all your connections here, I concluded, and I hope
• 1:38:52
  Speaker 2: you will be satisfied with my speech. Its effect on
• 1:38:55
  Speaker 2: Reginald justifies some portion of vanity, for it was no
• 1:38:59
  Speaker 2: less favorable than instantaneous. Oh how delightful it was to
• 1:39:05
  Speaker 2: watch the variations of his countenance while I spoke, to
• 1:39:08
  Speaker 2: see the struggle between returning tenderness and the remains of displeasure.
• 1:39:15
  Speaker 2: There is something agreeable in feelings so easily worked on,
• 1:39:19
  Speaker 2: Not that I envy him their possession, nor would for
• 1:39:22
  Speaker 2: the world have such myself. But they are very convenient
• 1:39:26
  Speaker 2: when one wishes to influence the passions of another. And
• 1:39:30
  Speaker 2: yet this Reginald, whom a very few words from me
• 1:39:34
  Speaker 2: softened at once into the utmost submission and rendered more tractable,
• 1:39:38
  Speaker 2: more attached, more devoted than ever would have left me
• 1:39:42
  Speaker 2: in the first angry swelling of his proud heart without
• 1:39:45
  Speaker 2: designing to seek an explanation. Humbled as he now is,
• 1:39:50
  Speaker 2: I cannot forgive him such an instance of pride, and
• 1:39:53
  Speaker 2: am doubtful whether I ought not to punish him by
• 1:39:55
  Speaker 2: dismissing him at once after his reconciliation, or by marrying
• 1:40:00
  Speaker 2: and teasing him forever. But these measures are each too
• 1:40:04
  Speaker 2: violent to be adopted without some deliberation. At present, my
• 1:40:09
  Speaker 2: thoughts are fluctuating between various schemes. I have many things
• 1:40:13
  Speaker 2: to compass. I must punish Frederica, and pretty severely too,
• 1:40:18
  Speaker 2: for her application to Reginald. I must punish him for
• 1:40:21
  Speaker 2: receiving it so favorably, and for the rest of his conduct.
• 1:40:26
  Speaker 2: I must torment my sister in law for the insolent
• 1:40:28
  Speaker 2: triumph of her look and manner, since Sir James had
• 1:40:31
  Speaker 2: been dismissed for in reconciling Reginald. To me, I was
• 1:40:36
  Speaker 2: not able to save that ill fated young man, and
• 1:40:39
  Speaker 2: I must make myself amends for the humiliation to which
• 1:40:42
  Speaker 2: I have stooped within these few days. To effect all this,
• 1:40:47
  Speaker 2: I have various plans. I have also an idea of
• 1:40:51
  Speaker 2: being soon in town, and whatever may be my determination
• 1:40:55
  Speaker 2: as to the rest, I shall probably put that project
• 1:40:58
  Speaker 2: in execution, for London will always be the fairest field
• 1:41:02
  Speaker 2: of action, however my views may be directed, and at
• 1:41:06
  Speaker 2: any rate I shall there be rewarded by your society
• 1:41:10
  Speaker 2: and a little dissipation for ten weeks penance at Churchill.
• 1:41:15
  Speaker 2: I believe I owe it to my character to complete
• 1:41:18
  Speaker 2: the match between my daughter and Sir James, after having
• 1:41:21
  Speaker 2: so long intended it. Let me know your opinion on
• 1:41:25
  Speaker 2: this point. Flexibility of mind, a disposition easily biased by others,
• 1:41:30
  Speaker 2: is an attribute which you know I am not very
• 1:41:33
  Speaker 2: desirous of obtaining. Nor has Frederica any claim to the
• 1:41:36
  Speaker 2: indulgence of her notions at the expense of her mother's inclinations,
• 1:41:40
  Speaker 2: her idle love for Reginald two. It is surely my
• 1:41:44
  Speaker 2: duty to discourage such romantic nonsense. All things considered, therefore,
• 1:41:49
  Speaker 2: it seems incumbent on me to take her to town
• 1:41:53
  Speaker 2: and marry her immediately. To Sir James, when my own
• 1:41:57
  Speaker 2: will is effected contrary to his, I shall have I
• 1:42:00
  Speaker 2: have some credit in being on good terms with Reginald,
• 1:42:03
  Speaker 2: which at present in fact I have not, for though
• 1:42:06
  Speaker 2: he is still in my power, I have given up
• 1:42:08
  Speaker 2: the very article by which our quarrel was produced, and
• 1:42:12
  Speaker 2: at best the honor of victory is doubtful. Send me
• 1:42:16
  Speaker 2: your opinion on all these matters, my dear Alicia, and
• 1:42:19
  Speaker 2: let me know whether you can get lodgings to suit
• 1:42:21
  Speaker 2: me within a short distance of you, Your most attached
• 1:42:25
  Speaker 2: s Vernon.
• 1:42:27
  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty six, missus Johnson to Lady Susan Edward Street.
• 1:42:35
  Speaker 1: I am gratified by your reference, and this is my
• 1:42:39
  Speaker 1: advice that you come to town yourself without loss of time,
• 1:42:44
  Speaker 1: but that you leave Frederica behind. It would surely be
• 1:42:49
  Speaker 1: more to the purpose to get yourself well established by
• 1:42:52
  Speaker 1: marrying mister de Courcy than to irritate him and the
• 1:42:56
  Speaker 1: rest of his family by making her Mary. Sir James,
• 1:43:00
  Speaker 1: you should think more of yourself and less of your daughter.
• 1:43:05
  Speaker 1: She is not of a disposition to do you credit
• 1:43:08
  Speaker 1: in the world, and seems precisely in her proper place
• 1:43:13
  Speaker 1: at Churchill with the Vernons. But you are fitted for society,
• 1:43:20
  Speaker 1: and it is shameful to have you exiled from it.
• 1:43:24
  Speaker 1: Leave Frederica therefore, to punish herself for the plague she
• 1:43:28
  Speaker 1: has given you by indulging that romantic tender heartedness which
• 1:43:33
  Speaker 1: will always ensure her misery. Enough, and come to London
• 1:43:38
  Speaker 1: as soon as you can. I have another reason for
• 1:43:42
  Speaker 1: urging this. Mainwaring came to town last week and has contrived,
• 1:43:47
  Speaker 1: in spite of mister Johnson, to make opportunities of seeing me.
• 1:43:54
  Speaker 1: He is absolutely miserable about you, and jealous to such
• 1:43:59
  Speaker 1: a degree of the COURSI that it would be highly
• 1:44:02
  Speaker 1: unadvisable for them to meet at present. And yet if
• 1:44:06
  Speaker 1: you do not allow him to see you here, I
• 1:44:10
  Speaker 1: cannot answer for his not committing some great imprudence, such
• 1:44:15
  Speaker 1: as going to Churchill, for instance, which would be dreadful. Besides,
• 1:44:21
  Speaker 1: if you take my advice and resolve to marry de Corsi,
• 1:44:24
  Speaker 1: it will be indispensably necessary to you to get Main
• 1:44:30
  Speaker 1: Wearing out of the way, and you only can have
• 1:44:35
  Speaker 1: influence enough to send him back to his wife. I
• 1:44:39
  Speaker 1: have still another motive for your coming. Mister Johnson leaves
• 1:44:43
  Speaker 1: London next Tuesday. He is going for his health to Bath, where,
• 1:44:48
  Speaker 1: if the waters are favorable to his constitution and my wishes,
• 1:44:53
  Speaker 1: he will be laid up with the gown many weeks
• 1:44:56
  Speaker 1: during his absence. We shall be able to choose our
• 1:44:59
  Speaker 1: own societnxiety, and to have true enjoyment. I would ask
• 1:45:04
  Speaker 1: you to Edward Street, but that once he forced for
• 1:45:07
  Speaker 1: me a kind of promise never to invite you to
• 1:45:11
  Speaker 1: my house. Nothing but my being in the utmost distress
• 1:45:15
  Speaker 1: for money, should have extorted it from me. I can
• 1:45:19
  Speaker 1: get you, however, a nice drawing room apartment in upper
• 1:45:23
  Speaker 1: Seymour Street, and we may be always together.
• 1:45:27
  Speaker 8: There or here.
• 1:45:29
  Speaker 1: For I consider my promise to mister Johnson as comprehending.
• 1:45:32
  Speaker 1: Only at least in his absence you are not sleeping
• 1:45:37
  Speaker 1: in the house. Poor Mainwaring gives me such histories of
• 1:45:41
  Speaker 1: his wife's jealousy. Silly woman to expect constancy from so
• 1:45:47
  Speaker 1: charming a man, But she always was silly, intolerably so
• 1:45:52
  Speaker 1: in marrying him at all. She the heiress of a
• 1:45:55
  Speaker 1: large fortune, and he without a shilling one title I
• 1:45:59
  Speaker 1: know she might have had besides Baronet's. Her folly informing
• 1:46:04
  Speaker 1: the connection was so great that though mister Johnson was
• 1:46:08
  Speaker 1: her guardian, and I do not in general share his feelings,
• 1:46:13
  Speaker 1: I can never forgive her Adieu yours ever, Alicia. Chapter
• 1:46:20
  Speaker 1: twenty seven. Missus Vernon to Lady de.
• 1:46:25
  Speaker 3: Courcy Churchill, this letter my dear mother will be brought
• 1:46:29
  Speaker 3: you by Reginald. His long visit is about to be
• 1:46:32
  Speaker 3: concluded at last, But I fear the separation takes place
• 1:46:35
  Speaker 3: too late to do us any good. She is going
• 1:46:37
  Speaker 3: to London to see her particular friend, Missus Johnson. It
• 1:46:41
  Speaker 3: was first her intention that Frederica should accompany her for
• 1:46:43
  Speaker 3: the benefit of masters, but we overruled her there. Frederica
• 1:46:48
  Speaker 3: was wretched in the idea of going, and I could
• 1:46:50
  Speaker 3: not bear to have her at the mercy of her mother.
• 1:46:52
  Speaker 3: Not all the masters in London could compensate for the
• 1:46:55
  Speaker 3: ruin of her comfort. I should have feared too, for
• 1:46:58
  Speaker 3: her health and everything, but her principles there I believe
• 1:47:02
  Speaker 3: she is not to be injured by her mother or
• 1:47:04
  Speaker 3: her mother's friends. But with those friends she must have
• 1:47:08
  Speaker 3: mixed very bad set, I doubt not, or have been
• 1:47:11
  Speaker 3: left in total solitude, And I can hardly tell which
• 1:47:14
  Speaker 3: would have been worse for her. If she is with
• 1:47:17
  Speaker 3: her mother. Moreover, she must alas in all probability, be
• 1:47:20
  Speaker 3: with Reginald, and that would be the greatest evil of all.
• 1:47:24
  Speaker 3: Here we shall, in time be in peace, our regular employment,
• 1:47:28
  Speaker 3: our books and conversations with exercise, the children, and every
• 1:47:32
  Speaker 3: domestic pleasure in my power to produce her will I
• 1:47:35
  Speaker 3: trust gradually overcome this youthful attachment. I should have no
• 1:47:40
  Speaker 3: doubt of it were she slighted for any other woman
• 1:47:43
  Speaker 3: in the world but her own mother. How long Lady
• 1:47:46
  Speaker 3: Susan will be in town, or whether she returns here again,
• 1:47:50
  Speaker 3: I know not. I could not be cordial in my invitation,
• 1:47:53
  Speaker 3: But if she chooses to come, no want of cordiality on.
• 1:47:56
  Speaker 4: My part will keep her away.
• 1:48:00
  Speaker 3: I could not help asking Reginald if he intended being
• 1:48:02
  Speaker 3: in town this winter, as soon as I found her,
• 1:48:05
  Speaker 3: Ladyship's steps would be bent thither. And though he professed
• 1:48:09
  Speaker 3: himself quite undetermined, there was something in his look and
• 1:48:12
  Speaker 3: voice as he spoke that contradicted his words. I have
• 1:48:16
  Speaker 3: done with lamentation. I look upon the event as so
• 1:48:19
  Speaker 3: far decided that I resign myself to it in despair.
• 1:48:23
  Speaker 3: If he leaves you soon for London, everything will be concluded.
• 1:48:27
  Speaker 3: Yours affectionately, Catherine.
• 1:48:29
  Speaker 1: Verne, Chapter twenty eight. Missus Johnson to Lady Susan Edward Street,
• 1:48:38
  Speaker 1: My dearest friend, I write in the greatest distress. The
• 1:48:43
  Speaker 1: most unfortunate event has just taken place. Mister Johnson has
• 1:48:48
  Speaker 1: hit on the most effectual manner of plaguing us all
• 1:48:53
  Speaker 1: he has heard, I imagine by some means or other
• 1:48:55
  Speaker 1: that you were soon to be in London, and immediately
• 1:48:58
  Speaker 1: contrived to have such an attack of the gout as
• 1:49:02
  Speaker 1: must at least delay his journey to Bath, if not
• 1:49:05
  Speaker 1: wholly prevented. I am persuaded the gout is brought on
• 1:49:09
  Speaker 1: or kept off at pleasure. It was the same when
• 1:49:12
  Speaker 1: I wanted to join the Hamiltons to the Lakes, and
• 1:49:16
  Speaker 1: three years ago, when I had a fancy for Bath,
• 1:49:18
  Speaker 1: nothing could induce him to have a gouty symptom. I
• 1:49:22
  Speaker 1: am pleased to find that my letter hath so much
• 1:49:24
  Speaker 1: effect on you, and that de Corsi is certainly your own.
• 1:49:28
  Speaker 1: Let me hear from you as soon as you arrive
• 1:49:31
  Speaker 1: and in particular, tell me what you mean to do
• 1:49:33
  Speaker 1: with Main Wearing. It is impossible to say when I
• 1:49:36
  Speaker 1: shall be able to come to you. My confinement must
• 1:49:39
  Speaker 1: be great. It is such an abominable trick to be
• 1:49:42
  Speaker 1: ill here instead of at bath, that I can scarcely
• 1:49:46
  Speaker 1: command myself at all. At bath, his old aunts would
• 1:49:49
  Speaker 1: have nursed him. But here it all falls upon me,
• 1:49:53
  Speaker 1: and he bears pain with such patience that I have
• 1:49:56
  Speaker 1: not the common excuse for losing my temper yours, Chapter
• 1:50:04
  Speaker 1: twenty nine, Lady Susan Vernon to missus Johnson.
• 1:50:09
  Speaker 2: Uper Seymour Street. My dear Alicia, there needed not this
• 1:50:15
  Speaker 2: last fit of gout to make me detest mister Johnson.
• 1:50:19
  Speaker 2: But now the extent of my aversion is not to
• 1:50:21
  Speaker 2: be estimated to have you confined as a nurse in
• 1:50:25
  Speaker 2: his apartment. My dear Alicia, of what a mistake were
• 1:50:29
  Speaker 2: you guilty in marrying a man of his age just
• 1:50:33
  Speaker 2: old enough to be formal, ungovernable, and a half a gout,
• 1:50:37
  Speaker 2: too old to be agreeable, too young to die. I
• 1:50:41
  Speaker 2: arrived last night about five, and had scarcely swallowed my
• 1:50:46
  Speaker 2: dinner when Man Wearing made his appearance. I will not
• 1:50:50
  Speaker 2: dissemble what real pleasure his sight afforded me, nor how
• 1:50:54
  Speaker 2: strongly I felt the contrast between his person and manners
• 1:50:58
  Speaker 2: and those of Reginald to the infinite disadvantage of the latter.
• 1:51:04
  Speaker 2: For an hour or two I was even staggered in
• 1:51:06
  Speaker 2: my resolution of marrying him. And though this was too
• 1:51:10
  Speaker 2: idle and nonsensical an idea to remain long on my mind,
• 1:51:14
  Speaker 2: I do not feel very eager for the conclusion of
• 1:51:17
  Speaker 2: my marriage, nor look forward with much impatience to the
• 1:51:21
  Speaker 2: time when Reginald, according to our agreement, is to be
• 1:51:24
  Speaker 2: in town. I shall probably put off his arrival under
• 1:51:30
  Speaker 2: some pretense or other. He must not come till Man
• 1:51:33
  Speaker 2: Wearing is gone. I am still doubtful at times as
• 1:51:37
  Speaker 2: to marrying. If the old man would die, I might
• 1:51:40
  Speaker 2: not hesitate. But a state of dependence on the caprice
• 1:51:42
  Speaker 2: of Sir Reginald will not suit the freedom of my spirit.
• 1:51:46
  Speaker 2: And if I resolved to wait for that event, I
• 1:51:48
  Speaker 2: shall have excuse enough. At present, in having been scarcely
• 1:51:52
  Speaker 2: ten months a widow, I have not given Man Wearing
• 1:51:56
  Speaker 2: any hint of my intention, or allowed him to consider
• 1:51:59
  Speaker 2: my acquainted with Reginald as more than the commonest flirtation,
• 1:52:03
  Speaker 2: and he is tolerably appeased, ads you till we meet.
• 1:52:07
  Speaker 2: I am in shame.
• 1:52:13
  Speaker 1: Chapter thirty Lady Susan two, Mister de COURSI.
• 1:52:17
  Speaker 2: Upper Seymour Street. I have received your letter, and though
• 1:52:22
  Speaker 2: I do not attempt to conceal that I am gratified
• 1:52:24
  Speaker 2: by your impatience for the hour of our meeting, I
• 1:52:27
  Speaker 2: yet feel myself under the necessity of delaying that hour
• 1:52:32
  Speaker 2: beyond the time originally fixed. Do not think be unkind
• 1:52:37
  Speaker 2: for such an exercise of my power, nor accuse me
• 1:52:40
  Speaker 2: of instability without first hearing my reasons. In the course
• 1:52:45
  Speaker 2: of my journey from Churchill, I had ample leisure for
• 1:52:48
  Speaker 2: reflection on the present state of our affairs, and every
• 1:52:52
  Speaker 2: review has served to convince me that they require a
• 1:52:56
  Speaker 2: delicacy and cautiousness of conduct to which we have hitherto
• 1:53:00
  Speaker 2: been too little attentive. We have been hurried on by
• 1:53:05
  Speaker 2: our feelings to a degree of precipitation which ill accords
• 1:53:09
  Speaker 2: with the claims of our friends or the opinion of
• 1:53:12
  Speaker 2: the world. We have been unguarded in forming this hasty engagement.
• 1:53:20
  Speaker 2: But we must not complete the imprudence by ratifying it
• 1:53:24
  Speaker 2: while there is so much reason to fear the connection
• 1:53:26
  Speaker 2: would be opposed by those friends on whom you depend.
• 1:53:31
  Speaker 2: It is not for us to blame any expectations on
• 1:53:34
  Speaker 2: your father's side of your marrying to advantage. Where possessions
• 1:53:39
  Speaker 2: are so extensive as those of your family, the wish
• 1:53:42
  Speaker 2: of increasing them, if not strictly reasonable, is too common
• 1:53:47
  Speaker 2: to excite surprise or resentment. He has a right to
• 1:53:51
  Speaker 2: require a woman of fortune in his daughter in law,
• 1:53:54
  Speaker 2: and I am sometimes quarreling with myself for suffering you
• 1:53:57
  Speaker 2: to form a connection so imprudent. But the influence of
• 1:54:02
  Speaker 2: reason is often acknowledged too late by those who feel
• 1:54:05
  Speaker 2: like me. I have now been but a few months
• 1:54:10
  Speaker 2: a widow, and however little indebted to my husband's memory
• 1:54:14
  Speaker 2: for any happiness derived from him during a union of
• 1:54:18
  Speaker 2: some years. I cannot forget that the indelicacy of so
• 1:54:23
  Speaker 2: early a second marriage must subject me to the censure
• 1:54:27
  Speaker 2: of the world, and incur what would be still more insupportable,
• 1:54:33
  Speaker 2: the displeasure of mister Vernon. I might perhaps harden myself
• 1:54:40
  Speaker 2: in time against the injustice of general reproach, but the
• 1:54:44
  Speaker 2: loss of his valued esteem I am, as you well know,
• 1:54:48
  Speaker 2: ill fitted to endure, and when to this may be
• 1:54:51
  Speaker 2: out of the consciousness of having injured you with your family,
• 1:54:55
  Speaker 2: How am I to support myself with feelings so poignant
• 1:55:01
  Speaker 2: as mine. The conviction of having divided the son from
• 1:55:04
  Speaker 2: his parents would make me, even with you, the most
• 1:55:08
  Speaker 2: miserable of beings. It will surely therefore be advisable to
• 1:55:13
  Speaker 2: delay our union, to delay it till appearances are more promising,
• 1:55:18
  Speaker 2: till affairs have taken a more favorable turn to assist
• 1:55:24
  Speaker 2: us in such a resolution. I feel that absence will
• 1:55:27
  Speaker 2: be necessary. We must not meet cruel as this sentence
• 1:55:34
  Speaker 2: may appear. The necessity of pronouncing it, which can alone
• 1:55:38
  Speaker 2: reconcile it to myself, will be evident to you. When
• 1:55:41
  Speaker 2: you have considered our situation in the light in which
• 1:55:43
  Speaker 2: I have found myself imperiously obliged to place it, You
• 1:55:48
  Speaker 2: may be you must be well assured that nothing but
• 1:55:52
  Speaker 2: the strongest conviction of duty could induce me to wound
• 1:55:56
  Speaker 2: my own feelings by urging a lengthened separation, and of
• 1:56:01
  Speaker 2: insensibility to yours, you will hardly suspect me.
• 1:56:06
  Speaker 6: Again.
• 1:56:06
  Speaker 2: Therefore, I say that we ought not, We must not
• 1:56:10
  Speaker 2: yet meet by a removal for some months from each other,
• 1:56:16
  Speaker 2: we shall tranquilize the sisterly fears of Missus Vernon, who
• 1:56:21
  Speaker 2: accustomed herself to the enjoyment of riches, considers fortune as
• 1:56:25
  Speaker 2: necessary everywhere, and whose sensibilities are not of a nature
• 1:56:30
  Speaker 2: to comprehend ours. Let me hear from you soon, very soon.
• 1:56:37
  Speaker 2: Tell me that you submit to my arguments, and do
• 1:56:39
  Speaker 2: not reproach me for using such I cannot bear reproaches.
• 1:56:44
  Speaker 2: My spirits are not so high as to need being repressed.
• 1:56:50
  Speaker 2: I must endeavor to seek amusement. And fortunately many of
• 1:56:54
  Speaker 2: my friends are in town. Amongst them the man wearings.
• 1:56:58
  Speaker 2: You know how sincerely I regard both husband and wife.
• 1:57:03
  Speaker 2: I am very faithfully yours, s Ernie.
• 1:57:08
  Speaker 1: Chapter thirty one. Lady Susan Vernon to Missus Johnson.
• 1:57:14
  Speaker 2: Upper Seymour Street, My dear friend, that tormenting creature, Reginald
• 1:57:21
  Speaker 2: is here. My letter, which was intended to keep him
• 1:57:24
  Speaker 2: longer in the country, has hastened him to town. Much
• 1:57:29
  Speaker 2: as I wish him away. However, I cannot help being
• 1:57:31
  Speaker 2: pleased with such a proof of attachment. He is devoted
• 1:57:35
  Speaker 2: to me heart and soul. He will carry this note himself,
• 1:57:40
  Speaker 2: which is to serve as an introduction to you, with
• 1:57:43
  Speaker 2: whom he longs to be acquainted. Allow him to spend
• 1:57:46
  Speaker 2: the evening with you, that I may be in no
• 1:57:48
  Speaker 2: danger of his returning here. I have told him that
• 1:57:51
  Speaker 2: I am not quite well and must be alone, and
• 1:57:54
  Speaker 2: should he call again, there might be confusion, for it
• 1:57:57
  Speaker 2: is impossible to be sure of servants keep him. Therefore
• 1:58:01
  Speaker 2: I entreat you in Edward Street. You will not find
• 1:58:05
  Speaker 2: him a heavy companion, and I allow you to flirt
• 1:58:07
  Speaker 2: with him as much as you like. At the same time,
• 1:58:11
  Speaker 2: do not forget my real interest. Say all that you
• 1:58:15
  Speaker 2: can to convince him that I shall be quite wretched
• 1:58:18
  Speaker 2: if he remains here. You know my reasons, propriety and
• 1:58:21
  Speaker 2: so forth. I would urge them more myself, but that
• 1:58:24
  Speaker 2: I am impatient to be rid of him, as man
• 1:58:25
  Speaker 2: Wearing comes within half an hour at you asked vernon.
• 1:58:29
  Speaker 1: Chapter twenty eight. Missus Johnson to Lady Susan Edward Street,
• 1:58:38
  Speaker 1: My dear creature, I am in agonies and know not
• 1:58:42
  Speaker 1: what to do. Mister de Courcy arrived just when he
• 1:58:46
  Speaker 1: should not. Missus Mainwaring had that instant entered the house
• 1:58:51
  Speaker 1: and forced herself into her guardian's presence. Though I did
• 1:58:55
  Speaker 1: not know a syllable of it till afterwards, for I
• 1:58:59
  Speaker 1: was out when both she and Reginald came, or I
• 1:59:01
  Speaker 1: should have sent him away at all events, but she
• 1:59:04
  Speaker 1: was shut up with mister Johnson while he waited in
• 1:59:07
  Speaker 1: the drawing room for me. She arrived yesterday in pursuit
• 1:59:11
  Speaker 1: of her husband. But perhaps you know this already from himself.
• 1:59:14
  Speaker 1: She came to his house to entreat my husband's interference,
• 1:59:18
  Speaker 1: and before I could be aware of it, everything that
• 1:59:21
  Speaker 1: you could wish to be concealed was known to him,
• 1:59:24
  Speaker 1: And unluckily she had wormed out of Mainwaring servant that
• 1:59:28
  Speaker 1: he had visited you every day since you were being
• 1:59:31
  Speaker 1: in town, and had just watched him to your door herself.
• 1:59:36
  Speaker 6: What could I do?
• 1:59:38
  Speaker 1: Facts are such horrid things. All is by this time
• 1:59:42
  Speaker 1: known to de Corsi, who is now alone with mister Johnson.
• 1:59:48
  Speaker 1: Do not accuse me. Indeed, it was impossible to prevent it.
• 1:59:53
  Speaker 1: Mister Johnson has for some time suspected, de course you
• 1:59:57
  Speaker 1: of intending to marry you, and would speak with him
• 2:00:00
  Speaker 1: alone as soon as he knew him to be in
• 2:00:02
  Speaker 1: the house. That detestable missus Mainwaring, who for your comfort
• 2:00:07
  Speaker 1: has fretted herself. Thinner and a glare than ever is
• 2:00:12
  Speaker 1: still here, and they have been all closeted together. What
• 2:00:19
  Speaker 1: can be done at any rate? I hope he will
• 2:00:22
  Speaker 1: plague his wife more than ever with anxious wishes. Yours faithfully, Alicia.
• 2:00:31
  Speaker 1: This is a liprivox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in
• 2:00:37
  Speaker 1: the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, visit
• 2:00:42
  Speaker 1: www dot liprivox dot org. Lady Susan a novel by
• 2:00:50
  Speaker 1: Jane Austen, read for Liprivox by Brenda Dayne, Chapter thirty three,
• 2:00:58
  Speaker 1: Lady Susan Vernon to missus Johnson.
• 2:01:01
  Speaker 2: Upper Seymour Street. This eclerciusment is rather provoking. How unlucky
• 2:01:07
  Speaker 2: that you should have been from home. I thought myself
• 2:01:10
  Speaker 2: sure of you at seven. I am undismayed. However, do
• 2:01:13
  Speaker 2: not torment yourself with fears. On my account, depend on it.
• 2:01:17
  Speaker 2: I can make my story good. With Reginald man wearing
• 2:01:21
  Speaker 2: is just gone. He brought me the news of his
• 2:01:23
  Speaker 2: wife's arrival. Silly woman. What does she expect by such maneuvers?
• 2:01:27
  Speaker 8: Yet?
• 2:01:28
  Speaker 2: I wish she had stayed quietly at Langford. Reginald will
• 2:01:32
  Speaker 2: be a little enraged at first.
• 2:01:40
  Speaker 1: Chapter thirty four, Mister de Courci to Lady Susan.
• 2:01:46
  Speaker 9: Blank Hotel, all right, only to bid you farewell. The
• 2:01:51
  Speaker 9: spell is removed. I see you as you are since
• 2:01:55
  Speaker 9: we parted yesterday. I've received from indisputable authorities such a
• 2:01:59
  Speaker 9: history of you as must bring the most mortified conviction
• 2:02:03
  Speaker 9: of the imposition I have been under, and the absolute
• 2:02:06
  Speaker 9: necessity of an immediate and eternal separation from you. You
• 2:02:10
  Speaker 9: cannot doubt to what I allude, Langford, Langford, that word
• 2:02:15
  Speaker 9: will be sufficient. I received my information in mister Johnson's
• 2:02:18
  Speaker 9: house from Missus main Warring herself. You know how I've
• 2:02:22
  Speaker 9: loved you. You can intimately judge of my present feelings,
• 2:02:25
  Speaker 9: But I am not so weak as to find indulgent
• 2:02:28
  Speaker 9: in describing them to a woman who will glory in
• 2:02:30
  Speaker 9: having excited their anguish, but whose affection they have never
• 2:02:33
  Speaker 9: been able to gain.
• 2:02:38
  Speaker 1: Chapter thirty five, Lady Susan to mister de.
• 2:02:42
  Speaker 2: Courci, Upper Seymour Street. I will not attempt to describe
• 2:02:48
  Speaker 2: my astonishment in reading the note this moment received from you.
• 2:02:53
  Speaker 2: I am bewildered in my endeavors to form some rational
• 2:02:56
  Speaker 2: conjecture of what Missus Manwarin can have told you to
• 2:02:59
  Speaker 2: occasion so extraordinary a change in your sentiments? Have I
• 2:03:04
  Speaker 2: not explained everything to you with respect to myself which
• 2:03:07
  Speaker 2: could bear a doubtful meaning, and which the ill nature
• 2:03:10
  Speaker 2: of the world had interpreted to my discredit? What can
• 2:03:13
  Speaker 2: you now have heard to stagger your esteem from me?
• 2:03:17
  Speaker 2: Have I ever had a concealment from you? Reginald? You
• 2:03:19
  Speaker 2: agitate me beyond expression. I cannot suppose that the old
• 2:03:23
  Speaker 2: story of missus Manwaring's jealousy can be revived again, or
• 2:03:27
  Speaker 2: at least be listened to again. Come to me immediately
• 2:03:31
  Speaker 2: and explain what is at present absolutely incomprehensible. Believe me,
• 2:03:36
  Speaker 2: the single word of Langford is not such a potent
• 2:03:39
  Speaker 2: intelligence as to supersede the necessity of more. If we
• 2:03:43
  Speaker 2: are to part, it will at least be handsome to
• 2:03:46
  Speaker 2: take your personal leave. But I have little heart to jest.
• 2:03:51
  Speaker 2: In truth, I am serious enough for to be sunk, though,
• 2:03:54
  Speaker 2: but for an hour in your esteem is a humiliation
• 2:03:57
  Speaker 2: which I know not how to submit. I shall count
• 2:04:01
  Speaker 2: every minute till you are arrived.
• 2:04:05
  Speaker 1: Chapter thirty six. Mister de Courcy to Lady Susan.
• 2:04:11
  Speaker 9: Why would you write to me? Why do you require particulars.
• 2:04:15
  Speaker 9: But since it must be so, I am obliged to
• 2:04:18
  Speaker 9: declare that all the accounts of your misconduct during the
• 2:04:21
  Speaker 9: life and since the death of mister Vernon, which had
• 2:04:24
  Speaker 9: reached me in common with the world in general, and
• 2:04:27
  Speaker 9: gained my entire belief before I saw you be, which you,
• 2:04:29
  Speaker 9: by the exertion of your perverted abilities, had made me
• 2:04:32
  Speaker 9: resolve to disallow, have been unanswerably proved to me. Nay more,
• 2:04:36
  Speaker 9: I am assured that a connection of which I had
• 2:04:39
  Speaker 9: never before entertained a thought, has for some time existed,
• 2:04:42
  Speaker 9: and still continues to exist between you and the man
• 2:04:45
  Speaker 9: whose family you robbed of its peace in return for
• 2:04:47
  Speaker 9: the hospitality with which you were received into It that
• 2:04:49
  Speaker 9: you have corresponded with him ever since your leaving Langford,
• 2:04:52
  Speaker 9: not with his wife, but with him, and that he
• 2:04:55
  Speaker 9: now visits you every day? Can you Dare you deny it?
• 2:04:59
  Speaker 9: And all this at the time when I was encouraged
• 2:05:01
  Speaker 9: an accepted lover, from what have I not escaped? I
• 2:05:05
  Speaker 9: have only to be grateful. Far from me be all complained,
• 2:05:08
  Speaker 9: every sigh of regret my own folly had endangered me
• 2:05:12
  Speaker 9: my preservation. I owed to the kindness the integrity of another.
• 2:05:15
  Speaker 9: But the unfortunate Missus Mainwaring, whose agonies, while she related
• 2:05:19
  Speaker 9: the past, seemed to threaten her reason, how is she
• 2:05:21
  Speaker 9: to be consoled after such a discovery as this? You
• 2:05:24
  Speaker 9: will scarcely affect further wonder at my meaning in bidding
• 2:05:27
  Speaker 9: you a jew. My understanding is at length restored, and
• 2:05:30
  Speaker 9: teaches no less to abhore the artifices which had subdued
• 2:05:34
  Speaker 9: me than to despise myself for the weakness on which
• 2:05:37
  Speaker 9: their strength is founded.
• 2:05:39
  Speaker 1: R declared Chapter thirty seven, Lady Susan to mister de.
• 2:05:46
  Speaker 2: Courci, Upper Seymour Street. I am satisfied and will trouble
• 2:05:51
  Speaker 2: you no more when these few lines are dismissed. The
• 2:05:55
  Speaker 2: engagement which you were so eager to form a fortnight
• 2:05:58
  Speaker 2: ago is no long longer compatible with your views, and
• 2:06:02
  Speaker 2: I rejoice to find that the prudent advice of your
• 2:06:04
  Speaker 2: parents has not been given in vain. Your restoration to
• 2:06:08
  Speaker 2: peace will I doubt not speedily follow this act of
• 2:06:11
  Speaker 2: filial obedience, And I flatter myself with the hope of
• 2:06:14
  Speaker 2: surviving my share.
• 2:06:15
  Speaker 1: In chapter thirty eight, Missus Johnson to Lady Susan Vernon
• 2:06:25
  Speaker 1: Edward Street, I am grieved, though I cannot be astonished
• 2:06:32
  Speaker 1: at your rupture with mister de Courcy. He has just
• 2:06:35
  Speaker 1: informed mister Johnson of it by letter he leaves London.
• 2:06:39
  Speaker 1: He says, today, be assured that I've partaken all your feelings,
• 2:06:45
  Speaker 1: and do not be angry. If I say that our intercourse,
• 2:06:50
  Speaker 1: even by letter, must soon be given up. It makes
• 2:06:55
  Speaker 1: me miserable. But mister Johnson vows that if I persist
• 2:06:59
  Speaker 1: in the connection, you will settle in the country for
• 2:07:02
  Speaker 1: the rest of his life. And you know it is
• 2:07:06
  Speaker 1: impossible to submit to such an extremity while any other
• 2:07:09
  Speaker 1: alternative remains. You have heard, of course, that the mainwarings
• 2:07:14
  Speaker 1: are to part, and I am afraid missus m will
• 2:07:17
  Speaker 1: come home to us again. But she's still so fond
• 2:07:21
  Speaker 1: of her husband and frets so much about him that
• 2:07:24
  Speaker 1: perhaps she may not live long. Miss Mainwaring is just
• 2:07:29
  Speaker 1: come to town to be with her aunt, and they
• 2:07:31
  Speaker 1: say that she declares she will have Sir James Martin
• 2:07:35
  Speaker 1: before she leaves London again. If I were you, I
• 2:07:39
  Speaker 1: would certainly get him myself. I had almost forgot to
• 2:07:43
  Speaker 1: give you my opinion of mister de Courcy. I really
• 2:07:47
  Speaker 1: am delighted with him. He is full, as handsome, I think,
• 2:07:50
  Speaker 1: as mainwaring, and with such an open, good humored countenance
• 2:07:54
  Speaker 1: that one cannot help loving him at first sight. Mister Johnson,
• 2:07:59
  Speaker 1: and here are the greatest friends in the world. Adieu,
• 2:08:04
  Speaker 1: my dearest Susan. I wish matters did not go so
• 2:08:08
  Speaker 1: perversely that unlucky visit to Langford. But I dare say
• 2:08:14
  Speaker 1: you did all for the best, and there is no
• 2:08:17
  Speaker 1: defying destiny. Yours, sincerely, attached, Alicia. Chapter thirty nine, Lady
• 2:08:27
  Speaker 1: Susan Vernon to missus Johnson.
• 2:08:30
  Speaker 2: Upper Seymour Street. My dear Alicia, I yield to the
• 2:08:36
  Speaker 2: necessity which parts us under circumstances you could not act otherwise.
• 2:08:41
  Speaker 2: Our friendship cannot be impaired by it, and in happier times,
• 2:08:46
  Speaker 2: when your situation is as independent as mine, it will
• 2:08:49
  Speaker 2: unite us again in the same intimacy as ever. For
• 2:08:53
  Speaker 2: this I shall impatiently wait, and meanwhile can safely assure
• 2:08:58
  Speaker 2: you that I never was more at ease or better
• 2:09:00
  Speaker 2: satisfied with myself at everything about me than at the
• 2:09:03
  Speaker 2: present hour. Your husband I abhor Reginald. I despise, and
• 2:09:12
  Speaker 2: I am secure of never seeing either again. Have I
• 2:09:14
  Speaker 2: not reason to rejoice. Man Wearing is more devoted to
• 2:09:18
  Speaker 2: me than ever, and here we are at liberty. I
• 2:09:21
  Speaker 2: doubt if I could resist even matrimony offered by him
• 2:09:25
  Speaker 2: this event. If his wife live with you, it may
• 2:09:28
  Speaker 2: be in your power to hasten the violence of her feelings,
• 2:09:31
  Speaker 2: which must wear her out, may be easily kept in irritation.
• 2:09:35
  Speaker 2: I rely on your friendship for this. I am now
• 2:09:38
  Speaker 2: satisfied that I never could have brought myself to marry Reginald.
• 2:09:42
  Speaker 2: And I am equally determined that Frederica never shall tomorrow.
• 2:09:46
  Speaker 2: I shall fetch her from Churchill, and let Mariah man
• 2:09:49
  Speaker 2: Wearing tremble. For the consequence, Frederica shall be Sir James's
• 2:09:53
  Speaker 2: wife before she quits my house. And she may whimper,
• 2:09:56
  Speaker 2: and the vernons may storm, I regard them not I.
• 2:10:00
  Speaker 2: I am tired of submitting my will to the caprices
• 2:10:02
  Speaker 2: of others, of resigning my own judgment in deference to
• 2:10:06
  Speaker 2: those to whom I owe no duty and for whom
• 2:10:09
  Speaker 2: I feel no respect. I have given up too much,
• 2:10:12
  Speaker 2: have been too easily worked on. But Frederica shall now
• 2:10:16
  Speaker 2: feel the difference. Adieu, dearest of friends. May the next
• 2:10:21
  Speaker 2: gouty attack be more favorable, and may you always regard
• 2:10:25
  Speaker 2: me as unalterably yours, s Vernon.
• 2:10:30
  Speaker 1: Chapter forty. Lady de Courcy to missus Vernon.
• 2:10:36
  Speaker 8: My dear Catherine, I have charming news for you, and
• 2:10:40
  Speaker 8: if I had not sent off my letter this morning,
• 2:10:42
  Speaker 8: you might have been spared the vexation of knowing of
• 2:10:45
  Speaker 8: Reginald's being gone to London. For he is returned. Reginald
• 2:10:49
  Speaker 8: is returned not to ask our consent to his marrying
• 2:10:53
  Speaker 8: Lady Susan, but to tell us they are parted forever.
• 2:10:58
  Speaker 8: He has been only an hour in the house house,
• 2:11:00
  Speaker 8: and I have not been able to learn particulars, for
• 2:11:03
  Speaker 8: he is so very low that I have not the
• 2:11:06
  Speaker 8: heart to ask questions. But I hope we shall soon
• 2:11:09
  Speaker 8: know all. This is the most joyful hour he has
• 2:11:13
  Speaker 8: ever given us since the day of his birth. Nothing
• 2:11:17
  Speaker 8: is wanting but to have you here, and it is
• 2:11:19
  Speaker 8: our particular wish and entreaty that you would come to
• 2:11:23
  Speaker 8: us as soon as you can. You have owed us
• 2:11:25
  Speaker 8: a visit many long weeks. I hope nothing will make
• 2:11:28
  Speaker 8: it inconvenient to mister Vernon, and pray bring all my
• 2:11:32
  Speaker 8: grandchildren and your dear niece is included. Of course I
• 2:11:36
  Speaker 8: long to see her. It has been a sad, heavy
• 2:11:39
  Speaker 8: winter hitherto without Reginald and seeing nobody from Churchhill. I
• 2:11:45
  Speaker 8: never found the season so dreary before, But this happy
• 2:11:48
  Speaker 8: meeting will make us young again. Frederica runs much in
• 2:11:53
  Speaker 8: my thoughts. And when Reginald has recovered his usual good spirits,
• 2:11:57
  Speaker 8: as I trust he soon will, we will try to
• 2:12:00
  Speaker 8: rob him of his heart once more. And I am
• 2:12:02
  Speaker 8: full of hopes of seeing their hands joined at no
• 2:12:06
  Speaker 8: great distance your affectionate mother see de Corsi.
• 2:12:11
  Speaker 1: Chapter forty one. Missus Vernon to Lady.
• 2:12:15
  Speaker 3: De Corsi Churchill. My dear Madam, your letter has surprised
• 2:12:21
  Speaker 3: me beyond measure. Can it be true that they are
• 2:12:25
  Speaker 3: really separated and forever? I should be overjoyed if I
• 2:12:29
  Speaker 3: dared depend upon it. But after all that I have seen,
• 2:12:32
  Speaker 3: how can one be secure and Reginald really with you?
• 2:12:37
  Speaker 3: My surprise is the greater because on Wednesday, the very
• 2:12:40
  Speaker 3: day of his coming to Parkland's, we had a most
• 2:12:42
  Speaker 3: unexpected and unwelcome visit from Lady Susan, looking all cheerfulness
• 2:12:47
  Speaker 3: and good humor, and seeming more as if she were
• 2:12:50
  Speaker 3: to marry him when she got to London, than as
• 2:12:52
  Speaker 3: if parted from him forever. She stayed nearly two hours,
• 2:12:57
  Speaker 3: was as affectionate and agreeable as ever, and not a syllable,
• 2:13:00
  Speaker 3: not a hint was dropped of any disagreement or coolness
• 2:13:03
  Speaker 3: between them. I asked her whether she had seen my
• 2:13:06
  Speaker 3: brother since she arrived in town, not as you may suppose,
• 2:13:09
  Speaker 3: with any doubt of the fact, but merely to see
• 2:13:12
  Speaker 3: how she looked. She immediately answered, without any embarrassment, that
• 2:13:16
  Speaker 3: he had been kind enough to call on her on Monday,
• 2:13:20
  Speaker 3: but she believed he had already returned home, which I
• 2:13:23
  Speaker 3: was very far from crediting. Your very kind invitation is
• 2:13:27
  Speaker 3: accepted by us and with pleasure, and on Thursday next
• 2:13:30
  Speaker 3: we and our little ones will be with you. Pray heaven,
• 2:13:34
  Speaker 3: Reginald may not be in town again by that time.
• 2:13:37
  Speaker 3: I wish we could bring dear Frederica too, But I
• 2:13:39
  Speaker 3: am sorry to say that her mother's errand hither was
• 2:13:42
  Speaker 3: to fetch her away, and miserable as it made the
• 2:13:45
  Speaker 3: poor girl, it was impossible to detain her. I was
• 2:13:48
  Speaker 3: thoroughly unwilling to let her go, and so was her uncle,
• 2:13:52
  Speaker 3: and all that could be urged we did urge, but
• 2:13:55
  Speaker 3: Lady Susan declared that as she was now about to
• 2:13:58
  Speaker 3: fix herself in town for several month, she could not
• 2:14:01
  Speaker 3: be easy if her daughter were not with her. For masters.
• 2:14:04
  Speaker 3: Her manners, to be sure, were very kind and proper.
• 2:14:07
  Speaker 3: And mister Vernon believes that Frederica will now be treated
• 2:14:10
  Speaker 3: with faction. I wish I could think so too. The
• 2:14:14
  Speaker 3: poor girl's heart was almost broke at taking leave of us.
• 2:14:17
  Speaker 3: I charged her to write to me very often, and
• 2:14:20
  Speaker 3: to remember that if she were in any distress, we
• 2:14:23
  Speaker 3: should be always her friends. I took care to see
• 2:14:26
  Speaker 3: her alone that I might say all this, and I
• 2:14:29
  Speaker 3: hope made her a little more comfortable. But I shall
• 2:14:32
  Speaker 3: not be easy until I go to town and judge
• 2:14:34
  Speaker 3: her situation myself. I wish there were a better proposal
• 2:14:37
  Speaker 3: than now appears at the match, which the conclusion of
• 2:14:40
  Speaker 3: your letter declared your expectation of at present, It is
• 2:14:44
  Speaker 3: not very likely, yours, Catherine.
• 2:14:48
  Speaker 1: Vernon, end of chapter forty one. Conclusion this correspondence, by
• 2:14:55
  Speaker 1: a meeting between some of the parties and a separation
• 2:14:59
  Speaker 1: between the others, could not, to the great detriment of
• 2:15:02
  Speaker 1: the post office revenue, be continued any longer, very little
• 2:15:07
  Speaker 1: assistance to the state could be derived from the epistolary
• 2:15:11
  Speaker 1: intercourse of Missus Vernon and her niece. For the former,
• 2:15:15
  Speaker 1: soon perceived by the style of Frederica's letters that they
• 2:15:19
  Speaker 1: were written under her mother's inspection, and, therefore deferring all
• 2:15:23
  Speaker 1: particular enquiry till she could make it personally in London,
• 2:15:27
  Speaker 1: ceased writing minutely or often, having learnt enough in the
• 2:15:32
  Speaker 1: meanwhile from her open hearted brother of what had passed
• 2:15:35
  Speaker 1: between him and Lady Susan to sink the latter lower
• 2:15:39
  Speaker 1: than ever. In her opinion, she was proportionably more anxious
• 2:15:43
  Speaker 1: to get Frederica removed from such a mother and placed
• 2:15:47
  Speaker 1: under her own care, and, though with little hope of success,
• 2:15:51
  Speaker 1: was resolved to leave nothing unattempted that might offer a
• 2:15:55
  Speaker 1: chance of obtaining her sister in law's consent to it.
• 2:15:58
  Speaker 1: Her anxiety on the side subject made her press for
• 2:16:01
  Speaker 1: an early visit to London, and mister Vernon, who, as
• 2:16:05
  Speaker 1: it must already have appeared, lived only to do whatever
• 2:16:08
  Speaker 1: he was desired, soon found some accommodating business to call
• 2:16:12
  Speaker 1: him thither.
• 2:16:13
  Speaker 6: With a heart full of.
• 2:16:14
  Speaker 1: The matter, Missus Vernon waited on Lady Susan shortly after
• 2:16:17
  Speaker 1: her arrival in town, and was met with such an
• 2:16:20
  Speaker 1: easy and cheerful affection as made her almost turn from
• 2:16:24
  Speaker 1: her with horror. No remembrance of Reginald, no consciousness of guilt,
• 2:16:30
  Speaker 1: gave one look of embarrassment. She was in excellent spirits
• 2:16:35
  Speaker 1: and seemed eager to show at once by every possible
• 2:16:38
  Speaker 1: attention to her brother and sister her sense of their
• 2:16:41
  Speaker 1: kindness and her pleasure in their society. Frederica was no
• 2:16:46
  Speaker 1: more altered than Lady Susan, the same restrained manners, the
• 2:16:50
  Speaker 1: same timid look in the presence of her mother, as
• 2:16:53
  Speaker 1: heretofore assured her aunt of her situation being uncomfortable, and
• 2:16:58
  Speaker 1: confirmed her in the plan of alternate it. No unkindness, however,
• 2:17:02
  Speaker 1: on the part of Lady Susan, appeared. Persecution on the
• 2:17:06
  Speaker 1: subject of Sir James was entirely at an end. His
• 2:17:10
  Speaker 1: name merely mentioned to say that he was not in London,
• 2:17:14
  Speaker 1: and indeed, in all her conversation she was solicitous only
• 2:17:18
  Speaker 1: for the welfare and improvement of her daughter, acknowledging in
• 2:17:22
  Speaker 1: terms of grateful delight that Frederica was now growing every
• 2:17:26
  Speaker 1: day more and more what a parent could desire. Missus Vernon,
• 2:17:30
  Speaker 1: surprised and incredulous, knew not what to suspect, and without
• 2:17:35
  Speaker 1: any change in her own views, only feared greater difficulty
• 2:17:38
  Speaker 1: in accomplishing them. The first hope of anything better was
• 2:17:43
  Speaker 1: derived from Lady Susan's asking her whether she thought Frederica
• 2:17:47
  Speaker 1: looked quite as well as she had done at Churchhill.
• 2:17:51
  Speaker 1: As she must confess herself to have sometimes an anxious
• 2:17:54
  Speaker 1: doubt of London's perfectly agreeing with her, Missus Vernon, encouraging
• 2:17:59
  Speaker 1: the doubt, directly proposed her niece's returning with them into
• 2:18:02
  Speaker 1: the country. Lady Susan was unable to express her sense
• 2:18:07
  Speaker 1: of such kindness, yet knew not, from a variety of reasons,
• 2:18:10
  Speaker 1: how to part with her daughter, and as though her
• 2:18:14
  Speaker 1: own plans were not yet wholly fixed, she trusted it
• 2:18:17
  Speaker 1: would e'er be long in her power to take Frederica
• 2:18:20
  Speaker 1: into the country. Herself concluded by declining entirely to profit
• 2:18:25
  Speaker 1: by such unexampled attention, Missus Vernon persevered, however, in the
• 2:18:31
  Speaker 1: offer of it, and though Lady Susan continued to resist
• 2:18:34
  Speaker 1: her resistance, in the course of a few days seemed
• 2:18:37
  Speaker 1: somewhat less formidable. The lucky alarm of an influenza decided
• 2:18:42
  Speaker 1: what might not have been decided quite so soon. Lady
• 2:18:46
  Speaker 1: Susan's maternal fears were then too much awakened for her
• 2:18:49
  Speaker 1: to think of anything but Frederica's removal from the risk
• 2:18:53
  Speaker 1: of infection. Above all disorders in the world, she most
• 2:18:57
  Speaker 1: dreaded the influenza for her daughter's constance. Frederica returned to
• 2:19:02
  Speaker 1: Churchill with her uncle and aunt, and three weeks afterwards
• 2:19:06
  Speaker 1: Lady Susan announced her being married to Sir James Martin.
• 2:19:10
  Speaker 1: Missus Vernon was convinced of what she had only suspected before,
• 2:19:15
  Speaker 1: that she might have spared herself all the trouble of
• 2:19:17
  Speaker 1: urging a removal, which Lady Susan had doubtless resolved on
• 2:19:20
  Speaker 1: from the first. Frederica's visit was nominally for six weeks,
• 2:19:24
  Speaker 1: but her mother, though inviting her to return in one
• 2:19:28
  Speaker 1: or two affectionate letters, was very ready to oblige the
• 2:19:31
  Speaker 1: whole party by consenting to a prolongation of her stay,
• 2:19:35
  Speaker 1: and in the course of two months ceased to write
• 2:19:38
  Speaker 1: of her absence, and in the course of two or
• 2:19:41
  Speaker 1: more to write to.
• 2:19:43
  Speaker 9: Her at all.
• 2:19:45
  Speaker 1: Frederica was therefore fixed in the family of her uncle
• 2:19:48
  Speaker 1: and aunt till such time as Reginald de Corsi could
• 2:19:51
  Speaker 1: be talked, flattered and finessed into an affection for her, which,
• 2:19:56
  Speaker 1: allowing leisure for the conquest of his attachment to her mother,
• 2:20:00
  Speaker 1: for his abjuring all future attachments, and detesting the sex,
• 2:20:04
  Speaker 1: might be reasonably looked for in the course of a twelvemonth.
• 2:20:08
  Speaker 1: Three months might have done it in general, but Reginald's
• 2:20:11
  Speaker 1: feelings were no less lasting than lively. Whether Lady Susan
• 2:20:16
  Speaker 1: was or was not happy in her second choice, I
• 2:20:20
  Speaker 1: do not see how it can ever be ascertained, for
• 2:20:24
  Speaker 1: who would take her assurance of it? On either side
• 2:20:26
  Speaker 1: of the question. The world must judge from probabilities. She
• 2:20:31
  Speaker 1: had nothing against her but her husband and her conscience.
• 2:20:36
  Speaker 1: Sir James may seem to have drawn a harder lot
• 2:20:39
  Speaker 1: than mere folly merited. I leave him therefore to all
• 2:20:44
  Speaker 1: the pity that anybody can give him. For myself, I
• 2:20:47
  Speaker 1: confess that I can pity only Miss Mainwaring, who coming
• 2:20:51
  Speaker 1: to town and putting herself to an expense in clothes
• 2:20:55
  Speaker 1: which impoverished her for two months on purpose to secure him,
• 2:20:59
  Speaker 1: was defrauded of her due by a woman ten years
• 2:21:02
  Speaker 1: older than herself