Lady Susan by Jane Austen. - HTML preview

IX

MRS. JOHNSON TO LADY S. VERNON

Edward Street.

My dearest Friend,-‐-‐I congratulate you on Mr. De Courcy's arrival, and I

advise you by all means to marry him; his father's estate is, we know,

considerable, and I believe certainly entailed. Sir Reginald is very

infirm, and not likely to stand in your way long. I hear the young man well

spoken of; and though no one can really deserve you, my dearest Susan, Mr.

De Courcy may be worth having. Mainwaring will storm of course, but you

easily pacify him; besides, the most scrupulous point of honour could not

require you to wait for HIS emancipation. I have seen Sir James; he came to

town for a few days last week, and called several times in Edward Street. I

talked to him about you and your daughter, and he is so far from having

forgotten you, that I am sure he would marry either of you with pleasure. I

gave him hopes of Frederica's relenting, and told him a great deal of her

improvements. I scolded him for making love to Maria Mainwaring; he

protested that he had been only in joke, and we both laughed heartily at

her disappointment; and, in short, were very agreeable. He is as silly as

ever.

Yours faithfully,

ALICIA.