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1、【国外英文文学】LADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. VERNONLADY SUSAN Jane AustenILADY SUSAN VERNON TO MR. VERNONLangford, Dec.MY DEAR BROTHER,-I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure ofprofiting by your kind invitation when we last parted of spending someweeks with you at Churchhill, and, therefore, if quite conven
2、ient to youand Mrs. Vernon to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few days tobe introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be acquaintedwith. My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent with me toprolong my stay, but their hospitable and cheerful dispositions lead themtoo
3、 much into society for my present situation and state of mind; and Iimpatiently look forward to the hour when I shall be admitted into Yourdelightful retirement.I long to be made known to your dear little children, in whose hearts Ishall be very eager to secure an interest I shall soon have need for
4、 all myfortitude, as I am on the point of separation from my own daughter. Thelong illness of her dear father prevented my paying her that attentionwhich duty and affection equally dictated, and I have too much reason tofear that the governess to whose care I consigned her was unequal to thecharge.
5、I have therefore resolved on placing her at one of the bestprivate schools in town, where I shall have an opportunity of leaving hermyself in my way to you. I am determined, you see, not to be deniedadmittance at Churchhill. It would indeed give me most painful sensationsto know that it were not in
6、your power to receive me.Your most obliged and affectionate sister,S. VERNON.IILADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSONLangford.You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing me fixed at this placefor the rest of the winter: it grieves me to say how greatly you weremistaken, for I have seldom spent three
7、months more agreeably than thosewhich have just flown away. At present, nothing goes smoothly; the femalesof the family are united against me. You foretold how it would be when Ifirst came to Langford, and Mainwaring is so uncommonly pleasing that I wasnot without apprehensions for myself. I remembe
8、r saying to myself, as Idrove to the house, I like this man, pray Heaven no harm come of it! ButI was determined to be discreet, to bear in mind my being only four monthsa widow, and to be as quiet as possible: and I have been so, my dearcreature; I have admitted no ones attentions but Mainwarings.
9、I haveavoided all general flirtation whatever; I have distinguished no creaturebesides, of all the numbers resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, onwhom I bestowed a little notice, in order to detach him from MissMainwaring; but, if the world could know my motive THERE they would honourme. I hav
10、e been called an unkind mother, but it was the sacred impulse ofmaternal affection, it was the advantage of my daughter that led me on; andif that daughter were not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might havebeen rewarded for my exertions as I ought.Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica
11、; but Frederica, who wasborn to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so violentlyagainst the match that I thought it better to lay aside the scheme for thepresent. I have more than once repented that I did not marry him myself;and were he but one degree less contemptibly weak I certainly
12、should: but Imust own myself rather romantic in that respect, and that riches only willnot satisfy me. The event of all this is very provoking: Sir James is gone,Maria highly incensed, and Mrs. Mainwaring insupportably jealous; sojealous, in short, and so enraged against me, that, in the fury of her
13、temper, I should not be surprized at her appealing to her guardian, if shehad the liberty of addressing him: but there your husband stands my friend;and the kindest, most amiable action of his life was his throwing her offfor ever on her marriage. Keep up his resentment, therefore, I charge you.We a
14、re now in a sad state; no house was ever more altered; the whole partyare at war, and Mainwaring scarcely dares speak to me. It is time for me tobe gone; I have therefore determined on leaving them, and shall spend, Ihope, a comfortable day with you in town within this week. If I am aslittle in favo
15、ur with Mr. Johnson as ever, you must come to me at 10Wigmore street; but I hope this may not be the case, for as Mr. Johnson,with all his faults, is a man to whom that great word respectable isalways given, and I am known to be so intimate with his wife, his slightingme has an awkward look.I take L
16、ondon in my way to that insupportable spot, a country village;for I am really going to Churchhill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is mylast resource. Were there another place in England open to me I wouldprefer it. Charles Vernon is my aversion; and I am afraid of his wife. AtChurchhill, however, I
17、must remain till I have something better in view. Myyoung lady accompanies me to town, where I shall deposit her under the careof Miss Summers, in Wigmore street, till she becomes a little morereasonable. She will made good connections there, as the girls are allof the best families. The price is im
18、mense, and much beyond what I can everattempt to pay.Adieu, I will send you a line as soon as I arrive in town.Yours ever,S. VERNON.IIIMRS. VERNON TO LADY DE COURCYChurchhill.My dear Mother,-I am very sorry to tell you that it will not be in ourpower to keep our promise of spending our Christmas wit
19、h you; and we areprevented that Happiness by a circumstance which is not likely to make usany amends. Lady Susan, in a letter to her brother-in-law, has declared herintention of visiting us almost immediately; and as such a visit is in allprobability merely an affair of convenience, it is impossible
20、 to conjectureits length. I was by no means prepared for such an event, nor can I nowaccount for her ladyships conduct; Langford appeared so exactly the placefor her in every respect, as well from the elegant and expensive style ofliving there, as from her particular attachment to Mr. Mainwaring, th
21、at Iwas very far from expecting so speedy a distinction, though I alwaysimagined from her increasing friendship for us since her husbands deaththat we should, at some future period, be obliged to receive her. Mr.Vernon, I think, was a great deal too kind to her when he was inStaffordshire; her behav
22、iour to him, independent of her general character,has been so inexcusably artful and ungenerous since our marriage was firstin agitation that no one less amiable and mild than himself could haveoverlooked it all; and though, as his brothers widow, and in narrowcircumstances, it was proper to render
23、her pecuniary assistance, I cannothelp thinking his pressing invitation to her to visit us at Churchhillperfectly unnecessary. Disposed, however, as he always is to think thebest of everyone, her display of grief, and professions of regret, andgeneral resolutions of prudence, were sufficient to soft
24、en his heart andmake him really confide in her sincerity; but, as for myself, I am stillunconvinced, and plausibly as her ladyship has now written, I cannot makeup my mind till I better understand her real meaning in coming to us. Youmay guess, therefore, my dear madam, with what feelings I look for
25、ward toher arrival. She will have occasion for all those attractive powers forwhich she is celebrated to gain any share of my regard; and I shallcertainly endeavour to guard myself against their influence, if notaccompanied by something more substantial. She expresses a most eagerdesire of being acq
26、uainted with me, and makes very gracious mention of mychildren but I am not quite weak enough to suppose a woman who has behavedwith inattention, if not with unkindness, to her own child, should beattached to any of mine. Miss Vernon is to be placed at a school in Londonbefore her mother comes to us
27、 which I am glad of, for her sake and my own.It must be to her advantage to be separated from her mother, and a girl ofsixteen who has received so wretched an education, could not be a verydesirable companion here. Reginald has long wished, I know, to see thecaptivating Lady Susan, and we shall depe
28、nd on his joining our party soon.I am glad to hear that my father continues so well; and am, with best love,&c.,CATHERINE VERNON.IVMR. DE COURCY TO MRS. VERNONParklands.My dear Sister,-I congratulate you and Mr. Vernon on being about toreceive into your family the most accomplished coquette in Engla
29、nd. As avery distinguished flirt I have always been taught to consider her, but ithas lately fallen In my way to hear some particulars of her conduct atLangford: which prove that she does not confine herself to that sort ofhonest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires to the moredelicio
30、us gratification of making a whole family miserable. By herbehaviour to Mr. Mainwaring she gave jealousy and wretchedness to his wife,and by her attentions to a young man previously attached to Mr.Mainwarings sister deprived an amiable girl of her lover.I learnt all this from Mr. Smith, now in this
31、neighbourhood (I havedined with him, at Hurst and Wilford), who is just come from Langford wherehe was a fortnight with her ladyship, and who is therefore well qualifiedto make the communication.What a woman she must be! I long to see her, and shall certainly acceptyour kind invitation, that I may f
32、orm some idea of those bewitching powerswhich can do so much-engaging at the same time, and in the same house, theaffections of two men, who were neither of them at liberty to bestow them-and all this without the charm of youth! I am glad to find Miss Vernondoes not accompany her mother to Churchhil
33、l, as she has not even manners torecommend her; and, according to Mr. Smiths account, is equally dull andproud. Where pride and stupidity unite there can be no dissimulation worthynotice, and Miss Vernon shall be consigned to unrelenting contempt; but byall that I can gather Lady Susan possesses a d
34、egree of captivating deceitwhich it must be pleasing to witness and detect. I shall be with you verysoon, and am ever,Your affectionate brother,R. DE COURCY.VLADY SUSAN VERNON TO MRS. JOHNSONChurchhill.I received your note, my dear Alicia, just before I left town, andrejoice to be assured that Mr. J
35、ohnson suspected nothing of your engagementthe evening before. It is undoubtedly better to deceive him entirely, andsince he will be stubborn he must be tricked. I arrived here in safety, andhave no reason to complain of my reception from Mr. Vernon; but I confessmyself not equally satisfied with th
36、e behaviour of his lady. She isperfectly well-bred, indeed, and has the air of a woman of fashion, but hermanners are not such as can persuade me of her being prepossessed in myfavour. I wanted her to be delighted at seeing me. I was as amiable aspossible on the occasion, but all in vain. She does n
37、ot like me. To be surewhen we consider that I DID take some pains to prevent my brother-in-lawsmarrying her, this want of cordiality is not very surprizing, and yet itshows an illiberal and vindictive spirit to resent a project whichinfluenced me six years ago, and which never succeeded at last.I am
38、 sometimes disposed to repent that I did not let Charles buy VernonCastle, when we were obliged to sell it; but it was a trying circumstance,especially as the sale took place exactly at the time of his marriage; andeverybody ought to respect the delicacy of those feelings which could notendure that
39、my husbands dignity should be lessened by his youngerbrothers having possession of the family estate. Could matters have beenso arranged as to prevent the necessity of our leaving the castle, could wehave lived with Charles and kept him single, I should have been very farfrom persuading my husband t
40、o dispose of it elsewhere; but Charles was onthe point of marrying Miss De Courcy, and the event has justified me. Hereare children in abundance, and what benefit could have accrued to me fromhis purchasing Vernon? My having prevented it may perhaps have given hiswife an unfavourable impression, but
41、 where there is a disposition todislike, a motive will never be wanting; and as to money matters it has notwithheld him from being very useful to me. I really have a regard for him,he is so easily imposed upon! The house is a good one, the furniturefashionable, and everything announces plenty and el
42、egance. Charles is veryrich I am sure; when a man has once got his name in a banking-house herolls in money; but they do not know what to do with it, keep very littlecompany, and never go to London but on Business. We shall be as stupid aspossible. I mean to win my sister-in-laws heart through the c
43、hildren; Iknow all their names already, and am going to attach myself with thegreatest sensibility to one in particular, a young Frederic, whom I take onmy lap and sigh over for his dear uncles sake.Poor Mainwaring! I need not tell you how much I miss him, howperpetually he is in my thoughts. I foun
44、d a dismal letter from him on myarrival here, full of complaints of his wife and sister, and lamentationson the cruelty of his fate. I passed off the letter as his wifes, to theVernons, and when I write to him it must be under cover to you.Ever yours,S. VERNON.VIMRS. VERNON TO MR. DE COURCYChurchhil
45、l.Well, my dear Reginald, I have seen this dangerous creature, and mustgive you some description of her, though I hope you will soon be able toform your own judgment she is really excessively pretty; however you maychoose to question the allurements of a lady no longer young, I must, formy own part,
46、 declare that I have seldom seen so lovely a woman as LadySusan. She is delicately fair, with fine grey eyes and dark eyelashes; andfrom her appearance one would not suppose her more than five and twenty,though she must in fact be ten years older, I was certainly not disposed toadmire her, though always hearing s