Lady Susan (version 2) — 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.

X

_Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson.

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