Lady susan

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Lady Susan! By jane Austen Section one. This is a libra vox recording all libra vox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, Please visit libra vox dot org. Lady Susan read by Kristin, Hughes mrs vernon. Read by Rachel Ellen Mr DeCourcy. Read by Patrick Beverley. one Lady. Susan Vernon, to mr Vernon Langford December. My dear brother, I can no longer refuse myself the pleasure of profiting by your kind invitation. When last we parted of spending some weeks with you at Churchill, and therefore, if quite convenient to you and mrs vernon, to receive me at present, I shall hope within a few days to be introduced to a sister whom I have so long desired to be acquainted with. My kind friends here are most affectionately urgent with me to prolong my stay, but they're hospitable and cheerful dispositions, lead them too much into society for my present situation and state of mind. And I am patiently look forward to the hour when I shall be admitted into your delightful retirement. I long to be made known to your dear little Children. In whose hearts I shall be very eager to secure an interest. I shall soon have need for all my fortitude, as I am on the point of separation from my own daughter. The long illness of her dear father prevented my paying her that attention which duty and affection equally dictated. And I have too much reason to fear that the governess to whose care I consigned her, was unequal to the charge. I have therefore resolved on placing her at one of the best private schools in town, where I shall have an opportunity of leaving her myself in my way to you, I am determined. You see not to be denied admittance at Churchill. It would indeed give me most painful sensations to know that it would not in your power to receive me. Your most obliged and affectionate Sister? S vernon, to Lady Susan vernon to Mrs Johnson Langford. You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing me fixed at this place for the rest of the winter, it grieves me to say how greatly you were mistaken, for I have seldom spent three months more agreeably than those which have just flown away at present. Nothing goes smoothly. The females of the family are united against me. You foretold how it would be when I first came to Langford. And Mannering is so uncommonly pleasing that I was not without apprehensions for myself. I remember saying to myself, as I drove to the house, I, like this man! Pray heaven! No harm comes of it! But I was determined to be discreet, to bear in mind my being only four months a widow, and to be as quiet as possible, and I have been so! My dear creature! I have admitted no one's attentions, but mana rings! I have avoided all general flirtation, whatever I have distinguished no creature besides, of all the numbers resorting hither accept, Sir. James martin on whom I bestowed a little notice, in order to detach him from miss Mannering. But if the world could know my motive there they would honor me. I have been called an unkind mother. But it was the sacred impulse of maternal affection. It was the advantage of my daughter that led me on. And if that daughter were not the greatest simpleton on earth, I might have been rewarded from my exertions. As I thought. Sir James did make proposals to me for Frederica. But Frederica, who was born to be the torment of my life, chose to set herself so violently against the match, that I thought it better to lay aside the scheme for the present. I have more than once repented that I did not marry him myself, and were he but one degree less contemptible. E week? I certainly should. But I must own myself rather romantic in that respect. And that riches only will not satisfy me. The event of all this is very provoking. Sir James is gone, Mariah, highly incensed, and mrs Mannering in supportively jealous, so jealous and short, and so enraged against me! That in the fury of her temper, I should not be surprised at her appealing to her guardian if she had the liberty of addressing him. But there your husband stands, my friend, and the kindest, most amiable action of his life was throwing her off forever on her marriage. Keep up his resentment. Therefore I charge you! We are now in a sad state. No house was ever more altered. The whole party are at war, and Mannering scarcely dares speak to me! It is time for me to be gone. I have therefore determined on leaving them, and shall spend, I hope, a comfortable day with you in town this week. If I am as little in favor with Mr Johnson as ever, you must come to me at 10 Wigmore 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 is always given, and I am known to be so intimate with his wife. His slighting me has an awkward look. I take London in my way to that insupportable spot. A country village, for I am really going to Churchill. Forgive me, my dear friend, it is my last resource. Were there another place in England open to me? I would prefer it, Charles vernon is my aversion, and I'm afraid of his wife at Churchill. However, I must remain till I have something better in view. My young lady accompanies me to town, where I shall deposit her under the care of Miss Summers in Wigmore Street, till she becomes a little more reasonable. She will make good connections there, as the girls are all of the best families. The price is immense, and much beyond what I can ever attempt to pay. I will send you a line as soon as I arrive in town. Yours ever s vernon, three mrs vernon to lady to cursi Churchill, my dear mother, I am very sorry to tell you that it will not be in our power to keep our promise of spending our christmas with you. And we are prevented that happiness, by a circumstance which is not likely to make us any amends. Lady Susan, in a letter to her brother in law, has declared her intention of visiting us almost immediately, and as such a visit is in all probability merely an affair of convenience. It is impossible to conjecture its length. I was by no means prepared for such an event. Nor can I now account for her ladyship's conduct. Langford appeared so exactly the place for her in every respect as well, from the elegant and expensive style of living there, as from her particular attachment to mr Mannering, that I was very far from expecting so speedy. A distinction, though I always imagined from her increasing friendship for us since her husband's death, that we should, at some future period, be obliged to receive her, Mr, vernon, I think, was a great deal to kind to her when he was in Staffordshire. Her behavior to him independent of her general character has been so inexcusably artful and ungenerous since our marriage was first in agitation, that no one less amiable and mile than himself could have overlooked it all. And though as his brother's widow, and in narrow circumstances it was proper to render her pecuniary assistance, I cannot help thinking his pressing invitation to her to visit us at Churchill perfectly unnecessary disposed. However, as he always is to think the best of everyone. Her display of grief and professions, of regret and general resolutions of prudence were sufficient to soften his heart, and make him really confide in her sincerity. But as for myself, I am still unconvinced and plausibly. As her ladyship has now written. I cannot make up my mind till I better understand her real meaning in coming to us. You may guess, therefore, my dear madam, with what feelings I look forward to her arrival. She will have occasion for all those attractive powers for which she is celebrated to gain any share of my regard. And I shall certainly endeavor to guard myself against their influence, if not accompanied by something more substantial. She expresses a most eager desire of being acquainted with me, and makes very gracious mention of my Children. But I am not quite weak enough. To suppose. A woman who has behaved with inattention, if not with unkindness to her own child, should be attached to any of mine. Miss vernon is to be placed at a school in London before her mother comes to us, 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 of 16 who has received so wretched and education could not be a very desirable companion here. Reginald has long wished I know to see the captivating lady Susan, and we shall depend on his joining our party soon. I am glad to hear that my father continues so well, and am with best love, etcetera. Kathrine, vernon four Mr, DeCourcy to Mrs vernon Parklands. My dear sister, I congratulate you and mr vernon on being about to receive into your family the most accomplished coquette in England as a very distinguished flirt. I have always been taught to consider her, but has lately fallen in my way to hear some particulars of her conduct at langford, which proved that she does not confine herself to that sort of honest flirtation which satisfies most people, but aspires to the more delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable by her behavior. To mr Mannering. She gave jealousy and wretchedness to his wife, and by her attentions to a young man previously attached to mr Mannering sister, deprived an amiable girl of her lover. I learned all this from Mr smith. Now in this neighborhood. I have dined with him at hearst and Wilford, who has just come from Langford, where he was a fortnight with her ladyship, and who is therefore well qualified to make the communication what a woman she must be. I long to see her. And she'll certainly accept your kind invitation, that I may form some idea of those bewitching powers which can do so much engaging at the same time, and in the same house the affections 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 vernon does not accompany her mother to Churchill, as she has not even managed to recommend her, and, according to Mr Smith's account, is equally dull and proud, where pride and stupidity unite. There can be no dissimulation worthy of notice, and Miss VErnon shall be consigned to unrelenting contempt. But by all that I can gather, Lady Susan possesses a degree of captivating deceit, which it must be pleasing to witness, and detect I shall be with you very soon. And I'm ever your affectionate brother. Are DeCourcy! five, Lady Susan Vernon, to mrs Johnson Churchill. I received your note, my dear Alicia, just before I left town, and rejoiced to be assured that Mr Johnson suspected nothing of your engagement the evening before. It is undoubtedly better to deceive him entirely. And since he will be stubborn, he must be tricked, I arrived here in safety, and have no reason to complain of my reception from Mr vernon. But I confess myself not equally satisfied with the behavior of his lady. She is perfectly well bred, indeed, and has the air of a woman of fashion. But her manners are not such as can persuade me of her being pre possessed in my favor. I wanted her to be delighted at seeing me. I was amiable as possible on the occasion, but all in vain. She does not like me to be sure, when we consider that I did take some pains to prevent my brother in law's marrying her. This want of cordiality is not very surprising, and yet it shows in a liberal and vindictive spirit to resent a project which influenced me six years ago, and which never succeeded at last. I am sometimes disposed to repent that I did not let Charles by vernon castle 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, and everybody ought to respect the delicacy of those feelings which could not endure, that my husband's dignity should be lessened by his younger brother's having possession of the family estate. Could matters have been so arranged as to prevent the necessity of our leaving the castle. Could we have lived with Charles and kept him single! I should have been very far from persuading my husband to dispose of it elsewhere. But Charles was on the point of marrying mr Corsi, and the event has justified me. Here are Children in abundance, and what benefit could have accrued to me from his purchasing vernon. My having prevented it may, perhaps, have given his wife an unfavorable impression, but where there is a disposition to dislike. A motive will never be wanting, and as to money matters! It has not withheld him from being very useful to me. I really have regard for him. He is so easily imposed upon. The house is a good one, the furniture fashionable, and everything announces plenty and elegance, Charles is very rich, I am sure, when a man has once got his name in a banking house, he rolls in money, but they do not know what to do with it. Keep very little company, and never go to London, but on business we shall be as stupid as possible. I mean, to win my sister in law's heart through the Children. I know all their names already, and I'm going to attach myself with the greatest sensibility to one in particular, a young Frederick, whom I take on my lap and sigh over for his dear uncle's sake. Poor Mannering! I need not tell you how much I miss him how perpetually he is! In my thoughts! I found a dismal letter from him on my arrival here, full of complaints of his wife and sister, and lamentations on the cruelty of his fate. I passed off the letter as his wife's to the vernon's, and when I write to him it must be undercover to you. Ever yours? S vernon! Six Mrs vernon to mr Dickerson Churchill. Well, my dear Reginald, I have seen this dangerous creature, and must give you some description of her, though, I hope you will soon be able to form your own judgment. She is really excessively pretty. However, you may choose to question the alignments of a lady no longer young. I must, for my own part declare that I have seldom seen so lovely a woman as Lady Susan. She is delicately fair, with fine gray eyes and dark eyelashes, and from her appearance one would not suppose her more than five and 20. I was certainly not disposed to admire her, though always hearing she was beautiful, but I cannot help feeling that she possesses an uncommon ***** of symmetry, brilliance, C and grace. Her address to me was so gentle, frank, and even affectionate, that if I had not known how much she has always disliked me for marrying Mr vernon, and that we had never met before. I should have imagined her an attached friend. What is apt! I believed to connect assurance of manner with cocoa tree, and to expect that an impudent address will naturally attend an impudent mind. At least I was myself prepared for an improper degree of confidence in Lady Susan. But her countenance is absolutely sweet, and her voice and manner winningly mild. I am sorry it is so for what is this! But deceit. Unfortunately one knows her too well. She is clever and agreeable, has all that knowledge of the world which makes conversation easy, and talks very well with a happy command of language which is too often used, I believe, to make black appear white. She has already almost persuaded me of her being warmly attached to her daughter, though I have been so long convinced. To the contrary, she speaks of her with so much tenderness and anxiety, lamenting so bitterly the neglect of her education which she represents. However, as wholly unavoidable, that I am forced to recollect how many successive springs her ladyship spent in town while her daughter was left in Staffordshire to the care of servants, or a governess. Very little better to prevent my believing what she says. If her manners have so great an influence on my resentful heart, you may judge how much more strongly they operate on Mr vernon's generous temper, I wish I could be as well satisfied as he is, that it was really her choice to leave Langford for Churchill. And if she had not stayed there for months before she discovered that her friends manner of living did not suit her situation or feelings. I might have believed that concern for the loss of such a husband as Mr vernon, to whom her own behavior was far from unexceptionable, might for a time, make her wish for retirement. But I cannot forget the length of her visit to the mana rings, and when I reflect on the different mode of life which she led with them, from that to which she must now submit. I can only suppose, that the wish of establishing her reputation by following. though late the path of propriety occasioned her removal from a family where she must, in reality, have been particularly happy. Your friend Mr smith's story, however, cannot be quite correct, as she corresponds regularly with mrs Mannering. At any rate, it must be exaggerated. It is scarcely possible that two men should be so grossly deceived by her at once. Yours, etcetera. Catherine, vernon, Seven Lady, Susan, vernon to Mrs Johnson Churchill. My dear Alicia, you are very good in taking notice of Frederica, and I am grateful for. It is a mark of your friendship. But as I cannot have any doubt of the warmth of your affection, I am far from exacting so heavier sacrifice. She is a stupid girl, and has nothing to recommend her. I would not. Therefore, on my account, have you encumber one moment of your precious time by sending for her to Edward Street, especially as every visit is so much deducted from the grand affair of education which I really wish to have attended to. While she remains at Miss Summers. Is I want her to play and sing with some portion of taste and a good deal of assurance, as she has my hand and arm and a tolerable voice. I was so much indulged in my infant years that I was never obliged to attend to anything, and consequently, and without the accomplishments which are now necessary to finish a pretty woman. Not that I'm an advocate for the prevailing fashion of acquiring a perfect knowledge of all languages, arts, and sciences, it is throwing away time to be mistress of french, italian and german music, singing, and drawing, etcetera, will gain a woman some applause, but will not add one lover to her list, grace and manner, after all, are of the greatest importance. I do not mean therefore that Fredricka requirements should be more than superficial, and I flatter myself that she will not remain long enough at school to understand anything thoroughly. I hope to see her the wife of Sir James within a 12 month. You know on what I ground my hope, and it is certainly a good foundation for school must be very humiliating to a girl of Frederick's age, and by the by you had better not invite her anymore on that account, as I wish her to find her situation as unpleasant as possible. I am sure of Sir James at any time, and could make him renew his application by a line. I shall trouble you, meanwhile, to prevent his forming any other attachment when he comes to town. Ask him to your house occasionally, and talk to him of Frederica that he may not forget her upon the whole. I commend my own conduct in this affair extremely, and regard it as a very happy instance of circumspection and tenderness. Some mothers would have insisted on the daughters accepting so good an offer on the first overture. But I could not reconcile it to myself. To force Fredricka into a marriage from which her heart revolted, and, instead of adopting so harsh a measure merely proposed to make it her own choice, by rendering her thoroughly uncomfortable till she does accept him. But enough of this tiresome girl, you may well wonder how I contrived to pass my time here, and for the first week it was insufferably dull. Now, however, we begin to mend. Our party is enlarged by mrs vernon's brother, a handsome young man, who promises me some amusement. There is something about him which rather interests me. A sort of saucy nous and familiarity which I shall teach him to correct. He is lively, and seems clever, and when I have inspired him with greater respect for me than his sister's kind offices have implanted, he may be an agreeable flirt. There is exquisite pleasure, Prince of doing an insolent spirit in making a person predetermined to dislike acknowledge one's superiority. I have disconcerted him already by my calm reserve, and it shall be my endeavor to humble. The pride of these self important, of course, is still lower. To convince Mrs vernon that her sister li cautions have been bestowed in vain, and to persuade Reginald that she has scandalously belied me. This project will serve, at least to amuse me, and prevent my feelings so acutely. This dreadful separation from you, and all whom I love ever yours s vernon End of section one Lady Susan by jane Austen.