Mr. De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon

Parklands.

My dear Sister — I congratulate you and Mr. Vernon on being about to receive into your family the most accomplished¹ coquette in England. As a very distinguished² flirt³ I have always been taught to consider her, but it has lately fallen in my way to hear some particulars of her conduct at Langford: which prove that she does not confine herself to that sort of honest flirtation⁴ which satisfies most people, but aspires⁵ to the more delicious gratification of making a whole family miserable⁶. By her behaviour to Mr. Mainwaring she gave jealousy⁷ and wretchedness to his wife, and by her attentions to a young man previously⁸ attached to Mr. Mainwaring’s sister deprived an amiable⁹ girl of her lover.

I learnt all this from Mr. Smith, now in this neighbourhood (I have dined with him, at Hurst and Wilford), who is just come from Langford where he was a fortnight with her ladyship, and who is therefore well qualified¹⁰ to make the communication.

What a woman she must be! I long to see her, and shall 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 bestow¹¹ them- -and all this without the charm of youth! I am glad to find Miss Vernon does not accompany her mother to Churchhill, as she has not even manners to recommend her; and, according to Mr. Smith’s account, is equally dull and proud. Where pride and stupidity unite there can be no

分享到：