Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson

Churchhill.

You will be eager, I know, to hear something further of Frederica, and perhaps may think me negligent¹ for not writing before. She arrived with her uncle last Thursday fortnight, when, of course, I lost no time in demanding the cause of her behaviour; and soon found myself to have been perfectly² right in attributing it to my own letter. The prospect³ of it frightened her so thoroughly⁴, that, with a mixture of true girlish perverseness⁵ and folly⁶, she resolved on getting out of the house and proceeding⁷ directly by the stage to her friends, the Clarkes; and had really got as far as the length of two streets in her journey when she was fortunately missed, pursued, and overtaken. Such was the first distinguished⁸ exploit of Miss Frederica Vernon; and, if we consider that it was achieved at the tender age of sixteen, we shall have room for the most flattering prognostics of her future renown⁹. I am excessively provoked, however, at the parade of propriety¹⁰ which prevented Miss Summers from keeping the girl; and it seems so extraordinary a piece of nicety, considering my daughter’s family connections, that I can only suppose the lady to be governed by the fear of never getting her money. Be that as it may, however, Frederica is returned on my hands; and, having nothing else to employ her, is busy in pursuing the plan of romance begun at Langford. She is actually falling in love with Reginald De Courcy! To disobey her mother by refusing an unexceptionable offer is not enough; her affections must also be given without her mother’s

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