 Lady Susan by Jane Austen. Narrated by Charles Bedley. The First Letter 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 we last 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 their hospitable and cheerful dispositions lead them too much into society for my present situation and state of mind, and I impatiently 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, for I shall have an opportunity of leaving her myself in my way to you. I am determined, you see, not to be denied admittance to Churchill. It would indeed give me most painful sensations to know that it were not in your power to receive me. You are most obliged and affectionate sister, S. Vernon. The second letter. A Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson. Langford. Are you mistaken? Oh, 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 me 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. I pray heaven no harm come of it. But I was determined to be discreet, to bear in mind me only being four months a widow, and to be as quiet as possible. And I have been so, my dear creature. I have omitted no one's attentions but mannerings. I have avoided all general flirtation whatever. I have distinguished no creature beside, of all the numbers resorting hither, except for James Martin, on whom I bestowed a little notice in order to detach him from this mannering. But if the world could know my motive, there they would honour me. I have been called an unkind mother. It was that 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 for my exertions as I ought. So James did make proposals to me for Fred Rieker. But Fred Rieker, 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 this present. I have more than once repented that I did not marry him myself, to where he but one degree less contemptibly weak 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 of this is very provoking. So James has gone, Maria highly incensed, and Mrs. Mannering insupportably jealous. So jealous, in 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 here your husband stands, my friend, and the kindest, most amiable action of his life was his 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 within this week. If I am as little in favour 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 fault 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 Sample complete. Ready to continue?