X: Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs.Johnson

Churchhill.

I am much obliged to you, my dear Friend, for your advice respecting Mr.De Courcy, which I know was
given with the full conviction of its expediency, though I am not quite determined on following it.

I cannot easily
resolve on anything so serious as marriage; especially as I am not at present in want of money, and might perhaps, till
the old gentleman’s death, be very little benefited by the match.

It is true that I am vain enough to believe it within
my reach.

I have made him sensible of my power, and can now enjoy the pleasure of triumphing over a mind prepared to
dislike me, and prejudiced against all my past actionS.His sister, too, is, I hope, convinced how little the ungenerous
representations of anyone to the disadvantage of another will avail when opposed by the immediate influence of intellect
and manner.

I see plainly that she is uneasy at my progress in the good opinion of her brother, and conclude that nothing
will be wanting on her part to counteract me; but having once made him doubt the justice of her opinion of me, I think I
may defy her.

It has been delightful to me to watch his advances towards intimacy, especially to observe his altered
manner in consequence of my repressing by the cool dignity of my deportment his insolent approach to direct familiarity.
My conduct has been equally guarded from the first, and I never behaved less like a coquette in the whole course of my
life, though perhaps my desire of dominion was never more decided.

I have subdued him entirely by sentiment and serious
conversation, and made him, I may venture to say, at least half in love with me, without the semblance of the most
commonplace flirtation.

Mrs.Vernon’s consciousness of deserving every sort of revenge that it can be in my power to
inflict for her ill-offices could alone enable her to perceive that I am actuated by any design in behaviour so gentle
and unpretending.

Let her think and act as she chooses, however.

I have never yet found that the advice of a sister could
prevent a young man’s being in love if he chose.

We are advancing now to some kind of confidence, and in short are likely
to be engaged in a sort of platonic friendship.

On my side you may be sure of its never being more, for if I were not
attached to another person as much as I can be to anyone, I should make a point of not bestowing my affection on a man
who had dared to think so meanly of me.

Reginald has a good figure and is not unworthy the praise you have heard given
him, but is still greatly inferior to our friend at Langford.

He is less polished, less insinuating than Mainwaring, and
is comparatively deficient in the power of saying those delightful things which put one in good humour with oneself and
all the world.

He is quite agreeable enough, however, to afford me amusement, and to make many of those hours pass very
pleasantly which would otherwise be spent in endeavouring to overcome my sister-in-law’s reserve, and listening to the
insipid talk of her husband.

Your account of Sir James is most satisfactory, and I mean to give Miss Frederica a hint of
my intentions very soon.

Yours, &c.,

S.Vernon.