Jane Austen: The Complete Novels

Table of Contents

Lady Susan

Sense and Sensibility

Pride and Prejudice

Mansfield Park

Emma

Persuasion

Northanger Abbey

The Watsons

Sanditon

First published : 1794

Chapter 1 — Lady Susan Vernon to Mr. Vernon

Chapter 2 — Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson

Chapter 3 — Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy

Chapter 4 — Mr. De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon

Chapter 5 — Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson

Chapter 6 — Mrs. Vernon to Mr. De Courcy

Chapter 7 — Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson

Chapter 8 — Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy

Chapter 9 — Mrs. Johnson to Lady S. Vernon

Chapter 10 — Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson

Chapter 11 — Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy

Chapter 12 — Sir Reginald De Courcy to his Son

Chapter 13 — Lady De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon

Chapter 14 — Mr. De Courcy to Sir Reginald

Chapter 15 — Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy

Chapter 16 — Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson

Chapter 17 — Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy

Chapter 18 — From the same to the same

Chapter 19 — Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson

Chapter 20 — Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy

Chapter 21 — Miss Vernon to Mr De Courcy

Chapter 22 — Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson

Chapter 23 — Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy

Chapter 24 — From the same to the same

Chapter 25 — Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson

Chapter 26 — Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan

Chapter 27 — Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy

Chapter 28 — Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan

Chapter 29 — Lady Susan Vernon to Mrs. Johnson

Chapter 30 — Lady Susan Vernon to Mr. De Courcy

Chapter 31 — Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson

Chapter 32 — Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan

Chapter 33 — Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson

Chapter 34 — Mr. De Courcy to Lady Susan

Chapter 35 — Lady Susan to Mr. De Courcy

Chapter 36 — Mr. De Courcy to Lady Susan

Chapter 37 — Lady Susan to Mr. De Courcy

Chapter 38 — Mrs. Johnson to Lady Susan Vernon

Chapter 39 — Lady Susan to Mrs. Johnson

Chapter 40 — Lady De Courcy to Mrs. Vernon

Chapter 41 — Mrs. Vernon to Lady De Courcy

Conclusion

Langford, Dec.

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 Churchhill, 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, 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 Churchhill. It would indeed give me most painful sensations to know that it were not in your power to receive me.

Your most obliged and affectionate sister,

S. Vernon.

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 Mainwaring 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 come 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 Mainwaring’s. I have avoided all general flirtation whatever; I have distinguished no creature besides, of all the numbers resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on whom I bestowed a little notice, in order to detach him from Miss Mainwaring; but, if the world could know my motive THERE they would honour 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 for my exertions as I ought.

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 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 this is very provoking: Sir James is gone, Maria highly incensed, and Mrs. Mainwaring insupportably jealous; so jealous, in short, and so enraged against me, that, in the fury of her temper, I should not be surprized 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 his throwing her off for ever 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 Mainwaring 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 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 Churchhill. 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 am afraid of his wife. At Churchhill, 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.

Adieu, I will send you a line as soon as I arrive in town.

Yours ever,

S. Vernon.

Churchhill.

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.