13
Johnson suspected nothing of your engagement the
evening before; it is undoubtedly better to deceive
him entirely;— and since he will be stubborn, he must
be tricked. — I arrived here in safety, & have no
reason to complain of my reception from M^r. Vernon;
but I confess myself not equally satisfied with the
behaviour of his Lady. — She is perfectly well bred indeed,
& has the air of a woman of fashion, but her
manners are not such as can persuade me of her
being prepossessed in my favour. — I wanted her
to be delighted at seeing me. — I was as amiable
as possible on the occasion — but all in vain — She
does not like me. To be sure, when we consider that
I did take some pains to prevent my Brother—in—
law's marrying her, this want of cordiality is not
very surprizing — and yet it shows an illiberal &
vindictive spirit to resent a project which in:
:fluenced me six years ago, and which never suc:
:ceeded at last. — I am sometimes half disposed

14
to repent that I did not let Charles buy Vernon Castle
when we were obliged to sell it, but it was a trying
circumstance, especially as the sale took place exactly
at the time of his marriage — & everybody ought to
respect the delicacy of those feelings, which could not
endure that my Husband's Dignity should be lessened
by his younger brother's having possession of the family
Estate. — Could matters have been so arranged as to pre:
:vent the necessity of our leaving the Castle, could we
have lived with Charles & kept him single, I should
have been very far from persuading my husband to
dispose of it elsewhere; — but Charles was on
the point of marrying Miss De Courcy, & the event
has justified me. Here are children in abundance,
& what benefit could have accrued to me from his
purchasing Vernon? — My having prevented it, may
perhaps have given his wife an unfavourable im:
:pression — but where there is a disposition to dislike

15
a motive will never be wanting; & as to money
matters it has not—with—held him from being very
useful to me. I really have a regard for him, he
is so easily imposed on!
     The house is a good one, the furniture
fashionable, & everything announces plenty & ele:
:gance. Charles is very rich I am sure; when a
Man has once got his name in a Banking House
he rolls in money. But they do not know what to
do with their fortune, keep very little company,
& never go to Town but on business. — We shall
be as stupid as possible. — I mean to win my
Sister in law's heart through her Children; I know
all their names already, & am going to attach myself
with the greatest sensibility to one in particular, a
young Frederic, whom I take on my lap & sigh over
for his dear Uncle's sake. —

Poor Mainwaring! — I need not tell you