Excuse me that I have not written before. Crawford told me that you were wishing to hear from me, but I found it impossible to write from London, and persuaded myself that you would understand my silence. Could I have sent a few happy lines, they should not have been wanting, but nothing of that nature was ever in my power. I am returned to Mansfield in a less assured state than when I left it. My hopes are much weaker. You are probably aware of this already. So very fond of you as Miss Crawford is, it is most natural that she should tell you enough of her own feelings to furnish a tolerable guess at mine. I will not be prevented, however, from making my own communication. Our confidences in you need not clash. I ask no questions. There is something soothing in the idea that we have the same friend—that whatever unhappy differences of opinion may exist between us, we are united in our love of you.

“It will be a comfort to me to tell you how things are, and my present plans—if they might be called such. I was three weeks in London, and saw her (for London) very often. I had every attention from the Frasers that could be reasonably expected. I dare say I was not reasonable in carrying with me hopes of an intercourse[28] at all like that of Mansfield. It was her manner, however, rather than any unfrequency of meeting. Had she been different when I did see her, I should have made no complaint, but from the very first she was altered: my first reception was so unlike what I had hoped, that I had almost resolved on leaving London again directly.

“I need not particularise. You know the weak side of her character, and may imagine the sentiments which were torturing me. She was in high spirits, and surrounded by those who gave all the support of their own bad sense to her too lively mind. I do not like Mrs. Fraser, a cold-hearted, vain woman, who has married entirely from convenience. Though evidently unhappy in marriage, she faults not her judgment, temper, or disproportion of age, but that she is less affluent than many of her acquaintance (especially her sister, Lady Stornaway), and is the determined supporter of everything sufficiently mercenary and ambitious.