Lady Susan
By Jane Austen

Transcription, correction, editorial commentary, and markup by Students and Staff of Marymount University, Haider Adhoob, Kiashu Akter, Jabari Bryant, Felipe Caceres, Destiny Clark, Naiya Dalce, Anna Moon, Sibeso Mubonda, Alexis Johnson, John Lillis, Derek Manzanares, Blake Sorenson, William Rash, Tonya Howe
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London : Richard Bentley and Son, 1871This text was written around 1795, but not published until 1871, in this, the second edition of James Edward Austen-Leigh's A Memoir of Jane Austen. Page images are drawn from the text held by Oxford Libraries, digitized by Google, and available at Internet Archive. View the complete Memoir online at https://archive.org/details/amemoirjaneaust00leiggoog/page/n12/mode/2up.Item information available via WorldCat at https://www.worldcat.org/title/memoir-of-jane-austen/oclc/358319.Project Gutenberg, n.d.Base text for this digital edition has been drawn from Project Gutenberg http://www.gutenberg.org/files/946/946-h/946-h.htm

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Citation

Austen, Jane. "Lady Susan". A Memoir of Jane Austen, Richard Bentley and Son, 1871 , pp 203-291 . Literature in Context: An Open Anthology. http://anthology.lib.virginia.edu/work/Austen/austen-lady-susan. Accessed: 2024-11-21T10:53:48.714Z

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[203] LADY SUSAN.
 I.
Lady Susan Vernon to Mr. Vernon. 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 sisterSisterSisterLady Susan Vernon's deceased husband is Charles Vernon, whom she calls her brother here. His wife, Catherine, is therefore her sister-in-law. Lady Susan is trying to ingratiate herself through family feeling, though as we will see she has not ever met Catherine and in fact attempted to keep Charles and Catherine from marrying. - [TH] whom I have so long desired to be acquainted with. My kind friendsKindFriendKindFriendSense 8 for the word "kind" in the Oxford English Dictionary, as well as sense 6 for "friend",both indicate potentially sexual or amorous meanings in use during Austen’s time; given what we know of Lady Susan’s relationship to Mr. Mainwaring, and the fact that she is writing to her confidante Alicia Johnson, suggest that "kind friends" may also have these sexual connotations. - [TH] here are most affectionately urgent with me to prolong my stay, but their hospitable and cheerful dispositions lead them too much into societyIntoSocietyIntoSocietygraphicAccording to the OED, this phrase, which is now obsolete and only used historically, means going out and "mix[ing] in society (as opposed to remaining in one's own home or domestic circle); to appear regularly at private or public entertainments, parties, etc." ("Society" 7.d). The image included here, from the British Library, is an illustration from A Description of the Correct Method of Waltzing (1816) showing deportment at a dance, one of the main social gatherings of the period. - [TH] 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,

Page [203]Page [203]

Footnotes

_SisterLady Susan Vernon's deceased husband is Charles Vernon, whom she calls her brother here. His wife, Catherine, is therefore her sister-in-law. Lady Susan is trying to ingratiate herself through family feeling, though as we will see she has not ever met Catherine and in fact attempted to keep Charles and Catherine from marrying.
_KindFriendSense 8 for the word "kind" in the Oxford English Dictionary, as well as sense 6 for "friend",both indicate potentially sexual or amorous meanings in use during Austen’s time; given what we know of Lady Susan’s relationship to Mr. Mainwaring, and the fact that she is writing to her confidante Alicia Johnson, suggest that "kind friends" may also have these sexual connotations.
_IntoSocietygraphicAccording to the OED, this phrase, which is now obsolete and only used historically, means going out and "mix[ing] in society (as opposed to remaining in one's own home or domestic circle); to appear regularly at private or public entertainments, parties, etc." ("Society" 7.d). The image included here, from the British Library, is an illustration from A Description of the Correct Method of Waltzing (1816) showing deportment at a dance, one of the main social gatherings of the period.
_PrivateSchoolsAccording to Deborah Simonton's article on "Women and Education" in Women's History, Britain 1700-1850, in the Enlightenment period, the education of girls was increasing in importance. Schools prepared girls for the lives they would lead within their socioeconomic class, while also seeking to teach "good morals and behavior" (35). Boarding or day schools for girls were often used for "finishing" in the genteel arts needed to secure a successful marriage (43). A typical curriculum consisted of "needlecraft skills, the art of polite conversation, dancing, music, drawing, painting, French, perhaps Italian, and subjects...with which to make polite conversation" (44-45). Only girls from plebeian or working class families would be taught more practical trades, but the education of women in the 18th century differed greatly from that offered to young men (Simonton, "Women and Education")
_FourMonthsgraphicIn the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, when a woman's husband died, the widow was usually negatively economically impacted. Widows, unlike wives, had a higher degree of authority and power over their own economic lives and that of their children because they became legal heads of household. This empowerment, however, threatened patriarchal order, which depended on the economic subordination of women. In addition, widows in the eighteenth century were often depicted as dangerously sexual because they were not legally owned by a husband. Women were expected to mourn publicly and for prolonged periods of time for their husbands, by "withdrawing from social life" and wearing particular kinds of clothing (Klassen, "Widows and Widowers"). The image included here, a 1781 fashion plate from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, shows aristocratic mourning wear in a French context, which would likely have been particularly attractive to a character like Lady Susan.
_AdvantageLady Susan here claims out that she seeks financial and other benefits for her daughter as a result of the marriage she is trying to arrange between Frederica and Sir James. See the OED definitions of "advantage," especially phrase 1.b.
_MakeProposalsOver the course of the eighteenth century, marriages were increasingly less "arranged," but financial arrangements were always made and agreed upon before the marriage took place. Typically, this included agreements about dowry and, especially, jointure. Frederica, poor after the death of her father, would bring little to no dowry to her future husband, but Lady Susan would hope to negotiate a large jointure. A jointure was the amount a husband agrees to settle on his wife to support her after his death. In addition, marriage settlements would include agreements for things like pin money. See H. J. Habakuk, "Marriage Settlements in the Eighteenth Century" and Susan Staves, Married Women's Separate Property in England, 1660-1833, especially "Pin-Money and Other Separate Property."
_GuardianGuardianship in the eighteenth century was a legal mechanism for fathers to extend their power over their children after death by appointing what was called a "testamentary guardian" in their wills. Both paternal authority and guardianship ceased bearing legal weight after a child's twenty-first birthday (Abramowicz, "English Child Custody Law, 1660-1839," 1344). In marriage, daughters were subsumed into the legal identity of their husbands under the law of coverture ("Women and the Law"). In Lady Susan, Mr. Johnson had presumably been appointed guardian to the young woman who is now Mrs. Mainwaring, upon her father's death. After she married her husband, Mrs. Mainwaring would no longer have a legal guardian other than her, though we can see in this novella that the personal relationship and dependency continues.
_CoquetteA coquette is a flirt, or, according to the OED, one who uses "arts intended to excite the admiration or love of the opposite sex, without any intention of responding to the feelings awakened."
_AccomplishmentsAn accomplished woman would be someone who could dance, draw, play music and sing (" "Music and Class in Jane Austen").
_HumiliatingLady Susan is pointing out that, at 16--marriagable age--a finishing school would be inapproopriate and hence humiliating for her daughter. Schools for girls were meant to prepare them for future marriage.
_InSussexgraphicSussex is a county in the south of England. in the 18th century it was an area witnessing an agricultural revolution. There was a transition period between rural ways and more modern farming ("Sussex Past"). The image included here is a sketch of Amberley castle in Sussex.
_HorsesgraphicSussex was a rural location, and the Vernon estate of Churchhill is wealthy. In this letter, Reginald is having his horses sent from Kent, where his parents live, so he can hunt during his stay at Churchhill. Hunting in Sussex and Kent was very different ( Hunting counties of Britain: Kent). The image included here shows what fox hunting was like during the period; it was an activity reserved for wealthy people.
_MarryHim A man's status in the 18th century was often based on the land he owned, and from which he drew income. The land owned had to pass down through generations; therefore, it was not just influence but affluence. An entail was a legal maneuver that settled the deed to an estate on a particular person, usually to ensure an estate stayed in the family. Here, Alicia Johnson is advising Lady Susan to marry Reginald because he will likely inherit his father’s wealthy estate--and probably soon, since his father is ill ("entail").
_EmancipationAlicia Johnson is pointing out that it is very unlikely Mainwaring will ever be "emancipated" or divorced from his wife.
_MyConduct Conduct for women in the 18th century was different from men. Women’s conduct was particularly to be "reserved" and "guarded." In one conduct manual for women, A Father’s Legacy to his Daughters, Dr. Gregory states that "‘one of the chief beauties in a female character is that modest reserve, that retiring delicacy, which avoids the public eye, and is disconcerted even at the gaze of admiration’"((26, qtd in Morrison, "Conduct (Un)Becoming to Ladies," 222-223). Read Gregory’s 1774 conduct book here.
_SmallestDangerDuring the beginning of the 18th century most marriages were about money and financial arrangements, which created alliances and trades of land and property. For people in higher classes, many marriages were arranged by parents while members of the working class had the chance to marry out of love. Much of the problems of marriages in the 18th century were amplified by the fact that leaving a marriage and getting a divorce was a difficult thing; divorce courts were not introduced until the 19th century. (Moore, "Love and Marriage in 18th-Century Britain")
_GetHimAway Catherine Vernon insists on not letting her brother, Reginald, fall in love with Lady Susan. She asks her mother to talk to Reginald, and later on the reader’s see that the father, Sir Reginald, speaks to the son instead. Men had all of the power, because they had the land and the inheritance. They provided for the family. Women did not have enough power to be able to speak to men about a lot of things. They had to simply mind their business and stay in a woman’s place. Yet, while it wouldn’t have been appropriate for Lady de Courcy to chastise her son, she was within her duty to ask her husband to do so. That is why the mother did not speak to Reginald, but the father did. ("entail")
_ConductInLifehe is wealthy, so the way he acts (his conduct) shouldn’t embarrass his family or legacy. He has to think about these things when it comes to Lady Susan, because of her reputation. Women in the 18th century were to never marry in the lower class. So, he could technically marry anyone he wanted as long as the woman was a good person. His name, legacy, and family could be tarnished if he doesn’t choose wisely. ()18th century
_MarriagegraphicMarriage in the 18th century was based on age, money, and social life, and it was taken very seriously. People typically married within their own social class, such as low income to low income homes. Also men and women had different sets of roles in a marriage such as women were to stay home and take care of the family and do cooking. While men, where to go out and find them a job to earn money to help provide food for the family. These marriages were arranged marriages given by their parents.("Social and Family Life in the Late 17th & Early 18th Centuries"). This image, a 1744 painting by Joseph Highmore illustrating a scene from a novel, shows a marriage ceremony.
_TwelveYearsTowards the end of the 18th century, the average age of marriage was twenty-eight years old for men and twenty-six years old for women. In the 19th century, the average age fell for English women, but never went below twenty-two. The decision to get married during this time was based much on the social and economic class("5 Things Victorian Women Didn't Do (Much)" )
_InfirmitiesAccording to the OED, an infirmity was a "weakness" or a "feebleness," especially associated with old age (n2a).
_PrejudicedWhile today we think of racism when we hear this word, in this context, Sir Reginald is not talking about race but using the word in its original sense, a "[p]reconceived opinion not based on reason or actual experience" (I1a).
_AllianceAccording to the OED, an alliance as used in this sense refers to a "[u]nion, bond, or connection through consanguinity or...marriage" (n1). Here, Sir Reginald is pointing out that Lady Susan would naturally seek a marriage alliance with a wealthier family.
_Vexation According to the OED, vexation means "A source or cause of mental trouble or distress; a grief or affliction; an annoyance" (n4). Here, the vexation is that Catherine's father now knows of her fears.
_AgeDifferencegraphicLady Susan, who is 35 years old, would have been considered too old for Reginald De Courcy, who is 23, in the eighteenth century. Because "women were extremely reliant on men for any legal status, a property claim, or access to their wealth...pushed many women to marry young" (Elsasser), especially so that children could be born to inherit. Most women at the time were married between the average ages of 16 and 20 years of age; however, the legal consent of marriage started as low as 12 years of age. (Emily Elsasser, "Legal Aspects of Marriage in 18th Century England"). The image included here is "The Settlement," by William Hogarth and provided by The British Library. This painting is one of many satirical paintings from Hogarth's Marriage a la Mode, a series responding to the mercenary nature of marriage.
_TraducedAccording to the Oxford English Dictionary, traduced means "to defame, slander, or speak ill of" ("Traduced" 4.a).
_ManOfFortuneAccording to the OED, a "man of fortune" is a man "possessing great (usually inherited) wealth" (Fortune" n.6). During the 18th century, social status was a part of everyday society, with many asserting status through monetary gain. (Mullan, "Status, rank, and class in Jane Austen's novels"")
_CharacterDuring the 18th century, the word "character" had multiple meanings, most deriving from the first literal sense noted in the OED: "A distinctive mark impressed, engraved, or otherwise made on a surface" (I.1) or a "feature, trait" (II.2) In this case, it refers more figuratively to the distinctive characteristics of a "very injured woman."
_Judgement Judgement is considered going beyond empirical evidence to draw a conclusion. In the eighteenth century, the period of the Enlightenment, questions about the nature of judgement permeated intellectual conversation. Read more about judgement in Criteria Of Certainty: Truth and Judgment in the English Enlightenment, by Kevin Cope.
_PunishedLady Susan’s desire for Frederica to marry comes from her need of money to sustain her way of life and social status. Marriage in the eighteenth century was most commonly done for other needs, rather than love. "Couples wed to make political alliances, to raise capital, to expand the workforce and for a whole array of practical purpose" (Salt Lake Tribune). ("Love And Marriage").
_ShrubberygraphicAccording to Robert Clark, shrubberies and wilderness gardens were open stretches of land that were usually filled with bordering rows of bushes and trees, which could also be accompanied with lakes or installations. These large gardens were a type of status symbol and were also made for the garden owner's pleasure. These gardens or shrubberies allowed for parties to communicate with each other and partake in walks observing the garden with the garden installations also encouraging conversation (Robert Clark, "Wilderness and Shrubbery in Austen’s Works"). The image included here, A 17th-century painting of the "Vauxhall Garden", a public pleasure garden, from the Oxford University Press sheet music department. Other than wilderness gardens, pleasure gardens were gardens for anyone who could pay to enter, and often featured a variety of entertainments like fireworks and music.
_INCOGThis is short for "incognito"--Mainwaring is suggesting he will rent an apartment nearby as someone else, incognito.
_PostThe post, or mail service, was introduced in the seventeenth century. Carriers brought letters from one post or station to another on foot or horseback. "Post" refers both to the letters themselves, and to the mail system more broadly("Royal Mail History").
_EnslavedReginald's belief that Frederica attempted to run away for no reason and that Lady Susan is not to blame may be a result of blind love and unwillingness to face the truth--Reginald's judgment is not free but "enslaved" by his love of Lady Susan. As one psychologist notes, "In light of the complexity typical of love and the fact that lovers are often unwilling to face reality, self-deception and mistakes are likely to occur." When one is in love with another it is easy to forgive or ignore negative aspects of their partner (Ben-Zeév, "Is Love Blind?").
_WretchEdeducationAlthough women's education was bad during the 18th century, generally, in this letter, Ms. Veron refers to Lady Susan's poor example for her daughter Frederica. In "Lady Susan: The Wicked Mother in Jane Austen’s Novels," Barbara Horwitz points out that Lady Susan uses the language of conduct books on female education, but does not follow their spirit. She "not only brings up her daughter improperly and cruelly, obviously ignoring the spirit of the conduct books; she uses their precepts, and even their very own language, to justify her misconduct. Lady Susan is an immoral woman who uses her daughter for her own ends."(/">"Lady Susan: The Wicked Mother in Jane Austen’s Novels").
_TheStage graphicFrederica has escaped from her school by "stage," which was a method of public transportation--a stagecoach. According to Historic UK, an online history magazine focused on British history, the stagecoach was initially established in the 13th century. It would have been very tedious and treacherous to take a journey by stage, as the roads were not well-maintained, and there was a constant threat of highwaymen or robbers. It was also more dangerous for single women, as a result. Passengers could sleep inside while someone else drove the horses. It was a very slow and inferior way to travel. Additionally, this was how mail moved from town to town. The image included here, an anonymous 1767 painting by the British School, shows a stagecoach full of people traveling between Abington and London (Art UK).
_Prognostics Per the OED, prognostics (2.a) in this context means "something which forewarns of events to come; an omen, a portent." Here Lady Susan is saying that she is hopeful (or skeptical) or Frederica’s future.
_DisobeyHerMotherIn this context, "to disobey her Mother" means to go against her mother’s wishes regarding who she wants to pursue romance with. As John Mullan notes, in an essay for the British Library, marriage in Austen’s time was often arranged and involved an elaborate process of courtship ("Courtship, love, and marriage in Jane Austen's novels").
_Approbation Per the OED, approbation (2) in this context means "the action of formally or authoritatively declaring good or true; sanction." This means that Mrs. Vernon is asking Lady De Courcy to sanction their marriage.
_Nursery graphicAccording to the OED the nursery is a room or an area in the house made for babies and young children to live in while they were being cared for and nursed. Often, early education occurred in the nursery. The image here, from the National Trust UK, shows the nursery at Wallington estate, a house much like we could imagine Churchhill to be.
_BreakfastRoom Per this article by Eileen Sutherland of the Jane Austen Society of North America, the breakfast room was a room where families ate most of their meals. They are different in that "dining rooms were most often used only for formal dinners". This is common with the a new trend in Austen’s time where "instead of the multi-purpose hall, rooms were being used for specific purposes: there was a billiard room, a music room, a library."
_PelissesgraphicA pelisse is a woman’s long dress-like coat. This picture, from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, shows a silk pelisse from the late eighteenth century.
_RattleAccording to the OED, to rattle is to "talk rapidly in a noisy, lively, or inane manner; to chatter, to prattle." Here, Sir James is being called a rattle, or someone who talks inanely (OED, 3a).
_ThisLibertyHere, "this liberty" is referring to Miss Vernon’s decision to write to Mr. De Courcy. In this period, Miss Vernon’s actions are considered controversial as single women were not meant to write to other men. Per this article in the British Library by Kathryn Hughes--which is about the later Victorian period--men and women "inhabited what Victorians thought of as ‘separate spheres’, only coming together at breakfast and again at dinner." Single women "were not even allowed to speak to men unless there was a married woman present as a chaperone." Frederica is being very forward and ignoring the rules of decorum.
_LetterSpiritFrederica alludes to the Bible here. In 2 Corinthians 3:6, God has "made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life" (King James Version). In other words, Frederica is worried that she is being disobedient to her mother’s injunction not to speak to Mr. or Catherine Vernon in writing to Reginald.
_NoSolomonLady Susan references the biblical story of of Solomon, King of Israel (1 Kings 3:16–28). However, she provides a superficial allusion only to Solomon's wisdom. Her chief intention here seems to be to show how well-read she is in the Bible. In the story of the Judgment of King Solomon, two new mothers live in the same house; one infant dies, and both mothers claim the other as their own. To determine who the true mother is, Solomon suggests cutting the baby in two and giving each mother a piece. The true mother renounces her claim, and so Solomon's wisdom was known.
_ChitA chit is someone "considered as no better than a child. Generally used of young persons in contempt" (Johnson); now, mostly of a girl or young woman" ("Chit" 2b).
_Pen In the 18th century, the writing utensil was the quill pen. The quality of the pen depended on the animal that the feather belonged to. Discarded peacock and swan feathers were some of the high quality ingredients for the pens ("18th Century Quill Pens and Postage").
_FewShortLinesgraphicA "few short lines" refers to the length of the letter that will be carried by James who in this case is the messenger or servant who will deliver the letter to Lady De Courcy. In other words, a few short lines in this context is a brief letter. According to a review by Tracy Kiely, in the 18th century people entrusted their friends, family members or others traveling to deliver their letters and serve as messengers. Only the wealthy could afford postal services. (Vic, "The Postal Service in 18th Century Britain: Letters and the Penny-Post"). The image included here, an 18th century painting by George Morland, shows post-boys and horses, and illustrates the mode of letter delivery in the 18th century and possibly shows how James carried the letter sent by Catherine Vernon to Lady De Courcy.
_BreakfastParlourIn the 18th century, dining rooms were only used for formal dinners most of the time. It has always been a custom to have breakfast together throughout England. Families often had their breakfast in a room called the breakfast parlour, and it is where they would meet in the early mornings (Sunderland, "Dining at the Great House: Food and Drink in the Time of Jane Austen").
_AmiableAccording to the OED, being amiable means to be "lovable, worthy to be loved, and/or lovely" ("Amiable", adj.2.a).
_StablehandStable hands take care of a horse's daily needs, including feeding, grooming, and cleaning. This job required dedication since it lasts all day. Stable hands take out and saddle the horses if any one in the house they worked for wanted to ride, and they collect the horses when a rider returns ( "Groom (profession)"). The coachman would have been in charge of directing horses and grooms.
_Light During the 18th century, while the sun was the primary source of light, candles and oil lamps were used to light up one's house. These sources were used when the sun could not be depended on. Gas lighting was used during the later Victorian period, but would have been rare in homes due to the daily set up needed for the gaslight ( "Victorian Era Lighting: Electricity, Candles, Oil lamps, Chandeliers, Gas")
_UnfortunateIn the 18th century, many girls stayed home to help out in the household and were educated by their mothers. It was said that the main purpose of educating girls was to prepare them for marriage (Hübner, "Female Education in 18th and 19th Century Britain").
_IllUsedAccording to the OED, to be "ill-used" was to be treated poorly.
_LastLetterBy the 18th century, mail was delivered by coach. This was proven to be much faster than the previous horse and rider system. The coaches could travel up to eight miles an hour, and had protection to insure that the mail won't be easily stolen. Mail still took a couple of days to be delivered and the amount of time only increased the farther the distance of the sender and receiver ("Royal Mail History".)
_GayAccording to Hornet.comthe word "gay" has a variety of uses that date back as far as the 13th to the 18th century. These range from brightly colored clothing to a joyous person. The current meaning of homosexual does not apply here. In this context, Lady Susan is describing herself as joyous or very happy.
_ComposedAccording to the OED, the word "composed" means "calm or tranquil," or someone whose face is "undisturbed by emotion" ("composed, adj." 4.a).
_Town According to the OED, "town" in this sense refers to a specific town, here, London, as distinct from the country areas where Churchhill, Parklands, and Langford are located. Essentially, the booming capital of England during Lady Susan’s time ("town, n" 4.b).
_TenderAccording to the OED, tender-heartedness is "the ability to be easily moved by fear, pity, sorrow, or love.("Tender-hearted," adj.).
_BathBath was a fashionable city in Somerset, England, "known for and named after its Roman-built baths." The mineral hot springs in Bath were thought to cure illnesses like gout ("Bath"). Mr. Johnson had the gout, which led to him going to Bath for treatment in the hot mineral springs. Even if Mr. Johnson is really going for his health, as Alicia says here, Bath was well-known as a fashionable, exciting place to be, where one can see and be seen.
_GoutgraphicGout is a form of arthritis causing "severe pain, redness, and tenderness of the joints." It causes "high levels of uric acid in the blood that crystallize in the joints, tendons, or surrounding tissues that results in severe pain," often in the toes. When the gout first developed people believed it was caused by a too-rich diet; as a result, only "elites" were thought to get it. It was called "The disease of kings." ("Gout"). Mr. Johnson is ostensibly going to Bath to treat his gout. The image included here, a cartoon image drawn by James Gilray in 1799, shows how the the sharp pain and inflammation of gout looked and felt.
_SeymourAccording to Jane Austen’s World, Seymour Street is a London street adjacent to Hyde Park and near other well-known locations Mayfair and St. James’s, where wealthier people lived. This is the neighborhood where Mrs. Johnson lives. "Upper Seymour Street is situated in Marylebone...just around the corner from Portman Square and one block over from Upper Berkeley Street, an area that Jane Austen and her sister lived in" ("Upper Seymour Street").
_HeiressAn heiress is a woman who inherits the property or rank of another on that person's death. In this case, she received a large amount of money or property and Mainwaring--who has a title but no money--married her for her fortune.
_UpperSeymourStreetgraphicLady Susan is now in London, in her fashionable lodgings in Upper Seymour Street. According to the well-researched blog Jane Austen's World, "living at this location off Oxford Street was considered a moderately respectable to fairly good address during the Regency era." It is located in Westminster next to Hyde Park.
_EclaircissementIn the fashionable French, this word literally means "clearing up"; it is used to indicate that something kept secret or hidden has been revealed, as noted in the OED. For Lady Susan, the revelation of the truth is not a desirable outcome.
_theVexationAccording to another definition of vexation in the OED, vexation is "the state or fact of being mentally troubled or distressed; (in later use) esp. annoyance, irritation, dissatisfaction, or disappointment" ("Vexation," n.3a).
_ConsentThe OED states that consent means "voluntary agreement to or acquiescence in what another proposes or desires; compliance, concurrence, permission" ("Consent," n.1a). Reginald is not asking for his parent's permission to marry Lady Susan.
_CallOnTo call upon someone meant to pay them a brief visit (OED, "call", v.).
_MastersAccording to the OED, a master in this sense is someone "of approved learning, a respected scholar; an authority in (also of) a particular subject" ("Master," 13a). Lady Susan is referring here to Frederica's London tutors, likely in subjects like singing, dancing, and drawing.
_etcThis is a way to write et cetera. From the Latin, it means "And the rest, and so forth, and so on, indicating that the statement refers not only to the things enumerated, but to others which may be inferred from analogy." The OED goes on to note that it is also a generic ending to a letter before the signature, as is the case with this letter ("Et Cetera," 1).
_InfluenzaAccording to History.com the flu, or influenza, is a highly contagious viral infection that mainly affects the respiratory system. During the 18th century another influenza pandemic arose. It began in 1729 in Russia and spread throughout Europe within 6 months and all the world within three years. In general, influenza was very dangerous in this period ("Influenza")
_ClothesgraphicAccording to the article "The Cost of Living in London in Europe in the 18th Century," clothes cost a lot because it was very important during this century. People spent a lot more on clothes than we do today.(Hayword, "Cost of Living") In the Regency period, dress fit for very fashionable events might cost over 100 pounds (Jeffers, "Cost of a woman's clothing in the Regency era"), which today would be around $5,000 (National Archives Currency Converter) The image included here shows a French fashion popular in the eighteenth century, aRobe a la Francaise. In the novel, Miss Mainwaring goes to London to buy fashionable clothes like this in an attempt to secure Sir James as her husband.