Lady Anne Granard/Chapter 62
CHAPTER LXII.
When Lady Allerton discovered her sister Glentworth, though Georgiana and Mrs. Penrhyn were singing duets very charmingly, and Isabella felt their voices at her heart's core, and certainly preferred them to all she had heard in the land of song, (where, by the by, there is as much that is bad as in other countries) she was yet earnestly engaged in conversation with a lady, who had come in not long before, and communicated the information, that, in consequence of the unexpected death of a certain nobleman, a member for a great manufacturing town would be sent into the upper house, and, of course, his seat be vacated.
Had Isabella possessed two pairs of ears, wherewith to listen, and two tongues with which to inquire, she certainly could have given them all full employment. Her sister was astonished, not less at the object of her anxiety, than her adherence to it, for it was evident that the observations and assurances of various experienced ladies, who, having known her all her life, thought themselves entitled to give advice, no more affected her desires, nor altered her resolution, than the "idle wind." All the powers of her mind, all the desires of her heart, were awake to the subject, and she immediately went to Lady Anne, accompanied by two of these kind friends, to lay the matter before her.
"Dear mamma, ought not Mr. Glentworth to get into parliament as soon as possible?"
"To be sure he ought; and, once accustomed to parliamentary business, I would have him proceed to be prime minister."
Isabella started; this was not within her contemplation, and the smile which played on the face of Lady Inglis, the wife of a country baronet, made her apprehend that her mamma was laughing at her, but she was soon relieved on this head by Lady Anne adding, "I have thought much on the subject of late, and shall proceed to get him elected immediately; he is particularly well suited for the town in question, as being acquainted with commercial affairs, besides, it is within the circle of Granard Park visiting, and may be managed."
"It will rob you of your husband, I can tell you that," said one.
"You are a great deal too young to make any impression as a political character," said another.
"Even, if your cuisine is French to the utmost," added a third.
"I political!" cried Isabella; "I never dreamed of such a thing; I neither know nor wish to know any thing on the subject, nor do I affect to be patriotic enough to resign my husband to my country, if, as Lady Inglis says, it will rob me of him, for no one could feel the loss more; but I have been advised by one I never knew wrong, to get him into parliament, as a mode of employing the energies of his mind beneficially, and it cannot be doubted that I shall enjoy the popularity his talents must procure."
"Precisely in proportion as he is a man of talent will he be liable to be abused, misconstrued, caricatured, and slandered. How would you like that?"
"I should not like it, but I think I could bear it"
"But are you prepared to bear the reflections sure to be made on so very young a person as yourself, who happen also to be a very handsome one; who have the means of dress, and are accustomed to foreign manners; who, in the very innocence of your heart, may do many little things that will be trumpeted out, as errors arising from your elderly husband's devotion to the House, and neglect of his own house? Have a care, my dear, have a care."
"I will have a care, for I know the wife of Cæsar must not be suspected; but you all appear to forget how very fortunate my position is. I am a mother. I have four sisters (to say nothing of mamma’s guardianship). What have I to do with dissipating pleasures and idle acquaintances, when my whole time will be occupied with domestic ones? And what right has a mere girl to think such a man as Glentworth (a superior man I may well call him) should give, not only affection, but time, and talent, to me? No, no; he shall live in the world he will adorn and bless, and I will be his principal admirer."
The little coterie surrounding the fauteuil of the invalid were, in the first place, all female; but several gentlemen gathered round them, and the rubber being finished, the Count begged them not to renew it, in order that they might induce the remaining visitants to go into the supper-room, and enable Lady Anne to retire. In consequence, Glentworth heard the greatest part of what was said by his young wife, as he stood behind her, and began eagerly to inquire, what had given rise to the conversation. When informed, he determined to lose no time in presenting himself, and mentioned his intention openly, in order to gain the opinion of those around him, which was well worth ascertaining.
In truth, they were a respectable, pleasant, but grave company; for Lady Anne, being compelled by her friends to admit one younger brother, was determined no more of the abhorred race should enter her dominions; and her object being to procure Helen's smiles for the marquis, and the marquis's suffrage for Helen, the gay and the handsome were much less in request than the highly respectable, the agreeable, and the conversational; and, with her usual far-seeing cares, she carried her object completely, save in the case of the marquis, who did not reascend the stairs. The rooms had been most distressingly crowded; but they were reduced to a small and very comfortable party when they entered the supper-room, and Helen alone remained above, Lady Allerton undertaking the honours.
Completely worn out, yet trying to say she was brave, Lady Anne at last retired to her chamber. Helen assisted Fanchette to undress her, not sorry to see that extreme fatigue induced her to fall asleep without her usual night-draught. The company, pleased with the society of the travellers, stayed late, for persons of sober habits; and the travellers, though wearied, were excited by the subject of the election, and forgot their fatigue. All parted in great good humour; and even Glentworth, who had, in his own mind, severely condemned the folly of Lady Anne, in making such an entertainment, both on account of the expence, and in the state of her own health, owned, "that she really had the art of assorting people admirably, and he could not forbear to feel pleased with the interest she expressed on his behalf in the election."
But this was little, when compared with what he felt for Isabella, whom he held to be "a very Daniel;" and when they stepped into their room at the hotel, he did not hesitate to clasp her to his bosom, and exclaim—
"Oh! how much wiser art thou than thy years!"
In fact, if ever it was possible to outgrow, by care and wisdom, by affection and good principles, the evils threatened by an ill-assorted marriage, himself and Isabella were the couple who would do it; but he was also deeply, and, for his young wife, happily impressed, with the belief, that she had thus far made the greater sacrifices, and showed the more active disposition to that end; and he said to himself, "Really I love that poor girl better every day! I have been singularly fortunate in having so sweet a young woman to be the mother of my son."
It appeared, that Lady Anne had a strength of constitution, a tenacity of life, or much of that strength of mind, which could resist, to an extraordinary degree, the inroads of disease, and those prophecies of attendants, which so frequently assist the complaint. In her case, one might truly exclaim with Young—
"Is death at distance? No; he hath been on thee."
Nevertheless, he apparently, notwithstanding his allowed regality, was shy of a branch of the aristocracy so armed, at all points, as Lady Anne; for, on the day after her party, though she looked much worse, she insisted she was much better, and after a slight breakfast, summoned Georgiana to her bed-side, told her to bring her writing-desk, and prepare for despatching a whole batch of letters.
Most anxiously did the poor girl expect to read a letter; but as to holding a pen, or for a moment thinking on any subject but one, the thing was impossible; but as it was equally so to dispute her mother's orders, which resembled self-command, by proving how much more we can do than we think we can, she took out a sheet of pale pink note-paper, and a new pen, adjusted her writing-desk, so as to enable her to catch the eye of the invalid, in order to make out her meaning, at the least possible expence of breath, and listened at once for the postman's rap in the street, and to her mother's low, but shrill voice, in the chamber, as she said—
"I intend to address very friendly letters to several of the families in the neighbourhood of Gra- nard Park—that class of people who used to come to parties and public days, and will be surprised, and, I apprehend, delighted, to find that I remember their existence; the fact being, that I want their votes and interest for my dear—be sure you say dear—son-in-law, Mr. Glentworth (it is necessary to say that, for in past times they may remember I was not over and above civil to him); you may say what you please in the way of praise—as to integrity, honour, knowledge of trade, and that kind of thing; but be particular to begin and end as I tell you, exactly."
There was a postman's knock at the end of the street; but being at the end, Georgiana most magnanimously dipped her pen in the ink, and began, as her mamma commanded; but, as the knocks drew nearer and nearer, so did her poor heart "beat high against her breast," and, utterly unable to command its movements, she sank back in her chair, literally as pale as her mother, who, putting out her arm, took the paper, observing, "You are soon at a stand still; but one can scarcely wonder, the subject is quite new, and you are dreadfully ignorant of most things. Um, um."
"Dear and much valued Friend—The election for the borough of B having at length happily arrived, after a most tempestuous and distressing voyage—"
"Tempestuous and distressing! why the old lord was found dead in his bed, and never knew what a tempest was, for his wife was as dull as a tortoise. You have fairly spoilt the paper, and must take another sheet."
But there was a knock at Mr. Palmer's door: human nature could bear no more, and Georgiana was down stairs, and, truth to own, across the street and in the library before Mr. Palmer had wiped his spectacles, and Mrs. Palmer drawn her chair close beside his, to hear that Arthur was safe, and so reduced, his brother would not have him seen by Georgiana at present for the world; but she must imagine a thousand loves and good wishes from him, though happily, at this time, he was asleep. So soon as it was possible for him to bear the fatigue, he would of course present himself at the Admiralty; probably the writer should be up before then, and was "their happy affectionate Meersbrook."
Helen, who, being employed below, had seen the way in which Georgiana fled, and earnestly desired to follow her, completely comprehending her movement, yet felt it was her imperative duty to hasten to their mother, whom she found, with the usual prudence of a person given to extravagant habits, carefully tearing away the spoiled part of the note, and folding the other in such wise as to make it useful. On seeing how things stood, she placed herself on the unoccupied chair, and signified her readiness to write, as they had nearly finished below.
"Well, I must say, it is a comfort to have any body like you about one, Helen, for Georgiana (I blush to say it, and would not say it out of my own house) is really over head and ears in love with that sailor (who, probably, has a wooden leg and a patch on his eye by this time; Nelson, who was a great sailor, and even made into a lord, had no right arm, and looked like a starved apothecary); she thinks of nothing else, I am convinced, though the most spirit-stirring affair in the world is on the tapis—your brother Glentworth's election."
"I hope he will obtain it," said Helen, languidly.
"You hope, do you? your hope is as like despair as if they were twin sisters; but you have an excuse. I assure you, my dear, I was so hurt last night, when I saw the sad condition in which the Marquis presented himself; it took away all my pleasure in the return of your sisters, miraculously improved as they both are."
"The sight of them made me completely happy. I really thought of nothing else."
A slight blush, the consequence of a conscious fib, played on Helen's cheek for a moment; but her back was to the light, and Lady Anne observed it not, and added,
"Yes, you were happy, because your mind was disengaged, Helen; because, in short, you were not in love, and I have in your case hope that you never will be any way different to what you are at the present moment."
Helen pitched herself still farther into shadow.
"When you were all little, it was a peculiar object with me (and, in fact, the only point I studied in your education) to preserve you from a weakness to which I had never given way myself, or, at least, not in the grand affair of matrimony, and merely as an hour's amusement, en passant, at any other time. I imputed a good deal of my strength of character, in this respect, to the circumstance of my losing my mother early in life, by which means I escaped happily that kind of conduct called fondling, which is sure to awaken sensibility prematurely; and by rendering the exercise of the affections necessary for happiness, and satisfactory to that end, induces people to resign the higher purposes of existence, and lays a certain foundation for love itself. I saw all this in other persons, and I did not discourage it in our tenantry, or other low people; but what was proper in their daughters was of course objectionable in the Misses Granard; and I can truly assert, I did my duty by you all. I had no moments of weakness, no bed times kissings, no morning fondlings, no little rewards for good girlism; cold and stern, I tried to brace the system, and hoped, that in its strength, ambition, as a noble passion, would be elicited. How have I been disappointed!"
"Don't say so, mamma; every body last night said how happy you were in your family; how few mothers could show three daughters so charming and so well married, and a fourth engaged to the most promising man in the country!"
"So they may well say, when they look round and see what other dowagers have done; but yet, Helen, they have not done well in accordance with my system; or, in consequence of it, every one of them in her turn have admitted the weakness of love; not one has risen in consequence of her ambition. The two who have done well, have been even more attached than the two who have done poorly; and the one who married a man twenty years her senior, loves him the most entirely and exclusively:—how strange!"
"Remember, dear mamma, how fondly we all loved each other, finding in our sisters what other girls find in their mammas; besides, some people have the weakness you speak of naturally, uncle Rotheles, for instance; he has a very tender heart, so, indeed, has uncle Riccardini."
"But as it does not become women to imitate men, I advise you, Helen, to place my example before your eyes in preference to theirs; you are modest and pretty, be also free; do not "hold your heart in your hand for jays to peck at;" be prudent, and you will command fortune; never forget, for a moment, that
"the maid who loves,
Goes out to sea upon a shattered vessel,
And puts her trust in miracles for safety."
As Lady Anne uttered the last words, she appeared exhausted, and, after taking a jelly, disposed herself to sleep, leaving poor Helen to cogitate over the words she had last uttered, and conclude, with a deep sigh, that she was herself in the precise situation described; and that Arthur Hales, in his worst troubles, was no nearer shipwreck than her own happiness was at this very moment.
But Georgiana entered on tiptoe, recited every word of the short letter received by Mr. Palmer, and withdrew, leaving her to think and think again, what could possibly bring up Lord Meersbrook to town before his brother, at a time, too, when certainly he was called upon to attend to his aged relations. No business was even alluded to; and surely none, save of the heart, could induce a man so situated, to quit for an hour objects of such dear and commanding interest. "It is fine talking to be free, and to be prudent; say what mamma will, my lot is cast; I must love, and I must be unhappy."