Lady Anne Granard/Chapter 65
CHAPTER LXV.
"Georgiana Granard here? in this very house? how dreadful! For Heaven's sake order a carriage of some kind, and let us escape! What the devil can have brought her here?"
"That kindest of all friends, Mr. Palmer, is come to see you, and Georgiana, who is much wanted by Lord Rotheles, took the advantage of his escort, having, of course, an eye to you, for she knows we are under the same roof; and, as you are really much improved, I hope you will have pleasure in seeing her."
"So I should, but it must be on the express condition, Frederic, that she does not see me. The poor soul would find herself a complete little Red Ridinghood, and expect the naughty wolf to eat her up at a mouthful. Could any worse misfortune befall any man than that of terrifying the woman he loves? I hope I am not more of a coxcomb than other young men, though more than you are I grant I always was; but, upon my soul, rather than frighten the woman I love, I would lie fifty fathom deep any day in any sea!"
"And, if I did not think the woman I loved could not take me 'to have and to hold, for better and worse, in sickness and in health,' I would not marry her for the wide world. You have often said I am too fastidious, too solicitous—that my desire to be decidedly, exclusively preferred, is as much the result of my vanity as my timidity; it may be so, but I declare to you solemnly, Arthur, I would desire no better test of a woman's regard than that presented by your present appearance, although it is by no means what you apprehend it to be. You are quite a stout gentleman to what you were last week, and, when your collar is properly adjusted, your hair brushed, and your wrapping gown, or even your frock coat does devoir aright, make a very tolerable appearance."
Arthur thought for a very long time, took a glance at himself in the looking-glass, said "it wouldn't do," and sat down again. Once he said, with great emotion, "You wouldn't deceive me, I know, Meersbrook;" but, in so saying, the melancholy, even ghastly, expression his face assumed, rendered his brother infected by his fears, and he said, "We will suffer a few days to pass before you see Georgiana; but I trust you will admit our worthy friend Palmer as soon as he awakes?"
"Of course, of course. I care not if all the men and very near all the women in England saw me. His good wife, Lady Anne, and Georgiana, are the exceptions: the first because her dear old heart would be grieved; the second, because, as an invalid, it might injure her; the third—oh! how could I bear that those sweet blue eyes and blushing cheeks, which first beheld me through a vista which she supposed concealed her wholly, and, in the beautiful benevolence of her own sisterly heart, fancied I was a hero, because I had merely performed a commonplace service to my own beloved brother—how could I bear that she should shrink and tremble to behold me—to feel she was bound to that which she feared to gaze upon?"
"But she is not bound; her mother's consent is not her consent. It is true, I believe a letter was written, but you have never received it"
"That won't do, Frederic. I know more than you do. My grandfather—God bless him!—has told me every thing: how he married her for me, and kissed her blushing cheek, down which the purest, warmest tears were flowing. I know she holds herself to be mine."
"Whilst you are young and handsome, lose a leg and an eye, and what is to be done then? such, at least, is your own doctrine."
The dispute was ended by the entrance of Mr. Palmer, who, whatever he might feel, betrayed, by no start or exclamation, his grief and surprise, and who entered warmly on the subject of Mr. Glentworth's election. Although very few men were more distinct characters than this gentleman and Arthur Hales, it was certain that a decided and extraordinary affection bound them to each other, and which, perhaps, might be explained by saying that the young sailor loved his advanced friend because he had been useful to him. From the moment the election was mentioned, a strong desire sprang in his bosom to be present with him and assist him in his pursuit, and Mr. Palmer was not slow to assure him that, of all other things, his presence was most desired by the party in question.
"My first movement must be to the Admiralty, from whom I seek not to hide my bones, since their high mightinesses may be pleased to look on them for a good purpose, nor do I care for exhibiting them on the hustings in Yorkshire; but by Georgiana I will not be seen at present, for I cannot wish to wring her heart with pity for me; and far less would I inspire her with disgust, of course; and really to know myself under the same roof and not speak to her, is killing work: yes; it is cruel to her, and death to me."
Lord Meersbrook, who was bitterly mortified at the failure of his scheme, appealed to Mr. Palmer whether his brother was not wholly wrong as to his conclusions—but that gentleman thought him right, and said, "Arthur had much better go down to the election, recover his spirits, encourage his appetite, brace himself by change of air, and amuse himself by variety of scene, until he got rid of an idea produced by the weakness of his nerves as much as his personal alteration."
As every word that passed was repeated to Georgiana, which tended to reconcile her to the disappointment she experienced, and she had too much delicacy to say any thing, whatever she might feel, the circumstance only tended to make her appear more amiable in the eyes of her friends, who left nothing unsaid or undone to convince her of their regard; and the good baronet and his sister promised to reconvey her to London in a day or two. Meantime she was all on the qui vive to catch the sound of his voice, to learn where his room was situated, and who went into it; but, alas! in this she was foiled, for his sitting-room was at a considerable distance; and Lady Rotheles had no idea where he slept, nor what passage he used. She had procured a small room for Georgiana near her own, which was at the end of a long gallery up stairs, but the Haleses she believed kept as near the ground-floor as they could.
The second evening of her sojourn, Georgiana, thinking that a little work would help to pass the melancholy time, and recollecting that Helen had placed the materials for netting in her portmanteau, took the opportunity of fetching it whilst there was light enough for the purpose. There was some little difficulty, for the day was decidedly closing, but at length she found it, and was proceeding along the gallery, which, being carpeted, her foot was noiseless, when a gentleman opened a door a little before her, and, like herself, went onwards, but he walked slowly; therefore she checked her own steps, not wishing to pass him; he sighed deeply, and she stood still, but her eye was on his form: he was tall and very thin; his hair was full and dark. It was, it must be he; she sprung forward, laid her hand on his arm, and, turning away her glowing face, said, in a tremulous voice—
"Surely, surely, it is Arthur!"
"My own Georgiana! my sweet girl! I thank you for knowing me, but do not look at me, I beseech you."
"I cannot see you; it is getting so dark; but I am not afraid of thin people; my poor mamma is much more wasted than you are, I am certain."
At this moment a servant came towards them with a lighted candle in her hand, on which he rushed down stairs with a celerity which, at least, assured his anxious ladye love, that if thin he was not weak; and, instead of going into his own sitting-room, he entered that of his grandfather, and, to his brother's exceeding joy, related the incident as one that had given him the most delightful emotion he ever experienced, dwelling with the humour of former days on the horror of the housemaid, who beheld Alonza and the fair Imogene by the blue gleam of a farthing candle, and, being turned into a Leonora by the terrific vision, would henceforward go tramp, tramp, tramp, and splash, splash, splash, over all the regions of York House, for ever and ever, like the Dutchman's leg that was wound up and running to this day.
The voice, the touch of Georgiana, proved, indeed, a restorative talisman, but he did not the less adhere to his resolution of avoiding her for a time; and the next day set out as proposed, with his brother and Mr. Palmer, for town; a decision not regretted by their venerable friends, because it enabled Georgiana to be entirely with them, and assist in their arrangements for their journey, this devotion of herself being particularly pleasing to Lord Rotheles, who was gratified with every circumstance which connected him with the family.
Many were the inquiries he made respecting his sister, but he could not judge of her actual state from poor Georgiana's account, so utterly inconsistent did it appear. She was exceedingly ill, confined to two rooms, properly medicated; yet, she received many friends, wrote many notes, and was exhilarated by the occupation. She lived only on a little jelly and a little chocolate: she was reduced to skin and bone, yet she was choosing new dresses and planning more parties; well might his lordship exclaim, "Lady Anne was always an extraordinary woman;" and his Countess determined narrowly to watch, lest she should make extraordinary claims on his purse; for, although Georgiana had said that both Mr. Glentworth and the Count had been very kind to mamma by making her considerable presents, and Mr. Penrhyn had also lent her money, she was well aware it might be said of Lady Anne—
"Her great expence had stomach for them all."
"We shall be up in May; that will be here in five weeks, you know; should your mamma, or should you, for any occurring reason, wish me to come sooner, write to me, child, and take these bills to buy yourself pretty things. I cannot spare you more just now, but I will not forget you, my dear Georgiana, be assured."
These words were spoken in great haste, but still greater affection, on the morning when they were parting, which was a trial to all; for a sense of esteem on one hand, and obligation on the other, bound them very closely: and, although they expected to meet again very soon, the continuance of life can never be reckoned on when the thread has passed fourscore, or nearly reached it. Unlike our heroine, the Kentish family in question held themselves familiar with the idea of removal, and therefore could never be startled by the summons; and the blessing of receiving Arthur, as from the dead, and of leaving Frederic in such a state of happiness as that gift bestowed on him, made them frequently own to each other, that if they were now called away with little personal pain and in full possession of their faculties, it would be a most happy circumstance.
"Not," said Mrs. Margaret, "but one would have liked to see Meersbrook married still more than his brother, because he is so likely to be happy as a married man living at home in peace and honour, rendering his tenantry comfortable, setting an example to all other young men of family, as his father did before him—one would have liked it, I say; but God's will be done!"
"One would, indeed, dear Margaret, but you see this is his first London season; he may meet some one soon, as it may happen, whom he can fancy."
"I could have wished him to marry before he got into that fancy fair, or vanity fair, a London season presents; it would break my heart (though, being old, it may be deemed tough) for him to be inveigled into marriage by mere beauty or showy accomplishments—by mere money he never will—I could have wished much—but here comes Georgiana; we must say no more."
Sir Edward did not doubt but his sister wished the elder brother had chosen her, because he had allowed such thoughts at times to occupy his own mind; but in this he was mistaken. Enough for both that they were cheered by her unceasing attention, her cheerful prattle, and her powers of grateful listening, when they were able and willing to address her. Both herself and sisters had struck them as resembling the girls of olden time, always the criterion for excellence with the aged, who seldom believe that beauty is beautiful when denuded of those accompaniments it adopted when their own young hearts first throbbed at its bidding, when they felt that
From the hoops' bewitching round
The very shoe had power to wound.
And it would be difficult to persuade any old man that the court of William IV. contained so many fine women as that of George III., even when they own that the absence of small-pox alone gives us nine out of ten left as handsome as nature made them. Perhaps, however, it is a happy provision of nature that a predilection in favour of their own early times should be deeply implanted in the human breast; for, when that time has arrived in which it is truly said, "the soul hath no pleasure," it is well and wise to look back to years in which there certainly was some; though, even in that particular, the most fortunate might say—
"That distance lends enchantment to the view."