Page:Lady Anne Granard 2.pdf/262

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
260
LADY ANNE GRANARD.

musical composer of first-rate talent, and Charles Wesley's son, the musical genius of his day—Charles himself was both a lively and a devotional poet, and the Marquess of Wellesley is not only an elegant classical scholar, but a sweet poet, though the world does not know it; from thus looking over the family, Frederic, I infer that this country may be blessed by the wisdom and energies of the duke for many, many years, provided he takes proper care of himself, such care as you are willing to take of me."

"I should wish no better lot in life, than taking care of you both," said his lordship; but he felt, at the same moment, there was another and a very different person whom he should like to include in his circle. Although he had been very angry with Lady Anne Granard (of whose present situation he was ignorant), and therefore was still the same, so far as his dear brother was concerned, yet he was sensible of a certain tie to her which might, at a different period of society, have been imputed to witchcraft. He considered her a proud, insolent, and unfeeling woman, who deserved a thousand inflictions by way of punishment, but he could not himself bestow one of them; on the contrary, when he found she was distressed for money, he earnestly intreated Mr. Palmer to relieve her, and the plan of paying beforehand for the house was entirely of his suggestion. The few words of advice she gave him as to escaping political embarrassments, struck him as the acme of wisdom, and as indicating an inte-