Page:Lady Anne Granard 2.pdf/76

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
74
LADY ANNE GRANARD.

which, they stopped in Cumberland long enough to have the marriage celebrated by bans.

The marriage made all the noise in the country usually made by such affairs, and Mr. Granard was condoled with as if his sister had been guilty of a heinous crime, instead of a too natural imprudence. "When he came to H—, the signor had scarcely a second shirt to his back," said one. "I know that he sold the ring off his finger to pay Mrs. Pearson for his lodgings," said another; "and to think of his ingratitude to Mr. Granard, who has been every thing to him; what a wicked creature! he must be the frozen adder which destroyed the bosom that fostered it."

After a time these wise people began to find out "Mr. Granard might thank himself for what had happened; how could he expect any thing better to arise when he was perpetually sending for the signor? Nor could the poor man be called a vagabond, since he was wonderfully industrious for one not brought up to work; he did not owe a shilling in the world, and several poor people had reason to lament his absence. His priest approved him exceedingly, and that was praise, though it came from a papist." It was the only thing in the whole affair, however, which troubled Mr. Granard, but he trusted the count was too honourable to influence his sister on the score of religion; and he was right.

Lady Anne raved, sneered, and descanted on the