Page:Lady Anne Granard 3.pdf/285

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LADY ANNE GRANARD.
283

her death some months before, had deceived themselves, and that her own account was the only one to be relied on, yet he had many surmisings.

His anxiety on this point increased the nearer he advanced to London, and he gave orders at Hounslow to call in Welbeck Street the first thing, in order to make particular inquiries. Helen presented herself at the door of the carriage, into which she was immediately admitted, and received affectionate, and, on the earl's part, sincere congratulations on the state of her love affairs; but she was evidently so low in her spirits, and her account of Lady Anne was so unsatisfactory, that the earl would not proceed farther without seeing his sister, and he alighted accordingly, and went into the dining-room, that she might be apprized of his coming.

The invalid was at the moment propped up with pillows, and Georgiana was feeding her with jelly. In the morning, accounts of a tolerably promising nature had been received from Mrs. Glentworth, but they were not sufficiently so to prevent her from experiencing much solicitude, and frequently wishing herself on the spot, and, so much was she absorbed by this subject, that when told her brother