Lady Anne Granard/Chapter 46
CHAPTER XLVI.
So soon as Lady Anne was pronounced convalescent by the medical men, she insisted on discharging "that odious woman," the nurse, told Louisa to go home, as she was spending her husband's money very uselessly in staying there, when there was nobody in the place, and desired that Fanchette might be told "that no possible harm could arise to her from coming up to her lady, and trying to make her look less horrible."
Mrs. Penrhyn was by no means sorry to be discharged, for she earnestly desired to be at home, and knew that her husband exceedingly regretted her absence, and she had long deplored her inability to do her sister the service she desired. As, therefore, she immediately determined to set out the following day, she thought it right to give her the substance of Georgiana's letters, by telling her "how deeply her uncle, Lord Rotheles, had been affected by her late perilous situation, so that his own state became alarming, but she was most happy to say it had now subsided into a regular fit of the gout." She added "that Georgiana was his constant attendant, and a great relief to the countess, who behaved with much kindness to her."
"Poor Rotheles!" exclaimed Lady Anne; "it is just like him to take things so violently; he ought to have remembered that he has been subject to gout the last seven years." As she pronounced these words, her lips quivered, and tears gathered in her eyes, which by degrees rolled slowly down her cheeks.
"I never shall forget," said Louisa, "how kind my uncle was when he called in Welbeck Street to see us after we had had the fever; but, indeed, he always had a very tender heart—very!"
Lady Anne instantly rallied, drew up her attenuated form, and in a sharp voice, not a little querulous, said sneeringly—
"'A very tender heart!' Pray, Mrs. Penrhyn, what is the use of a tender heart?"
Louisa was taken aback; she said "She did not exactly believe she could name its uses; but she always loved people who possessed it."
"And your love is precisely of the same value as your uncle's tenderness. Had he possessed a good heart instead of a tender one, he would have sent me some money; commend me to the hand that gives, rather than the sensibility that weeps."
Louisa could not help a flush of generous anger that lighted up her beautiful face, and formed a strong contrast to Lady Anne's pale one, as she replied, "Surely, dear mamma, Lord Rotheles has never yet been wanting in essential services, as well as kind attentions? He has doubled your income ever since you were a widow, he made me a kind present on my marriage, received you and some of your daughters every autumn for a month or two, sent you abundance of venison, game, and fruit, which you always gave away, by that means securing yourself numerous invitations to pleasant familiespardon me if I speak warmly, but I must do my uncle justice."
"Of course, for he justified your disobedience; and I do suppose it has been your tattle that justifies him to himself in not sending me money, now that he cannot fail to know what I want, in order that I may leave this place."
"I have never written a line to Lord Rotheles since my marriage, save to thank him."
"That is a paltry subterfuge. You have told Georgiana that the Count found me money on his arrival, and she has told Lord Rotheles, to make him easy?"
"Count Riccardini find money! I did not know he had any. I thought he was poor, for I am certain he is careful; and I could not dream of such a thing."
"Not unless he had told you. Well, well, since you did not know, I beg you will consider yourself in ignorance still, and by no means let it slip to Helen; if she knows nothing she can tell nothing, and is in the safer state."
"But, dear mamma, it would relieve her mind so much if she knew you were better off than we both feared you were, that, if you would say a word to make her easy, I should be very much obliged to you."
"But I am not easy—quite the contrary; and I desire, as soon as you get home—and I expect you to go to-morrow—you would ask your husband to lend me a hundred pounds. I suppose he can do such a thing as that, now Glentworth has given him that city concern, or it must be a very poor one?"
"I am sure he will do it gladly."
"Then let his gladness be immediate, for I want to get home. You had better settle your affairs to-day, and see if you have more than you want to take you home, in which case you can leave it. You must travel post, but you only need one pair of horses in your situation of life."
"I never thought of more; and as the Count will travel with me, and he insists on paying half our lodgings (for he is as liberal as he is careful), I dare say I shall have twenty pounds to spare, and"
"I can't see the use of his going away because you do. Not that I shall see him for some weeks to come, but he is useful to Helen, and I can't see what he can possibly do in London."
"He is extremely anxious to be received into the Protestant church. A part of every day is spent by him in conversation with the clergyman here, preparing him to that end."
"What, is he ill also? All the world seem ill at once, I think."
"The Count is not ill at all, mamma; thus far he finds the climate agree with him."
"Then what in the name of wonder makes him think of churches and clergymen? he must be superannuated or deranged."
"I believe he has long meditated this renunciation, and, perhaps, your danger has made him more solicitous to"
"My danger! what can you possibly mean? I have been in no danger whatever; how could I, with such a constitution as mine? I have been poorly, I grant. I suppose I have gout in my system; it runs through the peerage, as poor Rotheles is another proof. It is exceedingly wrong to mention such words as danger in the ears of an invalid; though I am comparatively well, it is very likely to bring on the vapours; I am sure you have no tenderness, whatever your uncle may have."
"The Count is very desirous of seeing you, dear mamma."
"I cannot return the compliment whilst he has those meagrims in his head; however, you may bring him in the twilight—he will not expect to stay more than five minutes, and he is a very good creature, that is certain, and a man one can always be seen with; and I dare say Fanchette can make me a little more tolerable meantime, so go away and send her."
Louisa departed, but almost as quickly returned, for she had met Fanchette with a letter franked by Lord Rotheles, and evidently well filled.
"I dare say there is a note in it from Georgiana to me," said she, standing at a respectful distance, whilst Lady Anne broke the seal. Being very weak, she did so in somewhat of a bungling manner, for, on opening the letter five bank bills fell from it upon the carpet, which she gathered, and presented to Lady Anne, rejoiced to see £50 in the corner of each. When her prize was safe in her hand, the invalid read as follows.
"My dear sister,
"I have been truly grieved to learn how much you have suffered. I send you half a year's income, thinking it may be wanted by you at this time. I am still confined to my couch, but better. Georgiana is by this time in better health than Helen can possibly be, therefore I propose an exchange. I can speak to the former being a good nurse. Trusting we are both improving,
" I remain," &c, &c.
The handwriting spoke the feebleness of the writer, and as Lady Anne held it in her hand, she seemed likely to relapse into weakness, but recollecting herself, she said—"You need not tell Charles Penrhyn to send the hundred pounds down here, it will only make double postage to pay. I shall not want it now for six weeks, but the twenty sovereigns you have will be handy, and you may bring them when you bring the Count, only take care he does not see you lay them on the table."
"I cannot be certain I shall have twenty sovereigns, mamma, when I have paid every thing, and allowed for my expences home."
"Of course, you may have twenty, or only eighteen; bring what you have."
Parental control had been so decisive in Louisa's case that marriage bonds had not hitherto enfranchised her from the former; she, therefore, at the proper time of light, appeared on the arm of Signor Riccardini, and laid her purse on the lap of her mother (who she knew had at least three hundred pounds in possession), at the risk of being deemed extravagant by her husband.
Count Riccardini did not—to Lady Anne's great satisfaction—allude to her past danger, for, after a few words of warmly uttered congratulation, he adverted to his own solicitude on that subject he deemed of infinite importance and Lady Anne of none at all, because Catholic disabilities were all removed. "At the time of your marriage, it was a shocking thing to be a Papist. You couldn't go into parliament, your children couldn't hold places, and, in fact, there was an awkwardness in the affair; but now, there was so little difference between Protestants and Catholics, it was hardly worth the care of a gentleman, much less of a nobleman, which name he went by."
"So much the better, in one sense, Lady Anne; but if my conscience dictate one mode of conduct, I must obey it. I am going to a country where I hope to meet a great many noblemen and gentlemen, Catholics and Protestants, on a system of perfect equality, for they will all be servants; but not one of them will be found who did not follow the truth, according to his conscience."
"Well, I shall very soon follow you," said Lady Anne, by no means comprehending the Count's mode of putting his case, and having a horror of theological subjects.
"You have been very near going before me, my dear madam, and no one knows how it will be yet, for we are nearly the same age, if the memory say true. I do not like the complaint of you. I know many case of the what-call ulcer in the troat; he go down, down, fix himsel on de lung, and come to be fatal. The disease bring many person to Italy; one will recover, nine will die."
"You talk of young people; girls and boys, Count, are subject to consumption."
"Yes, principe; but some that are neither young, neither old, will just do the same."
Mrs. Penrhyn rose in great confusion, saying, "We shall be too much for mamma, indeed we shall, Count;" and taking Lady Anne's hand, she, with great respect, stooped to kiss it, and then hurried out of the room, taking the Count with her the moment he had performed the same devoir.
"How glad I am they are gone!" said Lady Anne to Helen, as she returned into the room. "Louisa is so healthy, she is quite vulgar-looking! By the way, I have never seen her child; remember that it is brought to me early in the morning. The Count is unquestionably become a Methodist, or something of that kind. How shocking! so very well looking a man as he is!"
"He is very handsome, for his years; and so good and kind!"
"His years!—Years! One would really think you were all gone mad together! What extraordinary words have I heard the chimes rung on this day! Danger!—conscience!—consumption!—years! You must all have a passion like the king in the play, for 'skulls and epitaphs and graves.' You look like a corpse yourself, that's certain; so I shall send you to Rotheles Castle, and get something better to look at."
"Send me away!" said Helen, with a face of great dismay.
"I shall set out for London the day after tomorrow, and soon after that, you will be exchanged for Georgiana. Lord Rotheles will contrive about it. I should not be surprised if somebody put it in his head."
Helen's colour returned with abundant interest; for three days before, when she was literally leaning on the arm of Count Riccardini, completely worn down with watching (for the young cannot live without sleep), who should they meet but Lord Meersbrook, who started with surprise and pity at the appearance of Helen, and although in a short time he began to hope that her disorders were temporary, yet he was convinced that they ought to be arrested soon. When she had returned into the house, he continued for a long time to walk with the Count on the pavement, and finally, to turn into his rooms, and sit awhile with Mrs. Penrhyn; from whom he learnt every thing he wished to know respecting Lady Anne, and, in his turn, communicated great pleasure by the account he gave of Georgiana's improvement, and the opinions entertained by Lord Rotheles and Sir Edward Hales, respecting her union eventually with his brother.
Mrs. Penrhyn expressed herself extremely gratified, but observed, innocently, "She wished Captain Hales had preferred Helen, for she was now nearly of age!" Lord Meersbrook did not second that wish; on the contrary, he drew up and looked proud and grave.
"I think her age would make no difference," said the Count. "I mean to say it would give her no liberty; either she love her mamma so much, or she have such great perception of the duty and the delicacy; in such case, she will decline to take advantage. Oh! she have the beautiful mind, that Helen; she is my daughter to me, and I look close into all the folds of her innocent heart, and all is good."
Lord Meersbrook's countenance regained its usual expression of urbanity.
"You have never seen Georgiana," said Louisa, "or you would say the same for her dear uncle."
"Perhaps so; we shall see. At this time, to preserve the health and soothe the spirits of Helen, is my grand object. I am full of fears for her: she want an object for make her take care of herself, is my opine."
"Oh, no! She knows how dear she is to us all," said Louisa. "Yes, all; for I am sure my Charles loves her as if she were his own sister. Dear mamma being ill is fretful and cross, and Helen has to bear it alone, for the first time in her life, and it is too much for her."
"She is pretty full of cross when she is well, so it is no wonder she have abundance now; and the gentle spirit of poor Helen sink underneath. I have one large desire to write to my Lord of Rotheles. but I cannot love to grieve him now he is so bad himself."
"I will go to Rotheles Castle," said Lord Meersbrook, "and break the matter only in the way he can bear it. I have become quite used to English travelling, so pray make no apologies; I will set out in half an hour."
The result of this journey was Lady Anne's receipt of the bills, and Helen's of the invitation, or rather command. Without this happy interference, neither circumstance would have taken place until evils of many kinds had accumulated; for, although, as we have seen, poor Lord Rotheles, in the acuteness of his feelings for his sister, became in a most alarming state, in proportion as she mended his compassion subsided towards her, and became active for himself, on whom so much severe suffering had fallen. The fit was, however, nearly over; he was delighted to see the young nobleman, began to consider the great expences of his sister's illness, and kindly acted as we have seen; he also consulted with the countess how far it might be advisable to get Lady Anne down to Rotheles Castle as soon as possible; but this she considerately thought would not do for either party, for they would both be too much excited for persons in such a state. "If," said she, "the thoughts of your sister placed you in such a situation, what will the sight of her do, sickly and wasted as she must be! I really dare not risk it—all your bad symptoms might return in an hour."
Poor Lady Anne thus lost the chance her native air might have given her for speedy recovery; but, as she bore her removal to London well, and rejoiced exceedingly in having effected it, looking to Mrs. Palmer's cook as an able successor to the one at the hotel (with a quality the latter by no means boasted), her spirits were raised, and she was much more cheerful and amiable than Helen had seen her since the time of their re-union.
A week afterwards, Georgiana, so long deemed the queen of flannels and soft palms, left the home she loved for the one she dreaded, but was perfectly willing to encounter, being indeed anxious to see her mother, and shew her every dutiful attention. On leaving Lord Rotheles, "some natural tears she dropt;" and they did not fall alone, for he was exceedingly moved; but Lord Meersbrook sustained him, and was, in the opinion of Lady Rotheles, quite a godsend, though she did not propitiate him so much as she intended, when she expatiated warmly on the superiority of Georgiana to all the rest of her nieces, though she owned "that she knew but little of Helen, who would return with the servant who accompanied her sister."