Lord Colambre gave his servant a charge to bear with Mr. Reynolds’
rough manner and temper, and to pay the poor old gentleman every
possible attention. Then our hero proceeded with his father on his
journey, and on this journey nothing happened worthy of note. On his
first perusal of the letter from Grace, Lord Colambre had feared that
she would have left Buxton with Lady Berryl before he could reach it;
but, upon recollection, he hoped that the few lines he had written,
addressed to his mother _and_ Miss Nugent, with the assurance that
he should be with them on Wednesday, would be sufficient to show her
that some great change had happened, and consequently sufficient to
prevent her from quitting her aunt, till she could know whether such
a separation would be necessary. He argued wisely, more wisely than
Grace had reasoned; for, notwithstanding this note, she would have
left Buxton before his arrival, but for Lady Berryl’s strength of
mind, and positive determination not to set out with her till Lord
Colambre should arrive to explain. In the interval, poor Grace was,
indeed, in an anxious state of suspense; and her uncertainty, whether
she was doing right or wrong, by staying to see Lord Colambre,
tormented her most.
“My dear, you cannot help yourself: be quiet,” said Lady Berryl: “I
will take the whole upon my conscience; and I hope my conscience may
never have any thing worse to answer for.”
Grace was the first person who, from her window, saw Lord Colambre,
the instant the carriage drove to the door. She ran to her friend Lady
Berryl’s apartment. “He is come!--Now, take me away.”
“Not yet, my sweet friend! Lie down upon this sofa, if you please; and
keep yourself tranquil, whilst I go and see what you ought to do; and
depend upon me for a true friend, in whose mind, as in your own, duty
is the first object.”
“I depend on you entirely,” said Grace, sinking down on the sofa: “and
you see I obey you!”
“Many thanks to you for lying down, when you can’t stand.”
Lady Berryl went to Lord Clonbrony’s apartment; she was met by Sir
Arthur. “Come, my love! come quick!--Lord Colambre is arrived.”
“I know it; and does he go to Ireland? Speak instantly, that I may
tell Grace Nugent.”
“You can tell her nothing yet, my love; for we know nothing. Lord
Colambre will not say a word till you come; but I know, by his
countenance, that he has good and extraordinary news.”
They passed rapidly along the passage to Lady Clonbrony’s room.
“Oh, my dear, dear Lady Berryl, come! or I shall die with impatience,”
cried Lady Clonbrony, in a voice and manner between laughing and
crying. “There, now you have congratulated, are very happy, and very
glad, and all that--now, for mercy’s sake, sit down, Lord Clonbrony!
for Heaven’s sake, sit down--beside me here--or any where! Now,
Colambre, begin; and tell us all at once!”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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