Henrietta Temple: A Love Story

  CHAPTER II.

  _In Which Lord Montfort Contrives That Miss Temple Should be Left Alone_.

  AND how do you like my friend, Henrietta?' said Mr. Temple, as theydrove home.

  'I like your friend much, papa. He is quite as quiet as you said; he isalmost the only person I have seen since I quitted England who has notjarred my nerves. I felt quite sorry that I had so long prevented youboth from cultivating each other's acquaintance. He does not interferewith me in the least.'

  'I wish I had asked him to look in upon us in the evening,' said Mr.Temple, rather enquiringly.

  'Not to-day,' said Henrietta. 'Another day, dearest papa.'

  The next day Lord Montfort sent a note to Mr. Temple, to enquire afterhis daughter, and to impress upon him the importance of her eatinghis grapes. His servant left a basket. The rest of the note was aboutcinerary urns. Mr. Temple, while he thanked him, assured him of thepleasure it would give both his daughter and himself to see him in theevening.

  This was the first invitation to his house that Mr. Temple had venturedto give him, though they had now known each other some time.

  In the evening Lord Montfort appeared. Henrietta was lying on her sofa,and her father would not let her rise. Lord Montfort had brought Mr.Temple some English journals, which he had received from Leghorn.The gentlemen talked a little on foreign politics; and discussed thecharacter of several of the most celebrated foreign ministers. LordMontfort gave an account of his visit to Prince Esterhazy. Henriettawas amused. German politics and society led to German literature. LordMontfort, on this subject, seemed completely informed. Henrietta couldnot refrain from joining in a conversation for which she was fullyqualified. She happened to deplore her want of books. Lord Montforthad a library; but it was at Rome: no matter; it seemed that he thoughtnothing of sending to Rome. He made a note very quietly of some booksthat Henrietta expressed a wish to see, and begged that Mr. Temple wouldsend the memorandum to his servant.

  'But surely to-morrow will do,' said Mr. Temple. 'Rome is too far tosend to this evening.'

  'That is an additional reason for instant departure,' said his lordshipcalmly.

  Mr. Temple summoned a servant.

  'Send this note to my house,' said his lordship. 'My courier will bringus the books in four days,' he added, turning to Miss Temple. 'I amsorry you should have to wait, but at Pisa I really have nothing.'

  From this day Lord Montfort passed every evening at Mr. Temple's house.His arrival never disturbed Miss Temple; she remained on the sofa. Ifshe spoke to him he was always ready to converse with her, yet he neverobtruded his society. He seemed perfectly contented with the company ofher father. Yet with all this calmness and reserve, there was no airof affected indifference, no intolerable nonchalance; he was alwaysattentive, always considerate, often kind. However apparently engagedwith her father, it seemed that his vigilance anticipated all her wants.If she moved, he was at her side; if she required anything, it wouldappear that he read her thoughts, for it was always offered. She foundher sofa arranged as if by magic. And if a shawl were for a momentmissing, Lord Montfort always knew where it had been placed. In themeantime, every morning brought something for the amusement of Mr.Temple and his daughter; books, prints, drawings, newspapers, journalsof all countries, and caricatures from Paris and London, were mingledwith engravings of Henrietta's favourite Campo Santo.

  One evening Mr. Temple and his guest were speaking of a celebratedProfessor of the University. Lord Montfort described his extraordinaryacquirements and discoveries, and his rare simplicity. He was one ofthose eccentric geniuses that are sometimes found in decayed citieswith ancient institutions of learning. Henrietta was interested in hisdescription. Almost without thought she expressed a wish to see him.

  'He shall come to-morrow,' said Lord Montfort, 'if you please. Believeme,' he added, in a tone of great kindness, 'that if you could prevailupon yourself to cultivate Italian society a little, it would repayyou.'

  The professor was brought. Miss Temple was much entertained. In a fewdays he came again, and introduced a friend scarcely less distinguished.The society was so easy, that even Henrietta found it no burthen. Sheremained upon her sofa; the gentlemen drank their coffee and conversed.One morning Lord Montfort had prevailed upon her to visit the studioof a celebrated sculptor. The artist was full of enthusiasm for hispursuit, and showed them with pride his great work, a Diana that mighthave made one envy Endymion. The sculptor declared it was the perfectresemblance of Miss Temple, and appealed to her father. Mr. Temple couldnot deny the striking likeness. Miss Temple smiled; she looked almostherself again; even the reserved Lord Montfort was in raptures.

  'Oh! it is very like,' said his lordship. 'Yes! now it is exactly like.Miss Temple does not often smile; but now one would believe she reallywas the model.'

  They were bidding the sculptor farewell.

  'Do you like him?' whispered Lord Montfort of Miss Temple.

  'Extremely; he is full of ideas.'

  'Shall I ask him to come to you this evening?'

  'Yes, do!'

  And so it turned out that in time Henrietta found herself the centre ofa little circle of eminent and accomplished men. Her health improvedas she brooded less over her sorrows. It gratified her to witnessthe pleasure of her father. She was not always on her sofa now. LordMontfort had sent her an English chair, which suited her delightfully.

  They even began to take drives with him in the country an hour or sobefore sunset. The country around Pisa is rich as well as picturesque;and their companion always contrived that there should be an object intheir brief excursions. He spoke, too, the dialect of the country; andthey paid, under his auspices, a visit to a Tuscan farmer. All this wasagreeable; even Henrietta was persuaded that it was better than stayingat home. The variety of pleasing objects diverted her mind in spite ofherself. She had some duties to perform in this world yet remaining.There was her father: her father who had been so devoted to her, who hadnever uttered a single reproach to her for all her faults and follies,and who, in her hour of tribulation, had clung to her with suchfidelity. Was it not some source of satisfaction to see him againcomparatively happy? How selfish for her to mar this graceful andinnocent enjoyment! She exerted herself to contribute to the amusementof her father and his kind friend, as well as to share it. The colourreturned a little to her cheek; sometimes she burst for a moment intosomething like her old gaiety; and though these ebullitions were oftenfollowed by a gloom and moodiness, against which she found it in vain tocontend, still, on the whole, the change for the better was decided, andMr. Temple yet hoped that in time his sight might again be blessed andhis life illustrated by his own brilliant Henrietta.