CHAPTER XIX.
_The Crisis Rapidly Advances_.
HENRIETTA TEMPLE began once more to droop. This change was not unnoticedby her constant companion Lord Montfort, and yet he never permitted herto be aware of his observation. All that he did was still more to studyher amusement; if possible, to be still more considerate and tender.Miss Grandison, however, was far less delicate; she omitted noopportunity of letting Miss Temple know that she thought that Henriettawas very unwell, and that she was quite convinced Henrietta was thinkingof Ferdinand. Nay! she was not satisfied to confine these intimations toMiss Temple; she impressed her conviction of Henrietta's indispositionon Lord Montfort, and teased him with asking his opinion of the cause.
'What do you think is the cause, Miss Grandison?' said his lordship,very quietly.
'Perhaps London does not agree with her; but then, when she was illbefore she was in the country; and it seems to me to be the sameillness. I wonder you do not notice it, Lord Montfort. A lover to be soinsensible, I am surprised!'
'It is useless to notice that which you cannot remedy.'
'Why do you not call in those who can offer remedies?' said MissGrandison. 'Why not send for Sir Henry?'
'I think it best to leave Henrietta alone,' said Lord Montfort.
'Do you think it is the mind, then?' said Miss Grandison.
'It may be,' said Lord Montford.
'It may be! Upon my word, you are very easy.'
'I am not indifferent, Miss Grandison. There is nothing that I would notdo for Henrietta's welfare.'
'Oh! yes, there is; there is something,' said Miss Grandison, rathermaliciously.
'You are really an extraordinary person, Miss Grandison,' said LordMontfort. 'What can you mean by so strange an observation?'
'I have my meaning; but I suppose I may have a mystery as well asanybody else.'
'A mystery, Miss Grandison?'
'Yes! a mystery, Lord Montfort. There is not a single individual in thethree families who has not a mystery, except myself; but I have foundout something. I feel quite easy now: we are all upon an equality.'
'You are a strange person.'
'It may be so; but I am happy, for I have nothing on my mind. Now thatpoor Ferdinand has told Sir Ratcliffe we are not going to marry, I haveno part to play. I hate deception; it is almost as bitter as marryingone who is in love with another person.'
'That must indeed be bitter. And is that the reason that you do notmarry your cousin?' enquired Lord Montfort.
'I may be in love with another person, or I may not,' said MissGrandison. 'But, however that may be, the moment Ferdinand very candidlytold me he was, we decided not to marry. I think we were wise; do notyou. Lord Montfort?'
'If you are happy, you were wise,' said Lord Montfort.
'Yes, I am pretty happy: as happy as I can well be when all my bestfriends are miserable.'
'Are they?'
'I think so: my aunt is in tears; my uncle in despair; Ferdinandmeditates suicide; Henrietta is pining away; and you, who are thephilosopher of the society, you look rather grave. I fancy I think weare a most miserable set.'
'I wish we could be all happy,' said Lord Montfort.
'And so we might, I think,' said Miss Grandison; 'at least, some of us.'
'Make us, then,' said Lord Montfort.
'I cannot make you.'
'I think you could, Miss Grandison.'
At this moment Henrietta entered, and the conversation assumed adifferent turn.
'Will you go with us to Lady Bellair's, Kate?' said Miss Temple. 'Theduchess has asked me to call there this morning.'
Miss Grandison expressed her willingness: the carriage was waiting, andLord Montfort offered to attend them. At this moment the servant enteredwith a note for Miss Grandison.
'From Glastonbury,' she said; 'dear Henrietta, he wishes to see meimmediately. What can it be? Go to Lady Bellair's, and call for me onyour return. You must, indeed; and then we can all go out together.'
And so it was arranged. Miss Temple, accompanied by Lord Montfort,proceeded to Bellair House.
'Don't come near me,' said the old lady when she saw them; 'don't comenear me; I am in despair; I do not know what I shall do; I think I shallsell all my china. Do you know anybody who wants to buy old china? Theyshall have it a bargain. But I must have ready money; ready money I musthave. Do not sit down in that chair; it is only made to look at. Oh!if I were rich, like you! I wonder if my china is worth three hundredpounds. I could cry my eyes out, that I could. The wicked men; I shouldlike to tear them to pieces. Why is not he in Parliament? and then theycould not take him up. They never could arrest Charles Fox. I have knownhim in as much trouble as anyone. Once he sent all his furniture to myhouse from his lodgings. He lodged in Bury-street. I always look at thehouse when I pass by. Don't fiddle the pens; I hate people who fiddle.Where is Gregory? where is my bell' Where is the page? Naughty boy! whydo not you come? There, I do not want anything; I do not know what todo. The wicked men! The greatest favourite I had: he was so charming!Charming people are never rich; he always looked melancholy. I think Iwill send to the rich man I dine with; but I forget his name. Why do notyou tell me his name?'
'My dear Lady Bellair, what is the matter?'
'Don't ask me; don't speak to me. I tell you I am in despair. Oh! if Iwere rich, how I would punish those wicked men!'
'Can I do anything?' said Lord Montfort.
'I do not know what you can do. I have got the tic. I always have thetic when my friends are in trouble.'
'Who is in trouble, Lady Bellair?'
'My dearest friend; the only friend I care about. How can you be sohard-hearted? I called upon him this morning, and his servant wascrying. I must get him a place; he is such a good man, and loveshis master. Now, do you want a servant? You never want anything. Askeverybody you know whether they want a servant, an honest man, who loveshis master. There he is crying down stairs, in Gregory's room. Poor,good creature! I could cry myself, only it is of no use.'
'Who is his master?' said Lord Montfort.
'Nobody you know; yes! you know him very well. It is my dear, dearfriend; you know him very well. The bailiffs went to his hotelyesterday, and dragged him out of bed, and took him to prison. Oh! Ishall go quite distracted. I want to sell my china to pay his debts.Where is Miss Twoshoes?' continued her ladyship; 'why don't you answer?You do everything to plague me.'
'Miss Grandison, Lady Bellair?'
'To be sure; it is her lover.'
'Captain Armine?'
'Have I not been telling you all this time? They have taken him toprison.'
Miss Temple rose and left the room.
'Poor creature! she is quite shocked. She knows him, too,' said herladyship. 'I am afraid he is quite ruined. There is a knock. I will makea subscription for him. I dare say it is my grandson. He is very rich,and very good-natured.'
'My dear Lady Bellair,' said Lord Montfort, rising, 'favour me by notsaying a word to anybody at present. I will just go in the next room toHenrietta. She is intimate with the family, and much affected. Now, mydear lady, I entreat you,' continued his lordship, 'do not say a word.Captain Armine has good friends, but do not speak to strangers. It willdo harm; it will indeed.'
'You are a good creature; you are a good creature. Go away.'
'Lady Frederick Berrington, my lady,' announced the page.
'She is very witty, but very poor. It is no use speaking to her. I won'tsay a word. Go to Miss Thingabob: go, go.' And Lord Montfort escapedinto the saloon as Lady Frederick entered.
Henrietta was lying on the sofa, her countenance was hid, she wassobbing convulsively.
'Henrietta,' said Lord Montfort, but she did not answer. 'Henrietta, heagain said, 'dear Henrietta! I will do whatever you wish.'
'Save him, save him!' she exclaimed. 'Oh! you cannot save him! And Ihave brought him to this! Ferdinand! dearest Ferdinand! oh! I shalldie!'
'For God's sake, be calm,' said Lord Montfort, 'there is n
othing I willnot do for you, for him.'
'Ferdinand, Ferdinand, my own, own Ferdinand, oh! why did we ever part?Why was I so unjust, so wicked? And he was true! I cannot survive hisdisgrace and misery. I wish to die!'
'There shall be no disgrace, no misery,' said Lord Montfort, 'only forGod's sake, be calm. There is a chattering woman in the next room. Hush!hush! I tell you I will do everything.'
'You cannot; you must not; you ought not! Kind, generous Digby! Pardonwhat I have said; forget it; but indeed I am so wretched, I can bearthis life no longer.'
'But you shall not be wretched, Henrietta; you shall be happy; everybodyshall be happy. I am Armine's friend, I am indeed. I will prove it. Onmy honour, I will prove that I am his best friend.'
'You must not. You are the last person, you are indeed. He is so proud!Anything from us will be death to him. Yes! I know him, he will diesooner than be under an obligation to either of us.'
'You shall place him under still greater obligations than this,' saidLord Montfort. 'Yes! Henrietta, if he has been true to you, you shallnot be false to him.'
'Digby, Digby, speak not such strange words. I am myself again. I leftyou that I might be alone. Best and most generous of men, I have neverdeceived you; pardon the emotions that even you were not to witness.'
'Take my arm, dearest, let us walk into the garden. I wish to speakto you. Do not tremble. I have nothing to say that is not for yourhappiness; at all times, and under all circumstances, the great objectof my thoughts.'
He raised Miss Temple gently from the sofa, and they walked away farfrom the observation of Lady Bellair, or the auricular powers, thoughthey were not inconsiderable, of her lively guest.