第26章

In the meantime, Lady Clonbrony had been occupied with thoughts very different from those which passed in the mind of her son.

Though she had never completely recovered from her rheumatic pains, she had become inordinately impatient of confinement to her own house, and weary of those dull evenings at home, which had, in her son's absence, become insupportable.She told over her visiting tickets regularly twice a day, and gave to every card of invitation a heartfelt sigh.Miss Pratt alarmed her ladyship, by bringing intelligence of some parties given by persons of consequence, to which she was not invited.She feared that she should be forgotten in the world, well knowing how soon the world forgets those they do not see every day and everywhere.

How miserable is the fine lady's lot who cannot forget the world, and who is forgot by the world in a moment! How much more miserable still is the condition of a would-be fine lady, working her way up in the world with care and pains! By her, every the slightest failure of attention, from persons of rank and fashion, is marked and felt with jealous anxiety, and with a sense of mortification the most acute--an invitation omitted is a matter of the most serious consequence, not only as it regards the present, but the future; for if she be not invited by Lady A, it will lower her in the eyes of Lady B, and of all the ladies of the alphabet.It will form a precedent of the most dangerous and inevitable application.If she has nine invitations, and the tenth be wanting, the nine have no power to make her happy.This was precisely Lady Clonbrony's case--there was to be a party at Lady St.James's, for which Lady Clonbrony had no card.

'So ungrateful, so monstrous, of Lady St.James!--What! was the gala so soon forgotten, and all the marked attentions paid that night to Lady St.James!--attentions, you know, Pratt, which were looked upon with a jealous eye, and made me enemies enough, I am told, in another quarter! Of all people, I did not expect to be slighted by Lady St.James!'

Miss Pratt, who was ever ready to undertake the defence of any person who had a title, pleaded, in mitigation of censure, that perhaps Lady St.James might not be aware that her ladyship was yet well enough to venture out.

'Oh, my dear Miss Pratt, that cannot be the thing; for, in spite of my rheumatism, which really was bad enough last Sunday, I went on purpose to the Royal Chapel, to show myself in the closet, and knelt close to her ladyship.And, my dear, we curtsied, and she congratulated me, after church, upon my being abroad again, and was so happy to see me look so well, and all that--Oh! it is something very extraordinary and unaccountable!'

'But, I daresay, a card will come yet,' said Miss Pratt.

Upon this hint, Lady Clonbrony's hope revived; and, staying her anger, she began to consider how she could manage to get herself invited.Refreshing tickets were left next morning at Lady St.

James's with their corners properly turned up; to do the thing better, separate tickets for herself and for Miss Nugent were left for each member of the family; and her civil messages, left with the footman, extended to the utmost possibility of remainder.It had occurred to her lady-ship that for Miss Somebody, THE COMPANION, of whom she had never in her life thought before, she had omitted to leave a card last time, and she now left a note of explanation; she further, with her rheumatic head and arm out of the coach-window, sat, the wind blowing keen upon her, explaining to the porter and the footman, to discover whether her former tickets had gone safely up to Lady St.James; and on the present occasion, to make assurance doubly sure, she slid handsome expedition money into the servant's hand --'Sir, you will be sure to remember.'--'Oh certainly, your ladyship!'

She well knew what dire offence has frequently been taken, what sad disasters have occurred, in the fashionable world, from the neglect of a porter in delivering, or of a footman in carrying up one of those talismanic cards.But, in spite of all her manoeuvres, no invitation to the party arrived next day.Pratt was next set to work.Miss Pratt was a most convenient go-between, who, in consequence of doing a thousand little services, to which few others of her rank in life would stoop, had obtained the ENTREE to a number of great houses, and was behind the scenes in many fashionable families.Pratt could find out, and Pratt could hint, and Pratt could manage to get things done cleverly--and hints were given, in all directions, to WORK ROUND to Lady St.James.But still they did not take effect.At last Pratt suggested that, perhaps, though everything else had failed, dried salmon might be tried with success.Lord Clonbrony had just had some uncommonly good from Ireland, which Pratt knew Lady St.

James would like to have at her supper, because a certain personage, whom she would not name, was particularly fond of it.

--Wheel within wheel in the fine world, as well as in the political world!--Bribes for all occasions, and for all ranks!

The timely present was sent, accepted with many thanks, and understood as it was meant.Per favour of this propitiatory offering, and of a promise of half a dozen pair of real Limerick gloves to Miss Pratt--a promise which Pratt clearly comprehended to be a conditional promise--the grand object was at length accomplished.The very day before the party was to take place came cards of invitation to Lady Clonbrony and to Miss Nugent, with Lady St.James's apologies; her ladyship was concerned to find that, by some negligence of her servants, these cards were not sent in proper time.'How slight an apology will do from some people!' thought Miss Nugent; 'how eager to forgive, when it is for our interest or our pleasure; how well people act the being deceived, even when all parties know that they see the whole truth; and how low pride will stoop to gain its object!'