第42章

Lord Colambre felt the good sense of this, and determined to have nothing to do with these dangerous ladies; indeed, though he had talked, he had scarcely yet thought of them; for his imagination was intent upon that packet from Miss Nugent, which Mrs.Petito said she had for him.He heard nothing of it, or of her, for some days.He sent his servant every day to Stephen's Green to inquire if Lady Dashfort had returned to town.Her ladyship at last returned; but Mrs.Petito could not deliver the parcel to any hand but Lord Colambre's own, and she would not stir out, because her lady was indisposed.No longer able to restrain his impatience, Lord Colambre went himself--knocked at Lady Dashfort's door--inquired for Mrs.Petito--was shown into her parlour.The parcel was delivered to him; but to his utter disappointment, it was a parcel FOR, not FROM Miss Nugent.It contained merely an odd volume of some book of Miss Nugent's which Mrs.Petito said she had put up along with her things IN AMISTAKE, and she thought it her duty to return it by the next opportunity of a safe conveyance.

Whilst Lord Colambre, to comfort himself for his disappointment, was fixing his eyes upon Miss Nugent's name, written by her own hand, in the first leaf of the book, the door opened, and the figure of an interesting-looking woman, in deep mourning, appeared--appeared for one moment, and retired.

'Only my Lord Colambre, about a parcel I was bringing for him from England, my lady--my Lady Isabel, my lord,' said Mrs.

Petito.Whilst Mrs.Petito was saying this, the entrance and retreat had been made, and made with such dignity, grace, and modesty; with such innocence, dove-like eyes had been raised upon him, fixed and withdrawn; with such a gracious bend the Lady Isabel had bowed to him as she retired; with such a smile, and with so soft a voice, had repeated 'Lord Colambre!' that his lordship, though well aware that all this was mere acting, could not help saying to himself as he left the house:

'It is a pity it is only acting.There is certainly something very engaging in this woman.It is a pity she is an actress.