第89章

'Miss Anne! Miss Anne! Mrs.le Maistre!' cried another footman; 'my lady's in the carriage, and Miss Nugent.'

'Miss Nugent!--is she?' cried Mrs.le Maistre, running downstairs, followed by Anne.'Now, for the world in pocket-pieces wouldn't I have missed seeing him hand Miss Nugent in; for by that I could have judged definitively.'

'My lord, I beg pardon!--I'm AFEARD I'm late,' said Mrs.le Maistre, as she passed Lord Colambre, who was standing motionless in the hall.'I beg a thousand pardons; but I was hunting high and low, for my lady's NUMBRELLA.'

Lord Colambre did not hear or heed her; his eyes were fixed, and they never moved.

Lord Clonbrony was at the open carriage-door, kneeling on the step, and receiving Lady Clonbrony's 'more last words' for Mr.

Soho.The two waiting-maids stood together on the steps.

'Look at our young lord, how he stands,' whispered Mrs.le Maistre to Anne, 'the image of despair! And she, the picture of death!--I don't know what to think.'

'Nor I; but don't stare if you can help it,' said Anne.'Get in, get in, Mrs.le Maistre,' added she, as Lord Clonbrony now rose from the step, and made way for them.

'Ay, in with you--in with you, Mrs.le Maistre,' said Lord Clonbrony.'Good-bye to you, Anne, and take care of your young mistress at Buxton; let me see her blooming when we meet again; Idon't half like her looks, and I never thought Buxton agreed with her.'

'Buxton never did anybody harm,' said Lady Clonbrony; 'and as to bloom, I'm sure, if Grace has not bloom enough in her cheeks this moment to please you, I don't know what you'd have, my dear lord --Rouge?--Shut the door, John! Oh, stay!--Colambre! Where upon earth's Colambre?' cried her ladyship, stretching from the farthest side of the coach to the window.'Colambre!'

Colambre was forced to appear.

'Colambre, my dear! I forgot to say that, if anything detains you longer than Wednesday se'nnight, I beg you will not fail to write, or I shall be miserable.'

'I will write; at all events, my dearest mother, you shall hear from me.'

'Then I shall be quite happy.Go on!'

The carriage drove on.

'I do believe Colambre's ill; I never saw a man look so ill in my life--did you, Grace?--as he did the minute we drove on.He should take advice.I've a mind, cried Lady Clonbrony, laying her hand on the cord to stop the coachman--'I've a mind to turn about, tell him so, and ask what is the matter with him.'

'Better not!' said Miss Nugent; 'he will write to you, and tell you--if anything is the matter with him.Better go on now to Buxton!' continued she, scarcely able to speak.Lady Clonbrony let go the cord.

'But what is the matter with you, my dear Grace? for you are certainly going to die too!'

'I will tell you--as soon as I can; but don't ask me now, my dear aunt!'

'Grace, Grace! pull the cord!' cried Lady Clonbrony-- 'Mr.

Salisbury's phaeton!--Mr.Salisbury, I'm happy to see you! We're on our way to Buxton--as I told you.'

'So am I,' said Mr.Salisbury.'I hope to be there before your ladyship; will you honour me with any commands!--of course, Iwill see that everything is ready for your reception.'

Her ladyship had not any commands.Mr.Salisbury drove on rapidly.

Lady Clonbrony's ideas had now taken the Salisbury channel.

'You didn't know that Mr.Salisbury was going to Buxton to meet you, did you, Grace?' said Lady Clonbrony.

'No, indeed, I did not!' said Miss Nugent; 'and I am very sorry for it.'

'Young ladies, as Mrs.Broadhurst says, "never know, or at least never tell, what they are sorry or glad for,"' replied Lady Clonbrony.'At all events, Grace, my love, it has brought the fine bloom back to your cheeks; and I own I am satisfied.'