CAPÍTULO 24.

 

            ‘WELL, mamma,’ exclaimed Sophia, as soon as she found herself alone with Lady Bevan, ‘we’ve had a long talk with Dame Partridge, and we’ve seen James Maynard, and tried to bring him back with us; but finding Margaret was not there he gave us the slip, and is off, no one knows where. He seems to be madly in love with this little Miss Margaret, and looks ready to play Faust, and the devil too, on her account. I shouldn’t wonder if he has gene straight back to London to find his lordship, and demand her of him. And

 

            ‘Does he know, – did you or the dame tell him of his father?’

 

            ‘Ah, the old woman does know that, then? I thought as much; but she was so dose about her secret.’

 

            ‘Then Littmass was in time to got Margaret away before James arrived? That is indeed a happy circumstance. Oh, if they had met!’

 

            Unless he had got there first, and carried off the young lady before her guardian made his appearance; which would have settled matters much more satisfactorily, to my mind. I have always felt a craving for more relations, and I should have gained two cousins at once.’

 

(p. 135)

            ‘My dear, you forget. Fancy Lord Littmass having the child of my poor disgraced sister for his daughter-in-law. You cannot have forgotten my telling you that this poor girl was left an infant by a younger sister of mine, who was basely betrayed by the false promises of a villain, and died of her shame and a broken heart soon after he left her?’

 

            ‘No shame to her at all, dear mamma, even supposing it to be all true; and I can’t think how anybody can consider it se. I shouldn’t, if it happened to me, I am sure. Oh, those villain men. Why should we be blamed for their fault? I wish I had the making of the laws. But I am forgetting to tell you the great discovery I have made. Stop: do you believe old Dame Partridge has any motive for telling a lie?’

 

            ‘A lie! about what? What has she told you?’

 

            ‘That she accompanied your sister and Captain Waring when she left her home ––’

 

            ‘Yes, I know she did; and have never forgiven the part she took in encouraging their disgraceful conduct ––’

 

            ‘Let me finish, please. She accompanied your sister when she went off with Captain Waring, and was present in the church when they were married.’

 

            ‘Married! Oh, if it were only true! But Littmass assured us all that he had made every inquiry; and he even dismissed Partridge for allowing them to meet as they had done; and he was so kind in taking all the trouble upon himself, and sparing our feelings ––’

 

            ‘Mamma, if this old woman told me the truth, what must Lord Littmass be?’

 

            ‘Tell me more of what she said, dearest.’

 

            ‘She said, in the most natural way possible, when I asked her to come here and see you, that she could not come because her master had told her that you continued to be very angry with her for the part she had taken about Mrs. Waring ‘s marriage. She blamed the family for letting her go off with the captain alone; and, out of pure regard for her good name, she staid by her, and went to the church, and saw the wedding.’

 

            ‘Can this be true? Did she say that cousin Littmass knew of this?’

 

            ‘Yes, most decidedly; for she did not know it had ever been doubted. So that her statement was not made in self-defence, or in contradiction of any other. But this is not the only error you have been allowed to remain in. In Margaret

(p. 136)

Waring you have not found a poor, wretched, half-witted niece. She is a lovely, charming, and accomplished girl. I am in love with her character; and she won’t be an encumbrance, for she has a little fortune – unless – oh, that must be safe in her guardian’s hands; and if she won’t marry James Maynard, I will! He is a man that any father, or any woman, might be proud of: and, after disowning him all these years, I don’t see that Lord Littmass has a bit of right to interfere with him.’

 

            ‘My dear Sophy, we must not be too sure yet that this story of the marriage is true. But, whether it be true or not, your account of my niece reminds me that I have too long neglected my duty to the poor girl.’

 

            ‘Oh, mamma, let us send away all our guests and get her here, alone with ourselves at first.’

 

            ‘No such haste is necessary, my dear. In another week we shall be alone. But I shall write for her to-morrow, as soon as I return from the cottage. I must have some conversation with Partridge.’

 

 

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