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 COUNTRY HOUSES 
 
 But how the subject theme may gang. 
 Let time and chance determine ; 
 
 Perhaps it may turn out a sang, 
 Or probably a sermon. 
 
 Burns. 
 
 IN THREE VOLUMES. 
 
 VOL. L 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 SAUNDERS AND OTLEY, CONDUIT STREET. 
 
 1832.
 
 B. BENSLEY, PRINTER, ANDOVER.
 
 6^5 
 
 V. 1 
 
 5 
 
 O
 
 Page 
 
 LiM 
 
 21 
 
 9 
 
 31 
 
 18 
 
 39 
 
 10 
 
 100 
 
 23 
 
 119 
 
 15 
 
 
 22 
 
 120 
 
 17 
 
 169 
 
 2 
 
 179 
 
 18 
 
 184 
 
 24 
 
 192 
 
 15 
 
 197 
 
 4 
 
 204 
 
 5 
 
 
 8 
 
 219 
 
 22 
 
 222 
 
 7 
 
 
 22 
 
 227 
 
 9 
 
 233 
 
 24 
 
 237 
 
 17 
 
 239 
 
 24 
 
 259 
 
 13 
 
 264 
 
 21 
 
 274 
 
 16 
 
 283 
 
 3 
 
 284 
 
 1 
 
 390 
 
 2 
 
 305 
 
 10 
 
 ERRATA TO VOL. 1. 
 
 for situations, »*earf situation. 
 
 for always, read equally. 
 
 for thin, read their. 
 
 for library, read Eber's library. 
 
 for library, read Hookham's. 
 
 for more, read more than one. 
 
 for his, read my. 
 
 for ]V1 inanderie, read Minauderie. 
 
 insert to the drawing-room. 
 
 for advantageous, read a dangerous. 
 
 for liason, read liaisons. 
 
 for dombtics, read domestics. 
 
 for hing, read thing. 
 
 for this kindness, read their kindness. 
 
 for help him raise the wind, read help him to raise the wind. 
 
 for living, read being. 
 
 for a single, read a simple. 
 
 read I think we have. 
 
 for enuine, read genuine. 
 
 for had, read by. 
 
 for ofr, read for. 
 
 to laid, add on her pillow. 
 
 fur he, read they. 
 
 for we, read now. 
 
 for sun, read windmill. 
 
 for a useful, read an useful. 
 
 read for us unworthy listeners. 
 10 for delitante, read dilettante. 
 13 for to, read so.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 CHRISTMAS GAMBOLS. 
 
 " A merry Christmas to you, ray masters."— i?e//>na?i'5 vefses. 
 
 " I wonder what people can mean by wishing one a 
 merry Christmas " said Mr. Vernon, as he walked 
 from the drawing room window, where he had been 
 watching the flakes of snow, as they fell ; '' I know 
 nothing that Christmas brings but frost and snow, that 
 puts an end to hunting; and long bills, one has no 
 money to pay. For my part, I make it a rule never to 
 
 VOL. I. B
 
 2 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 open a letter from Christmas till February, that I may 
 not encounter a tender epistle from my taylor, or boot 
 maker, with "hard times/' "a large family," "heavy 
 payment to make next week," when one has not a 
 shilling in one's banker's hands ; and the rascals are 
 only making up a purse for Brighton, instead of coats 
 or boots for their customers : and of all this misery, 
 stupid souls wish you Joy ! Is not it so Ma'am?" ad- 
 dressing his mother. Lady Vernon, who was deeply 
 engaged, writing tickets, for clothing for the poor. 
 
 " Indeed, my dear Frederic, you forget that Christ- 
 mas is joyful in a religious point of view ; it is the sea- 
 son which opened the gates of everlasting life to mankind, 
 and on that account it calls on those who have affluence 
 to open their hearts and houses towards those who feel 
 the temporary evils of cold and poverty, which are 
 those only we have the power to alleviate ; the good 
 old times are gone by when open house was kept, 
 perhaps it is better for the poor to have more perma- 
 nent comforts than beef and ale given them, yet I own 
 I regret they cannot have both : it must be a long purse 
 that can clothe and feed also." 
 
 " Oh, my dear Ma'am, pray give as many blankets
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 3 
 
 and petticoats as you please ; make all the poor in the 
 parish warm without, and within too, if you like it ; only 
 don't expect me to be merry over their flannel waist- 
 coats and worsted stockings. I am sure if one had 
 ever so great an inclination to mirth, the Christmas 
 parties, of o\d fogramities, collected in this house, w^ould 
 put even Comus to flight. We do nothing here, but 
 what the king of Prussia's visitors at Potsdam did, 
 conjugate the verb tnnuytei /am ready to go through 
 all its tenses, simple, compound and reflected." 
 
 " That must be a little your own fault, Frederic," 
 replied Lady Vernon, ^' for I have no idea how people 
 of education and talents can be so tired of themselves, 
 when they have so much power of employment, and 
 employment often brings amusement." 
 
 ** I suppose then Ma'am, you would have me write 
 a book, or turn an ode of Horace into English verse, 
 because I had not enough of that agreeable employment 
 at school and college : no ! believe me, those old fel- 
 lows at Oxford take a pretty effectual way of making 
 one hate the sight of the classics, by the nervous fever 
 they give one at their examinations. Whatever J may 
 do bye and bye,^^I must have at least ten years to for- 
 B 2
 
 4 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 get that, before I can open Homer or Horace again. 
 By the way though ! who is it we are to have here this 
 year, to make believe, as the children say, that we are 
 merry at Christmas ? I must know what fare / am to 
 have, or rather who is to cut up with all the beef and 
 mutton, hares and pheasants, collected in the larder, 
 and so disgustingly exposed to view when one passes 
 near the offices, before I can determine whether I 
 shall stay here, or go with George Neville to Brighton; 
 though, to own the truth, the former would best suit 
 my pocket and my stud too, for Judy is as lame as 
 a tree ; I have blistered and turned out Flibberty- 
 gibbet; and I don't believe the brown horse can go 
 the journey alone." 
 
 *^ When you have finished your soliloquy, or rather 
 thought aloud for the edification of the rest of the fa- 
 mily," said Lady Vernon, '*I am ready to answer your 
 question, if you really wish for an answer, though per- 
 haps you have only been killing your uw ? time, and 
 interrupting mine. We expect Mr. and Lady Lucy 
 Latour, and their two daughters." 
 
 " Precious souls ! Duly primed I suppose, by my 
 Lady, to set their caps at me."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 5 
 
 ''Don't interrupt me, for I am in haste, — Mrs. 
 Beaumont and Miss Phillips." 
 
 '' Bad enough !" 
 
 " Major Mac Venom : will he please you better ?" 
 
 ^' Yes, if he is in a tolerably good humour, and has 
 neither bile nor gout about him." 
 
 ''Your Father has asked General Dorozenski, who, 
 with a Polish Count, is making a tour of the Manufac- 
 turing district, to take us in their way ; but they are 
 uncertain as to time." 
 
 "Oh, pretty well ! Mac Venom is a regular hum- 
 bug, he will make something of the Russian bear, if 
 the Pole is impracticable," 
 
 '^ Sir Thomas asked him on purpose to explain 
 w^hat they had been seeing, as he is so great a mechan- 
 ist, and some young men have been asked also, but I 
 don't exactly recollect who comes ; and I had forgot 
 Mrs. Elenor Latour and Miss Grey." 
 
 " A fine piece of buckram good Aunt Elenor !" but 
 as she brings her pretty black-eyed niece, I forgive hav- 
 ing her grave person into the bargain. " I think, Ma'am, 
 I shall not go to Brighton, so you must not reckon on 
 my rooms for any one ; 1 may get on with these people,
 
 6 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 at least tolerate them, especially little Louisa Grey ; 
 one can venture to talk to that girl without any danger 
 of being taken in ; she has no father or brother at her 
 heels, to ask you what you mean ? or, what is a thou- 
 sand times worse, a managing mother, to watch looks, 
 and give her daughters their cue, when to look demure, 
 when to encourage attentions, and when to accept them ; 
 two women's heads laid together will beat any man's; and 
 at last they come on you with a coup de main — of honor, 
 and my daughter's happiness ; till you are caught in 
 such a net. Merlin himself could not break the spell ; 
 and, without caring one farthing for the girl, one gets 
 tied to her, and her affectation for life ; and Mamma 
 piques herself on her own excellent management ! But 
 with Louisa Grey all is safe, she is not one of your 
 artificial, come out, London girls, who have run two or 
 three years over the course till one is tired of the sight 
 of them, and their waltzing, quadrilling and gallopading ; 
 she is so new and refreshing, and so unsophisticated, one 
 may try a thousand experiments on her credulity, with- 
 out any danger of detection. If she had forty thousand 
 pounds in her pocket, I might be in some danger of 
 falling in love ; but, thank God ! I have not a very ten*
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 der heart, and, without a good lot of money, Hebe her- 
 self would have no charms for me. I shall like, too, to 
 pique these all accomplished Miss Latours, who will keep 
 hawks' eyes on their portionless and talentless cousin." 
 
 During this, Lady Vernon had been too much occu- 
 pied sorting her tickets to attend much to her son's ob- 
 servations ; though she was very fond of him, she could 
 not but see that his better sense, and the promise his 
 early years had given, were obscured by a sort of fasti- 
 dious taste, and a determination never to be pleased 
 with any thing ; but she knew the real and native 
 worth of his character, and trusted a few years would 
 dissipate this cloud ; and she thought the less notice 
 was taken of it the better. He had a more attentive 
 listener in his sister, who had a great affection for 
 Louisa Grey ; and this had induced him to make his 
 thoughts so readily known, feeling sure that his sister 
 would not fail to tell her friend that whatever her 
 brother's attentions might be, they meant nothing, 
 
 " Really, Frederic," said she, ^' if that is your plan 
 of amusement, I must fairly tell you I shall do my best 
 to spoil your sport ; do as you please with the Miss 
 Latour's, they have had two winters at Paris, besides
 
 » COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Loudon, Rome and Spa, if they are not your match, 
 I cannot help it ; they have had opportunities enough 
 of knowing the world ; but for my simple minded, open 
 hearted, friend Louisa Grey, I really shall feel bound to 
 protect her from being made a plaything for any man, 
 even if that man is my brother, ^^ 
 
 '^ Really, Emily, you are like my mother, you take 
 every thing au pied de la lettre ; nothing is farther 
 from my intentions than having any affaire de cxur, I 
 simply want to be amused, I don't care how, or with 
 whom ; I would go widi Ellis to Paris, but it does not 
 just now suit my finances : one never can tell there, 
 but one may be drawn in by some smiling French 
 syren, or some bowing Count, to play ecarte, and 
 that is always a losing game ; and Melton is just now 
 as heavy an expense as I can bear ; and if this con- 
 founded frost, which seems as if it would last till Mid- 
 summer, should break, I shall lose at least three days 
 in getting from Paris to Melton ; and if Judy and the 
 brown horse are not fit to ride to cover, this long frost 
 will make horses cheap. If I stay here, I must have 
 something of interest and excitement, no matter what.'^ 
 
 " Well then, we understand each other, Frederic,
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 9 
 
 whilst you keep on safe ground, I will not interfere ; 
 but, when 1 see you getting into mischief, I shall 
 counteract you, depend upon it. " 
 
 Somebody has compared, and not inaptly, a coun- 
 try house when a large party is arriving, to the Bull and 
 Mouth inn. Every body intends to get there just 
 in time to dress for dinner: when there are ladies, a 
 quarter of an hour more is necessary for unpacking ; 
 though indeed the single men, having distant quarters, 
 a few minutes extra are required by them to find out 
 No. 3, and No. 5, and carry the carpet bags and 
 portmanteaus into their proper rooms. 
 
 Before Lady Lucy Latour's carnage was relieved 
 from its double imperial, or half the thousand and one 
 small parcels were carried up stairs, Mr. Latour came 
 in with four smoking horses, from Lord Manton's, 
 where he had been on a shooting party. In an oppo- 
 site direction, through the park, came Mrs. Beaumont 
 with her own greys ; Mr. Latour's hacks tried to get 
 the whip hand, but the driver of INIrs. Beaumont's 
 leaders knew his own place too well, and gained it, 
 nearly at the expense of both the carriages. Mr. La- 
 tour was well aware of the time it takes to unpack a 
 B 5
 
 10 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Lady^s carriage of all its work-boxes and dressing- 
 cases; and, perceiving the post boys would have a 
 squabble, he made the best of it, jumping out of his 
 carriage, left them to settle it, and offered his arm to 
 Mrs. Beaumont into the house ; she was excessively 
 shockedj though she looked prodigiously pleased, that 
 her postilion should have been so impertinent, he would, 
 she was afraid, always do so; but he was such a faithful 
 creature, had lived so long with her, and was so care- 
 ful of his horses ; and, excepting on such occasions, so 
 civil, she felt obliged to over^look, and apologize for it. 
 In short, it was a lucki/ incident for her, it was told 
 to every fresh person she met, and with variations was 
 even resumed at dinner, and again in the evening, as it 
 reminded her of 50 mani/ such provoking occurrences, 
 that had happened to her carriage, and horses, and gave 
 her an opportunity of telling, though she was really 
 ashamed to make the acknowledgment, of the enor- 
 mous price she gave for her horses, but it was so 
 difficult to get a good match, and she must own it was 
 her folly to wish to have the most complete set out in 
 the country, coute qui coute. 
 
 Her arrival was followed by that of Arthur Nugent,
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. U 
 
 a nephew of Lady Vernon's, who came more humbly ; 
 having been set down on the turnpike road by the 
 Cambridge coach ; he was followed, on foot, by 
 his servant, carrying his luggage. There were other 
 arrivals — of Mrs. Elenor Latour, and Miss Grey, and 
 single men ; but the sound of the first dinner bell sent 
 all parties to their respective rooms ; and whilst they 
 are employed with the important duties of the toi- 
 lette, we will take leave to give our readers a slight sketch 
 of some of the company they are to meet at dinner. 
 
 Mr. and Lady Lucy Latour had been one of the 
 handsomest couples ever united at St. George's, and they 
 were both equally desirous to retain their pretensions. 
 Lady Lucy was a quiet person, content to look well, be 
 well dressed, and have her ecarte ; her maternal anxiety 
 was bounded to having her daughters admired ; and she 
 never doubted they could fail of being so by any per- 
 son of true fashion or taste ; and it must be owned 
 she had generally reason to be in every point contented. 
 
 Mr. Latour was a highly polished, and what has 
 been called a fine man, not of la vieille cour, when 
 bag wigs and brocaded waistcoats were in fashion; 
 but something of a later date, the Chesterfield school,
 
 12 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 with the ease of a foreigner, and something of the 
 modern negligence added to it. From having lived 
 much abroad, he knevir something, if not personally, 
 at least by anecdote, of all illustrious persons, from 
 the Emperor Alexander, to Murat's cook; and pos- 
 sessed abundance of excellent stories, collected from 
 all countries. He knew the rent roll of all the large 
 estates in England, how much their respective owners 
 won or lost at Newmarket, or Crockford's, could tell 
 to a bird what had been killed at the most celebrated 
 battm, and by whom. He frequented the betting 
 room at Tattersall's, and was, he did not know how, 
 always lucky in guessing the horse that would win the 
 Derby, though he never profited by his skill ; he lived 
 too fast as it was, without racing, but the continent 
 was open, and a little change of climate was good for 
 Lady Lucy, and amused the young ladies. 
 
 Why, it may be asked, did such a man come to 
 quiet Eastbrook Park? He was just returned with his 
 family from a two year's residence on the continent, he 
 had no establishment yet in England ; it was very con- 
 venient to visit a little, previous to forming one ; Lady 
 Lucy and Lady Vernon were distant relations and old
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 13 
 
 friends, and having himself no other engagement ready, 
 he joined his family, and accepted of Sir Thomas's hos- 
 pitality, for he could '' run up to town" if he found it 
 insufferably dull. But he was a man who knew how 
 to glean amusement, wlierever it suited him to do so ; 
 and he had formed the laudable resolution of making 
 some out of Mrs. Beaumont, by playing her off. She 
 was one of those persons who, having had an unexpected 
 piece of good fortune, and owing it in some measure 
 to their own personal merit, are perfectly in good hu- 
 mour with themselves and the world. She had been 
 for many a year a Bath belle, almost a beauty ; but 
 had unluckily arrived at that nameless age at which all 
 single ladies stop, still Fanny Phillips ! — but the death 
 of a singular man of large fortune in the neighbour- 
 hood of Bath, called his brother from India, where he 
 had accumulated more pagodas than he knew what to 
 do with ; having at the same time obtained an unman- 
 ageable stock of bile ; in this forlorn state, encumbered 
 by the addition of ten or twelve thousand a year, he 
 renesved his acquaintance with Miss Fanny Phillips, 
 whom he had often taken on his knee as a child, before 
 he went to India ; she was not long in transferring
 
 14 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 herself from his knee to his heart ; and it must be owned 
 if she was a lucky woman, he was a very fortunate 
 man ! she made him a charming wife, she lost no time 
 in opening his house, the doors of which had rusted on 
 their hinges, its key having been lost for years. She 
 new-furnished it in perfect taste as to expense, put as 
 much varnish and gilding as possible on the old pic- 
 tures and their frames ; patronised his black cook, and 
 made herself perfect connoisseur in mullagatawny 
 soup, and currie, and was never failing in her attentions 
 to all Mr. Beaumont's Asiatic luxuries — but all would 
 not prolong his valuable life ; a fit of jaundice made 
 her a widow, and sole possessor of all his land and 
 pagodas. She had in due time recovered the shock, 
 and now, with an unmarried sister as a companion, was 
 fully enjoying all her good fortune. Of Miss Phillips 
 we need only remark she was a person of habit ^ a great 
 worker ; knew every new invention for bazaars and charity 
 stalls ; kept so exact an account of her works ihat she 
 could detect one of her own court plaster cases any 
 where ; and thought the world would be at an end if 
 she failed to wind her watch up as the clock struck nine. 
 The second dinner bell made every one hurry down,
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 13 
 
 and a party from east, west, north, and south, assem- 
 bled for the first time in the drawing room : the gentle- 
 men, clothed in their usual quantity of broad cloth, were 
 standing round the fire, whilst the ladies, stripped of 
 their furs and shawls, like butterflies who had just left 
 their chrysalis, were shivering on the sofas ; and with 
 just light enough from the fire to prevent people run- 
 ning against each other. 
 
 Before the ladies appeared, Arthur Nugent, with 
 the curiosity of a very young man, had been asking 
 his cousin what sort of girls the Miss Latour's were ? 
 
 *' All I know of them," said Frederic, ^^ was three 
 or four years ago, when they * smelt of bread and but- 
 ter ;' the eldest was a clumsy, puddingish, girl, with a 
 complexion that ou^ht to have been fair, but was 
 muddy ; the other was a dark gipsey, with a pair of 
 very saucy black eyes. Nothing to be afraid of, Arthur, 
 unless you are a determined swain ; I give you free 
 leave with these damsels, but don't poach on my manor, 
 or meddle with Louisa Grey, I intend to keep her 
 for my own special amusement." 
 
 Arthur was young, gay, and indiscriminating ; and 
 quite ready to be pleased with every body, happy to
 
 16 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 play any part in an under plot for his cousin's amuse- 
 ment, provided, like the Jackal, he had his share, and 
 with rather a significant look he promised to keep from 
 attentions, as desired. 
 
 ^' But, my good fellow," said Frederic, '^ don't run 
 away with a notion that I am in love, or going to be 
 in love with Louisa Grey. Venus herself would hardly 
 inspire me, unless she was an heiress ! but I have a 
 natural antipathy to your travelled Misses, who have 
 been tight laced in Paris, smothered with accomplish- 
 ments at Rome, and have had French counts, and 
 Italian marquises, sighing over them, and I don't in- 
 tend to make myself cheap to the Miss Latour's, or any 
 others, and so I shall just save appearances by a few 
 common attentions elsewhere : now we understand 
 each other." 
 
 Frederic in vain was endeavouring to pierce through 
 the " darkness made visible," to find out which of the 
 three ladies in white was Louisa Grey (for a few years, 
 and the step from the close bonnet and parted hair of an 
 uncome-out girl, and the metamorphosis into a come- 
 out one, armed at all points, was so great, that dinner was 
 announced, and the elderly ladies and gentleman had
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 1? 
 
 Uotted off, before he had made his selection) ; Lady 
 Vernon settled the point by saying : 
 
 *' Frederic, take care of Miss Latoiir:" and the 
 lady hooked herself on his arm, he was so provoked that, 
 during their short walk to the dining room, he formed 
 the noble resolution to be as disagreeable and inatten- 
 tive as possible to the lady thus forced upon him. 
 
 On the opposite side of the table were seated Grace 
 Latour and Mr. Beresford, tlie curate of the parish, 
 an agreeable young man, whose name and connexions 
 were a general passport in the neighbourhood. Next 
 to him sat Louisa Grey and Arthur Nugent, who, how- 
 ever, continued to give Frederic a look, assuring him 
 he remembered their bargain. Though Pope has 
 libelled the sex by saying 
 
 " Most women have no characters at all, " 
 
 but are distinguished by " fair and brown, ** we must 
 take the liberty, in the 19th century, to aver that there 
 are distinctions of genus as well as species. 
 
 Miss Latour was tall, exquisitely fair, with beau- 
 tiful brown hair, but no great expression of counte- 
 nance, a perfect languid beauty, with a captivatingly
 
 18 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 soft voice. Her sister was a direct contrast, and they 
 had been called the black and the white heart cherries. 
 Every one knows Marmontel's petit 7iez retrousse, but 
 Grace Latour had not le nez retrousse, for her nose 
 and brow were finely formed ; her mouth was not 
 good, but she had brilliant eyes and a fine set of 
 teeth, and was altogether, though a very small person, 
 piquant e and spirituelle. 
 
 Louisa Grey was by far the handsomest, though 
 the least striking, of the three ; a pale Madonna beauty, 
 and, to Frederic's great astonishment, the laughing 
 girl was a pensive, interesting, and now^ melancholy 
 looking young woman. He had looked several times 
 at her before he could recollect whence had come the 
 change ; and then it occurred to him that she had lost 
 her only brother in some particularly distressing way ; 
 he would have reasoned on the improbability of such 
 deep grief for a brother, but the soup was going round, 
 and moreover General Dorozenski and Count Wszebor 
 arrived, and were announced : Sir Thomas insisted they 
 should take their seats at dinner sans toilette; a place 
 was made for the general by Lady Vernon, and for 
 his friend by Grace Latour. The latter was a hand-
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. IQ 
 
 some, sickly looking, Pole, with more moustache and 
 larger whiskers than quite suits English taste ; his fair 
 neighbour took her tone from the general, and ad- 
 dressed him in French, and he in return made abun- 
 dance of civil bows. 
 
 The dinner was devoured and discussed in the 
 usual way. General Dorozenski ate, drank, talked and 
 laughed ; gave accounts of the magnificent, yet peculiar, 
 way of life amongst the great manufacturers of Man- 
 chester, Preston, and Liverpool ; and told some good 
 stories of the cotton spinners. Dessert passed, and 
 Frederic had only remarked of his neighbour, Miss 
 Latour, that she had good taste in the wine she chose 
 after fish, that her voice was certainly melliffluous, and, 
 as the cook had done his best, things rather improved 
 with him. There is nothing like a capital dinner for 
 putting people in a good humour, even if they are not 
 professed epicures. ** Lie lightly on him earth who " 
 reduced Gastronomy to a science, theoretical, practical, 
 experimental, and conversational, for how many, other- 
 wise dull, dinners does that make interesting and 
 agreeable ! 
 
 Dr. Johnson has said '' that in a company of gene-
 
 20 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 rals and admirals every other man falls in his own 
 opinion ; and that even the great Lord Mansfield would 
 have crept under the table in such society, if they had 
 talked of the engagements they had been in." Two 
 of the present party had a little of this cold key feel. 
 Mr. Latoiir, who must play the first fiddle, or not play 
 at all, and Frederic ; the former determined to gulp it 
 down manfully, and get what he could out of the talk- 
 ative general, and make his anecdotes pass elsewhere, 
 as having heard his excellent friend General Doro- 
 zenski say so and so ; for he, like Frederic, was a de- 
 termined egotist, but of a different description ; he 
 made all men and all things contribute to his own in- 
 dividual pleasure and profit, but it was the pleasure of 
 display ; and if in any one mortal " self love and social 
 were the same," he was that person, for he had no 
 gratification without a theatre and an audience, 
 
 Frederic's egotism was a disease that almost preyed 
 on his vitals, something that mixed itself with, and 
 embittered, every thing ; he might be said to find, 
 " from the cedar of Lebanon to the hyssop on the wall," 
 something poisonous to his own temper and feelings. 
 He tried to persuade himself that a half Russian and
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 21 
 
 half Englishman, as the general was from birth, and 
 a thorough bred Pole, were but civilized bears at best ; 
 and his selfish spleen was gaining its dominion when 
 they went into coffee. 
 
 He was not meant by nature 
 A silly or a wortUless creature. 
 He had a heart disposed to feel, 
 Wanted not spiiit, taste, but zeal. 
 
 Yet situations, and the unlucky fashion of the day, 
 had spoilt, or at least obscured, his better nature. An 
 entailed estate, and three daughters born before him, 
 had made him anxiously wished for ; and, though Sir 
 Thomas had neither threatened, nor determined, to 
 drown his fourth daughter, his son was most welcome, 
 and rendered doubly precious by Lady Vernon's ill 
 health, which followed his birth, giving little reason to 
 hope for another son. He was a remarkably engaging 
 child ; and it must in justice ])e acknowledged that Sir 
 Thomas and Lady Vernon did all thei/ could to pre- 
 vent his being spoilt ; the former took pains to make 
 him manly, and bred him to the tastes and pursuits of 
 a country gentleman ; and the latter, to give him sound 
 principles : but he was a great favourite with his sisters,
 
 33 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 who were devoted to him ; and every thing in the house 
 seemed naturally to yield to his will and pleasure ; 
 Frederic's dog, Frederic's pony and his birds, &c., 
 were all objects of interest, because they were his* 
 How could he help thinking of himself, if every body 
 was thinking of him ? Alas ! that the situation meant 
 as the most favoured of Providence (that which a 
 late king said comprehended every thing a man could 
 desire,) should be a snare to its possessor; and en- 
 gender that egotism which is not only incompatible 
 with the happiness of the individual, but equally con- 
 trary to the self-denying precepts of religion.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 A 'public school is the hot-bed of selfishness, and its 
 first maxim is to take care of number L There is 
 nothing at college likely to counteract this, either in 
 precept, or the example of those who lead lives, for the 
 most part, of individual indulgence. And, to crown the 
 whole, selfishness is \he fashionable vice of the day, 
 
 Napoleon was the Emperor of the selfish, and 
 though his had been dignified as the superlative degree, 
 and rising to the sublime, still it had the same base 
 origin, though its effects were different from the sordid 
 passion of the miser, who heaps up riches, without the 
 heart to use them — Bonaparte's was a refinement that 
 squandered, as it amassed.
 
 24 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 But, not to tire our readers with a dry discussion, 
 on a point we wish to exemplify in practice, we will 
 follow the ladies to the drawing room, where Miss 
 Latour entreated Emily's interest with lady Vernon, yet, 
 at the same time, in her own most captivating man- 
 ner, implored her to allow her to fetch her dear little 
 poodle, assuring her it was not only the most beautiful, 
 and most intelligent, but the very best behaved little 
 dog in the world. 
 
 The request was instantly granted ; Lady Vernon 
 promised to give strict orders that Sir Thomas's old 
 spaniel should be kept in his room, and said she would 
 request Frederic not to let his favourite terrier follow 
 him into the drawing room. 
 
 By the time Nina had shewn herself, or been shewn 
 off, by her mistress, and, a little fatigued by the exer- 
 tion was comfortably reposing on a pillow of the sofa, 
 the gentlemen joiued the party, the two foreigners fresh 
 from their toilettes, blazing with orders. Frederick 
 hated lap dogs, and would not always tolerate their 
 owners, and, on Lady Vernon saying, " my dear Frede- 
 ric, I have promised that Rover shall be kept in your 
 father's room, and I hope you will give orders that
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 9.5 
 
 Vixen may not come in the way of Miss Latour's little 
 beautiful darling." 
 
 '' Oh, Ma'am, don't make yourself the least uneasy, 
 for well broke dogs (and I trust ours are such,) never 
 touch lap dogs, they hold them in as great contempt 
 as racers do donkeys," and swallowing his coffee and 
 his spleen, he threw himself on a sofa, and indulged in 
 a sort of dog's sleep, because he could not get near 
 Louisa Grey, who was seated at the piano forte, and 
 surrounded ; and he had determined not to give him- 
 himself the trouble to be agreeable to any one else : the 
 card tables were then formed. 
 
 Not to listen to the music going on must have been 
 the height of fastidiousness, for the Miss Latours sang 
 exquisitely, and their duets, accompanied by their gui- 
 tars, were perfect. Arthur Nugent turned over the 
 leaves, and Count Wszebor listened with the air of an 
 enthusiast and a judge. Grace Latour, who had dis- 
 cernment enough to see a little into Frederic's charac- 
 ter, said to Arthur Nugent, "Do tell me what sort of 
 a man that impracticable cousin of yours is ? " 
 
 '' The best fellow breathing, only a little too indolent 
 and a good deal too fond of himself." 
 VOL. J. c
 
 26 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 She wanted no more to determine to make her 
 amusement out of him. He was not particularly fond 
 of music, excepting liking Pasta, Madame Vestris, and 
 Miss Paton, because every young man did like them ; 
 but when a song had finished, and some movement pro- 
 claimed the music over, he sauntered towards the in- 
 strument, and faintly hoped " they had not yet done." 
 *'I never waste my energies on lullabys," said Grace 
 Latour : '^ if you want to go to sleep, I dare say Mr. 
 Nugent will play you the last new Christchurch chaunt ; 
 or, if you want awakening, perhaps Count Wszebor will 
 give us one of those beautiful marches his country is 
 famous for ; I am certain he is a musician, for he listens 
 like one." 
 
 The Count bowed, and Frederic turned on his heel ; 
 the ladies took their seats at a work table, and on a 
 sofa, till now exclusively possessed by Nina. 
 
 There is no point in which foreigners differ more 
 from Englishmen than in their readiness to please, and 
 be pleased : the latter '^hide their talents in a napkin," 
 and are always hoarse, or shj/ when they could be 
 brought into play, and are often too proud to make 
 themselves agreeable. But Count Wszebor, without
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 27 
 
 any farther entreaty, sat down to the instrument, 
 and played some such beautiful, and spirit-stirring 
 marches, that even the whist players laid down their 
 cards to listen ; and the General took the opportunity 
 of relating an action with the Turks, in which his 
 friend had gallantly led his troops to that particu- 
 lar march, and had been victorious, though severely 
 wounded ; he was come to England for medical advice, 
 had been very much restored by drinking the waters at 
 Bath, or using the baths at Brighton, he did not recol- 
 lect which. 
 
 Mrs. Beaumont was quite sure she had seen the 
 Count before ; was never mistaken in a face she had 
 once seen ; only when at Bath he was paler, and if pos- 
 sible more interesting ; recollected hearing he was a 
 Polish nobleman of distinguished bravery. 
 
 If Frederic had played like Cramer, nothing would 
 have tempted him to lend himself to other people's 
 amusement, how much soever he might expect them 
 to contribute to his ; and yet his self-love winced a little 
 at such popularity ; and though he would not have 
 earned it himself, he felt a little, as Dr. Johnson 
 had described, sunk in his self-importance ; he had re- 
 
 c 2
 
 28 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 course to a newspaper, whilst others gathered around 
 the table to see some splendid Parisian albums, the 
 Miss Latours had brought over. 
 
 We have heard of a house where there were seven- 
 teen albums on the table at once— here there were only 
 seven. The Miss Latours had each two, one for 
 drawings, and the other for poetry ; but not like our 
 native productions, with Bramah locks, that if a key 
 is lost, can never be opened ; but with magnificent 
 embossed clasps studded with turquoises, that had not 
 the faculty of fastening at all. 
 
 Albums were unluckily another of Frederic's detes- 
 tations ,• and, if he could have condescended to ridicule 
 what he considered to be an intolerable nuisance, he 
 would have described the way in which ladies bargain 
 for contributions, with the address of Stock-brokers on 
 the Royal Exchange. 
 
 Grace Latour had made up her mind to inflict 
 upon Frederic what children practise on a black cat 
 in a dark room, stroking its hairs backwards, to elicit 
 electric sparks; and he was equally disposed with 
 Grimalkin to give her a little scratch in return, when 
 opportunity ofi^ered.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 29 
 
 " By the bye, Mr. Vernon, (said she,) I know you 
 are a poet, you must positively give me a copy of 
 verses for my album ; I never excuse any person of 
 genius. " 
 
 Frederic protested he was no genius, never 
 wrote any verses but nonsense verses at school. 
 
 " Well, that is the most astonishing thing T ever 
 knew, for I am a great craniologist, and 1 felt so sure, 
 I would have staked all my reputation in the science on 
 it, that you had the true poetical bump ; do order your 
 man to cut that particular lock of your hair a little ' 
 closer, or you will be tormented out of your life for 
 sonnets ; but I am never disappointed of what I intend 
 to have, so Mr. Nugent, who is so obliging as to 
 promise me some verses of his writing, will, I am sure, 
 be so very good natured as to write another copy for 
 you, I will put your name to it, and it will do quite 
 as well. '* 
 
 Frederic did not feel that it would do quite as well, 
 for he happened really to have a taste for poetry, and 
 wrote very pretty gentlemanly verses ; and to have some 
 of Arthur's school-boy stuff exposed to the world for 
 hisy was a great deal too bad ! how he wished albums
 
 so COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 at the bottom of the red sea ! we will not suspect him 
 at that moment of wishing the same fate to their fair 
 owners. To them he shewed his contempt by looking 
 over a game at chess between Count Wszebor and Mr. 
 Beresford ; the former was triumphant, though his op- 
 ponent was reckoned the best player in the county, 
 
 Frederic perceived he could not play chess with the 
 Count, and he would have proposed ecarte, but all 
 foreigners are so knowing in that game ; and he had 
 smarted more than once at Paris for such temerity, he 
 therefore proposed ecart6 to Mr. Beresford, but he 
 had his Christmas day sermon to look over, and ex- 
 pected his gig to be announced every moment. 
 
 " Well then, Arthur, what say you ?" 
 
 But he was engaged in Miss Latour's service, draw- 
 ing some lines round a landscape, '* but he was sure 
 Mrs. Elenor Latour, aunty ^ as she w^as called, would 
 play with Frederic, and she was a capital player, much 
 better than he was." 
 
 The lady was quite ready, and the mortified Fre- 
 deric could not recede, as it was his own proposal. 
 His partner did understand the game as well as 
 most lady players ; but she disliked its phraseology,
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. SI 
 
 and could not bring herself to say to a gentle- 
 man *^I propose/' so she substituted ** / beg some 
 cardsJ' 
 
 Arthur, hearing this, as he passed Frederic, clapped 
 him on the shoulder, with " Well, Frederic, 1 see you 
 are come to the kitchen game of heg of my neighbour 
 at last." This was too provoking, but Frederic's evil 
 genius prevailed this evening ; and he was doomed to 
 all sorts of petty mortifications ; what others would 
 have laughed off touched his tender, morbid, self-love, 
 and seemed to irritate it to disease ; throwing down 
 his cards, he declared Mrs. Elenor was much too good 
 a player for him ; he had no chance with her. 
 
 Seeing him disengaged, Grace Latour attacked 
 him with one of the million of charades that some 
 pretty little morocco books of Miss Phillips's contained; 
 and which, written in a most beautiful and small hand, 
 were always ready for admiration, or puzzling. Fre- 
 deric turned off this attack with as much good humour 
 as he could command, for fear of a repetition of the 
 poetry business ; begged Arthur might on this occasion 
 be his substitute, he had no genius for charades, and was 
 particularly dull that night ; and immediately busied
 
 32 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 himself in doing the honours of the supper tray, not a 
 very common occurrence with him ; but he wanted to 
 escape one lady, and renew his acquaintance with ano- 
 ther ; and, by way of refreshment to his own mind, he 
 offered it to Louisa Grey, in the more visible form of 
 wine and water, and jelly, which he mixed with, at 
 least, an attention, if not a science, that would not have 
 disgraced Eustace Ude. 
 
 ^' I am so glad,'^ he observed to her, ^^ that you 
 are of my way of thinking, about albums and charade 
 books, for I see you have neither." 
 
 " Oh, don't be too sure of that, for perhaps I 
 may combine both evils in one ; and have a more abo- 
 minable thing called a scrap book, for I take in ever?/ 
 thing.'' 
 
 *' Well, perhaps that is more tolerable ; for at any 
 rate, there is no display in your's, and that is what I 
 most hate ; I will look out for fugitive pieces for you, 
 and as I cannot contribute in any other way, I will cut 
 out of newspapers every thing likely to suit you ; 
 depend on me !" 
 
 • This, though said in rather an under tone, was not 
 lost upon Grace Latour.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. ^o 
 
 '' I am so glad Mr. Vernon, " she exclaimed, 
 '^ that I have at last discovered your turn, I felt sure 
 you wrote Whims and Oddities, and had some hand in 
 Sayings and Doings ! I was certain your expressions 
 were so familiar to me I must have met with them in 
 a book. Let me know when you have another volume 
 on the stocks ; I can help you to some capital stories, 
 even to banditti, if you like them." 
 
 Frederic was all gratitude, and would not fail to 
 remind her of her promise, if he ever should be guilty 
 of writing a book, but she was very safe at present, as 
 he professed himself a decided plodder. 
 
 Turning over one of the splendid little volumes we 
 have just described, she found a puzzle composed of 
 angles and squares. 
 
 " Now you positively must assist me, Mr. Vernon, you 
 cannot have forgot Euclid ; do tell me what all these ma- 
 thematical figures mean, for I perceive you are a matter- 
 of-fact-man, perhaps you can draw my horoscope ?" 
 
 The breaking up of the party for the night, saved 
 the retort courteous. Frederic retired to think of Brigh- 
 ton, and wish himself there, or any where, even on tlie 
 chain pier, inclement as the night was ; nor is this 
 
 c 5
 
 34 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 very wonderful, for sarcasm cuts sharper than frost: to 
 be called a matter-of-fact-man was a deep wound in- 
 deed to the amour propre of a man whose good opi- 
 nion of himself was not slight. Frederic at first threw 
 himself into the easiest of all easy chairs ; but if the 
 mind is disconcerted the body is restless : he left the 
 *' lap of luxury," and walked up and down the room. 
 There are many things, that pass muster in society, 
 that produce a very different effect when ^* the heart 
 communes with itself " retired and alone. 
 
 Frederic was in the highest degree irritable and 
 uncomfortable ; and he did not know why : his mother 
 always had such dreadful people at Christmas. Mrs. 
 Beaumont was insufferable, she knew every body, and 
 always talked of her carriage, her horses, her house, 
 and her acquaintance ; and maiden aunts were always 
 abominations. And those Russians! where could 
 his father have picked up them and their orders ? to 
 Brighton he must go, it was the only place where 
 one could exist in frost and snow — life was not worth 
 having at Eastbrooke Park, with such society. There 
 was one little hitch to setting off next day, he believed it 
 was Christmas day, so he thought he heard some one say.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 35 
 
 Don't imagine, gentle reader, that Frederic Vernon 
 had any vulgar prejudices about days: all were alike to 
 ftim ; but he was very fond of his mother, though he did 
 not like her set of acquaintance ; and, absurd as he 
 might think, what he called, her prejudices^ he could not 
 help respecting themasher's; she would not like his go- 
 ing from home on Christmas-day, and, as he was fairly 
 there, he would not vex her, but the following day he 
 positively would go; nay, to acquit himself of all blame, 
 if he should find setting off to-morrow irresistible, he 
 would toss up, and let chance decide the matter. 
 
 His servant entered the room as the sovereign was 
 in the air- 
 
 '' Which is it, Jackson, heads or tails ? " 
 
 '^ Tails, sir." 
 
 " Then I go to Brighton, Friday." 
 
 '' I fear, sir, the roads will be hardly passable; the 
 general's servant gives a very bad account of them, in 
 the hilly country: it snows now, sir, and Sir Thomas 
 has ordered a path to be swept to church, and the road 
 cleared down the hill in the park, that the carriage may 
 go safely ; and I dare say it will take twenty men to do 
 it by church time."
 
 S6 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Frederic hated the exaggeration of servants, though 
 
 General Dorozenski had given a like report, but then 
 
 those Russians were used to go over such vast level 
 
 plains of ice in a sledge; they were no judges of 
 
 English practicabilities, and post-horses ! He went 
 
 to bed, but not to sleep, he thought, and thought is a 
 
 foe to rest 
 
 *' When all the drossy feelings of the day, 
 Touch'd by the wand of truth, dissolve away." 
 
 Frederic could not conceal from himself that there 
 were le pour et le contre as to Brighton. Lady Hen- 
 shawe and her charming daughter were there. Lady 
 Henshawe was one of the most captivating women in 
 the world, insinuating in address, irrestible in manner, 
 and her dinners ! they were not select, they were 
 exclusive, recherchee, exquisite! 
 
 Her husband had been ambassador at various courts, 
 she had accompanied him even to Constantinople, and 
 therefore knew how to combine Eastern and Northern 
 luxuries. Lord Henshawe w as now gone to a lucra- 
 tive government in India, and she would have gone 
 also, for she loved the splendour of representation, but 
 she had two daughters ; they were too good for the In-
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 37 
 
 dian market, where the most they could expect was a 
 high military officer, who was probably a soldier of for- 
 tune. In England they were fit for a duke, and could 
 at last but take up with an earl. Lady Henshawe had 
 disposed of one in a very brilliant match, but certain 
 points were discovered in the young lady's temper, 
 which had been most carefully concealed by her prudent 
 mother, and the discovery was against her sister, who 
 was still more captivating than the eldest. 
 
 Lady Henshawe had fixed on a certain duke for 
 her, but he had otherwise disposed of himself, and two 
 springs in London, and two winters at Brighton, had 
 lowered her tone a little, and Frederic knew that now 
 she would even take up with him ; but he was not in 
 love with the charming Agnes : he was well aware of 
 her mother's unbounded extravagance, and he had no 
 reason to doubt the daughter possessed the same taste. 
 
 If he went to Brighton, he must meet Agnes on 
 the Steyne, for every body is early at Brighton ; then 
 he must ride with her, and see her look lovely on a 
 beautiful horse of his own, which he had, under an odd 
 circumstance, lent her. Then would come Lady Hen- 
 shawe's luxuriant dinners^ and in the eveninsj he must
 
 38 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 dance with the daughter, after he had drank Lady Hen- 
 shawe*s champagne Could mortal man resist all this 
 fascination ! And yet Frederic did not want a wife, and 
 still less did he want such an one as Miss Henshawe 
 would make. 
 
 There was yet another day between him and fate ! 
 But he could not understand himself, or why he felt so 
 uncomfortable at home ; he had all he could wish for, 
 his will was law, Sir Tliomas was extremely fond of 
 him, and liberal to him to any extent he asked for. 
 And we must do Lady Vernon the justice to say, that, 
 when he was a little boy, she constantly reminded him 
 of the good bishop of Sodor and Man's maxim, that 
 ''we ought every day to deny ourselves something, to 
 get the habit of self-control ;" the world had taught 
 an opposite lesson to the Bishop, and Frederic had 
 learnt, in that pernicious school, to deny himself nothing 
 that he had the power of procuring. But nobody finds 
 out their own disease, or always acknowledges it when 
 it is discovered by their physician. 
 
 Frederic might have found ample amusement in 
 the party collected at Eastbrooke ; he had travelled, 
 and so had the Misses Latour, and they might have had
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 39 
 
 mutual adventures to relate ; and, with the gay and 
 playful turn of Grace, her description might have been 
 particularly amusing. Count Wszebor had belonged to 
 other countries ; he had anecdotes of Turks and Cos- 
 sacks, and various parts of the extensive Russian domi- 
 nions, which would have afforded ample information 
 and amusement; but then Frederic would not have 
 been the first person, and nothing else suited him; 
 besides it was vulgar to talk of travels, every body tra- 
 velled, as they ate thin bread and butter at breakfast ; 
 and to be pleased with any thing that did not administer 
 exclusively to his vanity and egotism was impossible ; 
 and yet that same self-love was very much like an in- 
 jured muscle, if torpid, friction would do it good, but 
 if irritated, friction only increased the evil, the more it 
 was rubbed the more it smarted — it wanted soothing 
 and pampering, the two things most calculated to in- 
 crease the disease. 
 
 It has been asserted by Malthus, and such writers, 
 that if there were not contagious diseases to check po- 
 pulation, the world must be over-run with inhabitants. 
 Formerly the plague used to do the necessary office of 
 thinning mankind ; then the small-pox, but, since vacci-
 
 40 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 nation has been introduced, there would be no hope of 
 human beings not at last devouring each other, if it was 
 not for a disease sprung up in the higher classes of 
 society, and from them, as a matter of course, likely 
 to spread lower and lower. This extraordinary disease, 
 unlike the plague, or small-pox, chiefly affects the ima- 
 gination, its severest suffering is from the apprehension 
 of its attack. In short, to he bored is so very dreadful, 
 there is nothing one can encounter, short of hangings 
 that is not preferable. 
 
 That Frederic was a good deal under the influence 
 of this baneful disease the reader need not be told, but 
 he could not make it out, and fancied he was the most 
 ill-used, devoted person in the world, because he was 
 always hored. Could he have employed a little sound 
 reasoning, and divested his feelings of self, he might 
 have discovered that he had in his own power every 
 means of happiness ; and, at this present time, of amuse- 
 ment also, for Grace Latour was clever, some of the 
 rest of the party very agreeable ; and, if he had taken to 
 the first good humouredly, and only retorted in the 
 same strain, they might have enjoyed a laugh at each 
 other without any irritable or angry feeling ; but now
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 41 
 
 it was ruse contre ruse. But this was to be endured 
 one day longer, and oji/i/ one : and with that consoling 
 reflection Frederic fell asleep.
 
 CHAPTER III, 
 
 CHRISTMAS DAY. 
 
 Whatever may be said of the balmy air of Italy, or 
 the exhilirating climate of Paris, there is nothing so 
 suited to the English constitution as a bright, clear, 
 frosty day ; nor any thing that heightens the native com- 
 plexion of Englishwomen to so brilliant a point as a 
 walk when the ground is covered with snow : the con- 
 trast and reflection have some power '' not dreamt of 
 in our philosophy." 
 
 The younger members of the party walked to 
 church, and even Frederic made this remark, particu- 
 larly on Louisa Grey : her complexion too was height- 
 ened by benevolence, and the interesting duties of the
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 43 
 
 day. After church, she and Emily Vernon were to 
 preside at a dinner of roast beef and plumb-pudding, 
 given to the children of Lady Vernon's school ; and at 
 the school-house were also the aged, who had been 
 clothed by the same benevolent person, and who were 
 looking forward to their beef and ale at home, her gift 
 also. Of course the gentlemen who were of the party 
 to church, which did not include the foreign guests, 
 took no part in this exhibition, but accepted Sir Tho- 
 mas's invitation, togetlier with the Miss Latours and 
 Mrs. Elenor, to see some improvement he was plan- 
 ning, by throwing down hedges, and adding to his park ; 
 and he had a particular pleasure not only in consulting 
 his son's inclination, but giving his taste the credit of 
 every judicious alteration, so that Frederic had a gra- 
 tification of his self-love he did not deserve ; but he 
 took it, notwithstanding, and was accordingly in great 
 good humour with himself and those around him, more 
 particularly so, as by Miss Latour not coming down 
 before the party went into dinner, he was at liberty to 
 take in, and place himself next to, Louisa Grey. 
 
 He made himself remarkably agreeable, and though 
 he rallied his neighbour on her taste for Sunday schools.
 
 44 COUxNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 she defended herself with so much tact and good hu- 
 mour, that he almost thought she was right, at least he 
 had no objection to her patronizing, in so amiable a 
 manner, his mother's institutions; nay, he even liked 
 that the charity whims, as he called them, of one he 
 so much loved, should meet with the approbation of 
 so very sensible a person as Miss Grey. 
 
 There are some counties, and those not so far from 
 the metropolis as might be imagined, where the old 
 fashioned mummers still go round at Christmas. 
 When Lady Vernon was informed this band was in 
 the house, «he desired their coming into the draw- 
 ing room, their ancient privilege, might be delayed 
 till the gentlemen came in, as she thought it a na- 
 tional custom, new to her foreign guests ; they hardly 
 understood them ; but Grace Latour was enchanted 
 with Maid Marian, a great coarse red-armed dairy 
 maid, dressed in some extraordinary left off ball dress. 
 Queen Elizabeth was equally delightful in her hoop 
 petticoat. 
 
 She asked if they had no other pageants ? '^ Yes, 
 one, and they could perform it the next night, pro- 
 vided their usual round would allow them time."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 45 
 
 When they were gone Sir Thomas declared it was 
 quite impossible they could go to Crowland and return 
 to Eastbrooke park. This started an idea in Grace's 
 mind, which she reserved for future consultation. 
 
 The evening of Christmas day was passed up stairs 
 with cards, and down stairs with a bowl of punch ; 
 but on the regale below being mentioned, some was 
 ordered up with the supper tray, and declared so ex- 
 cellent by the General, that a tumbler of it hot was 
 ordered to his room. 
 
 This to Frederic had been a very agreeable day, he 
 had tolerated the mummers for the sake of popularity, 
 and he had very much improved his acquaintance with 
 Louisa Grey ; and, much as he had been disappointed 
 at first in her altered character, he now found her, if not 
 gay, and amusing, extremely interesting^ and there was 
 such quiet good sense in her ideas - — he, with his usual 
 egotism, flattered himself she thought on many points 
 exactly as he did. 
 
 Another circumstance had more powerfully acted 
 on his resolution to go next day to Brighton, General 
 Dorozenski had so vividly described the pleasures of 
 driving a sledge, and how easily one was constructed,
 
 46 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 even an old boat, put on an iron keel, would make one ; 
 and the horse or horses, in Lasso, so captivated Fred- 
 eric's fancy, that, knowing there was a light canoe in the 
 boat house, he determined to set up a sledge, and, if 
 the frost continued, to drive it to Brighton; it would 
 be quite new there, at least he hoped no one would 
 drive i?i Lasso. 
 
 He sent accordingly for the blacksmith and the 
 carpenter, who would not have been drawn from their 
 Christmas ale, but for the hopes of an additional glass 
 or two at the Great House. They, of course, between 
 ale and punch, were ready to undertake any thing the 
 young squire wished. 
 
 After this important interview, Frederic retired in 
 good humour with himself and the world ; that is to 
 say, his self-love and importance had food without the 
 bitter pill of mortification. 
 
 There are many bright thoughts visit one's pillow, 
 and Frederic recollected an extraordinary skewbald 
 horse that runs in one of the stages on the public road 
 that passes near Eastbrooke Park. This he communi- 
 cated next morning to Arthur, and intreated his assis- 
 tance in procuring this horse as cheap as possible, and
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 47 
 
 above all, not to say he wanted it, as that would dou- 
 ble its price, and, with brown George as a shafter (if 
 one may be so called where there were no shafts), 
 it would make a very creditable appearance. 
 
 All the morning Frederic was occupied giving direc- 
 tions and inspecting the progress of turning the canoe 
 into a sledge. Count Wszebor had been most obliging 
 in making accurate drawings of every part ; and his 
 servant Plosko was of no small service ; all prospered, 
 and just at dusk Arthur returned with an ostler lead- 
 ing the skewbald. 
 
 He had made a capital bargain, and Frederic re- 
 turned to the house, a little tired with his morning's 
 exertions, and yet acknowledging the time had gone 
 very quickly. He requested Arthur to stay and inspect 
 the last part of the work, as the workmen were new 
 to the principle on which sledges were constructed. 
 Whilst so doing, he overheard the following conversa- 
 tion between Tom Brown, Frederic's groom, and one 
 
 « 
 of the postillions. 
 
 ** Well," said Tom, '^ a gentleman's a gentleman, 
 and one as is rich may do as he pleases. To be sure 
 my master is one all over ; but he is no more judge of
 
 48 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 horseflesh than Jenny Dairy, for he has bought, and I 
 dare say given a sight of money for it, such a rip of a 
 horse as I would not be seen on at a bull-bait.'^ 
 
 The body coachman joined the party, and agreed 
 in opinion as to the merits of the skewbald, adding, 
 '^ I must say, that for Sir Thomas, though he is my 
 master, he was a proper judge of a horse, and as bold 
 a rider as one would wish to see ; though now, God 
 help us, he cares for nothing but a quiet pony to go 
 round his farm, and a pair of horses to draw my lady 
 to church. 1 have lived here man and boy these forty 
 vears, and I remember, as if it was yesterday, what a set 
 of fine coach horses we had ; never stirred without six, 
 and two out-riders, father was coachman then, and uncle 
 Sam rode the leaders ; and I remembers too when he 
 poor man was first took ill, I supplied his place, I am 
 sure I had not a dry thread about me for fright, and 
 once or twice, as I drove along, I looked round at fa- 
 ther, and he gave me a cut with his whip to mind my 
 own business. Aye, aye, we had ten hunters in our 
 stable, but as for your gentlemen hunters, who smell 
 of perfume instead of the stable, I have not much 
 opinion of them"
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 49 
 
 " Well you may say so, coachy," said Tom, " those 
 Melton gentry, its my mind, are not the fox-hunters 
 of your day, nor their cattle neither ; there's Lord Gal- 
 lopdale with twelve hunters in his stable, can hardly 
 hunt four times a week ; bless your heart ! there's as 
 many tricks at Melton as at New^ Market, every bit ; 
 only they keeps em more to themselves ; and a fine 
 deal of money they wins or loses, in and out of stable, 
 setting up all night to game." 
 
 " Give me the old fox-hunters," rejoined the coach- 
 man, '^ if they were a little groggy after a hard run, 
 why they slept sound after it, and got up next morning 
 none the worse ; that's more than you can say, Tom, 
 of your gentry in Leicestershire : many a man as has 
 hunted all day has ruined himself before morning, 
 that's my notion." 
 
 These worthies were then joined by Plosko, the 
 Count's servant, a sort of amphibious creature, well 
 known in foreign service ; he could cut his master's hair 
 if required ; dress, or shoe, his horse ; cook his beef- 
 steak, mend his apparel, and fight by his side : as he 
 approached, the coachman observed, in a language he 
 imagined he imperfectly understood, that he thought 
 '^ the Polelander was itp to a good deal. " 
 
 VOL. I. D
 
 50 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 On the latter inspecting the new purchase, he set 
 the stable yard in a roar, by asking if it was a natural 
 or a painted horse ? when this was a little subsided, he 
 asserted on his honour that both the Arabs and Per- 
 sians, who were very particular about their horses, and 
 amongst whom he had served, always painted theirs 
 when they wanted to sell them, or to make any fine 
 shew ; and moreover put on false tails and manes. 
 Provoked by their incredulity at this assertion, he 
 offered, " if Monsieur pleased," to prove its truth, and 
 make an old gray mare, who went in the market cart, 
 a proper match for the new purchase ; all the stable 
 establishment declared themselves eager for the ex- 
 periment. 
 
 Arthur was highly diverted, and in the simplicity of 
 
 his heart sought out Frederic before he dressed, and 
 
 repeated all this, as a capital joke. There are various 
 
 readings of the same passage, and we are not sure that 
 
 Frederic, with his morbid state of mind, thought it any 
 
 joke at all : he would, in truth, have been gladly spared 
 
 the recital j it did not quite euit his sensitive feelings to 
 
 be thought jlightly of, even by his groom ; he rather 
 
 wished Arthur at Cambridge, and he could not help
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 51 
 
 repeating the words of Sir Fretful Plagiary : " There 
 
 is always some good natured friend ready to tell 
 
 one all that is said against one :" but we must leave him 
 '' to chew the cud of sweet and bitter fantasy," whilst 
 his man performed the duties of the toilette on him. 
 
 It was the remark of a great painter, Annibal Car- 
 racci, that if there were more than twelve figures in 
 a picture, all over above that number were figures to 
 be let. Yet in many of the finest specimens of art 
 there are many more introduced, but they are subor- 
 dinate groups made use of for the purpose of bringing 
 the principal figures forward ; and are like the crimson 
 curtains of the moderns, to throw a glow, or reflect a 
 light ; so in our picture we could imitate the graphic 
 art, and if such auxiliaries were requisite, we could 
 bring forward a group of dowagers in the fore ground, 
 or they might better stand out for a side skreen ; and 
 some men, who drive home at night, or leave early in 
 the morning, to fill up the canvas ; yet without being 
 of sufficient importance far particular delineations. 
 But all these we must leave chiefly to the imagination 
 of our readers, or we shall use them for light and shade 
 as may suit us. 
 
 D 2
 
 52 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Some of the country neighbours denominated na- 
 tives will be occasionally added to the party : of these 
 a Sir John Sedley, (for, as Pelham says, '* Baronets 
 hang together like bees,") his eldest son and two daugh- 
 ters came to dinner the day after Christmas day ; the 
 young ladies passably agreeable, for young women who 
 had been educated in the country, went little to Lon- 
 don, and neve?' to Paris. And unexpectedly, as the 
 dinner bell rang, arrived Major Mac Venom ; these 
 gave the party a new turn ; the worthy baronets talked 
 over the probable business at the quarter sessions, to 
 which they were going next day. 
 
 London was empty, but Major Mac Venom was 
 brimful of the London University, and the numerous 
 advantages those who could neither read nor write 
 gained by lectures on every abstruse science, and how 
 learnedly the London mechanics talked of hydros- 
 tatics, pneumatics, and a hundred other attics whose 
 names they could neither spell nor pronounce. 
 
 Sir John thought the operative mechanics, as they 
 were now called, much better without such knowledge, 
 it would only end in our carpenters and blacksmiths 
 thinking themselves wiser than their employers, and
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 53 
 
 not suffering themselves to be directed ; and our horses 
 would be shod, not according to experience, but 
 upon the last new principle, till every one in the stable 
 was lamed. 
 
 Frederic felt glad he had plodders and not scien- 
 tific artisans to complete his morning's work.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 The following day was a busy one, Frederic had 
 turned over in his mind the project of painting the 
 horse, and though he did not wish it to be made a joke 
 of, till it was all over, he should like to take Mr. Sedley 
 in, who pretended to be a great judge of horses. If 
 brown George did not go quietly in lasso, which was very 
 doubtful, the gray mare, though aged, had been a 
 capital hunter, and had blood and figure about her 
 still ; at all events he might as well talk to Tom Brown, 
 about it ; and, finding the composition only red lead, 
 soot, and small beer, and easily washed off, Plosko 
 was summoned to the conference, he promised every 
 thing, and Frederic recollected having heard a cavalry
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 55 
 
 officer mention something of the same kind, it was 
 therefore to be done. Frederic gave Tom half a crown 
 for a Christmas box, and the Pole a little bit of gold 
 with ** tais tu, mon ami." 
 
 Mr. Sedley was passionately fond of snipe-shooting, 
 he went early to the moor. The baronets were gone to 
 the quarter sessions, and the general and his friend ac- 
 companied by ^lac Venom as a cicerone, to see a won- 
 derful paper-mill in the neighbourhood, where paper 
 was now made by a new process, without hands, to the 
 great grief of the surrounding poor, who used to iind 
 employment at it. 
 
 Plosko was eminently successful, and brown George 
 unmanagably restive, or in Tom's phrase, properli/ 
 rusty, so the skewbalds were tried, and went admirably. 
 Frederic, as driver, and Arthur behind to balance, and 
 also to prevent the possibility of any one of the ladies 
 wanting a drive, more especially Grace Latour. 
 
 All prospered, the horses went capitally ; expecta- 
 tion had been raised to its utmost height in the house, by 
 Arthur Nugent, and Plosko, so that when the equipage 
 came round, the lower windows were crowded by the 
 ladies of the party ; the first story by the ladies' maids ;
 
 56 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 and the upper, by house-maids, dairy-maids, &c.: several 
 turns round by the house and through the wood were 
 taken; and as the day drew to its close, Mr. Sedley 
 returned from shooting — he was wet up to his knees, 
 having been enjoying himself in half frozen water for 
 eight hours, to get three shots ; and therefore not dis- 
 posed to stop and criticise, only gave his approving 
 nod, and hastened to get some dry clothes. 
 
 Thus far, all was as could be wished ; but it was 
 very difficult to turn this tandem sledge into the stable 
 yard, and, in doing so, it came in contact with a post, 
 and received a sufficient shock to throw out Frederic 
 and Arthur, but they were not hurt, and had no wit- 
 nesses to the disaster, but some of the stable servants, 
 so nothing was said about it. 
 
 Plosko, who acted as master of the ceremonies, de- 
 clared nothing was wanting but a peculiar sort of plume, 
 which he described, on the heads of the horses. It 
 happened that his Hussar jacket and Polish cap had 
 been voted no liverT/, therefore he was admitted into 
 the house-keeper's room, and had made himself a great 
 favourite there, and his numberless stories of hair- 
 breadth escapes made considerable impression on the
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 5? 
 
 Desdemonas assembled there. He proposed instruct- 
 ing some one of them in making these plumes, but 
 Frederic was afraid he might be too communicative, 
 and therefore preferred consulting his sister. She most 
 readily promised to manufacture the plumes, with some 
 addition of peacocks', pheasants', and turkey feathers, 
 to some old parrot feathers, she could find ; and Louisa 
 Grey volunteered her assistance, so very good humour- 
 edly, and executed the work so very ingeniously, '^ she 
 was really a charming girl, if not so striking at first 
 sight." 
 
 The other ladies had not been idle, for they had 
 been making preparations for acting charades. On this 
 being first proposed, Emily Vernon objected, because 
 she knew Frederic so very much disliked them. She 
 had heard him declare he would leave a house the next 
 morning where they were acted. She therefore con- 
 sulted Lady Vernon, who was unwilling to believe 
 that her son could be so very selfish, and if he was, she 
 thought it a good opportunity to oblige him to submit, 
 she therefore gave her consent ; and the thing went on. 
 
 The chief persons concerned were Grace Latour, 
 the two Miss Sedleys, Arthur, who was always ready 
 D 5
 
 58 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 for any thing ; and Mr. Sedley, who might be induced 
 to take a small part, if wanted. Mr. Latour, who 
 would have been a host, had gone up to town on 
 particular business. 
 
 The acting of charades is almost too common, and 
 too well understood to need description. Yet in case 
 this work should go into any remote island in the Pa- 
 cific Ocean, Van Dieman's land, or the new colonies in 
 Australia, we shall give some account of this pastime, 
 for the benefit of the natives. 
 
 The large drawing room at Eastbrooke was par- 
 ticularly well adapted for scenic exhibitions, having a 
 small inner room, into which it opened by large folding 
 doors, which communicated with the library, the hall, 
 and the conservatory. A curtain placed before these 
 doors made a perfect stage. When the charades be- 
 gan, Frederic was consulting his groom, and learnt from 
 him that his sledge was so injured by the jolt he had 
 given it that it would take a day nearly to repair it. 
 
 Tom had been rather prolix, so that the charades 
 had a good deal advanced before Frederic returned 
 to the drawing room, and it was towards tlie close of 
 the following scene, he entered.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 59 
 
 First were discovered three persons sitting quietly 
 over the fire — they were suddenly roused by some 
 bustle, all starting up, with countenances that said, 
 *^ What can the naatter be?" \\'hat is the matter? 
 Then came a stout gentleman, wrapped up in great 
 coats, cloaks, and comfortables, ready for the mail, 
 and waiting to know when he could '^ be off. " 
 This was followed by an exact representation of 
 His Majesty's picture of the Misers by Quintin 
 Matsys, viz., two old men, one receiving, the other 
 paying, money. 
 
 At the moment Frederic appeared, the whole 
 came on : a very lovely young woman, evidently just 
 married, leaning on an old, decrepid man, hob- 
 bling and coughing ; to whom she was paying great 
 attention, this was Matrimony, or Matter of 
 Money. 
 
 At first Frederic thought, and the thought provok- 
 ed him, that the young bride was Louisa Grey ; but 
 he soon discovered it was Miss Sedley, who resembled 
 her in height and size. Though internally annoyed at 
 being present at the amusement, he went to the back 
 of Louisa Grey's chair; saying,
 
 Co COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 *'l see you think with me, and dislike this amuse- 
 ment, as you take no part in it. " 
 
 *^ Oh, don't give me credit I don't deserve, I am 
 not so uice as you think me ; I have no dislike, on 
 the contrary, I am much amused by charades so vsell 
 acted." 
 
 " What can you possibly see in them that does not 
 excite dislike, even disgust ? " 
 
 *' Oh, just as much amusement as in a pantomime ; 
 indeed more, for in charades there is less grotesque, 
 and often, as in the present case, a great deal of 
 moral." 
 
 Another scene appeared to engage their attention ; 
 it was an arrival : the master, the mistress, the chamber- 
 maid and waiter, all capitally done, and the travellers 
 tired, and wrapped up, passing over the stage, left no 
 doubt the word was Imi, 
 
 Then came a little girl carrying a doll, and trying 
 to dance it, but she looked almost too frightened to 
 perform her part. 
 
 '' Where on earth could they get that poor little 
 wretch, " said Frederic, " and why did they drag her 
 into such folly ? "
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 6l 
 
 Emily replied, " she was the housekeeper's niece. " 
 
 *' Then why was she not left to enjoy her sugared 
 bread and butter in the still-room, and not brought 
 trembling here ? " 
 
 '* Indeed, I think you are much mistaken," observ- 
 Louisa, " 1 dare say she is very proud of the distinc- 
 tion, and thinks it a very fine thing to come up stairs, 
 and act with ladies and gentlemen ; it will be an 
 epocha in her life ; and even if she did not like it, it 
 is very good at her age, and at any age, to be obliged 
 to do what we do not exactly //Ae, to contribute to 
 the amusement of others. '' 
 
 '* I see" said Frederic, '^you are quite a philo- 
 sopher, drawing a moral inference from every thing. " 
 
 *' If you call that being a philosopher, " replied 
 Louisa, *' I hope I am one, at least I wish always to 
 draw good out of every thing. If I should change my 
 present existence, I know nothing I should better like 
 to be than a bee ; to extract honey from poisonous 
 flowers. " 
 
 *^ Well then, I suppose I must dub you a Pytha- 
 gorean, though I was more inclined to have called you 
 a Stoic. "
 
 62 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 " I shall not quarrel with the last epithet/' said 
 Louisa, -'only don't call me an Epicurean." 
 
 This was going pretty near the wind, but it was 
 Louisa Grey who said it; and, according to the pro- 
 verb, one man may better steal a horse, than another 
 look over a hedge. Frederic was not offended, though 
 such a speech from Grace Latour would have been 
 sarcasm, and given mortal offence ; but their attention 
 was again taken up by the scene. 
 
 A gentleman, whose haggard looks indicated that he 
 was a distressed gamester, was offering a casket of jew- 
 els to a Jew, who was, in return, giving him some mo- 
 ney; on the bags which contained it was written Lent, 
 
 On the concluding scene of the whohy all the 
 ingenuity of the actors had been exerted. A young 
 gentleman, in a magnificent shawl dressing-gown, and 
 a pair of embroidered slippers, was reclining at full 
 length on a sofa, and supported all round by pillows ; 
 on a horse shoe table was a most luxurious breakfast ; 
 every sort of delicacy, interspersed with newspapers, 
 and pamphlets ; before him, a fire-screen with a con- 
 trivance to hold a newspaper, without a hand; and every 
 thing so completely within his reach, without any change
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 63 
 
 of posture, that the Indolent need not move from 
 his reclining attitude. 
 
 The elderly gentlemen shook with laughter, and 
 pronounced it inimitable. 
 
 Frederic started away from the exhibition, beckon- 
 ed his sister, saying '' really this is insufferable : when is 
 this mummery and folly to cease ? Not till every ser- 
 vant in the house is corrupted by it? Much as 1 value 
 Jackson, I shall discharge him to-morrow morning." 
 
 Emily, though a little prepared for Frederic's dis- 
 like to this species of amusement, was not for such a 
 degree of anger at it, such as she had scarcely ever 
 known him show before. 
 
 She calmly said " I believe this is the last, but 
 what has so particularly displeased you in it?" 
 
 '' Don't you see ? or perhaps you are not aware 
 that 1 have been fool enough to spend forty guineas in 
 a Cashmere shawl, for a dressing gown, that La Meure 
 has just invented ; and to have it lent for such an occa- 
 sion as this, even before it has been seen, is perfectly 
 enraging ! to have one's servants bribed and corrupted 
 to lend one's clothes ! the next thing they wear them ! !" 
 
 Nothing disarms anger like a patient ear for the
 
 64 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 cause of it: by the time Frederic had vented his ire, 
 the exhibition was over, and Arthur was under exa- 
 mination. 
 
 Sir Thomas observed to the General, '' In my day, 
 if you wanted to describe a fop or a fribble, you called 
 him a Frenchman ; but they have learnt more manly 
 habits, and now I fear we may change the ridicule to 
 an Englishman." 
 
 Whilst this home, but random, thrust was making 
 at Frederic's imaginary dressing-gown ; Emily drew 
 Arthur towards her brother, when, to his great amaze- 
 ment, the obnoxious article of dress was no Cashmere 
 shawl ; but an ordinary linen with a patchwork bor- 
 der, made by Arthur's sisters. 
 
 When a person fancies he has just reason to be 
 provoked, and has been so, he does not like to be 
 deprived even of the cause of his anger. 
 
 For a moment Frederic almost wished he had 
 been right, even at the expense of Jackson, and his 
 cashmere shawl j it was only a remark from Louisa Grey, 
 of 'Miow ingenious Arthur's sisters were, and how good- 
 natured to devote so much of their industry to a part 
 of their brother's dress so little likely to be seen by
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 65 
 
 those who could appreciate it;" followed by a deep sigh 
 at the recollection of her own lamented brother, that 
 prevented Frederic from leaving the room : this sigh 
 went through his ear — where it penetrated to we know 
 not. 
 
 He retired to his room, in no very enviable dis- 
 position, yet he could not, for the life of him, help 
 feeling that there was something in this sigh, and 
 Louisa's melancholy placid look, that acted on him as 
 oil does does on a stormy sea. 
 
 Why should she be such a superior creature ? she 
 had only appeared when young a very nice, lively girl. 
 But he forgot she had been brought up in a different 
 school to what he had, the School of Adversity/. 
 
 Her father, Colonel Grey, had distinguished him- 
 self early in the peninsular war, was on the Duke of 
 Wellington's staff, and a favourite with him. Her 
 mother, a sister of Mr. Latour's, went to Lisbon soon 
 after the battle of Vimeira, but was obliged to return 
 to England much injured in health. She relieved her 
 constant anxiety during her separation from her hus- 
 band by devoting herself to the education of lier 
 daughter, in which her sister Lienor look part.
 
 66 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Oil Napoleon's first abdication, Col. Grey returned 
 to England, not much the worse for his long and ardu- 
 ous service ; he found his daughter about eleven years 
 old, and all a fond father could wish. His enjoyment 
 of home was brief; Napoleon's escape from Elba 
 called him again to active service at the battle of 
 Waterloo : he was left on the field and returned on 
 the list of killed. 
 
 This was a dreadful shock to Mrs. Grey, but this 
 intelligence was speedily followed by news that he had 
 been found on the following day alive, only wounded 
 and mutilated. The revulsion of feeling was too much 
 for his wife ; she set off for Brussels, her sister and 
 daughter accompanying her to the coast where she was 
 to embark ; but she died at an inn on the road, having 
 extorted a promise from her sister never to separate 
 from her daughter. 
 
 In time, Col. Grey returned to England, with the 
 loss of his right arm, and a severe wound in his throat, 
 that sometimes deprived hiin of spe ch. Broken in 
 health, ruined in professional prospects, his Waterloo 
 medal, an Order, a pension for his wound, and his half 
 pay, were all his blood had earned.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 6? 
 
 But besides his daughter, he had another source of 
 comfort, a son who had contrary, in the first instance, 
 to his wishes preferred the navy to the army, but his 
 own fate, and his son's conduct in several engagements, 
 had reconciled him to the profession Edward Grey had 
 chosen ; and he looked forward with anxious hope to 
 his being more successful than his father had been. 
 Louisa devoted herself with the most unwearied at- 
 tention to her father, she scarcely left him, she read 
 to him, she wrote for him, and often spoke for him. 
 
 A sister of Col. Grey's, who had married a brother 
 officer of his in early life, and gone to India with him, 
 having lost him in the Deccan war, returned to Eng- 
 land with one daughter, and settled at Bath, to be near 
 her brother, who lived in the neighbourhood of that 
 city. 
 
 Louisa received all the advantages of education with 
 her cousin, and had opportunities of going into society 
 with her aunt, but it was only when her father was to- 
 lerably easy she could be prevailed on to leave him, 
 even for a few hours. She was ardently attached to 
 her brother, and looked forward to his fame and wealth 
 with nearly the same eagerness as her father did.
 
 68 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Alas ! he fell in a gallant attack on some pirates in 
 the Mediterranean, just when Louisa's character was 
 forming : this deep grief entirely changed it, and she was 
 now only, at the end of two years, beginning in some de- 
 gree to recover her spirits ; though with her father she 
 always exerted herself to assume a degree of cheerful- 
 ness she could not feel. To others her grief, though 
 deep, was calm, placid, and unobtrusive. That of her 
 unfortunate father produced irritation and peevishness, 
 which, added to acute bodily suffering, called on her 
 for constant forbearance and incessant and cheerful 
 submission to various privations. 
 
 She only left her father iioiu because his sister 
 Mrs. Barlow, her aunt, was with him ; her daughter had 
 married and settled in Scotland, whither she had fol- 
 lowed her, coming only to England to see her brother, 
 and giving Louisa and Mrs. Lienor Latour, who lived 
 with him, this opportunity of a little recreation ; and 
 those who loved Louisa saw with pleasure that the 
 change of scene was beneficial to her. 
 
 Frederic knew^ all these particulars but he heeded 
 them little. Her father was unlucky to be sure, but for 
 her brother, sailors must be knock'd at head some day
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 69 
 
 or other; it was apart of the profession, and whether 
 it was when a man was an admiral or lieutenant 
 did not much matter ! 
 
 As to the beneficial effects of these sorrows on 
 Louisa's character, it never entered into his imagina- 
 tion. Indeed, nothing could have persuaded him it 
 could be beueficial. He knew not how the heart is 
 chastened and corrected by such discipline, and how all 
 the latent and purest feelings are thus brought out, 
 and how his own bane, selfishness, is thus conquered. 
 He knew not that in blessing others she was doubly 
 blessed. She — 
 
 ** Soothed not another's rugged path alone, 
 But scattered roses to adorn her own." 
 His maxims had been all in an opposite direction, 
 and what were their effects ? irritation and reaction on 
 the most trivial occasions, to which the calm, resigned, 
 and gentle sorrow brought on by the recollection of a 
 beloved brother, formed a striking contrast.
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 The next day was Sunday. Frederic did not like 
 Sunday, he thought it a dull day — not that he made 
 much change in his every day habits. It was even worse 
 in London than in the country, for many of the usual 
 places of public and private amusement were inaccessi- 
 ble ; it was so insufferably tiresome to hear every body 
 you meet talk about going to church, one had been, 
 another was going, and a third could not go : why need 
 they say any thing about it? He never went to church, 
 excepting accidentally when at home, because Sir 
 Thomas and Lady Vernon asked if he was ill when he 
 did not go there, and always teazed him to have advice.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 71 
 
 Somehow, he thought Sunday came round oftetier than 
 any other day — it shined no sabbath-day to him — there 
 had been one already this week: not that Frederic 
 doubted the truths of that religion in which he had 
 been educated ; but its practice encroached on his habits 
 of self-indulgence. 
 
 There are many occasions on which we feel we 
 must do as others do, even if we would not, were we 
 left to our own decision, he therefore joined the party 
 to church, but left it as soon as the service was over. 
 
 His sister and Louisa Grey were to be busy at the 
 school, distributing the prizes gained in the year ; and 
 Miss Sedley, who was well versed in such business, 
 offered her assistance. She, her father, and sister, were 
 to have returned home after church, but the business of 
 the quarter sessions did not finish on Saturday, and the 
 two worthy baronets were obliged to attend it again on 
 Monday. The party was so agreeable, that the young 
 ladies obtained permission to stay till it broke up, and 
 Mr. Sedley also found some attractions he was not 
 inclined to forego. 
 
 ^liss Sedley was getting much valuable information 
 from Miss Latour on the subject of Parisian fashions.
 
 72 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 for the benefit of her own maid, and, perhaps, of all 
 the housemaids at Frampton Hall— all the newest pat- 
 terns of pelerines, and devices of sleeves and flounces. 
 Her sister, under the instructions of Grace, was learn- 
 ing to model figures in a composition only to be got at 
 Paris, of which we shall have more to say hereafter, and 
 was making great progress in painting in guauche, an 
 art little known in England. 
 
 When Emily Vernon, Louisa Grey, and Margaret 
 Sedley, were gone to the schools, the rest of the party 
 (with the exception of Frederic, who went home to 
 do nothing, only pretending to write letters) walked to 
 view some ruins of which Grace Latour had made a 
 sketch from memory, and she wished, cold as it was, to 
 take another look at them, to ascertain if what she 
 had done was correct. 
 
 As Frederic walked from the stable to the house, 
 and from the fire to the window of the library, he could 
 not help wishing that he could be amused by such trifles 
 as other people were — was it that he was wiser, and 
 required something that had more mind in it ? Alas, 
 we are compelled to confess that this feeling was not 
 superior wisdo7n, but a sort of selfish fastidiousness
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 73 
 
 that could not be satisfied without having every thing in 
 the superlative degree of excellence, the last manufac- 
 tory of fashion ; and, above all, producing a degree of 
 excitement that administered to those morbid feelings 
 which made him wretched if he was not the first — the 
 only — person considered. 
 
 VOL. I.
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 SUNDAY. 
 
 Sir Thomas and Lady Vernon were amongst the 
 number of old fashioned people who lament that the 
 habits of the present day often make evening family 
 prayers impossible, for half the under servants in a large 
 etsablishment are gone to bed before the dining room 
 is cleared. But still they kept to morning prayers. 
 
 Their's was the most unostentatious and unobtrusive 
 religion ; it was not mixed up with every dish, nor brought 
 into every topic of conversation, but it was the master 
 spring which pervaded the whole machine ; it was like 
 the main spring of a watch, though concealed from view 
 it extended its influence even to the minute hand They
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. lo 
 
 liad always family prayers of a morning, and those of 
 their visitors who chose to make any inquiry knew what 
 tlie nine o'clock bell meant. 
 
 Of course, Louisa Grey, who had visited at the 
 house from a child, knew where Sir Thomas's congre- 
 gation assembled, and attended it; but he imposed 
 nothing on his visitors, he did his own duti/y and left 
 them to do theirs ; but he often observed, and with a 
 sigh, that Frederic was never at morning prayers — he 
 was a bad sleeper, as are most of those who have 
 neither mental nor bodily exercise, and the bell gene- 
 rally rang before he was awake. 
 
 But though Sir Thomas had, from necessity, when 
 his house was full of visitors, felt obliged to remit his 
 usual evening prayers, he did not neglect them on a 
 Sunday evening, leaving it to his guests to follow him, 
 or their own inclinations. On this evening, Frederic 
 went, he hardly knew why, in to prayers and sermon, 
 and was accompanied by all the ladies of the party. Sir 
 John, and Mr. Sedley, and Arthur Nugent. During 
 the sermon, Frederic wondered if he should ever prevail 
 on himself to read prayers and a sermon to the house- 
 maids and stable boys ; and yet he could not help ac-
 
 76 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 knowledging, to his own heart, that he never saw his 
 father look to such advantage as when he knelt down in 
 the midst of his numerous household and dependents^ 
 gave thanks in the name of all for the blessings they 
 had enjoyed during the week, and earnestly prayed for 
 a continuance of them. 
 
 General Dorozenski, and Count Wszebor, were to 
 have left Eastbrooke Park early on Monday morning^ 
 but, unfortunately, tlie paper-mill they went to see, on 
 Saturday, was not at work, as the men had a few days' 
 holidays at Christmas : all that could be seen of the 
 machinery was carefully examined by the General, who, 
 like most Russians, was engaged in some mercantile 
 speculation, and had been very successful with steam- 
 boats. He had now another object in view, and came 
 to England to pick up what information he could. His 
 military appearance, and his numerous orders, deceived 
 the honest manufacturers. They never dreamt that, 
 hkehls Emperor, and the Duchess of Oldenburg, he was 
 stealing iheir trades, and, therefore, readily showed 
 him every thing. He understood mechanics, and took 
 advantage of their civility ; and Sir Thomas, honest 
 man ! understood hospitaliti/ better than liumbiigy and
 
 COUNTRY HOUStS. 77 
 
 entreated they \vould prolong their stay till Tuesday, 
 wheu the paper-mill would certainly be at work ; and 
 as he and Sir John were going to the county town on 
 Monday, where there was not only a tread-mill^ but 
 the origin of those amiable inventions, a donkey wheel, 
 to raise water for the gaol, it was settled that the 
 General and Major ^MacVenom shonld accompany the 
 worthy magistrates, on ^londay, to Everly, and walk 
 home when their curiosity was gratified. 
 
 When the party from the library returned to the 
 drawing-room after prayers, they found those they had 
 left, that is, the foreigners, and Major Mac Venom, in 
 a grand discussion on the everlasting topic of the Lon- 
 don University, the latter maintaining the advantages 
 of knowledge without religious principles, and extolling 
 the liberality of that education which was unencum- 
 bered with ihe prejudices of mankind, and roundly as- 
 serting, in contradiction to sound reason and experience, 
 that those who selected their own mode of faith were 
 likely to embrace it with more ardour than those on 
 whom it was imposed in their early years, forgetting 
 the unwillingness of human nature to impose on itself 
 painful restraints, and the probability that, in such a
 
 78 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 (.ase, the easiest and shortest way to heaven would 
 be chosen. 
 
 Sir Thomas, and his brother baronet, joined the 
 conversation, the former declaring ^^ that he thought 
 worldly knowledge, whatever it might lead to, worth- 
 less, stripped of the hopes of eternal life, founded on a 
 belief in the gospel ; '' and his friend, Sir John Sedley, 
 said, 
 
 '^That the man who did not believe in future 
 retribution, was one he should be loth to trust in 
 the concerns of this world." 
 
 Frederic addressed Louisa Grey, by asking ^* what 
 she thought on this subject ?" 
 
 " You had better hsten to your father and Sir John 
 Sedley, you will have much better reasoning from them ; 
 but a passage in the sermon Sir Thomas has just been 
 reading I think bears very strongly on the point." 
 
 Frederic did not recollect the passage : it would 
 have been wonderful if he had remembered that to 
 which he did not deign to listen : would Miss Grey 
 repeat it? 
 
 She did, and with so much proper feeling, that he 
 wondered he had not remarked it. '^But his father's
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 79 
 
 voice was monotonous, nobody could attend to it long 
 if Miss Grey had read the sermon, in her clear, yet 
 gentle, voice, and impressive manner, he could not 
 have lost a word : how he should like to hear her 
 preach to his mothers Sunday school children !" 
 
 But Louisa declared she never preached, she only 
 taught. 
 
 '^ But she must occasionally lecture^ that was nearly 
 the same thing." 
 
 " Very seldom, and perhaps to very little purpose," 
 she replied* 
 
 '^ Then your auditors must have leathern ears, and 
 cold hearts." 
 
 *' Oh ! too much must not be expected from chil- 
 dren, especially those of the poor, whose minds are 
 never cultivated at home." 
 
 '* Then you own," asked Frederic, ^' that it is cutting 
 blocks with a razor to attempt them ;" adding "the 
 respect and admiration he felt for those who could de- 
 vote themselves to such a hopeless labour, and more 
 especially like it." 
 
 " Pray don't call it a hopeless labour, Mr. Vernon, 
 you should rather encourage those who undertake it ;
 
 80 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 by hopes that the precepts they instil, and the habits 
 they enforce, will eventually bring forth good, in the 
 future lives of these poor children ; but 1 beg you will 
 not run away with the idea that I like it ; on the con- 
 trary, there is nothing so irksome to me, as teaching." 
 
 ^' Then why," asked Frederic, " do you perform it 
 so assiduously ?" 
 
 ** Because I hope I am doing some little good; and 
 I hope still more, that 1 am not such a selfish creature 
 as to piefer my own ease to the good, however trifling, 
 of any human being." 
 
 *'This is not stoical philosophy," thought Frederic, 
 " it must be the genuine doctrine of religion ; for it is 
 new to me : whatever it may be, it is embodied in a 
 very agreeable form ; and what is charming, must, or 
 ought to be true." This internal reflection was made 
 as the ladies left the room for the night. 
 
 Frederic was not sleepy, which was exti'aordinary, 
 after his father's sermon ; he soon dismissed his servant, 
 and, establishing himself very comfortably before the 
 fire, with Vixen at his feet, he began his contempla- 
 tions : first, by watching the fire, and tracing mountains 
 and human faces, in the coals ; coaxed Vixen, and then
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 81 
 
 thought of Louisa Grey. She was an extraordinary 
 person, and to be so changed from what hei childhood 
 promised, there was something about her he thought 
 hardly natural, at her age. Notwithstanding he had 
 been used to his sister, having the same pursuits, at 
 least, her nature was not the sophisticated goddess, 
 Frederic worshipped: he at last came to the determina- 
 tion, that it must end in her turning methodist, if she 
 was not one already ; or dying early, she w as quite tit 
 for heaven now I Yet the very moment this last idea hac 
 passed in his mind, he severely reproached himself for 
 entertaining it ; how could he be so savage, as even to 
 imagine the death of such an extremely amiable, and 
 it must be ackuowleged, such a very pleasing, person ? 
 He hated himself for the thought ; and could only be 
 reconciled to his own heart, by fervently wishing she 
 might long continue to live, and bless those who knew 
 her, by her simple, unaffected, and unpretending worth 
 and piety. It has been an old, but not less true, obser- 
 vation, that however careless or relaxed in religious 
 principles men are themselves, they still respect women 
 for entertaining stricter and more exalted notions. 
 
 Frederic and his dog ruminated till both grew 
 E 5
 
 82 -COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 drowsy, and the foimer retired to his pillow, and Vixen 
 to establish herself in the deserted arm chair, which 
 her master had just left vacant. 
 
 Frederic's pillow was visited with a dream, which 
 we must not call extraordinary, for it was concocted 
 from the transactions of the day, purified by the visi- 
 onary fantasies of sleep. He thought he saw an im- 
 mense high rugged mountain ; apparently inaccessible ; 
 on the top of which stood a beautiful, but simple tem- 
 ple of white marble ; with only here and there a slight 
 tinge of discoloration ; looking steadfastly at the portico 
 of this edifice, he saw issue from it a sort of half 
 transparent figure, which approached him, without 
 touching the ground, as Hebe or Iris are often repre- 
 sented, when carrying a message from Jove. Frederic 
 discovered this figure was Louisa Grey, but not of 
 flesh and blood like her, but in a beatified state ; she 
 addressed him with her usual mild tone, and told 
 him she came from the temple of earthly happiness 
 to persuade him to win his way to that delightful 
 abode ; from which, when arrived at its summit, he 
 would discern, still higher, a far more transcendantly 
 beautiful temple, which led io eternal bliss ; but she
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 83 
 
 felt bound to impress on him, that, in ascending the 
 hill, towards the first temple, he would encounter an 
 innumerable number of difficulties, and dangers ; but 
 to encourage him to meet these, the ascent thence to 
 the other temple was less difficult, but he must, before 
 he took the first step up the mountain, arm himself 
 with the staff of resolution and the sandals oj humility y 
 which she then offered him ; he accepted in imagination 
 this boon ; but, before he had advanced many steps, 
 he was assailed by a most beautiful but destructive ser- 
 pent, of such a shape as one might almost imagine 
 Eve's tempter to have assumed. 
 
 Whilst contemplating this basilisk, under whose 
 eyes, like that of the fabled monster, its victims seemed 
 to cower, and almost fall mto its mouth ; an unlucky 
 mouse ran across the room, it roused Vixen, and by the 
 noise and bustle she made in catching her wretched 
 prey, completely awoke Frederic. 
 
 The affair between Vixen and the mouse being 
 over, he attempted to go to sleep again, in the hope of 
 renewing and concluding his dream ; but the bright 
 vision had fled for ever, and snarling dogs and vene- 
 mous snakes, stinging on all sides, surrounded him till
 
 84 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 his servant appeared to call him ; feeling something like 
 a person who has slept under a musquito net, and is 
 not sure if he has escaped being stung, Frederic shook 
 himself, but a bright beam of sunshine, full in at his 
 window, restored pleasanter thoughts ; and when Louisa 
 Grey entered the breakfast room, his dream returned 
 full on him, and he not only followed her with his eye, 
 but took a place near her at the table. 
 
 Whether it was the visions of the night, or the 
 realities of the morning, we are not able to say, but 
 Frederic never appear more agreeable. Grace Latour 
 thought him quite a reformed man, and was rather 
 inclined to patronise him for the day ; but of this 
 he was not ambitious. 
 
 Tom BroNAn, who always attended his levee, in- 
 formed him that neither carpenter nor smith could at- 
 tend that day, they were going to a sermon and dinner 
 at their benefit club ; but if he would give his orders to 
 him, or the coachman, they would be about the work 
 very early the following morning. 
 
 If the truth must be acknowledged, Frederic was 
 very much cooled respecting the sledge ; it had answered 
 in giving him occupation, he had taken in Mr. Sedley
 
 COUNTRY HOUSKS. 83 
 
 Mith his pair of skewbalds, though lie had, to be sure, 
 but a distant view of them, and when he was so wet 
 from his amusement in the moor, he did not approach 
 to examine them. 
 
 It was a pretty toy, just to take a turn in the park, 
 but there would be some difficulty in getting it safe to 
 Brighton ; and when there, after a drive along the Steyne 
 and up the West cliff, for a shew off, he should wish 
 to annihilate it, to drive it into the sea, but as that 
 could nol be done without his taking the leap with it, 
 and that would not answer, nor like Phaeton's equipage 
 would it vanish in air or tire. No ! he must drive it 
 back again into Brighton, and Went worth and Hawker 
 and George Neville, and half an hundred more such 
 fellows, would get round him the moment he stopped ; 
 and would, in a second, detect the old can oe and the 
 paifited horse. Brighton was not to be thought of, he 
 had had his amusement, the only thing was to back 
 out of the business as well as he could. 
 
 His father. Sir John Sedley, General Dorozenski, 
 and Major Mac Venom, had gone early to Everly. 
 When breakfast was over, Count Wszebor being thrown 
 on the party, Frederic asked him to walk to the stables,
 
 86 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 and give his opinion of the practicability of the sledge 
 going a journey of eighty miles. He decided in the 
 negative, taking into consideration the hilly road between 
 Brighton and Eastbrooke Park. Frederic was de- 
 lighted by this decision, and, on the Count's asking for 
 directions where to find the ruins of an abbey of which 
 Miss Grace Latour had made so beautiful a sketch, 
 Frederic offered to be his cicerone, adding, " these ruins 
 have been the scene of some of my boyish exploits in 
 rat-hunting ; I used to think it capital sport, and if you 
 will wait till I can collect the dogs, and one of our 
 gamekeepers, who acts as rat-catcher-general to the 
 establishment, I will show you a boyish English sport." 
 
 The count most readily acquiesced, and whilst wait- 
 ing for the rest of the party, Plosko came to take his 
 master's directions respecting their journey the following 
 day ; and, hearing the nature of the expedition, implored 
 to be of the party ; this was acceded to, and the Count 
 and Frederic, Vixen, and another terrier, led the van ; 
 the rear was brought up by the rat-catcher, his boy, 
 dogs and ferrets, and Plosko. 
 
 The Count was not a man 'Ho travel from Dan to 
 Beersheba and find all barren;" he had traversed the
 
 COUNTRY IIULSILS. 87 
 
 Russian dominions from Tobolsk to Astrachan, and 
 gave most amusing accounts of the mode of travelling 
 over the ice plains of Siberia, and the steppes of 
 Russia. 
 
 They arrived at their destination before Frederic 
 thought they had proceeded half a mile. The ruins 
 were well worth a visit, for there is hardly a finer speci- 
 men of an old abbey in England ; the Count was en- 
 chanted, and Frederic easily procured some thatch and 
 hurdles, used by the shepherds for their own shelter, 
 and had them removed to a proper place for the Count 
 to take a sketch under cover. 
 
 He then entered into his youthful sport, and was 
 soon joined by Mr. Sedley, who was shooting in the 
 neighbourhood. They had often together dealt destruc- 
 tion to the rats of the ruins, when they were greater 
 friends and better neighbours than now, and if Frederic 
 recollected, with a sigh, the pleasure that place had 
 often afforded him, and asked liimself why he was so 
 much happier then ? his companion could have solved 
 the enigma, by saying, you were then young and unso- 
 phisticated. This sport displayed a scene for the 
 Count's pencil, and, in addition to the ruins, he made
 
 88 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 a sketch of rat-hunting that was not unworthy the 
 pencil of Snyders. 
 
 On their walk home, the Count gave such interest- 
 ing accounts of boar hunts in Poland, the pursuit of 
 bears in Siberia, and some of tlie field sports he had 
 witnessed in Persia, as made the rat-hunters of England 
 rather sink in their own opinion ; but they regained it 
 by recollecting that in so cultivated and civilized a 
 country as England, no such scenes could take place ; 
 yet the relation was given with great modesty.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 '^xHE magistrates returned to dinner, bringing two 
 additional young men, one of them the younger son of 
 a peer, and, of course, he fell to Miss Latour's share 
 at dinner, and gave Frederic an opportunity of again 
 selecting Louisa Grey, as Mr. Beresford was there for 
 Grace. The exercise of the morning had made Frederic 
 particularly gay, and his agreeableness quite surprised 
 even Louisa. 
 
 ^Jusic began the evening, but it was succeeded by 
 quadrilles. Now, though Frederic Vernon had been a 
 crack dancer at Almack's, and was always in the costume 
 quadrilles f and could dance a whole night at Brighton 
 under the orders of Miss Henshawe, it was very remark-
 
 90 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 able, that though a floor, waxed till your feet stuck to 
 it, as if it was covered with bird-lime, never affected 
 him, yet dancing on a carpet always brought on the 
 lameness of an old sprain ! So he and Major Mac- 
 Venom settled themselves at ecarte, and, not to incom-' 
 mode the dancers, retired to the inner room, and half 
 shut the folding doors. Those who partook of the 
 evening's amusement were satisfied, and those who did 
 not, were amused by looking on. 
 
 The following morning, the foreigners were to set 
 off early, and Major Mac Venom was to accompany 
 them as far as the paper-mill, and then return ; but he 
 changed his mind, from feeling a touch of gout which 
 would, he said, prevent his walking over the manufac- 
 tory. Sir Thomas most good-naturedly took his place 
 ordering his pony to follow him. This party break- 
 fasted early, and, when the remaining guests were as- 
 sembled, Arthur Nugent supplied Sir Thomas's place 
 and opened the letter-bag, and distributed its contents. 
 
 Frederic had three letters : his usual habit was to 
 open them by the fire, and then throw them in the 
 moment he had glanced over their contents. This he 
 did with two, and, after turning the third over several
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 9J 
 
 times, dropped that also into the fender ; but ere it had 
 caught tire, he snatched it up, and in a hurried manner 
 folded, and put it in his pocket. This was not lost 
 on Grace Latour, but she kept her countenance, save 
 a meaning, diough unobserved, look at Jane Sedley. 
 Frederic, to avoid suspicion, seated himself at the 
 breakfast table, and attempted to bus)^ himself in as- 
 sisting Louisa Grey to make coffee, but most unluck- 
 ily he put a pat of butter into a coffee cup, instead 
 of sugar candy. Louisa, without taking the smallest 
 notice of the mistake, put the cup on one side, and 
 lilled another. Frederic felt most grateful to her for 
 not exposing him, and nothing passed for some time 
 that indicated its having been observed ; till GTrace 
 asked Arthur if he had seen Cruickshank*s last cari- 
 catures of symptoms ? 
 
 " No ! " 
 
 *' Well then, he must buy them the moment he 
 got to Cambridge. There were first symptoms of 
 anger, these she described. Si/mptoms of hunger 
 equally good — and one capital sketch of a gentleman 
 putting butter in coffee to sweeten it ! but she would 
 forbear to say of what that was a sj/mjptotn. "
 
 92 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Frederic was on thorns, but the butler coming in, 
 he desired Tom Brown might wait in the hall till he 
 came out, and as soon as possible escaped ; his retreat 
 was hastened too by hearing that the Eastbrooke ga- 
 zette, a performance which on the first meeting of the 
 party had been proposed as its finale, was about to be 
 produced ; as the party was to break up in the course 
 of the morning. Frederic had no doubt that amongst 
 the various jeii d' esprits that had been put into a 
 box, prepared for the purpose of collecting articles for 
 this gazette, some one would attack him : he deter- 
 mined if possible to avoid the whole thing. 
 
 Tom Brown was full of the damage done to the 
 sledge, and the time it would take both smith and car- 
 penter to repair it. 
 
 " Let them make it into ploughshares, if they like, 
 I want no more of it, " said Frederic. 
 
 Tom, though a little disappointed that it was not 
 to figure away at Brighton, could not help saying, '' he 
 always doubted its being got safe there, and indeed 
 now the frost was going ; " his master was too ab- 
 sorbed to attend to what he said, only silenced him by 
 " Order me a pair of horses directly from Taunton."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSl'S. {)3 
 
 When servants see that something is going wrong 
 with their masters, it so excites their curiosity, it is not 
 easy to dismiss them. Tom was afraid his honour would 
 not get horses, those for Lady Lucy Latour had been 
 bespoke three days, and it was with great difficulty the 
 landlord of the Swan had supplied four fv. r the gene 
 ral's carriage, indeed two of them had been borrowed 
 in the town, and the beasts did not go togetlier, there 
 was such a run on the road, and such sights of gentry 
 even from Lunnun, going to a grand ball at Lowndes 
 Castle to dance the old year out. 
 
 Frederic only knew Tom was speaking, but not its 
 drift, and said peevishly, 
 
 " Don't direct i/ie, do what you are bid," and hur- 
 ried to his room, and locked his door. 
 
 We have heard of silly birds that hide their heads, 
 and fancy their bodies cannot be seen ; and of some 
 people, who when they lock their door, imagine they 
 can keep out unwelcome thoughts, as well as unwel- 
 come persons. \\'e must present our readers with the 
 contents of Frederic's letter, and then leave him to read 
 it over and over, till he could make up his mind on 
 the subject. It began
 
 94 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 *' 1 am, I believe, taking a very extraordinary step, 
 but I think I know ^om well enough, my valued friend; 
 and I have had proof sufficient of the interest you take 
 in my beloved Ag — s lo warrant it. She has captivated 
 
 the Earl of G , and he has made her a splendid 
 
 ofFer. She is not much inclined to accept it. Girls 
 have foolish notions about likes, and dislikes; but I 
 think I could talk her into it, if i/ou told me it was as 
 desirable as it appears to me. Men know each other ; 
 we poor women only guess ! The favour I would ask 
 of 3/0M is advice ; 1 know it will be sincere, shall I, 
 or, shall I not, finish this match ? tell me, is Lord G — 
 much involved in play debts ? Perhaps you may be 
 
 tempted to come to B and we could converse on 
 
 these matters. I depend on your secresy and discre- 
 tion, and much on ?/our influence over Ag s 
 
 Very much yours. 
 
 The post mark was Brighton : Frederic could not 
 for a moment doubt that this letter was from Lady Hen- 
 shawe. But we must leave him to his comments, and 
 contemplations, and return to the breakfast room, which 
 he so abruptly left, just as the gazette was in the act .
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 95 
 
 of being opened. The materials liad been arranged by 
 Grace Latour and Arthur, and a very pretty etching 
 of the house at Eastbrooke was on the front of it. 
 After it had been handed partly round the table, Ar- 
 thur was desired to read its contents. It began with 
 reflections on the old, and good wishes for the new 
 year, so much in the style of bellmans' verses, they 
 need not to be repeated : then followed 
 
 *' We have been favoured by a constant correspondent 
 with the following fragment, found on the table of a 
 distinguished foreigner after a visit at a country house 
 in England. 'Monx\mi ! I amst tell to you, as you will 
 all I think of England. Wonderful country ! extraor- 
 dinary people ! life would not last to tell all they are 
 rich, generous, suspect nothing, receive us as if we 
 came to do good unto them, an lieu, to get all we can out 
 of their most easy and willing grand mechanics. Mais 
 pour les dames, ces soiit charmantes, lively, gracieuse, 
 small reserve about them. I have the happiness to 
 know many charmante spirituelles ! but if there should 
 be one Knglish lady to drive from my heart, ma trts 
 chtre Lavia, it would be one so precise, so gentle, so
 
 96 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 tranquil. I must not say the name. O ! to see her wind 
 her little watch up precisement a neuf heurs !' " 
 
 MARRIAGE IN HIGH LIFE. 
 
 We hear that the Earl of G is soon to lead to 
 
 the Hymeneal altar the beautiful and accomplished 
 Miss H — nsh — we. Great preparations are making 
 for these nuptials. The six bride's-maids are to be 
 dressed in white satin, and tulle , trimmed with roses. 
 But, as making one heart blessed j a score will be broken, 
 it has been proposed that the rejected lovers of the 
 lady shall act as bridegroom's men, dressed in sad 
 coloured cloaks, and crape hat-bands : this doleful 
 corps is to be headed by the son of a worthy baronet of 
 shire, as chief mourner. 
 
 '^ Capital ! capital ! how sorry I am that Mr. Ver- 
 non is not here," said Grace, '^ he could have filled up 
 these blanks, for he knows the parties." 
 
 We present our readers with a copy of verses found 
 in iEastbrooke church-yard, the Sunday after Christmas 
 day. 
 
 To 
 
 " Come, thou rosy dimpled boy, 
 Source of every heart felt joy, 
 Leave the festive hall awhile, 
 Deign on humble love to smile.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. )7 
 
 God of Love ! Oh, hear my prayer, 
 Waft it through the ambient air, 
 Touch his heart who sees my pain, 
 Shield me from his cold disdain. 
 
 Should he feel what I endure, 
 In his heart he'll find its cure, 
 Fatlier '11 give me house, and lands. 
 And five hundred choice ewe lambs. 
 
 If to take me he's inclin'd, 
 I shall soon discern his mind, 
 One kind look at church will say 
 That he's ready. I obey. 
 Broom Farm. Rachael Homestead. 
 
 Great was the laughter at Arthur, who pleaded 
 guilty to having interrupted the devotion of a farmer's 
 daughter, just come home from boarding school, full 
 of novels and poetry. 
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 " Wants a place as courier, or courier and valet, a 
 native of Poland, perfectly accomplished for either situ- 
 ation ; understands travelling, speaks most European 
 languages; can dress hair to perfection ; can cut a hecf 
 steak from a horse, dress it, sew up the place, so that 
 the animal is none the worse, excepting in weight. 
 Cleans and mends regimentals and Loots ; makes good 
 
 VOL. I. F
 
 98 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 soup out of old saddles and bridles ; dresses wounds, 
 shaves, shoes horses ; and is particularly famous for 
 dressing and colourifig them to any shade of match, pie- 
 ball, skevvball, &c. For farther particulars enquire at 
 the French Hotel, Leicester Square London. 
 
 INTELLIGENCE EXTRAORDINARY ! ! ! ! ! 
 OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO THE PUBLIC AT 
 
 LARGE 
 
 *' We are most anxious to bring under the eye of the 
 public the most wonderful effect of human invention 
 ever yet discovered ; even in this age of intellect. Our 
 readers have probably noticed some extracts from pro- 
 fessor Leslie's new theory of the earth, in which he 
 proves to his own satisfaction and complete demonstra- 
 tion, that the centre of the earth is neither j6:'re nor wa- 
 ter ; neither is it a solid globe, but very much like an 
 apple dumpling, with a good thick crust ; and that where 
 the apple should he, is light, bright, clear, refulgent, 
 light, none of your oil and resin gas. This curious 
 theory reminds us of an anecdote of our late beloved 
 King George III., who, going into a cottage one day 
 when he was out hunting, saw some round balls of
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 99 
 
 paste on a table. His majesty said to the woman of 
 the cottage : 
 
 " What ! what — are these ?" 
 
 ** Apple dumplings, may it please your majesty." 
 
 ** Apple dumplings ! apple dumplings/' replied the 
 king. " Why my good woman, how did the apples get 
 in?" 
 
 " We have no business where the professor's light 
 comes from, nor how composed, indeed these conjec- 
 tures press upon a subject too awful for our columns. 
 We are only anxious to introduce to the notice of the 
 public, and to press upon it, the important use it may 
 be turned to. A correspondent has hinted, that by a 
 little extention of Mr. Adie's boring machine, we 
 might get at this splendid light ; which, of course, freed 
 from its imprisonment, would, like water, rise to the 
 surface of the earth, therefore a small aperture near 
 any great city, would supply abundance of light, for the 
 same must be inexhaustible, so that darkness would be 
 banished from the globe. With a few of these Gephlo- 
 gistic lights, a simple lamp being sufficient to cover 
 this source, and keep it from unnecessary expansion. 
 '* But we are now to speak of the still more wonderr 
 F 2
 
 100 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 ful purpose to which this Gephlogiston may be applied. 
 A small boiler placed over the lamp would furnish 
 steam as inexhaustible as the light, A most ingenious 
 mechanist has invented a small, and almost portable, 
 steam engine for the use of private families, upon a 
 variety of scales according to the size of the establish- 
 ment : this engine will clean plate and knives ; wash 
 glasses, lay a cloth, and even change plates, and re- 
 move dishes at dinner ; in short, do the work of a butler 
 and three footmen, who have only to look on, and oc- 
 casionally draw back a slider in the wall ; and this, be- 
 sides saving all their labour, gives them the opportunity 
 of listening to, and profiting by, all the table talk of 
 their master and his guests. Its use in the laundry 
 will be equally complete, and in future no dandy nor 
 exquisite will wear any breast-plate that is not Ge- 
 phlogistically plaited. 
 
 " Cooking apparatus by steam has long been per- 
 fect. But the business of the house-maid being more 
 complicated, this machine does not yet work well in 
 that department, but it is hoped it may soon be so im- 
 proved, that the house-maids may join the laundry-maids 
 in a double subscription to the I^ibrary, and no ser-
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 101 
 
 vant can in future have the slightest pretence to com- 
 plain of ove?' work, as they will have none to do. 
 
 " More might be anticipated, but we sliall merely 
 inform the public that this useful engine has been in- 
 vented by a common wheelwright, who can neither read, 
 write, nor cast accounts. He has, it is true, attended 
 all the lectures of the mechanic's institute, and works 
 under the superintendence of the great philosopher and 
 mechanist. Major M. V." 
 
 This detail had so deeply engaged the attention of 
 Major Mac Venom, that he had let his coffee and 
 muffin get cold before him ; being remarkably near 
 sighted, he did not make out that it was read from a 
 very well imitated, but M.S. newspaper, and he 
 had not paid any attention to the preceding articles, 
 from being occupied with a real newspaper. The 
 conclusion was too much ! pale with rage, he begged 
 to be allowed to look at the paragraph ; folding up the 
 gazette he put it into the tire, and turning to the lady 
 of the house, said, 
 
 " I am sure 1 have Lady Vernon's permission, for 
 she is too well bred to allow her guests to be ridiculed 
 and insulted."
 
 102 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 For one moment the whole party looked a little 
 aghast, but Lady Vernon, with her usual good humour 
 and tact, said, 
 
 *' I am sorry Major Mac Venom that you are so 
 displeased with a joke which has already gone half 
 round the table ; and I dare say if you had not de- 
 stroyed the Gazette, /, and my schools, and pensioners^ 
 would have come in for our share ; and I hope, I 
 should have joined the laugh even against myself/' 
 
 The angry major, though he looked a little asham- 
 ed at this amiable and gentle reproof, could only bow, 
 and envy her ladyship her calm and happy temper, 
 and every one else was anxious to finish breakfast. 
 
 The ladies had much to wind up. Grace had a 
 last lesson in painting and modelling to give Jane Sed- 
 ley, and her sister had verses to copy in her album. 
 And Miss Sedley had costumes to colour. Major 
 Mac Venom was preparing to depart, and would have 
 thought himself too happy if he also had gone before 
 breakfast. Frederic was informed, by a knock at his 
 door, that no post horses could be got till the next 
 day ; he therefore magnanimously shut himself up in 
 Jiis apartment for the whole morning. How many
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 105 
 
 miles he walked iu a space of eighteen feet, we are not 
 able to say ; but, between pacing up and down the 
 room, lolling in his easy chair, and caressing Vixen, 
 the time passed, if not pleasantly, it certainly r^n on. 
 How far his thoughts were agreeable we can onlv 
 conjecture. 
 
 He was at first excessively flattered that Lady Hen- 
 shawe (for he had no doubt the letter was from her,) 
 should consult him. She who well knew every turn 
 and winding in the art of manoeuvering ; but perhaps 
 she thought his presence at Brighton might quicken 
 Lord G 's ardour, and hasten this desirable mar- 
 riage! he had no wish to be made a tool of, and perhaps 
 she thought that her letter would rouse any latent pas- 
 sion of his own, and if Agnes was refractory towards 
 
 Lord G , Mr. Vernon would step in and carry the 
 
 day. This was a deep plot, but Lady Henshawe was 
 an experienced plotter, and mistress of finesse to carry 
 any thing through. 
 
 Frederic had no desire to be taken in ; yet his 
 vanity and his amour propre were so gratified, and the 
 toils about him so skilfully laid, he had nibbled the 
 bait, though he had not yet swallowed the hook. He
 
 104 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 called himself a silly puppy for being so taken a-back, 
 yet he was a sufficiently vain man to be on the very 
 verge of a catastrophe ; had not a small morsel of that 
 sort of prudence that your worldly, or half worldly 
 men (for Frederic rather deserved the latter appellation), 
 possess, come to his aid ; and instead of setting off for 
 Brighton, as he first intended, determined he would go 
 to town, where he should meet George Neville, or some 
 one just come from Brighton, who would know how 
 things were going on there ; it would be awkward to 
 go, and find the marriage concluded, especially as he 
 had not made up his mind as to the means of breaking 
 It off. 
 
 How seldom mankind are content with their lot ! 
 amongst other things, Frederic wished he was not an 
 only son 
 
 ^' I am sure there are great disadvantages belong- 
 ing to it, they are made such a dead set at, by ma- 
 nceuvering mothers !" 
 
 And yet many a little midshipman the first night 
 he passes in his narrow birth, or a young soldier on his 
 first bivouac, wishes it had pleased heaven that they 
 had h^Qu first born, these were real disadvantages that
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES, 105 
 
 did not enter Frederic's imagination. Elder and only 
 sons are too precious to be put in any dangerous profes- 
 sions, and too rich for a learned one ; great estates, 
 even in prospect, prevent the necessity for the intellec- 
 tual application of those who are to have them : it may 
 be said 
 
 " Coldly they'll toil for learning's prize, 
 For why should he that's rich be wise ?"
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Where a man is an heriditary legislator, he may be 
 tempted to try to make a figure in the House of Com- 
 mons, before he votes by proxy in the Lords. All baro- 
 net's sons are not in parliament, and Frederic was not, 
 neither he, nor Sir Thomas particularly wished it— it 
 brought with it county quarrels. 
 
 Tired of his room, Frederic took a stroll in the 
 park, where he met Henry Sedley, returning from 
 shooting, loaded with wild fowl. 
 
 He stopped Frederic with " I wonder you and your 
 father do not plant out that moor, and those ragged 
 cottages : if you put pine firs behind, and other trees
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 107 
 
 in front, you would have soinething ornamental, and 
 eventually profitable." 
 
 *' Very likely," said Frederic, " but I never enter 
 into those things, I dare say my father, who does, will 
 be very much obliged by your hints, and profit by 
 them." 
 
 Mr. Seclley whistled his dogs, he had no wish to 
 intrude his advice, and returned homewards, wonder- 
 ing how any man could be so indifferent about his 
 own future property. 
 
 Frederic held him in great contempt, called him 
 Squire Hawthorn, but he deserved a much better name. 
 He was certainly very fond of shooting, but he liked it 
 as a manly exercise, not a fastidious pleasure : he walk- 
 ed after his game, and alone, he had no taste for battus, 
 he would as willingly have fired into the poultry yard. 
 He liked hunting moderately, occasionally joined a neigh- 
 bouring pack of fox hounds, but never envied those who 
 risked their necks and their fortunes with the Quorndon 
 hunt. Agriculture was his passion, and his father resign- 
 ed the home farm to him : he cultivated it like a gentle- 
 man, more for improvement than profit. He made experi- 
 ments farmers could not afford ; was more choice than
 
 1Q8 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 they could be in the breed of his farming stock; and, above 
 all, his greatest attention was directed to planting and im- 
 proving the estate. His father, who was infirm and gouty, 
 loved tocalculate what would probably be the value of the 
 timber his grand or his great grandson might cut down. 
 
 Henry Sedley took great pains in altering and im- 
 proving farm-houses and labourers' cottages, and 
 changing their situations, to those more convenient and 
 ornamental, at the same time considering the comforts 
 of their respective tenants : he went among the labour- 
 ers, and into their cottages, knew the size of their fa- 
 milies, and their wants, his ear was ever open to their 
 difficulties, and distresses. 
 
 The living was in his father's gift, and intended 
 for one of his younger brothers ; it was now in pos- 
 session of a very old man, who had been Sir John 
 Sedley's tutor, he of course resigned much of the 
 parish management to Mr. Sedley, who looked after 
 the poor-house, kept the churchwardens and overseers 
 in order, and occasionally filled those offices himself. He 
 was strict to the poor, as respected their conduct ; le- 
 nient to their wants, and generally beloved by them ; 
 because, as they truly said, ''he was Justin all he did."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 109 
 
 His father offered to bring him into parliament ; 
 but he had no taste for London, and declined the off"er 
 in favour of a younger brother, who was destined for 
 the bar, and likely to distinguish himself at it. Mr. 
 Sedley promised to be, that now rare character, an 
 English country gentleman. He was happy, be- 
 cause he was useful, and for that reason he was re- 
 spected and beloved. 
 
 But Frederic despised him, said he did not know 
 the world, /. e. he did not know the town, the luxuries 
 and vicious haunts of London and Paris, the pernici- 
 ous scandal of their clubs and saloons, or the idle 
 trifling of Brighton. Poor Frederic Vernon fell into a 
 usual error. He thought his little set mankind. Yet it 
 galled him to see his neighbour more cheerful, more 
 self-possessed, than himself, without reflecting that this 
 sort of satisfaction arose wholly from the consciousness 
 of doing his duty by others ; not indulging his own ex- 
 clusive and selflsh gratification. By making himself 
 useful, he had an applauding conscience. Had 
 Frederic such ? 
 
 He returned after his walk in the park to his 
 own room till dinner time, as usual, with nothing
 
 110 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 to do, and certainly to do nothing. At dinner he had 
 such an excessively bad head ache as excited Lady 
 Vernon's maternal anxiety, though without the smallest 
 reason ; but that, together with letters to write, were 
 excuses for his retiring to his room ; though he could 
 hardly have chosen a less pleasant companion than his 
 own thoughts. Before he left the party he offered Arthur 
 a cast to town next day, which was gladly accepted. 
 
 He could not prevail on himself to appear next 
 morning, to witness the adieus of the party ; the regrets 
 at its breaking up, and the hopes that the members of 
 it might sometime and somewhere meet again. When 
 Frederic was in his carriage, he sent to Arthur to join 
 him, but the former was so little inclined to converse, 
 that even Arthur's volubility was at fault. 
 
 After some miles had been travelled in silence, the 
 latter ventured to hint at the Gazette, and wished 
 Frederic had staid to hear it ; some things were capital ; 
 but above all, Mac Venom's passion was superb, 
 
 Frederic, listened, and then fell into his reverie, and 
 was only roused from it by i\rthur's saying, 
 
 '^ He thought Miss Grey the most good-natured 
 person he ever saw."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. Ill 
 
 To this Frederic agreed, but his companion went 
 on in a tirade on Grace Latour. Frederic called her 
 " a little spiteful devil." 
 
 " Mr. Sedley does not think her so," replied Arthur. 
 
 *' I don't care what Henry Sedley thinks," said 
 Frederic, " I wish him nothing worse than such a 
 wife, if he chooses to take her." 
 
 ^* Oh ! " returned Arthur, '' you are too hard on her; 
 she only likes a little fun, and has a true taste for a joke; 
 but I see you do not like those sort of jokes." 
 
 Yet for all this, Arthur could not help recurring 
 so often to the Gazette, and gave such broad hints, 
 that the secret of the skewbald horse was made 
 known, that Frederic, fretted beyond what his present 
 mood would endure, with more than usual ill humour 
 said: 
 
 '* If you cannot be quiet, Arthur, I must order a 
 chaise for you at the next inn, or leave you on the 
 highway, for I am not well, indeed 1 am going to town 
 for advice, and must be quiet.*' 
 
 Arthur acquiesced, and no more conversation took 
 place, till the lights of London appearing, he was set 
 down at his uncle's, in Charles-street, and Frederic, at
 
 112 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Stevens's, where he found several Meltonians m the 
 coiFee-room, speculating on the thaw, and proposing 
 to go at once into Leicestershire. 
 
 Frederic said, ^Mie had business to keep him a day 
 or two in town ;" but he got the last Newmarket news, 
 and much other equally importmit information, though 
 not exactly what he wanted to know : yet he never left 
 the room till he went to bed, which was early ; for he 
 had had two harrassing days, at least so they appeared 
 in his nothing-to-do sort of life. 
 
 The next morning the different papers, and John, 
 the waiter, at Stevens's, who is a perfect town Gazette, 
 lasted till it was time to go out. He went after 
 George Neville, but he was not to be found. He had 
 just been on guard, but was now off, but neither at the 
 Guards club-house, nor at the United service club, 
 could he be found, though he had just been at both 
 places. 
 
 Frederick met with others, and time wore away ; 
 his last inquiry at George Neville's lodgings gave the 
 most accurate information. He was gone with a detach- 
 ment to the Tower, and, after depositing his men, 
 would set off by the Leeds mail for Melton. This
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 113 
 
 was hopeless ; Frederic wouUl have as soon gone to 
 Australia as to the Tower, so he turned his steps to- 
 wards Stevens's ; but in Regent-street met, on the arm 
 of a friend, Ned Hawker. We ought rather to say, 
 the Rev. Edward Hawker, for he had, in his own phrase, 
 ''just been single japanned,'' and was very likely to 
 turn out the clergyman Cowper describes — 
 
 '* Frequent in park, with lady at his side, 
 Ambling and prattlinsf scandal as he goes." 
 
 The usual '' How are you?" and ''Where do you 
 come from?" passed. 
 
 " Brighton," was the answer. 
 
 " What going on there ?" 
 
 " Oh nothing ! upon my soul I never was so dull." 
 
 " What ! no Hirtation or marriages ?" 
 
 " None in the world." 
 
 " But the lovely Agnes ! what is she doing ?" 
 
 " Like all the rest, nothing, only she looks more 
 divinely than ever, and rides the cleverest horse in the 
 world most capitally ; I don't think there is a better 
 horsewoman in England." 
 
 Nor a better horse, thought Frederic, for it was 
 his own choicest hunter he had lent her.
 
 114 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 " But I forget," said Hawker, '' they left Brighton 
 above a week ago, and are gone to spend Christmas 
 somewhere, I forget where ; and, faith ! 1 believe it 
 was the loss of Lady Henshawe's dinners, and Agnes* 
 smiles, that made Brighton so did I." 
 
 They parted, and Frederic, on his way to his hotel, 
 pondered on this account of Brighton, and of Lady 
 Henshawe and her daughter, and he was puzzled to 
 the greatest degree. When arrived at Stevens's, and 
 safe in his room, he took out the letter, the post mark 
 was certainly Brighton, though it was a little blotted. 
 Yet, according to Hawker's account, they were not 
 there, and he said nothing about Lord G 's atten- 
 tions. He must find him out again, and elicit some- 
 thing more on the subject. But he did not know 
 Hawker's lodgings, and he was such an any-where-ian 
 he hardly knew where to look for him. At last he 
 recollected the University Club, and having heard 
 Hawker say, "he sometimes shewed himself there; it 
 told with his father, and was next to being at church," 
 Frederic too belonged to the University Club, to please 
 his father ; but frequented it so little that he was un- 
 known to any of the waiters, who eyed him with en-
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 115 
 
 quiring curiosity whenever he paid an accidental visit 
 there. 
 
 He hurried his dinner, drank his claret in a tum- 
 bler, and went to the University Club ; but he could 
 hear little that was satisfactory of Hawker, excepting, 
 that he had been there the day before, and perhaps 
 might call again, as some one else had been there to 
 enquire after him, and there were two letters for him. 
 
 Frederic went up stairs, found a good fire, and 
 threw himself on a sofa by it. Opposite were two 
 grave looking men, not absolutely big-wigs, but ap- 
 proaching to that dignity. At tirst he could not 
 imagine what they were, but after a little observation, 
 concluded they must be lawyers. Wanting to get rid 
 of his time and his reflections, Frederic listened to 
 their conversation, which, as it was m a public room, 
 could not be considered as intended for private. They 
 were discussing the merits of Lord John Russell's 
 newly come out book. One of them said : 
 
 ^' I must own I perfectly agree in opinion with a 
 popular journal, that it is highly creditable to ihe 
 present age, that men in that high class of life join 
 themselves to the ranks of literature. The old idea
 
 I'd COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 that an author must live in a garret in Grub Street, 
 and write with duns at his door, and his ink in a 
 broken tea cup, is quite done away with. Pens are 
 now dipped in silver inkstands, and books written in 
 splendid libraries, and certainly they are so written 
 under greater advantages than in a garret, for whatever 
 book an author in a library wants to consult, or refer 
 to, he has it at hand. I think, besides Lord John 
 Russell and Mr. Agar Ellis, I counted ten more of 
 the* same rank in society, whose books were this day 
 advertised in the Times. We need not, as the journal 
 I have just quoted observes, be afraid of the mechanics, 
 with their institute, growing too wise, the upper ranks 
 are still keeping their places even in literature." 
 
 *^ You have,'* replied his companion, '^ enumerated 
 the advantages that the public may derive from such a 
 fashion, but you have omitted what the individuals 
 themselves gain by the employment, how much they 
 increase theii own happiness by mental occupation ; 
 they enjoy all the pleasures, and but few of the pains, 
 of authorship ; their rank in life produces them readers, 
 and a ceitain degree of fame, both in their own caste, 
 and with the public, if it is only for writing a mediocre
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 117 
 
 novel. And from nmcli of the pains of an author 
 they are exempt : for profit is an object of no impor- 
 tance." 
 
 ** I hardly know if I agree with you, that a lordly 
 author has no pains," said his companion. " Byron 
 was no example of this, though he may be said to 
 have led the way to noble literature." 
 
 " You must not take Byron as an example, but as 
 an exception," replied the other : " he had that morbid 
 imagination, and that diseased temperament, he must 
 have quarrelled with mankind, let liim have taken what 
 line he would. Even, if a book written by an idle 
 lord or conmioner was burnt three days after it was 
 published, I slould hold, diat the em ploy me! it had 
 been a blessing to its writer, for 1 quite agree in 
 opinion that 
 
 * He who digs the mine fur bread, 
 Or plouirhs tliat others may be fed, 
 Feels less fatigue liian that decreed 
 To him who cannot think or read.' " 
 
 This observation roused Frederic from a resting, to 
 an erect, posture, he continued listening, when the last 
 speaker went on with,
 
 118 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 " We who are obliged to drudge at head work, can 
 imagine the pleasure of being able to select the intel- 
 lectual occupation most agreeable to our particular 
 taste, but here comes one who can tell us if the plea- 
 sures or pains of authorship predominate. " 
 
 They were joined by a cheerful looking man with 
 a bright, intelligent eye. He was in reality the author 
 of several works in which the incidents of the novel 
 and deep reasoning had been combined. Upon their 
 referring the question to him, he said 
 
 " None of your quizzing, gentlemen, on us poor 
 authors ! '' yet he owned he had no more agreeable 
 recreation from the tedious routine of office than let- 
 ting loose his imagination when he got to his own lire- 
 side, and dipped his pen in ink, but added, with a 
 sigh ; ''my fire-side had lost its best and dearest embel- 
 lishment, before I took to scribbling ; 1 should have 
 preferred conversation," but, as if wishing to drive away 
 a painful subject, said, " I must have some tea to clear 
 my head, let it be greeiij waiter ! " 
 
 "I should have thought," said one of his acquain- 
 tance, '' that coffee would have been more exhilirating." 
 
 '* You are right, when excitement is wanted, coffee
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 119 
 
 is the best, but, like landanum, when it is drank freely, 
 it leaves something next day not easily shaken off, with- 
 out strong exercise, which I have no time to take ; but 
 I do occasionally drink it. " 
 
 *^ When you have a murder in hand I suppose ! 
 Fare you well ! " and the party separated. 
 
 Frederic soon after left the room, he was tired of 
 waiting for Hawker, and some new ideas had started 
 up in his mind, that drove Brighton a little out of his 
 thoughts. 
 
 Going out, he asked the porter, who those two gen- 
 tlemen were ? the man named two of the most distin- 
 guished lawyers of the day. Their conversation had 
 made no slight impression on Frederic. On his way to 
 Stevens's, he stopped at the Library, and asked for 
 Lord John Russell's book. 
 
 *' Do you mean the last sir? " 
 '* Are there more?" 
 
 " Yes, two volumes, and some smaller things, par- 
 ticularly a little book on the English constitution. " 
 
 Frederic was rather surprised how a lord could find 
 time to write so much ; but ordered them all to be sent 
 to Stevens's.
 
 120 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 When he arrived there, he retired to his room with- 
 out one look into the coftee room. He rang for 
 Jackson, ordered his coffee, which he could drink made 
 by no one else. 
 
 A sick person always catches eagerly at a new med- 
 icine, and those mentally diseased have the same pro- 
 pensity. Frederic wondered if he could like rew/ 
 reading, he fancied he did, in some degree, because he 
 looked at tlie papers and turned over the leaves of 
 such a very celebrated novel as Pelham. Perhaps want 
 of mental occupation might be his disease ; he recol- 
 lected once asking the family apothecary if he could 
 recommend him any draught or pill for sleepless nights, 
 the old man's answer was, 
 
 ^' If Ivjr. Vernon would employ half the day in bo- 
 dily exercise, and the other half in mental exertion, he 
 would sleep better than with any drug out of his shop." 
 Perhaps he was right. Frederic would try the ex- 
 periment this very night. He cou-d read all this even- 
 ing, and on his road to Melton to-morrow ; and if 
 he did not like the books, they would look very credit- 
 able in his father's library. During these reflections 
 he sipped his coffee.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 121 
 
 * Coffee that makes the politician wise, 
 And see through all things with his half shut eyes.' 
 
 In Frederic's last sip, he recollected having heard 
 his sister express a wish to read Montgomery's Om- 
 nipresence of the Deity, and as the books he had 
 ordered were just arrived, he desired Jackson to 
 pay for them, and, writing down the title of the 
 book he wanted in addition, sent the shop-boy back 
 for it. 
 
 Jackson was not much used to unpack books for 
 his master, he hesitated, and asked if they were for 
 Sir Thomas ? 
 
 " No ! undo them, and . put them here, and bring 
 me some more coffee." 
 
 Jackson looked incredulous ; to drink two dishes 
 of coffee was so plebeian, he thought his master must 
 have forgotten he had already had owe, and, with an odd 
 sort of doubtful bow, said he had made only one, that 
 is to say, one for his master, and two for himself, which 
 he had drank. 
 
 '* Get some more, and don't talk, " was Fred- 
 eric's reply, adding, '* has any body been to Charles 
 
 Vol. I. G
 
 }2£ COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Street, with my message to Mr. Arthur Nugent ? ^ 
 
 Jackson would enquhe : and he brought for answer, 
 *' that Mr. Nugent would call in a few minutes ; but 
 was then at dinner, and going afterwards to an early 
 ball." What a fool! thought Frederic— merely be- 
 cause he wanted him. 
 
 The second dish of coffee, unfashionable as it might 
 be, did wonders in clearing Frederic's intellects ; and 
 he began to fancy some sort of hoax had been play- 
 ed on him ; but this was no very agreeable reflection, 
 and he drove it away, by recollecting the pleasures 
 of intellectual occupation, as described by the law- 
 yers, and cutting the leaves of Lord John Russell's 
 book. 
 
 Montgomery's poem arrived, and was just laid on 
 the tabje when Arthur entered : before he answered a 
 <piestion from Frederic, who was considering how to 
 make the enquiry he wished, without exposing himself, 
 he took up Montgomery, saying, 
 
 '' Oh, a present for Miss Grey ! " 
 
 '* A present for Miss Grey ! " exclaimed Frederic, 
 '■'• how can you be such an unlicked cub, do you think 
 / could make a present to Miss Grey?"
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 123 
 
 ** I did not think about it," replied Arthur, *' but 
 perhaps your sister can for you : I only recollected just 
 then how very good natured Miss Grey had been about 
 the model, and I fancied you might make some little 
 acknowledgement." 
 
 Frederic would have given worlds to know what this 
 piece of good nature was ; but it was a foolish piece 
 of curiosity, and there was something in Arthur's man- 
 ner that told him he would laugh at him. So he re- 
 strained this curiosity, and determined to be on the 
 cautious side. 
 
 '' Well ! what do you want me for, Frederic ?" 
 
 *' Only to ask you if you recollect what day you 
 were the opener of the post bag ? " 
 
 *' Why, Tuesday, to be sure, the day we had all the 
 fun about the Gazette, and Mac Venom, and we should 
 have had a little laugh against you, as well as the rest, 
 only you turned sulky and would not stay." 
 
 ''The Devil you would!" And pray, may I ask 
 what you wiseacres in council had found to quizz me 
 for?" writhing at the moment under the dread of 
 hearing it. 
 
 " Don't be in a fuss, my good fellow ! only a small 
 G 2
 
 124 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 joke about the sledge, which was never read, because 
 that savage brute, Mac Venom, burnt the thing ; but 
 I believe all the originals are still preserved, and then 
 
 that fudge about Brighton, and Lord G and Miss 
 
 you know who !" 
 
 It was not a ray of light that dawned on Frederic, 
 it was broad day, a full flash of conviction, and, seizing 
 Arthur tight by the arm, that he might not escape, he 
 demanded fiercely if he knew any thing of his letters 
 having been opened. *^ For, by Jove, 1 believe you were 
 a set of folks that would stick at nothing to make ajoke !" 
 Arthur could not resist a little tantalizing : he said 
 *' he would vouch for the whole party, that no such dis- 
 honourable thing was even thought of, but he must go, 
 he was to accompany his cousins to a child's ball, and 
 they were to be there early, and he must put on a fresh 
 tie." 
 
 Frederic locked the door and put the key in his 
 
 pocket. 
 
 "Heyday !" said Arthur '* what are we to have, sup- 
 per and pistols for two ? If that's your plan, Frederic, 
 let us have Jackson and John the waiter in to see fair 
 play : I don't like lighting across the table without 
 witnesses." 
 
 I
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 125 
 
 ^' Don't be a fool, Arthur," replied Frederic, only 
 if you really wish to escape being thrown out at the win- 
 dow, and picked up by the watchman, tell me all you 
 know of those infernal contrivances which you call JuUy 
 and which that ske Fiend y Grace Latour, was at the 
 head of?" 
 
 '^ Speak more respectfully of our worthy confrater- 
 nity, or I will tell you nothing." 
 
 Arthur said this with so determined an air, that 
 Frederic relaxed his hold on his arm, and, after some 
 silence, on Arthur shewing impatience, and resolution 
 to go, F'rederic said, 
 
 *' Now, Arthur, be a good fellow, tell me all you 
 know, and I will give you a day's hunting at Melton, 
 and mount you capitally." 
 
 *' Well, since you are reasonable, and generous to 
 boot, the letter you got that morning with the Brigh- 
 ton post mark, was fabricated amongst us, and copied 
 either by Jane Sedley, or Grace Latour, I forget which." 
 
 '^ The devil it was ! And how came you to imagine 
 its extraordinary contents?" 
 
 ^^ Why, Miss Sedley, had a letter from a friend 
 at Brighton, who amongst news, said that " Lady Hen-
 
 i26 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 shawe was trying to draw in Lord G , for her 
 
 daughter, but that her success was doubtful. And 
 added, what will your neighbour, Mr. Vernon, suy to 
 this, for he has been most devoted in that quarter? 
 And will his horse be returned, if this marriage takes 
 place ? 
 
 Frederic stamped on the ground, kicked the tables, 
 and even poor little Vixen, Seeing Arthur move to 
 the door, he threw the key on the ground ; but recol- 
 lecting, as Arthur's hand was on the lock, that he might 
 as well have the whole ; he again stopped Arthur, 
 saying, 
 
 " Let me know the bottom of this Hecate cauldron, 
 before you unlock the door ; what was the history of 
 the model ? " 
 
 ** Only that Grace Latour, who models beautifully, 
 had made the most capital and perfect model of your 
 sledge and the skeivbalds^ and it was to have been 
 placed in the centre of the dessert; but she had been a 
 little mischievous, painted the horses in large black 
 patches covered with red spots. Your sister was much 
 hurt at this, and found that the French maid, belong- 
 ing to the Misses Latour, was great friends with Plosko,
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 127 
 
 and that the secret was known throughout the house. 
 Emily did not know what to do, to save you from the 
 iaugh, but Louisa Grey persuaded Grace not to pro- 
 duce it ; but give it to her to send into Scotland, for a 
 new year's present to her little cousin ; and I have got 
 it in charge to send it." 
 
 Frederic unlocked tiie door, and Arthur departed, 
 leaving his cousin to his own thoughts. To have been 
 the laughing stock of the party was too enraging ! and 
 yet a moment's reflection would have told him he was 
 not the only one. They had each a joke against the 
 other, and laughed them off! But they were silly folks ! 
 and not so susceptible as he was — had not, he should 
 have said, so large a share of self-love and vanity ; but 
 his conscience did not use these strong terms. He had 
 a little, he believed, of Lord Byron's morbid disposi- 
 tion ! He could not help it — it was nature's fault, not 
 his own. It suddenly struck him how he should like 
 to have this model of the sledge ! it might be of use, 
 on some future occasion. 
 
 Don't suppose, gentle reader, he cared for it because 
 it was connected with Louisa Grey ! But he instantly 
 sent off to Arthur, intreating to see him again, only for
 
 128 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 one moment. Arthur deposited his cousins at their ball, 
 and then returned to Stevens's on this pressing mes- 
 sage. 
 
 *^ Well, Frederic, what is your worship's pleasure ? 
 you don't seem to have any inclination to consult mine." 
 
 *^ Upon second thoughts," said Frederic, '* a day's 
 hunting is not worth coming from Cambridge for, I'll 
 give you a week at Melton, standing all expenses, if 
 you will give into my charge the model you have got to 
 send to Miss Grey's little cousins." 
 
 " You bribe high, Frederic, but before I am tempted 
 to commit a breach of trust, let me know what you 
 mean to do with this same model." 
 
 * Why simply exchange it, and you know exchange 
 is no robbery, I will send the little boy the most beau- 
 tiful toy in Laurie's shop. A coach and six if you 
 please. Only let me have the model." 
 
 "• Well ! Well ! I'll consider of it, and let you 
 know in the morning." 
 
 " That will not do, I must go out of town very 
 early in the morning.'* 
 '' Where V 
 
 ' To Melton, I believe."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. l^^ 
 
 " Or to Eastbrooke, I suspect," said Arthur '^ you 
 know the whole party is not broken up, there is still 
 Mrs. Elenor Latour and ■ " 
 
 He shut the door. Frederic was left to his own 
 reflections, those could not be shut out. Was he, or 
 was he not, a miserable, ill used, person ? He had 
 that evening learnt a secret of happiness — intellectual 
 occupations, and intellectual pleasures, were of the 
 highest order. Should he make the trial ? Jackson 
 entered. 
 
 '* It freezes hard again. Sir, the streets are as slip- 
 pery as glass, all the Melton gentlemen have counter- 
 manded their post horses and places in the mails. No 
 hunting, Sir !'' 
 
 This turned the balance, which hung on a straw. 
 Frederic would go to Eastbrooke, he should find Lou- 
 isa Grey there, he might *' catch fresh virtue from her 
 eye." The frost was the excuse. He asked Jackson 
 what the church bells were ringing for ? 
 
 *' To ring the old year out and the new one in.'' 
 
 " The new year ! ! ! I am sure," said Frederic men- 
 tally "the old one has not been a good one to me, T have 
 been the dupe of an artful mother, and nearly a sacrifice 
 G 5
 
 130 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 to her mercenary daughter. And I have made myself 
 a laughing stock to some giddy girls and boys, by pre- 
 tending to be too wise to be amused by trifles. I may 
 have done more, and made myself despicable in the 
 eyes of owe, remarkable for nice discernment ^ and right 
 feeling /At least it is worth while to try some other 
 plan. J shall get credit with the wise, if 1 read, and I 
 may get some amusement too." 
 
 With this resolution, when the annoying bells 
 ceased, he went to bed, not to sleep, but to think on 
 the extraordinary turn things had taken. He was afraid 
 to probe his own heart, yet '' a small still voice that 
 whispers unforbidden in our ears," told him, that the 
 two people he knew in the world, that were the happiest, 
 were Mr. Sedley, who was always actively and usefully 
 employed, and Louisa Grey, who was ever promoting 
 the happiness of others^ wholly forgetful of herself. 
 
 The next morning Arthur came, and found Fred- 
 eric with a table covered with all the contents of Lau- 
 rie's shop, in the shape of mail coaches, tandems, &c. 
 Arthur selected one, placed it in the box destined for 
 the model, and depended on Frederic for making his 
 peace with Miss Grey.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 131 
 
 The chaise was at the door, but Frederic still waited 
 for a book ; for another copy of Montgomery's poem, 
 the best bound that could be got. It arrived. 
 
 '' What, two books of the same sort," exclaimed 
 Arthur, *' are you going to set up a bookseller's shop, 
 Frederic?" 
 
 " No ! but my sister sometimes likes to make a 
 new years' present ; so I have got an additional one for 
 that purpose." 
 
 ^' Fare ye well, Frederic !" said Arthur, '* I see 
 it is very bad with you," and he disappeared. 
 
 All that is necessary to add, is, that besides buying 
 two copies of the poem, Frederic read it twice over, 
 once to his sister and Louisa Grey, profiting by their 
 remarks. And once more to himself. 
 
 And we should not wonder if the dream came true, 
 and that by the help of Louisa Grey, not as a spirit, 
 but in her own natural person, she led Frederic Vernon 
 to the Temple of Earthly Happiness, and paved his 
 way to the one above.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 EASTER HOLIDAYS, 
 
 STOKE PARK. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 In Britain's Isle, no matter wliere, 
 An ancient pile of building stands, 
 The Hunidevt, and the Uattons th*!re 
 Employ'd the po« er of fairy hands. 
 
 To raise the ceiling's fretted height, 
 Each panel in achievement clothing, 
 Rich windows that exclude the light, 
 Cold passages that lead to nothing. 
 
 Full oft within the spacious walls, 
 When he'd full fifty winters o'er him, 
 My grave Lord Keeper led tlie brawls, 
 The seal ana maces danced before him. 
 
 His bushy beard, and-shoe-strings green 
 His high crown "d hat, ai d satin doublet, 
 Mov'd the stout heait oi Kuglniid's queen. 
 Though Pope and Spaniard could not touch it. 
 
 *' Walls have ear^," says the pioveib, and voices too 
 sometimes — it is uell not always, or strange histories 
 might be told ; and characters that stand high in historic 
 recollection, might sink an hundred per cent, in the scale. 
 
 The ancient mansion of Stoke Park, which has so
 
 134 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 often been the seat of fetes and gallantry in other days, 
 and, by another name, was about to become again con- 
 spicuous in the same way ; and, however the sticklers 
 for the refinements of the present day may deride the 
 coarser amusements and grosser pageants of the Eliza- 
 bethan age, the same taste for theatrical representation 
 still prevails, and, perhaps, ever will. Thespis, in his 
 cart, pleased the refined Grecians. The broader hu- 
 mours of Maid Marian, and mock tournaments, shewed 
 the taste of the warlike English queen. 
 
 What we of the nineteenth century have gained in 
 refinement, we have lost in zest and mirth. The fine 
 ladies, and exquisite dandies of the present day, if they 
 are not great frequenters of public theatres, take infinite 
 pains to act the parts of valets and abigails before their 
 own servants and tenants, and gain their applause, as 
 well as that of their equals. Perhaps, could they 
 accompany the family of the farmer to his fire-side, or 
 listen to the comments of the housekeeper's room, or 
 servants'-hall, they would learn a useful lesson. 
 
 Two carpenters were busily employed on the wains- 
 coating of an old-fashioned room, when one of them, 
 on a high pair of steps, said —
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 135 
 
 '* Do, Tom, give me a stronger chisel, for some- 
 thing resists this here, and I'd be loth to break this old 
 boy, for he has served me many a year, and well, too !" 
 
 Whilst his companion was searching in his basket 
 for another tool, he on the ladder, said — 
 
 " Never mind, the wainscot has given way, but, by 
 jingo, we've got something here, and my name is not 
 Wilson, if we hav'ent found concealed treasure ! " 
 
 ** Halves," cried his companion. 
 
 " Not so fast, I am the finder ; but, howsever, not 
 
 to get into any scrape, do you come up, and see what's 
 
 here, and we can settle shares by and bye — one thing 
 
 I must say, that whosoever made this hiding-place was 
 
 a clever fellow, for the devil himself would hardly have 
 
 guessed any thing but a thick wall was behind here ; 
 
 but I see now 1 might have spared my favourite chisel, 
 
 for here is a little bit of a spring, which, if my eyes had 
 
 been a little sharper, I might have found out ; though it 
 
 seems so rusty, it will not give way, so it's all for the best." 
 
 " Uon't go on with your gibberish," said the other, 
 
 *'you are always so proud of your knowledge ; let's see 
 
 what it has brought out ; nothing but old musty papers, 
 
 I 'm bound"
 
 136 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Several bundles of letters were produced; they 
 were tied neatly round with silk, and, though all were 
 perfectly dry, the silk had lost its original colour. 
 
 *' Put your arm in farther, man, or let me, who 
 have a longer one." 
 
 " No, no ! [ found the hole, and will search it ;" 
 and after a little groping, Wilson exclaimed — " here is 
 the treasure at last !" and produced a casket about six 
 inches long, of black shagreen, and bound with massy 
 silver bands, with a lock and hinges of the same kind ; 
 but their curiosity was foiled, for the lock was strong, 
 and there was no key ; they searched in vain for one. 
 Neither of the finder's ventured to break the lock. 
 Perhaps to the lightness of the casket was owing its 
 safety, and their integrity ; for the handling promised 
 nothing like coin. 
 
 " But, perhaps,'' said Tomkins, " there may be 
 jewels ; they are not so heavy as money, or may be 
 bank notes." 
 
 " Them gentry were not in fashion with this casket, 
 I guess," was the reply ; " don't you know the Bank 
 of England was not set up till I696: why what's the 
 use of lending you the Library of Useful Knowledge if 
 you knov *^'np^ about currency, and such like."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 137 
 
 ^' Never mind these sort of things now," said 
 Tomkins, '' we had better see if we can turn the 
 contents of this here trunk into somewhat that'll 
 pass current at the George." 
 
 *^I'm thinking" said Wilson/Svhat's best to be done." 
 
 ''Go directly with it to my lord," replied Tom- 
 kins, '* or you may get on the wrong side of the post, 
 1 can tell you ; for father once got into jail for three 
 weeks, for only just keeping a few musty old coins 
 till he could lind out their value, for he knew the old 
 hunks on whose premises he found them would give 
 him nothing ; and, as it was, he got nothing but his 
 release. I advise you to find out the butler, and tell 
 him what we have found." 
 
 '^ No, no !" said Wilson, " Martin is an old rogue, 
 or I know nothing, he'll sift it all out, and get the 
 reward himself; I owe him a turn for his shortening 
 our allowance of ale to serve himself, so I'll be up 
 with him now ; he shall take us to my lord, but he 
 shall have no guess what we are going about." 
 
 With the letters, and casket concealed under his 
 jacket, Wilson sought out Martin, and told him, he 
 and his companion must see my lord.
 
 158 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 <' What for?'' asked the important butler, "can't 
 you send your message by me : my lord is at breakfast, 
 and will not be disturbed." 
 
 '' He would be disturbed if he knew what we 
 wanted," replied Wilson. 
 
 '' And pray what may that be V 
 
 " That's more than I intend to tell you, so do as 
 you like, if we wait till his lordship, or my lady come 
 to look at our work, it may be worse for you ; for if 
 it is late in the day we shall tell my lord that t/ou would 
 not let us see him." 
 
 This threat had the desired effect, and Martin 
 trudged doggedly on through innumerable passages, 
 followed by the carpenters, till they reached the ha- 
 bitable and inhabited part of the house, where the 
 owners were at breakfast. 
 
 And here we must take leave to observe, that there 
 is no surer sign of a good understanding between hus- 
 band and wife, in high life, than their breakfasting 
 together ; it is almost the only time they are sure of a 
 quiet tete-a-tete ; and if we, old stagers, might pre- 
 sume to advise in such a delicate case, we would re- 
 commend young wives to sacrifice their own indolence 
 and comfort, and make breakfast even on hunting
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 139 
 
 mornings — hounds do not meet at day-break, as they 
 used to do, and ladies may be assured the sacrifices 
 are well worth making. Husbands, and indeed most 
 people, are in their best humour early in a morning ; 
 the vexations or excitements of the preceding day have 
 been slept off; and those of the approaching one are 
 still in embryo. Indeed, in London, it is often the 
 only leisure time for domestic arrangements; com- 
 mittees in the house, clubs, and Tattersall's, take up 
 the morning, the House, assemblies, and operas en- 
 gross the evening ; and, in the country, hunting, shoot- 
 ing, farming, and neighbouring dinners, equally take 
 men from home ; so we hope our fair countrywomen 
 will take a hint, and duly appreciate the quiet do- 
 mestic hour of breakfast. 
 
 With a sort of sulky air, Martin opened the door 
 of the breakfast room, saying, '* Wilson must speak 
 with my Lord." 
 
 Lord Tintern seeing the carpenters behind the 
 speaker, said '' Let them come in." 
 
 They did so ; but Martin lingered with the door in 
 his hand. 
 
 '* Well, Wilson, what do you want? are you in any 
 difficulty?"
 
 140 COtJNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 *' Yes, please ye, my Lord." 
 
 " What is it ? " 
 
 Wilson cast an eye towards the butler, which plainly 
 said, *' when he is gone I will tell you." 
 
 Lord Tintern perceived this, and said, **You need not 
 wait Martin, Wilson knows his way back." His curio- 
 sity thus foiled, he shut the door less gently than usual. 
 
 Wilson then drew the casket and packets from his 
 bosom, told how they had been found, and after a 
 little hesitation, added, " I hope your Lordship will 
 remember the finder." 
 
 ^^ What, then ! you suppose you have a prize ? 
 but it is very light; however, you shall have fair play, 
 and we will see what it contains: did you find no key?" 
 
 " None my lord, and we searched the place 
 thoroughly." 
 
 '^ Have you any instrument that will open it?" 
 
 Wilson had taken the precaution to bring one ; and 
 it easily yielded to his chisel. — But when opened only 
 two small cases, each containing a picture ; and two 
 smaller packets with each a lock of hair, and a very 
 small gold coin broke in halves ; were all its contents. 
 
 ^' I fear, my good fellows," said Lord Tintern,
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 141 
 
 *' your treasure trouve is of small value, perhaps the 
 letters may tell whose are the portraits.'' 
 
 But on looking at them, one packet was in a manly 
 hand directed to Araminta, and the other in a delicately 
 small female one, inscribed to Christobel. 
 
 <' I don't think love letters, for such they seem to 
 be, will yield you, my men, much profit, though they 
 might be turned to some account in the hands of the 
 great Scotch author, but here is a sovereign for you, which 
 I fancy is something more than any Jew broker would 
 give you for these pictures, or the silver of the casket, 
 and take my word for it, if they turn out worth more, 
 or find an owner, you shall have the advantage of it." 
 The carpenters took the money and withdrew ; and 
 though a quarter of an hour before they would have 
 thought it great good luck to divide a sovereign between 
 them, so quickly had imagination magnified the prize 
 they had found, that they returned to their work dis- 
 appointed, to find themselves only twenty shillings the 
 richer for the adventure. Imaginary wealth is always 
 boundless, nothing short of Aladdin's lamp. 
 
 When alone. Lord and Lady Tintern examined the 
 portraits, both were handsome, that of the gentleman 
 young, and with short dark hair, a pointed beard, and
 
 142 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 high ruff, ill the costume of the age of Elizabeth. — 
 That of the lady was a delicate, fair beauty, and it had 
 probably suffered most from time ; it had a faded look, 
 yet a sweet expression of countenance, — mild blue eyes 
 and auburn hair, almost approaching to red, but classic 
 red. The dress was that of an Arcadian shepherdess. 
 
 *' I wonder," exclaimed Lady Tintern, *^ if this man 
 is Sir Christopher Hatton : 1 do think I have seen a por- 
 trait of him, when young, like it ; but who is the lady ?" 
 
 '' We have not time now to develope this mystery," 
 said Lord Tintern, '' perhaps when Fitz-Gibbon comes, 
 he loves old musty legends, he will help us." 
 
 '' I am quite ready to defer it," replied Lady, Tin- 
 tern, *^ for I have such a provoking letter, I am ready 
 to die with vexation — would you believe it ! My absurd 
 prosy old uncle, will not, after all, let Olivia act; he 
 sends me a fine rigmarole ; * that on consideration, 
 he does not think it becoming a young woman of rank, 
 to personate any character but her own, and especially 
 a plebeian, and ridiculous one, quite rubbish.' " 
 
 " Never mind, abusing Lord Montresor will not 
 help you now, Gertrude ; you can do that, as you have 
 done it a hundred times before, at your leisure j and, to 
 own the truth, I don't think he is so much out of the
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 143 
 
 way ill the present instance, as he has often appeared 
 ^ in others ; I don't think I could, or ever will, let Ade- 
 laide or Sophia take any part in private theatricals — one 
 must conform to the times we live in, so it is as well to 
 have them as any other amusements for our friends ; 
 but I cannot imagine a very refined and delicate girl, 
 such as I should wish a daughter of mine to be, to like 
 to produce herself before a large audience as a soubrette ; 
 or, if she did it well, to be the very elegant-minded per- 
 son I should hope my daughter would be." 
 
 "You really are growing quite old and fogram,Ifear." 
 
 "Not at all; there are dozens of women 1 could na ne, 
 who might act Madelon and Cathos without in the least 
 annoying me. Mrs. Delamour, for example, but I do 
 think Olivia Ualrymple is too good to be so hackneyed." 
 
 " But how, in this late stage of the business, are we 
 to get a substitute; and one who speaks as good French, 
 we shall hardly find." 
 
 " Oh, that does not signify les precieuse Ridicules 
 were only bourgeois, what think you of my agent Legh's 
 daughter, she is a very pretty girl ; you may remember 
 having seen her at the Reading races, she has had an 
 education, as I think, above her sphere ; and her fa- 
 ther will be delighted (no doubt) to introduce her
 
 144 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 amongst us but this I must premise, that she is taken 
 good care of, put her under Gevois' care, or take her 
 especially under your own 3 I will not, for her father's 
 sake, for he is an honest, good fellow, have her talked 
 nonsense to by any of the dandies or beaus our theat- 
 ricals may attract." 
 
 " That shall be cared for, only let us get at this 
 Miss, and recollect, my lord, if I find her inefficient, 
 you must take the blame, as well as the trouble." 
 
 " I will w rite to her father immediately, and we 
 must take care of these old letters. Who knows but the 
 scenes we are now about to act at Stoke Park may 
 furnish packets for future ages ?" 
 
 " You mean," said Lady Tintern, ^* do you not, that 
 the tenants and servants should see us V 
 
 '' I have no choice, it has been done elsewhere, and 
 they expect it. Blunt passed me yesterday, and doffing 
 his hat to the ground, ^ hoped my lordship would let him 
 and his see the play, for his daughter thought of nothing 
 else.' I told him I feared it would not amuse them, as 
 it was a French play, he said ^ never mind, it will be 
 something to see, and they will remember it all their 
 lives : he dared to say it would be as good as Harle- 
 quin and Mother Goose, which he had seen at Bedford,
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 145 
 
 so you see, Gertrude, how high your performance is 
 rated ! Perhaps of The Critic they may have some com- 
 prehension ; and if they have not, with a nearly expiring 
 parliament, it is not a time to put freeholders out of 
 humour, so you must fix your dress rehearsal as soon 
 as you can, for expectation grows with delay. 
 
 Having introduced Lord and Lady Tintern to our 
 readers, and set forth their intentions, we must let 
 them a little into their characters and situation. 
 
 Lord Tintern had been a regularly bred diploma- 
 tist, gone through all the departments of attache, charge 
 d'affairs, &c.: his first mission was not a lucky one, as he 
 was amongst those who swelled Lord Malmsbury's un- 
 successful embassy to Buonaparte, as first consul of 
 France, one of those whom the witty Jeykel called 
 " The youths by Malmsbury led ;*' but his after course 
 improved, he was one of the secretaries of legation at 
 Tilsit, and present at the signing of the treaty of the 
 Holy Alliance, though innocent of its tyrannic conse- 
 quences. 
 
 He was particularly good-looking, and a most a- 
 greeable man in society; and on one of his diplomatic 
 missions had the misfortune to strike the fancy of an 
 
 VOL. I. H
 
 146 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Ugly deformed German princess, who was, withal, so 
 great an heiress, it was not supposed possible her hand 
 could be rejected; but so it was, Mr. Silvester, as he 
 then was, had left his heart in the possession of a York- 
 shire young lady, the fourth daughter of a man with a 
 large entailed estate. But to avoid Scylla, he nearly 
 split on Charibdis, by an imprudent marriage. But a 
 sincere attachment carried them through much more 
 than establishment-hunting young ladies have any idea 
 of being within the scope of possibility. His young 
 bride cheerfully surmounted all the difficulties attending 
 his first diplomatic missions — had children born at 
 various courts ; but, happy in each other, years glided 
 quickly on, till a godfather of Mr. Silvester's, a ca- 
 pricious old man, died, and left him a considerable 
 fortune, on condition that he purchased Tintern ab- 
 bey, for which he had some unaccountable predilec- 
 tion. 
 
 The signing of a treaty entitled him to a peerage, 
 and he took his title from the old, though not very pro- 
 fitable, estate, which he had, in consequence of this 
 bequest, purchased ; but as he was, at the time we 
 write, secretary of state for the ***** department.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 147 
 
 he found it necessary to have a residence nearer to his 
 office than Tintern abbey, and having found a house 
 at Putney, or Richmond, too near London, too much 
 within the reach of idlers, and partaking perhaps a lit- 
 tle of the taste of his godfather, for celebrated places, 
 he hired for three years, whilst the owner was abroad. 
 Stoke park. 
 
 Lady Tintern was amiable, and worthy of being the 
 wife of Lord Tintern, but a little too much bit by fo- 
 reign customs and manners. She had for her children 
 a German governess, a French bonne, and a young 
 Spaniard for companion, so that her offspring were 
 likely to acquire as strange a mixture of ideas as of 
 languages ; and she was herself always in a state of 
 fidgetty anxiety lest any one of these numerous lan- 
 guages should be neglected or forgotten. She had the 
 same taste for foreign customs as for foreign languages, 
 and often chose the worst thing, because it was not 
 English, Music had been her passion, and in Italy, 
 where she resided a very short time, she had fully in-. 
 dulged the taste ; but she fancied it could be enjoyed 
 in perfection no where else — and, next to that, thea- 
 trical representation delighted her. She had, at one of 
 
 h2
 
 148 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 the lesser Italian courts, by the help of amateur and pro- 
 fessional performers, got up some detached parts of 
 operas very successfully ; but the exhibition at the En- 
 glish ambassador's palace, at Florence, had so much 
 eclipsed every thing private on the continent, that Lady 
 Xintern had given hers up. But in England, they were 
 far behind, for though plays had been performed, no 
 opera was attempted, neither could it be — no amateurs 
 could compose or execute one, and the foreign artistes 
 came to England so entirely to make money, they would 
 not open their mouths without it. 
 
 The English young ladies were shy, and would not 
 sing so publicly, though they might be prevailed on 
 to speak. A French play, acted at a private theatre, 
 would be a new thing, and might easily be managed ; 
 and a popular farce would suit the John Bull taste of a 
 large part of such an audience as might be collected in 
 a country neighbourhood. So Les Precieuses Ridicules 
 and The Critic being fixed on, and the characters dis- 
 posed of, it only remained to arrange the mechanism 
 and scenery.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Lord Tintern lost no time in writing to Mr. Legh, 
 who, amongst the numerous letters on his desk, seeing 
 one franked by Lord Tintern, hastened to open it, but, 
 in the first few lines, seeing it was not on business, he 
 made the agreeable yield to the profitable, and reserved 
 it for after dinner consideration ; but he did not resume 
 the perusal of it till his daughter had left the room, he 
 had read enough in the first instance to guess the rest, 
 and he wished to have time to consider the proposal, 
 and save her from disappointment. It invited her for 
 a week to partake of the Easter gaities at Stoke Park. 
 Lord Tintern was an able diplomatist ; he gave the
 
 150 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 alluring part of the invitation first, and then added— 
 *' We think of some little histrionic exhibition, perhaps 
 Miss Legh, with whose beauty and accomplishments 
 we are well acquainted, will assist us." 
 
 Mr. Legh was a shrewd man, and he belonged to 
 a profession that called this quality, as well as caution, 
 into daily, nay, hourly, exercise ; he therefore kept this 
 letter, and its contents, to himself, till he had consulted 
 a friend in whom he had great confidence. 
 
 This friend was a Mrs. Graham, the widow of a 
 neighbouring clergyman, a well-educated woman of 
 good family, who had preferred happiness to wealth, 
 and united herself to a most amiable man, though not 
 largely beneficed. They lived in retirement on his 
 living, and, whilst every day added to their mutual hap- 
 piness, it contributed to the improvement and embel- 
 lishment of her mind, by sharing the thoughts, and, in 
 many instances, the studies also, of a man whose learn- 
 ing and taste were not often excelled. They had two 
 daughters, but the eldest fell a victim to the family 
 disease — consumption, and though the father bore the 
 loss with the true spirit of Christian resignation, whether 
 the latent seeds of the disease in his constitution were
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 161 
 
 ignited by his attendance on his daughter, or whether 
 they were matured by the grief which he subdued for 
 the sake of his family, is a question not easily deter- 
 mined—in less than two years he followed his beloved 
 Caroline. But though he left his wife and youngest 
 daughter bereaved of their greatest blessing, and with a 
 materially diminished income, he left them a rich and 
 invaluable legacy in his example ; and, however deeply 
 they might lament their widowed and orphan state, they 
 must ever wish to die as he did, '^ the death of the 
 righteous," and pray, that after the troubles of this life, 
 their end might be like his — happy ! nay, joyful ! in 
 the hope of being received as a faithful servant into 
 the bosom of his Saviour and his God. 
 
 Mrs. Graham's circumstances, as well as the weak- 
 ened spirits of her daughter, after the loss of her sister, 
 made her not averse to an occasional addition both to 
 her family and income ; but she was very choice as to 
 whom she received into the bosom of her domestic 
 retreat. 
 
 Mr. Legh's wife, who had died when his daughter 
 was a mere child, was a great friend of Mrs. Graham's, 
 and, therefore, from regard to the memory of one so
 
 ]o2 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 dear to him, he always consulted her friend — he might 
 not always follow the advice she gave ; he considered 
 her as placed in a very retired situation, and with differ- 
 ent views, as respected her own daughter, from those he 
 might entertain for his ; but if he did not adopt her 
 advice, he invariably acknowledged its good sense — but 
 all rules have their exceptions ; — his daughter promised 
 to have a captivating person — she w^as not deficient in 
 talents — and he could give her a fortune that many an 
 heir to a great estate would be glad of. He knew some- 
 thing of the wants of his aristocratic neighbours ; and, 
 besides, Legh was a good name in a northern county — 
 none need hesitate at being connected with it. 
 
 He therefore placed his daughter, rather against 
 Mrs. Graham's advice, at a celebrated finishing school 
 in London, where the young ladies, besides being 
 perfected in music, dancing, singing, &c., by the 
 first masters ; were taught how to receive company, 
 get in, and out of a carriage ; in short, were made the 
 prettiest little pieces of affectation, conceit, and arti- 
 fice, imaginable ; and are sent home from these exqui- 
 site establishments, to despise all they find there, as 
 deficient in the refinement they have been taught to
 
 COUKTRY HOUSES. 153 
 
 think only worth living for, and to hold firm principles 
 and a cultivated mind as gothic, only fit acquirements 
 for the wives of country parsons. 
 
 Mr. Legh, in one of her holydays, saw something 
 of this coming on his daughter, and, to stop the evil, 
 took her from school ; but she was too young and in- 
 experienced to manage his house, or sit at the head 
 of his table ; he therefore prevailed on Mrs. Graham 
 to receive her into her family for two years ; she did so, 
 and, finding an excellent disposition to work on, did 
 much to counteract the frivolous and absurd notions 
 she had acquired at^ Madame Delavaux. But weeds 
 may be apparently destroyed, and yet leave so much of 
 their roots still in the soil, that when the sunshine of 
 admiration, or the dews of flattery fall on them, they 
 spring up again in vigour 
 
 At the time we are writing. Miss Legh had re- 
 turned home, and been about six months the acknow- 
 ledt^ed mistress of her father's house, though its domes- 
 tic arrangements were conducted by a steady old house- 
 keeper, and his company, which was not much, invited 
 by himself. He dreaded, above every thing, young 
 companions for his daughter, of her own age and class 
 H 5
 
 154 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 of life ; indeed, his ambition had led him sometirpes 
 to hope that she would soar above those who were now 
 of her own grade, and though he reasoned against these 
 feelings, yet he could not but be highly gratified at the 
 invitation he had received, and it was so kind and 
 friendly, so unexpected ; and though his slumbers 
 might have been a little disturbed by the anticipations 
 of parental ambition, and his dreams visited by titles 
 and equipages, he resolved the next morning to ride 
 over to FuUerton, and consult Mrs. Graham, before 
 he informed Emma of the honour intended her. 
 
 He mounted his horse early, and arrived at Mrs. 
 Graham's soon after his breakfast ; he found her alone, 
 but his whole appearance was of a man hurried in 
 body and mind, beyond ^' his wont :" in general, his 
 deportment was that of a quiet methodical man of 
 business ; and as the affairs persons of his profession 
 transact are not their own, they occasion no over- 
 whelming anxiety for their subsequent event. It has 
 been said, and believed, of Mr. Pitt, that, arduous as 
 was the task of prime minister in such turbulent times, 
 he never lost a night's rest by his official anxieties. 
 
 Mrs. Graham received her friend with her usual
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 155 
 
 cordiality, and, after the first greetings and enquiries 
 were over, he said : — 
 
 ** My good friend, you know how arduous and anx- 
 ious my situation, as the father of a girl of Emma's 
 age, is ; would I had long ago sought a person to assist 
 me, but, alas!" with a deep drawn aspiration, intended 
 for a sigh, " where could I find one to replace your 
 inestimable friend ? and now I experience in its full 
 force my bereavement." Mrs. Graham felt, 
 
 *' How fleet is a glance of the mind, 
 Compared with the speed of its flight, 
 The tempest itself lags behind, 
 And the swift winged arrows of light.'* 
 
 and she trembled lest Mr. Legh was come with a pro- 
 posal to her daughter, not that she could be, in her 
 circumstances, averse to settling her, as it is called ; 
 but well as she thought of Mr. Legh, he was not the 
 husband she should choose, or wish, for her daughter, 
 he was wholly unsuitable to her in mind ; but whilst 
 this was passing in her thoughts, he was fumbling in 
 his pocket for a letter, and presenting it to her, said : — 
 
 " Give me your opinion on this." 
 
 The seal being completely broken relieved Mrs.
 
 156 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Graham's mind, but it led to another conjecture, that 
 it was a proposal made to his daughter. She read 
 Lord Tintem's letter, folded it up, returned her spec- 
 tacles into their case without speaking. Neither Mr. 
 Legh's patience nor his time could long endure this, 
 and he said : — 
 
 " Well, my good madam, what do you think of 
 this invitation ? and what do you advise me to do ? for 
 that is the business on which I have ridden over.'* 
 
 '^ I do not know," replied Mrs. Graham, *' that I 
 am a good judge, I live so out of the world, and am so 
 ignorant of its ways,,that what are common, every day, 
 occurrences to others, appear fearful events to me. I 
 can hardly pretend to advise." 
 
 ** Oh, my excellent friend ! do not become so scru- 
 pulous all of a sudden, you well know there is no one 
 of whose judgment I have so high an opinion; and 
 after the protection you have given my dear child, and 
 the friendship you have always professed to a dear de- 
 parted ! and for her sake to me, do not desert us in our 
 need. / can only feel Lord Tintern's kindness, and of 
 course I cannot be averse to my girl's making one of 
 good, indeed of fine, company."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 157 
 
 ^' Your daughter, 1 thiuk, forgive me," replied 
 Mrs. Graham, ''is not destined by birth to make one of 
 what you call fine company ; is it, do you think, ad- 
 vantageous to give her a taste for what may seldom, if 
 ever, come in her way again? May it not make her 
 dissatisfied with all the good, and that good is great, 
 which is now within her power ; for however great 
 friends may sometimes condescend in their notice, I 
 fear they are not always to be depended on for its 
 regular flow, it is too often conferred as a matter of 
 interest or convenience to themselves." 
 
 "Oh ! as to that," replied Mr. Legh, ''though I am 
 profoundly sensible of the honor Lord Tintern has done 
 me, we have mutual obligations. I can better do with- 
 out him, than he without me. After all, my good friend, 
 you forget that my daughter has some pretensions — I 
 do not mean personal ones, for now a-days there are hun- 
 dreds and thousands of pretty girls. But she has sub- 
 stantial qualifications, for, to own a truth to you, if I 
 die to-morrow she will have more than Thirty Thou- 
 sand pounds, and if my life is prolonged a few years, 
 it may be Fifty Thousand ; and I can tell you, as an un- 
 puestionable fact, that there are very few lords, or
 
 158 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 commoners, m this, or the neighbouring counties, who 
 would not jump at such a match, even for an eldest 
 son." 
 
 "Then I understand," said Mrs. Graham, "you 
 think that this introduction may be advantageous 
 in a matrimonial point of view, to your daughter ; and 
 therefore, I ought not to throw in a hint of objection : 
 but do favour me with another perusal of that letter, 
 I may have misunderstood its meaning." 
 
 She again read the letter, and, returning it, said, 
 
 " No ! I was not mistaken ! I had heard, though 
 I did not pay much attention to the report, as having 
 no interest in it, that there are going to be private 
 theatricals at Stoke Park ; and 1 see Lord Tintern 
 confirms the report, and hints that your daughter may 
 be called on to assist at them." 
 
 " Oh ! " replied, Mr. Legh, " they are only sort of 
 holyday things ; I suppose got up by the children, and 
 perhaps they may expect her to play some quadrilles, 
 or some such thing — indeed, in a childish thing, 
 amongst themselves, if she did take a part, it is what 
 she has done at school, and you know even boarders in 
 a convent act those sort of pieces."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 1.59 
 
 " Well," said Mrs. Graham, " it may be only that 
 which is intended, and as I have said before, / know 
 but little of the world as it goes now — it is altered 
 since my time — but, judging for myself, I certainly 
 should not like a daughter of mine, and one as lovely, 
 young, and inexperienced, as Emma, to act a part in 
 a play; the characters of which are indiscriminately 
 filled by Lord Tintern's acquaintance." 
 
 *' A thousand thanks for the hint, then if you don't 
 really advise against accepting the invitation altogether, 
 I will provide against the contingency you have stated ; 
 and order Emma not to take part in any play, without 
 writing to me ;" a caution he afterwards forgot, in the 
 gratification he experienced from the invitation. After a 
 few enquiries after Miss Graham, who had walked out, 
 he took his leave, saying, " I am glad you do not dis- 
 approve the determination I have come to, since J have 
 heard your arguments ; and I shall let Emma accept 
 this invitation." 
 
 ''It is not by my advice, 1 must beg to say," 
 replied Mrs. Graham. 
 
 " Oh, but I have settled all your objections," 
 replied Mr. Legh, "so you cannot blame me."
 
 l60 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 "My worthy friend/' said Mrs. Graham, putting 
 her hand on his arm, to prevent his running away before 
 she had finished her sentence ; " I must beg explicitly 
 to say, I never have, nor could, advise you to let your 
 daughter make this visit ; but if you do not think my 
 objections of sufficient weight, I have done the part of 
 a friend — and indeed one you called on me to do — you 
 act for yourself — I may be mistaken, and for your 
 sake, and dear Emma's, I hope I am : I wish her all 
 the pleasure she can have, and with as little risk as 
 possible." 
 
 How easily do people persuade themselves to follow 
 their own inclinations, giving the credit to another, while 
 the success is doubtful; and attributing the whole to 
 their own sagacity, if it succeeds. A celebrated wit and 
 author of the last century, being asked by a lady to 
 give her advice on some certain points, said, '^ Madam, 
 I seldom give advice, for I never take it." Did he 
 not speak the sentiments of nine tenths of mankind? 
 It may, with truth, be affirmed that few people ask 
 advice till they have made up their own minds on a 
 subject, they ask for confirmation, not contradiction. 
 
 Mr. Legh easily persuaded himself he had ably
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. ]6l 
 
 combatted all objections against the visit to Stoke 
 Park, that had been brought forward by Mrs. Graham, 
 and therefore rode home at a brisk pace, feeling, or 
 fancying, he had brought her over to his opinion ; 
 and after the first mile, having settled this question, he 
 let his thoughts turn to other subjects ; planned answers 
 to his letters of business, and was at his own door 
 before he was aware of it. 
 
 He spent, as usual, the rest of his morning in his 
 office with his clerks. But when he joined his daughter 
 at dinner, he seemed so cheerful, rubbed his hands, 
 and occasionally chuckled with glee, that she could not 
 help saying, 
 
 ^< You must have had something particularly plea- 
 sant this morning, dear papa, I am delighted to see 
 you so happy ! " 
 
 *< Thank you, Emma, I have had a very pleasant 
 ride to FuUerton, and found our good friend, Mrs. 
 Graham, and her daughter, quite well." 
 
 "I am doubly glad," replied Emma, "if what 
 pleases you is also a source of pleasure or satisfaction 
 to them." 
 
 But at this moment a thought darted across her
 
 l6Q. COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 mind, and she checked the idea, for well as she loved 
 Mrs. Graham, still Emma wished for no step-mother, 
 particularly when she was just beginning to feel a little 
 of the independence of being at the head of an esta- 
 blishment; she sat therefore silent, and subdued her 
 impatience; feeling a little afraid to hear the tidings 
 she a few minutes before was so impatient to learn ; 
 and when the servant carried out the last tray, her 
 heart beat so violently that she changed countenance ; 
 her father observed it, and said, 
 
 **What is the matter, Emma, I hope you are not 
 ill, for I have really, as I trust, a most agreeable piece 
 of news for you : Lord Tintern has invited you to 
 Stoke Park, to partake of the intended Easter diver- 
 sions there, of which you have heard so much." 
 
 Emma grew breathless ; but her father sipped his 
 first glass of wine, before he concluded his sentence, 
 by saying, 
 
 *' I have been to consult Mrs. Graham, and as she 
 does not disapprove entirely of the thing, I shall, I 
 think, consent." 
 
 Emma's revulsion of joy could only be expressed 
 by her jumping up from table — throwing her arms
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 163 
 
 round her father's neck— kissing his cheek— saying, 
 
 " Dear ! dear ! good papa !" 
 
 *' I expect," replied he '* a dear, good, obedient 
 daughter : I have some hints and advice to give before 
 you go, but perhaps I shall put them on paper, in the 
 form of memoranda, that you may have them to 
 refer to/' 
 
 Emma promised implicit obedience to any com- 
 mands he should give her, had a thousand questions to 
 ask, which her father could not answer, but when she 
 left the room, he put a twenty pound note into her 
 hand, for any equipment she might want. 
 
 Money makes fingers move, as well as horses, 
 and the most expert milliner and dress-maker in Read- 
 ing promised Miss Legh all she wished in the shortest 
 time, — the newest fashions, and the best materials. 
 How the poor girl slept on these things, or what her 
 dreams were, we leave to young ladies in similar cir- 
 cumstances — preparing for their debut, to determine.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 It is really quite woiideiful how much preparation and 
 how much trouble must be taken to get up a little play. 
 But then this depends on how it is to be done. As a 
 family affair, and an impromptu, it is easily managed. 
 Private theatricals have been admirably managed, and 
 excellently performed. No one likes to have a failure; 
 therefore this was intended by its projectress to be su- 
 per-excellent. Stanfield, and an amateur artist, directed 
 and executed the scenery, which had been sometime pre- 
 paring and was nearly completed : two days more were 
 to pass over, and then the actors were to assemble, have 
 one undress rehearsal, one dress performance, before the
 
 COIN TRY HOUSES. l6-3 
 
 tenants and the seiTants of the establishment ; and then 
 the neighbouring gentry were to have the exhibition in 
 its most perfect and finished state. 
 
 As Lady Tintern was inspecting a material point 
 of effect to be produced by a back scene, Mrs. De Ca- 
 meron was announced, and if Lady Tintern had not 
 been a thorough woman of the world, with her feelings 
 under perfect command, she must have shewn that she 
 disliked this unexpected arrival. But ]Mrs. De Cameron 
 had much too good an opinion of herself, and her ta- 
 lents, and her usefulness, on every occasion, to doubt 
 that she must be acceptable wherever she chose to be- 
 stow herself. There are people, who, with some de- 
 gree of talent, unite so much amour pvupre as almost 
 to render their talents oppressive. 
 
 !Mrs. De Cameron, it is true, was often useful in a 
 large party and a country house— she liked only to talk 
 to men — those who were not young : and those who 
 had pretentions liked to converse with her — she met 
 them on their own ground — she had travelled a good 
 deal — indeed had been in places and scenes where few 
 women venture to go — she knew the value of this — she 
 was the Mrs. De Cameron who had been farther into
 
 166 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 the interior of India than any English woman— had 
 been shipwrecked on an unhabited island — but she was 
 alive to tell the tale. She had besides a smattering 
 of science, sufficient to talk of Botany, Chemistry, and 
 Geology — knew a few terms in each — and always asked 
 questions for information^ which flattered those who 
 knew more, and was most scrupulously careful never 
 to commit herself. She generally found it answer best 
 to devote her attention to some distinguished savant or 
 would be savant — who wanted a listener, and on the 
 authority of such people, being pronounced a very 
 clever woman, she lived on that reputation. She avoided 
 women's society as much as possible, afl"ected to de- 
 spise her own sex, and when she did mix in general 
 society, usually talked to the least informed — took a 
 decided and dictatorial tone with — Perhaps you do not 
 know this ! or have never seen that ! Well then, I 
 have, and can tell you. Of course the women of her 
 own standing hated her — the younger ones laughed at 
 her — the young men either joined in the ridicule, or 
 fled from her as they would have done from a scorpion. 
 She had thrust herself into these theatricals against 
 Lady Tintern's wishes, by ofiiering to take any part,
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 16? 
 
 and in return that of Marottey a fille de chambre had 
 been allotted to her — this she very much disliked, wanted 
 to be one of les precieuses ridicules, though rather too 
 old, and much too large for so young a character. But 
 il was principally to get her character changed, that she 
 had made her premature appearance at Stoke Park. 
 
 When she entered, she exclaimed, " My dear Ladv 
 Tintern, are you not astonished to see me here ? I fear 
 you will hate me for coming upon you so soon, but 
 1 have been in Staffordshire, and Lady Willingham 
 offered me a place in her carriage, and to come round, 
 and drop me here, if I could set out three days sooner 
 than I proposed. Your kind heart will forgive me, I 
 know, for you are well aware how important to my 
 small purse it is to be saved an expensive journey, and 
 how much more delightful to me to travel with all Lady 
 Willingham's luxuries, than per mail; it was really 
 irresistible ! so I throw myself on your mercy — now do 
 as you please with me — make me scene-painter, or any 
 thing you please, you know what I can do." 
 
 Lady Tintern made up her countenance to a wel- 
 come as well as she could, but her visitor had carried 
 one point in getting there, and she trusted firmly to her
 
 168 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 own address, in improving the opportunity she had 
 obtained. 
 
 At dinner, Lord Tintern who was more tolerant of 
 Mrs. De Cameron than his lady, because more amused 
 by her, inadvertantly said, " they were disappointed of 
 Lady Olivia Dalrymple." 
 
 ''I grieve for you with all my heart," exclaimed 
 Mrs. De Cameron, though she inwardly rejoiced, '' who 
 have you to supply her place ? I am, I hope, arrived a la 
 honne heure to do it. You know I do not care what I 
 act ; in twenty-four hours I could learn the whole play 
 by heart, indeed I almost know it now ; for, from my 
 childhood, 1 have doated on Moliere. Which part was 
 Lady Olivia to have taken ? " 
 
 "We have supplied her place," said Lady Tintern, 
 rather coldly. 
 
 '' Oh ! do tell me by whom ? " 
 
 No immediate answer was returned, and after an 
 awkward pause, in which the question was repeated, 
 Lord Tintern said, 
 
 '^ By a very pretty girl, a daughter of my agent, 
 who I dare say will do her part very creditably." 
 
 " Oh ! my dear lord, that is not a part, pardon me.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. lG9 
 
 for a simple girl, there is so much affectation, so much 
 miuanderie required, it really ought to be acted by one 
 who knows the world, and has had some experience : do 
 let me change characters with this young lady ; any 
 body can act a fille de chamhre — your friend will look 
 charmingly a la pai/sanne, " 
 
 But this arrangement was not in Lady Tintern's 
 contemplation ; she was herself to act Madelon, and 
 though hardly young enough for the character, her 
 small light figure and good complexion, made her, 
 when dressed young — look so. Nothing could make 
 Mrs. De Cameron light and airy^ she would do for 
 Marotte, and for nothing else, and if she now objected 
 to that, Lady Tintern was determined to make Made- 
 moiselle Clementine, her children's bonney do it, and 
 she did not scruple in very decided terms, to make her 
 intentions kno wn to her guest. 
 
 There was Mrs. Dangle, in the Critic, or Tilburina 
 mad in white satin, either were at her service ; but Lady 
 Tintern was not a person to be baffled, and she heart- 
 ily wished Mrs. De Cameron had travelled, per mail, or 
 in any manner, so long as she had kept away till she was 
 wanted. But she knew her party would soon be re- 
 
 VOL. I. 1
 
 170 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 inforced, for the next day Were to come Count Lally 
 Dunois, and Mr. Fitz Gibbon ; the former was to per- 
 form the part of le Marquis de Maseaille, in the play, 
 and of Dangle in the farce ; and the latter, le Visconte 
 de Jodelet in the play, and Puff in The Critic : both 
 accomplished, and practised actors, but the Count was 
 too large to personate a very young character. 
 
 Mrs. De Cameron knew the influence both of these 
 had on this occasion, and when they arrived, made her 
 court first to Dunois, and so flattered him on the score 
 of a tragedy he had been vain enough to pretend to 
 write in English, that at last he inflicted the penalty on 
 the party of hearing an act of it read. He even pro- 
 posed to translate the Critic into French for the present 
 occasion, but as Lady Tintern meant to *^ buy golden 
 opinions from all sorts of persons," one part of the 
 entertainment was to be national. 
 
 The following morning after consultations, altera- 
 tions, and altercations between Stanfield and Mr. Fitz 
 Gibbon, who had been previously consulted, and had 
 planned some of the scenery, in all of which Mrs. De Ca- 
 tmeron took a most active part, it was proposed to make 
 a little trial, just to hear how their voices sounded, and
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 171 
 
 the two gentlemen were to read the parts that were 
 not filled up. 
 
 This was exactly what Mrs. De Cameron wanted, 
 and for once she out-manoeuvred Lady Tin tern ; she 
 read the part of Cathos, and acted that of Marotte, 
 which had been allotted to her. It must be acknow- 
 ledged, that if the audience could have shut their eyes 
 to her figure, she played her part with such tact and 
 piquancy, that Lady Tintern began to tremble for 
 her little protegee. 
 
 Early on the following day, Mr. Legh presented 
 his daughter to her host and hostess. Men are always 
 " taken aback " by beauty, especially that which owes 
 much of its charm to extreme youth ; this was the case 
 with Emma Legh, and she looked even younger than 
 she was, and without being a regular beauty she might 
 have sat to any painter for Hebe. Mr. Fitz Gibbon 
 was a connoisseur in beauty, and often, by his fiat, 
 decided the estimation in which a new candidate at 
 Almack's was to be held. 
 
 Dunois was an inferior, or we should say, a less 
 fastidious, judge, but a more devoted worshipper ; his 
 admiring gaze, equally with Mr. Fitz Gibbon's scru- 
 
 I 2
 
 172 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 tinizing one, called up the purest and most lovely 
 blushes on the cheeks of a young girl, so little accus- 
 tomed to excite such attention. 
 
 Soon after Mr. Legh's departure, his daughter was 
 shewn the theatre, and requested, by Lady Tintern, to 
 take a part in their projected amusement, she wished she 
 had known this before her father went away, that she 
 might have asked his permission, but in committing her 
 to the care of Lady Tintern, he liad told her, that *' he 
 trusted she would direct his daughter," and to the latter 
 he had said " what Lady Tintern wishes, you will do." 
 Commands could not be more positive, and her obedi- 
 ence was therefore prompt : she promised to be perfect 
 in her part by the next day. 
 
 A dinner in a large establishment was very different 
 to what she was used to ; and, amongst strangers, she 
 felt more awkward than she expected. The first mouth- 
 ful of soup seemed almost to choak her : but she soon 
 saw she was chiefly an object of attention only to a 
 Frenchman, and she recovered much self-possession, 
 whilst Mr. Fitz Gibbon and Mrs. De Cameron disputed 
 on the affairs of Greece, and whether Lord Byron's 
 mterference did good or harm. After tea Lady Tintern
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 173 
 
 made her bring her work to her table, and, with the as- 
 sistance of Count Dunois, she read her part and re- 
 ceived his instructions as to acting it. 
 
 Mrs. De Cameron and Mr. Fitz Gibbon were at 
 chess, and amused themselves with this scene ; the for- 
 mer ridiculed tlie idea of such a raw girl beins: able 
 to play the part assigned her, and prognosticated a 
 failure, and the consequent discomfort of Lady Tintern 
 which she said '* would serve her right for rejecting her 
 otFer." Much as Fitz Gibbon admired the bloom and 
 natural charms of Emma, he curled his lip a little con- 
 temptuously at a want of tact, in La belle provinciale, 
 as he called her, and prophesied that Dunois' enco- 
 miums would rather overpower, than encourage her. 
 
 He was mistaken : the following day after break- 
 fast a rehearsal was proposed. Emma was perfect in 
 her part ,• she learnt it with a school girl's facility, hav- 
 ing risen early for the purpose. Fitz Gibbon then saw 
 there was capability about her, and encouraged her ; but 
 the Count's flattery and applause so distressed her, 
 added to the exertion, that at the conclusion she burst 
 into tears, and Lady Tintern reproached herself, and 
 was provoked whh the others, for expecting too much
 
 J74 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 from one so young, and unpractised ; but those used 
 to girls of the world can hardly judge of those bred 
 in retirement. She took Emma to her dressing- 
 room, and, whilst she was composing her spirits, 
 Mrs . De Cameron exclaimed to the Count and Fitz- 
 Gibbon, 
 
 *'That little rustic will spoil all ! how could Lady 
 Tintern be so absurd as to think a raw school-girl 
 could act that difficult part ? But I suppose there is 
 some good and substantial reason, for pleasing her 
 father, and tve are to be sacrificed to it !" 
 
 '* There is a great deal about that girl, too," said 
 Fitz-Gibbon, '' she might be made very produceable, if 
 I had her under my tuition, for six months, 1 would 
 bring her out at Almack's, to your astonishment." 
 
 " Oh ! " replied Mrs. De Cameron, " we all know 
 your talent in polishing up young ladies ! but you will 
 not have time here for that." 
 
 '' There is something of Miss O'Neil in her tone 
 of voice," rejoined he, " and she modulates it well ; 
 but she is a novice, and so timid, it is your exaggerated 
 admiration, Dunois, that does the mischief, leave her 
 to herself."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 175 
 
 *^ Or to you/* said Mrs. De Cameron, who comfort- 
 ed herself with, *' they must have me at last." 
 
 Dunois defended himself from the charge of exag- 
 geration; he said, '* she really was a charming creature, 
 and her naivete quite captivating." 
 
 " Well," replied Fitz-Gibbon, " admire her as 
 much as you please, but if you wish us to make any 
 thing of her, be a little more moderate in your expres- 
 sion of that admiration ; English girls are not used to 
 see men on their knees to them, the posture frightens 
 them." 
 
 " No wonder," said Mrs. De Cameron, " for in 
 these lounging days, the utmost homage a girl now 
 receives is from a man lying at his whole length on a 
 sofa; and if he is very much in love with her, lolling 
 over its back, to talk to her ; whilst she dislocates her 
 neck by trying to look round to hear what he is saying 
 to her." 
 
 The count, not being interested in this latter 
 speech, walked off. 
 
 *' We must keep him within bounds this evening," 
 said Mr. Fitz Gibbon, '' and I will undertake to give 
 our novice a little oblique and unobtrusive instruction.
 
 176 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 and }Ou'll see, we will do something with her to-mor- 
 row ; when she has got a little used to us, she 
 won't think us such dragons, poor little soul : her 
 pronunciation is not perfect, but it is very tolerable, 
 Dunois could help us to correct a few of her inaccu- 
 racies, for her accent is pleasing, if he will not go 
 into his extacies." 
 
 " It will never, never do, take my honest word for 
 it," said Mrs. De Cameron : and as Lady Tintern did 
 not return, she determined to take a walk, and the 
 volume of Moliere with her, that she might perfect 
 herself in the part she fancied 7nust of necessity fall 
 to her share. 
 
 When the party met at dinner, she most tenderly 
 enquired after Miss Legh's health, pitied her weak 
 nerves, and would have carried the point on which 
 she had set her heart, and persuaded her to relinquish 
 the character of Cathos to her, had not Lady Tintem 
 interfered; she would not suffer Emma to be taken 
 from under her especial protection, though she too 
 had her doubts of her little friend standing the or- 
 deal, and her fears also of being obliged to comply 
 with what she disliked ; but yet she saw there was
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 177 
 
 much ability about Emma, and determined to have all 
 the credit of vvhatever success she obtained ; she only 
 M ished for a little more time to do it in ; there was 
 more in her than in Lady Olivia, but the latter was a 
 girl used to the world, the other knew but a small part 
 of it only, and that by description ; and, added to the 
 difficulties that a new and strange situation naturally 
 presents, she added an awful idea of the rank of 
 the persons with whom she was now associated. 
 The real truth, had she known it, was, that very 
 high bred and fine people are of all others the 
 easiest to live with, and those amongst whom there 
 is the least of the forms and tramels of society. 
 The half bred and the under bred are ceremonious 
 and punctilious, afraid of transgressing what thei/ con- 
 sider the rules of society ; those of the higher order 
 feel those things as much a part of themselves as the 
 nails on their fingers. It cannot be denied that per- 
 sons of rank can be, and often are, proud and insolent, 
 but it is only to those who encroach on their self-love, 
 or who attempt too closely to assimilate to a rank to 
 which they have no pretensions ; in humbler phrase, 
 I 5
 
 178 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 who tread on their heels, thwart their interests, or 
 their pleasures. 
 
 How little did honest Jacob Legh, when he ate his 
 mutton alone, and, in his first glass of port after it, 
 drink the health of Emma's noble host and hostess, 
 imagine that his little darling girl was a shuttlecock, 
 tossed backward and forward, and contended for by 
 four different parties, each of whom had an interested 
 motive for what they were doing. 
 
 Lady Tintern's was by far the purest feeling, there 
 r\ as something in Emma that won on her maternal feel- 
 ings, and she could not help thinking if one of her own 
 daughters, who were at present plain and dingy, should 
 turn out like her, how much she could make of her. 
 
 Mrs. De Cameron's contention for Emma was ge- 
 nuine selfishness ; she hoped by her superior address, 
 and knowledge of the world, to throw all Emma's 
 personal endowments into shade, and gain her own 
 point by working upon her diffident, and increasing 
 her natural, and really beautiful, timidity. Such is 
 envy and worldly mindedness ! 
 
 The Count was determined to make her au fait to 
 her part, and give her the necessary degree of self-
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 179 
 
 possession by immoderate flattery and admiration ; but 
 though his extravagant encomiums might pass current 
 with a vain and frivolous French woman, they were 
 so much beyond what a well regulated mind, and one 
 unused to such hyperbole, could appropriate, that 
 Emma's good sense led her to fancy, either that he was 
 laughing at her, or thought her a fool, and she only 
 answ^ered them by the deepest blushes. 
 
 Mr. Fitz- Gibbon knew women, at least English 
 women, better ; he saw all the drift of Mrs. De Came- 
 ron's caresses, and determined, from his aversion to 
 her, to counteract her, and from his real good opinion 
 of Miss Legh's talents, and admiration of her beauty, 
 to do all he could to make her act her part with credit. 
 If he could persuade her that she understood it, her 
 confidence would rise. 
 
 When the ladies returned from the dining room to 
 rawing room, Mrs. De Cameron said : — 
 
 " My dear Miss Legh, I must prescribe a little re- 
 pose for you ; allow me, indeed, you must, to put up 
 your feet on this sofa, and keep quiet ; without such 
 precaution, believe me, you will never go through even 
 our rehearsal to-morrow !"
 
 180 COUNTRY HOUSES, 
 
 Emma was accustomed to no such indulgence, and 
 to no such fine ladyism ; she laughed at the idea, and 
 said : — 
 
 ** A little dance with Lady Tintern's children, 
 who were in the room, would do her much more good ; 
 that really the Count and Mr. Fitz-Gibbon had both 
 been so good natured and encouraging, she had lost a 
 great many of her fears.'' 
 
 *' Oh, my dear, you say so now ; people, even 
 those as temperate as you are, always feel stronger after 
 dinner, but you do not know how you will feel when 
 you see a large audience listening to you." 
 
 " Mr. Fitz Gibbon," replied Miss Legh very mo- 
 destly *'has instructed me not to look at all at the 
 audience ; only to fancy them sofas and chairs ; and to 
 see, if 1 can, those only who are on the stage : I shall 
 try to remember his caution." 
 
 '' Mr. Fitz Gibbon is a very good instructor," said 
 Mrs. De Cameron, " but one cannot fight against na- 
 ture, and I am sure your's is a very timid one." 
 
 '* It has not been used to be reckoned so, I assure 
 you. Ma'am ; at school I was always allowed to have a 
 great deal of nerve, and none of mj masters feared my
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 181 
 
 doing my best, at our exhibitions j but I don't mean to 
 praise myself." 
 
 Mrs. De Cameron shook her head ! '' School exhi- 
 bitions, and such as is now before you, are very differ- 
 ent ; but remember if you fail before the tenants and 
 servants, 1 shall be ready to take your part at the grand 
 performance, and leave you mine." 
 
 Lady Tintern, who had gone out of the room with 
 her children, returned to hear this offer, and, provoked 
 at Mrs. De Cameron's perseverance, said, 
 
 ^' 1 have no fears whatever about Miss Legh's abili- 
 ties, or her courage, and if she, or any one else should 
 fail, I am provided with substitutes, so my dear Mrs. 
 De Cameron don't be the least uneasy ; I can even get 
 your part filled if you don't like it, and leave you only 
 the epilogue — the prologue which Mr. Fitz Gibbons 
 has written, he must speak himself, — we are rather 
 divided about the epilogue, but shall perhaps decide 
 this evening." 
 
 Mrs. De Cameron had thrown a few hasty lines to- 
 gether as epilogue, and hoped her poor production, 
 would be taken into consideration with others, she had 
 just shewn the outline to Dr. Duten's, and it had his
 
 182 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 approbation. She thought it ought to be spoken in 
 the character of the comic muse who, encouraging the 
 Stoke Park theatricals, was to be astounded by the 
 ghost of Sir Christopher Hatton demanding what they 
 all meant in profaning, by such trash, the boards where 
 Shakspeare himself, had played his own inimitable 
 productions?" 
 
 Provoked asLady Tintern had been by Mrs. De Ca- 
 meron's attempts on Miss Legh, she could not but 
 acknowledge this was rather a happy thought; and 
 turned in her mind how she could make a compromise 
 between the epilogue and the part of Cathos — and she 
 felt at a loss as to who could speak this epilogue, cer- 
 tainly Mrs. De Cameron was not a figure for a muse !
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 An accession to the corps dramatiqae, as well as the 
 party, was expected at dinner — but came not ! Young 
 men are never to be depended on — punctuality is not 
 in their catalogue of virtues. But, as he handed round 
 the tea, the groom of the chambers said, '^ Lord John 
 Leslie and Mr. Dupr6e are arrived my Lord — they 
 are dressing, and would be down immediately." 
 
 They accounted for their non-arrival in time for 
 dinner — they had been upset, killed a post horse, and 
 almost a post boy, and gave a most ridiculous descrip- 
 tion of their disaster — just one of the sort of things 
 young men are always meeting with !
 
 184 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Mr. Dupre almost convulsed the party with laughter 
 at his description of the rage of " Mine Hostess of the 
 Crown," at their refusing to pay the exorbitant price 
 she put on her horse : he shewed his powers as a comic 
 actor to great advantage — it made a good story, though 
 the horse came to life, and the man recovered, having 
 been more frightened than hurt, and served as an 
 excellent joke, till the parties met with another ad- 
 venture of the same kind. 
 
 Lady Tintern inquired where Mr. Edward Fermor 
 was ; he had taken the part of Georgibus, and was a 
 material person. 
 
 '' He could not come with us, he was on guard, 
 said Mr. Dupree, but he will ride down to-morrow, and 
 bid us assure you and Lord Tintern he would be here 
 to breakfast." 
 
 Lord John Leslie was just returned from a tour 
 that had not only taken in part of Greece, and the 
 Islands of the Archipelago, but had extended some 
 way into Egypt. He was, therefore, a worthy member 
 of the Travellers' club, whilst Mr. Dupree, who had 
 only come lately from Paris was quite in his noviuate. 
 The latter was a young man of considerable talents, 
 and, amongst them, rather an advantageous one for
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 1 8o 
 
 mimicry ; but good sense and good feeling kept this 
 within bounds. He was better fitted to play Sir Fretful 
 Plagiary in Thii Critic than Du Croisy in the play ; 
 but he took the one with the other. 
 
 Lord John Leslie was to act La Grange, and Don 
 Whiskerandos. Talking over their respective characters, 
 a discussion arose as to how La Force, the principal 
 comic actor at Paris, would do the pretended Marquis 
 de Mascarille. This was carried almost to a dispute 
 between Count Dunois and Mrs. De Cameron, which 
 was at first aggravated by Mr. Dupre's droll remarks ; 
 but it ended amicably, and Dunois was to play it his 
 own way, subject to criticism. 
 
 Emma, with her work, listened to all the remarks 
 made on different passages, and felt in several instances 
 that some of them were delicately directed to her, she at- 
 tended and profited, and it was also contrived to give her 
 the most gratifying and flattering encouragement. She 
 had had a repetition of the private rehearsal when 
 Mrs. De Cameron was taking her sanitive walk, Fan- 
 chon read one of the parts, whilst Lady Tintern cor- 
 rected some of Emma's attitudes and actions ; and she 
 caught the manner of speaking of the Bonne, much
 
 186 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 better than Lady Tintern expected ; who began to be 
 quite delighted at producing some surprise, as well as 
 mortification, to Mrs. De Cameron. 
 
 Lord John Leslie was excessively struck with the 
 sweetness of countenance, and natural easy turn of 
 Miss Legh's manner. 
 
 In despite of every pains taken by the refiners of 
 society to substitute art for nature, and however men 
 may be allured and entangled by artifice and coquetry, 
 the human heart will still pay its unpremeditated ho- 
 mage to true, genuine nature, when it is exhibited in 
 its freshest and loveliest form, an unsophisticated young 
 girl. It has the same efi'ect on those used to the arti- 
 ficial manners of society, that the prospect of nature, 
 in her beautiful garb of spring or autumn^ has on one 
 who has been long shut up in the dense atmosphere of 
 a crowded city. And the homage is the greater, from 
 being involuntarily brought out by the mere force of 
 natural attraction. 
 
 Lord John would not have believed any one who 
 had told him, his admiration would have been excited, 
 even to its highest pitch, by a country girl lately come 
 from boarding school. Oh no, * the smell of bread
 
 cotjNtry houses. 187 
 
 and butter ' must be horrible ! he only liked the warm 
 complexion, and dark flashing eyes of the Greek wo- 
 men, or the languishing ones of Spain, all else was 
 tame and insipid. Yet he could hardly for a moment 
 take his off from Emma, though she was no regular 
 beauty, had neither a classic line of countenance, nor 
 particularly correct features, but there was a sweet, as 
 well as varied, expression in her face, and the different 
 hues of her beautifully transparent complexion, and 
 the constant changes it underwent. 
 
 How could rouge stand ag ainst the vivid bloom 
 of youth, or the most elaborate crept compare with the 
 beautiful natural ringlets which her rich brown hair 
 fell into ! Lord John was delighted to hear she vvas to 
 take a part in their theatrical performance, an d entreated 
 it might be Madelon, to whom he was to be devoted, 
 but the arrangement had ordered it otherwise. 
 
 After tea the theatre had been ordered to be par- 
 tially lighted, and without the appropriated dresses, or 
 the whole corpSj and with Lord Tintern as prompter, 
 to fill up all deficient parts ; a little rehearsal was pro- 
 posed, when the following disposition took place. 
 
 Lady Tintern played her part of Madelon, and
 
 188 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Miss Legh her's of Cathos ; Mrs. De Cameron, the ob- 
 jectionable one of Marotte ; the Count, that of Du 
 Croisy and his double, the Marquis de Mascarille ; 
 Lord John, La Grange, and his Valet le Vicomte du 
 Jodelet ; Lord Tintern read the parts of Georgibus and 
 Almanzar : every one must have read Les Frecieuses 
 Ridicules or they have read nothing. 
 
 The gentlemen played their parts like practised 
 actors, whether as La Force %\ould have done or not, 
 we leave others to determine. The little confusion that 
 took place, from the same persons playing master and 
 valet, was managed with great address, though most 
 laughable in its performance. 
 
 Lady Tintern's Madelon was perfection. We can- 
 not, with equal truth say the same of Emma's perform- 
 ance, but she soon took her tone from Lady Tintern, 
 and did much better, than (all things considered) could 
 have been expected. 
 
 The approbation she received from Mr. Fitz Gib- 
 bon, and the applause and adoration bestowed on her 
 by the Count, might have turned a stronger head than 
 her's ; but her success did not stop there. Lord John 
 Leslie was one of the young men, perhaps peculiar to
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 189 
 
 the present day, who, having imbibed a good deal of 
 tlie license of foreign manners, fancy themselves not 
 only at liberty to fall in love with any girl they meet, 
 but to do every thing in their power to gain her 
 affections, and yet have no farther object in view than 
 the amusement of the moment, regardless — wholly 
 and unfeelingly, regardless of the misery they may 
 eventually be causing. 
 
 How many, many, young women have the first, 
 the strongest, the best feelings of their hearts sacrificed 
 to the Vanity of men ! Who can restore the bloom 
 to a plum, when a cruel or careless hand has brushed 
 it off!!! 
 
 When the performance was over, and the actresses 
 were surrounded by the party, the whole praise was 
 devoted to Miss Legh ; it would have been impertinent 
 to have said more to Lady Tintern, than " I think we 
 did very well considering." Mrs. De Cameron no one 
 heeded — but she complained how little she had to do. 
 
 Mr. Fitz Gibbons's praise of Emma's performance 
 was mixed — but very gently mixed — with criticism, but 
 so judicious, and so very well seasoned with encourage- 
 ment, she could not help feeling gratetul for the appro-
 
 190 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 bation, and anxious to be more deserving of it. He 
 seemed so like a friend — and he was not a young 
 man. She was too inexperienced to know that a man 
 of the world never considers himself oldy or too old to 
 be a lover — he knows how to make himself up — he 
 may be called '^ an old donkey/' by the boys in the 
 guards, but he has his experience, and his knowledge 
 of the world — and as '' Each thinks his little set, man- 
 kind " this gives him great advantages. 
 
 He had, though, no intention of becoming a lover 
 of Emma's—indeed he could afford to love nothing but 
 a large fortune — and such an one had not come entirely 
 within his reach — perhaps he did not wish to sit down 
 a Benedict ; even with a place, a park, and a wife — 
 he bad a moderate independent fortune, enough for a 
 good lodging in town, a couple of hacks for riding, 
 a curricle, or a cabriolet, as might be the reigning fash- 
 ion — he belonged to the best clubs, and, for the rest, he 
 ** lived about," was asked to shooting parties — ran 
 down to Newmarket when any particuiar match was to be 
 won — he had long given up Melton — " he was " he said, 
 with a shrug, '^ too poor, " and those to whom he said it 
 were wont to add, '' and too old also," — but he was al-
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. \Q\ 
 
 ways acceptable in a country house, either with, or with- 
 out a large party — he was full of anecdote, trifling or lite- 
 rary; played a little on the violin — was some judge of 
 pictures, and a good one of prints. He well knew 
 how to make the most of himself, and increase the 
 favour of his visit wherever he chose to bestow it, by 
 always having various engagements to choose out of — 
 besides being a good shot, he played well at billiards, 
 chess, and whist, and was, in summer, a most deter- 
 mined and scientific fisherman — and adding to all these 
 conventual qualifications, had popular and agreeable 
 niannersj and he every where made himself welcome — 
 he also possessed a good dash of a sort of sarcastic wit, 
 which made him a little feared, sufficiently so not to be 
 considered always a convenient person, that might be 
 treated haut en bas. 
 
 It was that species which a century ago carried a 
 man into the first society, but wit has died with the 
 Horace Walpole race, perhaps his might ; as it was 
 employed, be better termed a taste for the ridiculous, 
 and an aptitude to turn what he did not like into the 
 laughable ; it was very useful to him in keeping people 
 in a little awe of him, and it also gave him the privilege
 
 192 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 of saying rather bitter, and sometimes rather imperti- 
 nent, things with impunity ; nobody minded him because 
 nobody liked to provoke his resentment by ^^ taking 
 up" his sallies. There was a suspicion entertained 
 that he could caricature with his pencil as well as with 
 his pen, but, if it was so, he had the good sense and 
 tact to keep the talent either so concealed, or so con- 
 trolled, he never gave offence by its exercise. 
 
 He talked much of this lord or that distinguished 
 character as his particular friend. It may be ques- 
 tioned if there was one amongst the catalogue that 
 really deserved that name. 
 
 Society, especially the higher grades of it, is main- 
 tained by the compact of mutual convenience, its 
 liasons are slender, brittle links, but they serve their 
 purpose — mutual convenience, and amusement, and 
 even when the latter ceases to be afforded, the link 
 may still continue, sometimes from habit, sometimes 
 from fear ; those who live much together in artificial 
 life, however well the mask they wear may lit, it has 
 often some crevice which betrays the real countenance ; 
 and those who live in the same set must of necessity 
 be linked together by a little free-masonry.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 193 
 
 However the attentions and the encomiums of Mr. 
 Fitz-Gibbon might have affected Emma's mind, had 
 they stood alone, they were greatly overpowered by 
 Diinois, his looks, his words, his actions, were devo- 
 tion! adoration! but he was a fat, hea\7-looking 
 man, certainly not under forty, and in figure he looked 
 older. 
 
 jNIiss Legh could only blush and disclaim all his 
 fine speeches, they were fulsome, cloying, even to one 
 so young and uninitiated. She knew she was not an 
 angel, though her glass must have always reflected 
 something very gratifying. 
 
 But she stood in a much more dangerous position 
 with Lord John Leslie ; he was a young, and much 
 more captivating man — a good deal of the lady-killer 
 about him. He saw what both Fitz-Gibbon and 
 Dunois were about, and, besides the gratification of 
 gaining the heart of a lovely, young, and untutored girl, 
 untaught by any scheming mother, or guarded by a 
 father, or a bi other, there was great pleas ire in floor- 
 ing, as he called it, those two old boys — what preten- 
 sions had they to monopolize the prettiest and most 
 attractive of the party ? he should like to make her in 
 
 VOL. I. K
 
 194 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 love with himself, if it was only to give these old fellows 
 a lesson not to attempt monopoly again. 
 
 He had, at first hearing that Lady Olivia Dalrymple 
 had withdrawn, determined to cecede also — there would 
 be no one worth acting with. Lady Olivia was an 
 only child, and would have a large fortune ; she was 
 therefore a good speculation for many of the young men 
 about town, only her confounded father was a dragon- 
 guarding most watchfully his Hesperides. 
 
 So, having put off other engagements for these thea- 
 tricals, he thought he might as well go down to Stoke 
 Park, if his sejour turned out a bore, he could run 
 down to Newmarket for the Spring meeting, but find- 
 ing such game there, he determined to pursue it as 
 long as it amused him. 
 
 But ^e made his attacks on Emma in a very different 
 way ; he aimed, it is true, at the citadel, but he deter- 
 Uiined to take it by sap and mine. He, of all the men 
 there, said nothing at first beyond what his part dictated ; 
 but he looked unutterable things, and the very marked 
 way in which he desired to be introduced to Miss Legh, 
 made Lord Tintern imagine he was particularly struck 
 with her, and knowing him to be on the fortune-hunt-
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 195 
 
 ing list, thought a rich attorney's daughter might suit 
 liim, as such matches had done others of his rank ; at 
 least Lord Tintern left the thing to take its chance. 
 
 He had a regard for oNIr. Legh as a steady, clever 
 man, of more integrity than was usually found in persons 
 of his profession; he knew he was also ambitious and 
 rich. Lord Tintern was much interested for Emma — 
 there was something peculiarly engaging in her ; perhaps 
 he did not reason on the subject as we have done, but 
 he felt there w as nothing wrong or ridiculous in it, and 
 he was, on all occasions, a diplomatist who saw early 
 into probabilities and possibilities. 
 
 K ^
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 Pope says that 'Mittle hearts will flutter at a beau/'J 
 What must the fluttering be of one so new to the world, 
 so unsuspicious of its treacherous ways, as Emma Legh ? 
 Those who may be disposed to doubt the ignorance 
 and simplicity of mind in a young girl who had been 
 •at one of the fashionable fiiiishing schools in London, 
 where nothing is pretended to be done to regulate 
 the heart, where only shew?/ accomplishments — shewi/ 
 manners, and a good carriage, are attended to, by the 
 lady at the head of such establishments, and where the 
 inferior parts are filled up chiefly by foreign teachers. 
 What can the produce of such instructions be but
 
 COUNTHY IIOUSLS. 197 
 
 artifice — the rudiments of intrigue are often pro- 
 duced — by the loan of books calculated to weaken 
 and corrupt the mind — with the addition of unprin- 
 cipled and easily bribed dombstics, ready to forward 
 this latter part of the education to the best of their 
 power. " What !" will they exclaim, ^* could save Emma 
 from this contagion?" Nothing, if she had staid there 
 till she was seventeen ; but, by good fortune, her father 
 was a little disgusted with some of the items in Madame 
 Delavaux's bill — such as hire and tax of a carriage, for 
 the young ladies to practice getting in and out, and a 
 master to instruct them in that necessary accomplish- 
 ment ; to Sergeant , of the 3rd Guards, for drilling 
 
 three times a week ; and several other little et ceteras 
 that induced a plain, straight-forward man, like Mr. 
 Legh, to fear that those sort of places, if they had 
 some good, had also much bad in them. 
 
 Emma, therefore, luckily for herself, left this refined 
 and distinguished establishment when she was little 
 more than fourteen, and, being then small of her age, 
 she looked younger, and, therefore, was not admitted 
 into the society of the higher classes, who treated the 
 girls of her age even lower than they deserved, lest they
 
 198 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 should intrude on their plans and habits, and discover 
 their secret schemes. Perhaps it was fortunate for her, 
 also, that she was not popular amongst the elder girls, 
 most of whom were daughters of rich mercantile 
 persons. 
 
 Country gentlemen in these days cannot afford to 
 pay three hundred pounds per annum for the education 
 of each daughter, and in the large establishments of 
 the nobility, and higher class of gentry, it is, happily, 
 the fashion to make the nursery and the school-room 
 a material part of the domestic arrangement. 
 
 But it not unfrequently happens, that those who 
 owe their riches to accidental circumstances, not to 
 inheritance, having married when in humbler circum- 
 stances, find their wives neither qualified, nor inclined to 
 superintend the education of their daughters, and, fan- 
 cying that what is expensive must be perfect, place 
 their girls in these seminaries. 
 
 Amongst the girls at Madame Delavaux's there was 
 only one with whom Emma formed any intimacy, and 
 that arose from their being each deprived of a mother's 
 care, and each rather despised by the other girls, be- 
 cause when questioned, (as was usual on first coming
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 199 
 
 into the society) as to the iiumher of servants their 
 respective fathers kept, and the size of his house, &c., 
 their inferiority was stamped. 
 
 We have been assured by a daughter of one of the 
 first commoners in the kingdom, whose large mansion 
 is distinguished for its elegance and hospitality, that 
 being questioned at one of these seminaries, by her 
 school-fellows of how many staircases there were at 
 jj##*# ? answered thirteen, and for ever afterwards 
 she was called Miss Staircase, and when called on to 
 name the number of her father's servants, having re- 
 course to her fingers, to reckon them by their employ- 
 ments, enumerated a brewer, a very necessary person in 
 a large country establishment ; whenever she returned 
 to school after the holidays, the first question asked her 
 was, How does the brewer do ? — and this is fashionable 
 and refined education !!! 
 
 The variety of new feelings that crowded on Emma's 
 mind, when she shut her door at night, induced her 
 to throw herself into a chair, to think over them. Some 
 little feeling of vanity we may allow, at finding herself 
 such an object of attention ; we cannot blame her if 
 she substituted the word admiration, for such it decid-
 
 SCO COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 ly was. But this feeling was fully redeemed by the 
 vexation and perplexity it gave her. 
 
 *' What !" said she to herself *' am I to do ? these men 
 are all sirangers to me, and yet they are ready to quar- 
 rel for my notice ; two of them are old men, what can 
 they mean? and Lord John Leslie is so much above 
 me in rank he can only be laughing at me : how can I 
 act ? what can I do ? would I had a mother or an el- 
 der sister ! Alas I am alone ! 1 have no opportunity to 
 ask Lady Tintern, and in;leed she is so much my 
 superior in every respect, I am afraid she would laugh 
 at me; I cannot write to Mrs. Graham, for she pro- 
 fesses not to understand the \^ ays of the world as it now 
 is. If I were with Sophy, 1 could ask her advice, but 
 I cannot describe my situation so that she would under- 
 stand it, there is something about it ihat I cannot write. 
 I could not tell her, even if I could remember them, 
 all the silly things that are said to me, she would think 
 me so very vain and foolish ; and I could not, if I would, 
 describe the manner in which they are said, which makes 
 the material part of the impression. Oh dear! oh dear! 
 I wish I had not come here ! 1 am sure there is more 
 pain than pleasure to be found amongst these fine
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 201 
 
 folks — if Mrs. De Cameron was a kind, friendly sort of 
 person, I might apply to her — but some how or other, 
 I am sure I don't know why — I feel she hates me — I 
 believe I know all the instructions my dear father gave 
 me, but I will read them over again. Why ! why ! was 
 he so kind to let me come here ? or, why did he not 
 come here also to take care of his poor child?" 
 
 A flood of tears followed this soliloquy, they always 
 bring relief in vexation, as in sorrow, and looking for 
 the key of her work-box did her good also ; she began, 
 before she had found this precious paper, to fancy that 
 she was a little tired and nervous with all the exertions 
 of the day, and therefore disposed to see all en noir. 
 The paper found, she kissed it, and felt it had some 
 power of protection. We must edify our readers by 
 transcribing its contents. 
 
 Mem., No. 1. — To attend in every thing to Lord 
 and Lady Tinlern's wishes, particularly to those of the 
 latter. 
 
 Mem. 2. — If you want advice, and cannot get it 
 from them, apply to the govemess. 
 
 "Alas!" exclaimed Emma, as she read this, "the 
 governess talks nothing bat German, and understands 
 K 5
 
 -02 COUNTRY liOlSE-;. 
 
 SO little of French, she cannot comprehend what I say 
 to her." 
 
 Mem. 3. — Never to omit an early walk before 
 breakfast if possible, but not to go rambling by your- 
 self : join either the governess, or even the nurses and 
 children for protection. 
 
 This injunction Emma had strictly followed, and 
 had enjoyed the fresh air, and amused herself with the 
 children. 
 
 Mem. 4. — To let me know if you want any thing, 
 are ill, or not happy, though the latter 1 think impossible. 
 
 *' My dear, dear, father ! mentally said Emma, how 
 little do you, in the innocence and affection of your 
 heart, guess what your poor girl feels, and how possible 
 It IS to be miserable, surrounded by all that ought to 
 make me happy !" 
 
 Mem. 5.— Write to me often. 
 
 *^ This I can do, thouj^h 1 caimot comply with the 
 injunction before it," 
 
 Writing to her fathei, and its difhculties occupied 
 her mind \ and after a longer period of watchfulness 
 than belongs to youth and health, she fell asleep in the 
 midst of composing this letter.
 
 rOUNTUY HOUSES. COS 
 
 She rose early and refreshed, and before her little 
 friends appeared on the lawn opposite her windows, 
 which was to be the signal for joining them, she had 
 written the following letter : 
 
 Stoke Park, April, 
 Dearest Papa, 
 
 You desire to hear that I am well 
 and happy ; the first 1 always am, thank God — and the 
 second I ought to be here^ for every body is kind to 
 me. Lord and Lady Tintern do all they can to make 
 me as happy as possible. I am to have a part in the 
 play they are going to act, it is a very short one, and 1 
 have already learnt it. I feel I ought not to believe 
 all that such very polite people say, though they tell 
 me I do it pretty well, but I hope to do it better on 
 Monday night, after the practise of yesterday. I wisfi 
 you were coming to see this play, dear papa, and yet I 
 think seeing you there would tlurry me more than stran- 
 gers. Lord Tintern said he should ask you, but 1 
 know how busy you always are, and therefore 1 will 
 
 now only tell you that 
 
 I am ever. 
 
 Your dutiful and aftectiouate daughter, 
 
 Emma Legh.
 
 €04 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Emma read this letter over twenty times — not a 
 usual thing when she was writing to her father, but then 
 her letter spoke the genuine feelings of her heart, and 
 that heart was cheerful and happy. There was some- 
 liing of mental reservation in this — a want of sincerity 
 that pressed on her conscience ; not that there was any 
 deviation from truth — every body was kind to her — she 
 ought to be happy ! but she was not — this kindness 
 was painful to her — her own feelings of inferiority 
 made it oppressive, though it was not meant to be so — 
 she hoped she should get a little used to these things, 
 and then she would feel them as she should. Not 
 merely a walk, but a little healthful, merry running and 
 scampering with the children, sent iier to the breakfast 
 table with the freshness of Hebe — but she could not 
 look one way, because she encountered Lord John with 
 his eyes tixed on her, with a son of melancholy ear- 
 nestness, and the Count on the other, trying, by every 
 possible means, to engage her attention, and acceptance 
 of tons ses petits soiris. 
 
 When they were rising from the breakfast table. Lady 
 Tmtern begged Emma would go with her to her dres- 
 sing room, as she wanted her dress, as Cathos, to be 
 titled and arranged. Mademoiselle Fanchon had not
 
 COUNTRY nouses. '205 
 
 failed in her part, the dress, under LadyTintern's direc- 
 tion, was appropriate, and it fitted most beautifully ; but 
 Emma's pretty brown hair must be crepe ; she could 
 not bear to look at herself so metamorphosed, but 
 Lady Tintern exclaimed : 
 
 ^' W ell, now I am convinced 1 am right, though 
 there has been great disputing whether your hair should, 
 or should not, remain in those pretty natural ringlets ; 
 the men are all against me, but they always fancy 
 nature is never to be counteracted ; but, for the part 
 of Cathos, you must be dressed a la mode Frarifoise, and 
 1 have no doubt when they see you, i shall have them 
 all of my opinion." 
 
 Emma coloured deeply at the idea of having been 
 a subject of conversation and dispute. 
 
 Lady Tintern saw the change of colour, and said 
 *' Don't be alarmed, my dear, any thing serves for men 
 to contradict us women, and Mrs. De Cameron is always 
 ready to argue any thing, from a head crepe to a prob- 
 lem in Euclid — but 1 have taken you under my especial 
 protection, and in virtue of that, I will not let those 
 idle men torment you — I see they annoy you, but never 
 mind, the Count is like all Frenchmen, flattery is meat,
 
 206 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 drink, and clothing to them, and they bestow it also 
 with a liberal hand — but it is only his \\ay — he means 
 only that you are young and pretty, and as such to him 
 irresistible.'' 
 
 '^ I am sure," said Emma, with a sigh, *' 1 wish he 
 had any body better to bestow his attentions on, for 
 J am very unworthy." 
 
 <' Oh, my dear, don't make a sorrow of what most 
 young women in the world of your age would think a 
 great source of amusement, quite a good joke; and 
 though 1 would not suspect him of infidelity to you, 
 yet, as the house fills, which it will begin to do to-day, 
 he will have more subjects for his flattery, and you may 
 escape what you seem to consider a persecution — 1 
 won't promise you so much for your other admirer. Lord 
 John, he is such a determined swain, he never can exist 
 without being desperately in love, or fancying himself 
 so — but you must not mind him either, for he means 
 nothing but conquest ; that is his passion. I recom- 
 mend you to make the most of Mr. Fitz Gibbon, he is 
 quite safe, and is a very improving person for a young 
 woman, he knows exactly what she ought to be — and 
 piques himself on having formed many that were not at
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 207 
 
 first promising. I don't recommend you to ihe friend- 
 ship (if she has such a sentiment in her composition,) 
 of Mrs. De Cameron, for I see you dislike her, and read 
 her character — nor shall I do so by Lady Anne Lawton, 
 who is coming to-day with her father — on the contrary, 
 I would warn you of her — she loves to amuse herself 
 at every body's expense, and treats every person, and 
 every thing, haut en bas, as made solely for her conve- 
 nience, or amusement — but she will do you one service, 
 she will keep Lord John in order, he is afraid of her." 
 
 This intelligence gave great pleasure to Emma, but 
 it was soon damped by Lady Tintern saying, in the 
 gentlest, and kindest voice — and her manner was at all 
 times particularly captivating, and towards Emma it 
 was quite affectionate, 
 
 ** By the bye, you will, I hope, forgive my offering 
 you a little counsel on the subject of dress : I perceived 
 yesterday, you had on a pink gown, with h/ue shoes, 
 gloves, and ribbons. Lady Anne is a great critic in 
 dress, and perhaps would have laughed at, what slie 
 would have called; the " bad taste " of this : — you will 
 recollect my love, if you have not shoes that match your 
 gown, always wear white, and I am afraid white gloves
 
 208 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 will alwa}'s be indispensible here. If you are not pro- 
 vided, I will send a dozen pair into your room, and I 
 do think the best thing I can do for you will be to send 
 Annette into your room, just to parade you, after you 
 have been dressed by Mary — who, though a very excel- 
 lent maid to the children, and Madame Gevois, has not 
 much notion beyond that. If you say some little civil 
 thing in French to Annette, she will lay down her life 
 for you, though she is a little odd-tempered sometimes ; 
 and let me caution you not to put your gloves on between 
 the courses, or when you are not eating ; stay till the 
 dessert is over ; and when you see me put on mine, is 
 the time for you to do so — and, my dear, don't say sir 
 to any body, we have left off being formal a long time. 
 And now I must go, for I have a thousand things to 
 arrange, and those tiresome scenes go so stiff, I am 
 afraid we shall get into some scrape with them. If 
 you have no books in your room, I will send you some 
 for your amusement, though I do not exactly know 
 your taste ; and if you see the children walking out, 
 you can join them — I would not advise you to wander 
 about the house, it is rambling, and intricate, and you 
 may lose yourself. '^
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 209 
 
 Lady Tiiitern had small fear of Emma's losing her- 
 self, but she had made her observations, and was not 
 willing that a young, inexperienced, amiable creature, 
 should throw herself in the way to become a victim to 
 Lord John's unprofitable love, and part with her heart 
 and its best affections for a shadow.
 
 CHAPTER VL 
 
 Left to herself, Emma felt the full force of Lady Tin- 
 tern's kindness, and the value of her advice, and pro- 
 tection ; and, aided by that, she now, almost thought 
 she could stand against even flattery and love ; she felt 
 some fear of this Lady Anne, but yet if she would keep 
 Lord John's eyes from her, and prevent those little soft 
 whisperings, those nothings, which he took every op- 
 portunity of pouring into her ears — she wondered why 
 he whispered what might as well be spoken aloud, and 
 were not, after all, half so flattering as what the Count 
 addressed to her. 
 
 She was not aware of the impressi<m that is, in 
 the end, made by that exclusive devotion of look, and
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 211 
 
 manner. Those who practise it with most success, 
 well know that, after all, they are not committed by it, 
 they can aver, when called to account for it, most solemn- 
 ly declare, they never, by word, or deed, went beyond the 
 common intercourse of society ; and yet they sometimes 
 occasion broken hearts, or, at the least, loss of health 
 and happiness. 
 
 Emma's first employment, when Lady Tintern left 
 her, was combing the crtpe out of her hair, and shaking 
 her tortured locks into their own natural ringlets, she said, 
 as she looked at herself in her glass, *^ Well ! nothing 
 shall ever tempt me into that frightful fashion ! I am 
 sure I look ten years older, I shall wear my hair so to 
 act, but I would not have Mrs. Graham, or my own 
 dear papa see me so studied, and tricked out, for 
 the world ; I am sure neither of them would have 
 known me." 
 
 She then occupied herself with her part, and re- 
 peated it according to Lady Tintern's hints and ob- 
 servations. Turning over some of the books Lady 
 Tintern had sent into her room, she found one which 
 interested her, and was just sitting down to its perusal, 
 when a message from Lady Tintern called her to the 
 theatre.
 
 212 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 There she found assembled Count Lally Dunois, 
 Lord John Leslie, Mr. Fitz Gibbon, Mr. Dupree, 
 and Mrs. De Cameron. Lady Tintern's back was turn- 
 ed lo the entrance ; but she heard, and knew Emma's 
 footstep, and, without turning round, said, 
 
 '^ Now, my dear Miss Legh, convince all these good 
 people that T am right, and shew how well you look 
 crepCj' but on looking round at Emma, she exclaimed, 
 *' Oh Leavens ! you have undone it all ! " 
 
 Cn which several of the men clapped, and said, 
 '' Capital." 
 
 Mrs. De Cameron, with a half malicious tone, said, 
 
 *' 1 was sure Miss Legh would have too much good 
 taste to retam what must be so disguising to her." 
 
 Lord John, who had, during this, walked round to 
 the other side of Emma, almost behind her, said, very 
 softly :— 
 
 " It would be very difficult to persuade me, that 
 any thing short of the powder and pomatum of our 
 grandmothers could make that exquisitely lovely hair 
 disguising." 
 
 But this was said almost too low for any ear but 
 that it was addressed to, to hear; if the words did
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 213 
 
 not reach Mrs. De Cameron, the manner in which thev 
 were spoken was not lost on her. 
 
 *' Pray, Miss Legh," saiJ she, ''as you value voar 
 own peace don't listen to Lord John Le-lie, no one 
 knows better than he does that the worst of poisons 
 is that which is taken in at the ear." 
 
 *'I most humbly thank you," said Lord John, mak- 
 ing Mrs. De Cameron a low bow, '' the skill you allow 
 me can do no mischief whilst j/ou act the part of Mon- 
 sieur Chabert, and follow it with the antidote, before it 
 can have touched the system." 
 
 ]SIrs. De Cameron, though highly provoked, liked 
 notliing better than bantering ; and immediatelv took this 
 opportunity of attacking ]SIr. Fitz Gibbon, who had 
 been one of those so grossly deceived, and began, with 
 '' Now Mr. Fitz Gibbon, you, who are a scientific 
 man, do tell us, was Chabert's all mere trick, did he 
 really go into so heated au oven, or swallow prussic 
 acid V 
 
 Mr. Fitz Gibbon turned a deaf ear to these ques- 
 tions, an 1 called Lady Tintenvs attention to the way 
 in which the different actors must go on and otT the 
 stage, as the space between the scenes was so narrow,
 
 214 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 two people could not easily pass ; much laughter was 
 excited by the difficulty the Count would have in the 
 last scene, when he was driven off, together with the 
 musicians. Dunois did not at all like this, and offered 
 to prove he was very little wider than Lord Tintern, 
 bets were made, but interrupted, by a rehearsal of the 
 prologue, which was written and spoken by Mr. Fitz 
 Gibbon ; it was of the usual kind in private theatres, 
 imploring indulgence for humble, and unpractised ef- 
 forts — but it concluded with a tolerable hit, that there 
 was great consolation for inefficient actors in the pre- 
 sent fashions, for, between enormous caps, hats and 
 sleeves, those only who occupied the first rows could 
 possibly obtain more than a glimpse, through a wood of 
 blond, and ribbon, flanked by a thicket of sleeves. 
 
 The composition and recital met with approbation 
 from all the party, excepting Mrs. De Cameron, who said 
 it was an old fashioned sort of prologue, such as Gold- 
 smith or Murphy wrote, a quite gone by thing, without 
 genius or originality. 
 
 These observations were a little impolitic, but vio- 
 lent spirits often over-shoot their mark — she had a 
 composition of her own to bring forward, and it would
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. '215 
 
 have been more prudent to deprecate censure, than 
 provoke it ; but the good opinion she entertained of 
 her own abiHties, sometimes tlirew her off her guard. 
 
 ** Now for the epilogue/' said Lord John. *' Du- 
 pree, you can help us there, I know you write such 
 things." 
 
 But he declared he had torn up, in despair, all his 
 attempts, he could only speak,. — not write, one. 
 
 Mrs. De Cameron caught at this opening — she had 
 made an attempt, and would fetch it. Whilst she was 
 gone, 
 
 "• I wonder " said Mr. Fitz Gibbon, '' how you. 
 Lady Tintern, can tolerate that abominable woman, I 
 am sure she would set nations together by the ears ; 
 she wants to manage every thing, and put every body 
 else aside ; do let us agree to vote her epilogue 
 infamous stuff! " 
 
 '' She ought to have fair play,'' replied Lady Tin- 
 tern, "you have had your turn, though, to own the 
 truth, I don't expect much from her performance, for 
 she is one of those people, who, from trying at every 
 thing, seldom attain to excellence in any, or I may 
 say, success."
 
 2l6 COUMIIY HOUSES. 
 
 '' That I beg leave to deny," said Lord John, " she 
 certainly does generally obtain her end, she worries 
 people into her plans." 
 
 ** That was not exactly my meaning, " said Lady 
 Tintern. '' I should have said she would be poetess, 
 painteress, actress, &c., but hush, she comes to prove 
 her pretentions to one of the characters." 
 
 She read her own performance — the verses were 
 better than was expected, but the idea of their being 
 spoken in the character of the Comic Muse, occasioned 
 much laughter ; and Mr. Fitz Gibbon asked if Mrs. 
 De Cameron meant to personate the character herself, 
 and offered to design the costume ; to that question she 
 gave a negative, and the offer was therefore useless : 
 how far the refusal was reluctant, we will not presume 
 to judge. 
 
 It was proposed that Mr. Dupree should personate 
 one — and perhaps the most engaging of the nine ladies, 
 but he declared they were old hags, and he would have 
 nothing to do with them. jSobodynow a-days thought 
 of invoking the Muses, when they took up a pen, they 
 had long been passe^ and as the epilogue must follow 
 the farce of the Critic, why should not Mr. Fitz Gibbon
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 21? 
 
 Speak that in the character of Puff the author, as he 
 had before spoken the prologue in that of manager." 
 
 This was a happy thought, and Mr. Dupree most 
 readily offered to play the ghost of Sir Christopher 
 Hatton ; and, when the party dispersed, he went to 
 search the library for some portrait of the Lord Keeper, 
 and stumbled on the lines we have already quoted, 
 which so exactly describe his dress. 
 
 At dessert this subject was resumed, and Lord Tin- 
 tern's opinion asked ; he assented to the arrangement, 
 saying, '^ By the bye, we made a curious discovery 
 when the scenes were putting up, a secret closet and 
 some bundles of love letters, of, I suppose, Queen Eli- 
 zabeth's time, were found." 
 
 '^ Excellent, " exclaimed Mr. Fitz Gibbon, *' do, 
 Tintern, let me have the first perusal, I doat on musty 
 old papers." 
 
 *' They may make your fortune, Fitz Gibbon," said 
 Lord John, ''if you can work them up into a novel, 
 Walter Scott and Lytton Bulwer may shut up shop ; 
 we shall hear nothing else but, ' Have you read 
 Fitz Gibbon's romance?' for you must not degrade 
 those good old times by the modern name of novel. 
 
 VOL. I. L
 
 218 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 You had better consult me before you begin, I can 
 help you to a character or two, of desperate lovers,, 
 and forsaken damsels/' 
 
 '* I presume," replied Mr. Fitz Gibbon, *' that you 
 lady-killers might easily make novels out of your own 
 particular adventures." 
 
 " Let me help you," said Mr. Dupree, '* I am a 
 steadier fellow than Leslie, I can give you a few hints 
 of his adventures under the banners of Cupid," and 
 with a grave bow to Emma, who sat opposite to him, 
 " don't you think 1 can. Miss Legh?" 
 
 Emma coloured, and assented, and, though she 
 hardly knew why, felt as if there was a little latent mean- 
 ing towards herself. Hitherto Mr. Dupree had not, in 
 the smallest degree, annoyed her with his admiration, or 
 attentions, as the others had done ; and she fancied he 
 heeded her not, and yet perhaps he did the most jus- 
 tice to her character, best understood it, and felt the 
 most disinterested admiration of its candour and 
 simplicity. 
 
 He was one of a large family, had sisters, one of 
 Emma's age, and perhaps as new to the world, and he 
 felt how provoked he should be with Count Dunois,
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. £l9 
 
 and Lord John Lislie, if they had assailed his sister 
 with such unmeaning attentions : he longed to be Em- 
 ma's protector, and lie ventured even to ask Lord John 
 if he thought he was acting rightly, in his unqualified 
 admiration of a young woman, who moved in a sphere 
 of life so different from his own? 
 
 '* I think nothing about the right and the wrong, in 
 those things ; I leave that to parsons by profession, and 
 parsons elect; such liaisons amuse me, and life is insup- 
 portable without amusement that has some excitement 
 attached to it. You know I cannot resist beauty, 1 
 ought rather to say loveliness, wherever I meet with it ; 
 for, by the bye, this girl has no absolute beauty, but 
 there is something fresh and genuine about her : I 
 don't know where the devil she has grown, but she is 
 interesting, from being unlike the hacknied bazaar, 
 and Almack's girls, and one of her greatest charms to 
 me is that she has no managing mother, and I might 
 add, officious brother, like Your Honour ! 1 suppose 
 you have an eye to her yourself, by the interest you take 
 in her. 1 hear her father is some pettyfogging lawyer 
 that does little jobs for Tintern, and helps him raise the 
 wind, and is a rich old dog ; but you shan't poach on 
 L 2
 
 220 COUNTRY HOUSESe 
 
 my manor, I will have her to myself whilst I stay here, 
 for old Dunois, and his galanterie is not worth think- 
 ing about; when I am gone, and she is breaking her 
 heart, pretty little dear ! at the loss of my exquisite 
 flattery and attentions, then you may step in as her 
 comforter, and if you choose, make her your wife, 
 and by and bye I will come down to your cottage 
 and shoot, and renew my flirtations with Madame 
 Dupree/* 
 
 " There is no probable, 1 might almost say pos- 
 sible, chance of your having such an opportunity, for 
 if I ever have such an article as a wifcy I shall take 
 care to keep her out of your Lordship's way, you may 
 depend on it." 
 
 The Earl of Downham, and his daughter, Lady 
 Ann Lawton had been expected to dinner, but came not, 
 as a little accident on the road had detained them. 
 
 But they arrived in the evening : Lady Anne was so 
 nervous at a horse having fallen down, and, as she fan- 
 cied, died, whilst attached to their carriage, she begged 
 to go directly to her room. Lady Tintern accompanied 
 her, but she soon recovered, and hearing who were of 
 the party, made her toilette and entered the drawing-
 
 COUiNTRY HOUSES. 221 
 
 room just as Lord Downham had prosed over the 
 history of the horse for the third time. 
 
 Those who knew Lady Anne crowded around her 
 with their enquiries and congratulations on her escape 
 from being overturned, when the wheeler fell, and for 
 a moment dragged down his companion. 
 
 ''Oh do!" she exclaimed " intreat papa, for my 
 sake, to say no more about it, it quite mak^s me sick, 
 I don't think I shall recover it this month." 
 
 Hei' month might include the space of fifteen mi- 
 nutes, and some seconds more or less, at the end of 
 which time she was laughing with Fitz, as she and 
 many others always called him, and beckoning Edward 
 Dupree said, 
 
 *' Do tell me who is that little rustic, that Lord 
 John is so devoted to ? as usual, he is playing Philander ; 
 is she one of Lady Tintern's hundred and fifty gover- 
 nesses? or one of my Lord Tintern's thousand and 
 one Scotch cousins?" 
 
 *' I am only able to give you negative information," 
 returned Mr. Dupree, '* she certainly is not a governess^ 
 and as she has not in the smallest degree a Scotch ac- 
 cent, she cannot be one of the army of Scotch cousins 
 you suspect Lord Tintern of possessing."
 
 £22 COUNTRY HOUSES, 
 
 " You are are a provoking wretch, Dupree, for you 
 never give one a straight-forward answer ; or rather you 
 never give one any real information : well, this will be 
 something to hunt out. I love a dear little mystery, 
 and Lord John's passion will afford some amusement, to 
 counteract it ; I enjoy plaguing him, et son caur tendre : 
 if I had known of his living here, I do think I should 
 have dressed up my maid, who is really a pretty ma- 
 ni^re person, and passed her off to him as some 
 emigrante, for she has lived with some oi the Jamil le 
 royale and knows a good deal about them ; I should not 
 have disliked taking in Lady Tintern, only she would 
 never have forgiven me. Do tell me what we are to 
 have here besides these plays, for they can only last a 
 few hours. Is it not horridly dull here ?" 
 
 " Whatever it may have heeUj" said Mr. Dupree, 
 /'no place can be dull where your ladyship is, your wit 
 must enliven even the cave of Triphonius." 
 
 " Provoking creature, there you are at your evasions 
 again, J am sure you were born for a lawyer, and I 
 hope you will not miss your vocation ; if you can pre- 
 vail on yourself to give a downright answer to asingle 
 question, do tell me why Lady Tintern, in her wisdom.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. ^'ZS 
 
 chose a play and a farce with so few women characters 
 in it, if she had had the School jor Scandaly or the 
 HeiresSj I would have acted Lady Teazle, or Lady 
 Emily, and you would have made a charming Joseph 
 Surface." 
 
 ''Your most obedient humble servant! No doubt you 
 would have made an incomparable Lady Teazle — that 
 would have been your vocation ; or perhaps you would 
 have preferred being a delectable Mrs. Candour." 
 
 ''Abominable creature ! Well, but my question?" 
 
 " I really cannot give you what you call a down" 
 right answer to it without offending you, and as you 
 will say libelling your sex." 
 
 " Then I must have it positively, or I will not speak 
 to you for three days." 
 
 " Perhaps then but I am ashamed." 
 
 ' Go on, I will have it." 
 
 " Perhaps then, because it is so difficult to make 
 ladies agree iu such a case, all want to play the Lady 
 Emily, or the principal part." 
 
 " You wretch ! that is a libel indeed ! but pray 
 enlighten me : have these good souls quarrelled yet ? for 
 I should dehght in working up a good, wholesome,
 
 224 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 rousing quarrel ; there is something exciting and sub- 
 lime in seeing people in a towering passion." 
 
 '^ Your only chance, Lady Anne, of a quarrel here, 
 is between Mrs. De Cameron and Fitz Gibbon, one has 
 written a prologue, and the other an epilogue ; and you 
 know there is an old proverb of what wits are to each 
 other ; but I rather think Lady Tintern will spoil your 
 sport there : by the bye. Lady Anne, you might bind 
 Mrs. De Cameron to you for life, if you would speak her 
 prologue in the character of the Comic Muse; and I 
 should be the most devoted of your servants for giving me 
 such a coadjutor, for I am destined to personate in it the 
 ghost of Sir Christopher Hatton, the builder of this 
 house." 
 
 '' Charming ! charming, I shall delight in it : do 
 you propose it to Lady Tintern, and let me take the 
 M.S. up with me to night, that I may learn it." 
 
 " Since you have made me the Stoke Park gazette 
 extraordinary," said Mr. Dupree, '' I must tell you of 
 another source of amusement : there has been a disco- 
 very of a secret closet, and love letters three centuries 
 old, found in it, and a casket and pictures, and I know 
 not what."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. C25 
 
 *' Oh, for heaven's sake, tell me who has got 
 them !" 
 
 *' Fitz Gibbon, Lord Tintern gave them to him, 
 that he might make a novel out of them." 
 
 '^ Do, thou best of men, go and ask him for them 
 that 1 may look at them." 
 
 '* That I am sorry to say is quite impossible ; he is, 
 as you see, busy, writing in a corner, beyond all noise, 
 and I know he is altering his prologue, and poets will 
 not be disturbed, and indeed I do not think he will 
 relinquish his prize for a moment, though he may 
 perhaps show you the miniatures." 
 
 ''I shall never rest till I see these letters, I do think 
 I could make a novel out of them as well, if not bet- 
 ter, than he can." 
 
 '' I have no doubt, if you chose it, you could make 
 one without any such assistance." 
 
 '' Do you really think so? 1 have had a great mind 
 to do so, and bring in all my acquaintance, and tell their 
 adventures, and all their little private histories. I am 
 
 sure it would be as good as Lady , who you 
 
 know is called ' the best lady authoress of the age.' 
 Now, for example. Lord John Leslie, and all his loves, 
 
 L 5
 
 S26 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 what a capital figure he would make in it : then Lord 
 Tintern, so wary and diplomatic, taking his tea by 
 stratagem : and I would have you too/' 
 
 " Surely not, 1 am a great deal too tame, and every 
 day person, for such a purpose." 
 
 '' Not at all, there would be Lord John, a lover 
 sighing over a sonnet made to his mistress' eyebrow; 
 and you, Mr. Propriety, giving him good advice, or 
 comforting his dulcinea when he forsakes her ; I would 
 make you a sort of Methodist parson lecturing every 
 body." 
 
 '' Then you would not draw my character from the 
 life ; I should be a creature of your fertile imagination, 
 for I am neither a parson, nor a methodist." 
 
 " Oh ! but you are on the high road to both, your 
 over-good people always end so." 
 
 ''But how do you. Lady Anne, know, that I am 
 over-good : I may be over-bad, for any proof you can 
 bring to the contrary." 
 
 '* If you are, you are a hypocrite, and that would 
 be still more interesting — but 1 see Lady Tintern is 
 preparing for our departure to bed." 
 
 Upon her approaching, and hoping Lady Anne
 
 COUNTRY H013SES. 22? 
 
 would feel no ill effects from her accident, she an- 
 swered, 
 
 ^' Oh ! I am such a poor nervous creature, I dare 
 say I shall dream all night of dying horses : there is 
 only one way to prevent it— giving me something else to 
 think of. I hear, from Dupree, you want a Comic 
 Muse, do let me act the part, and give me the epilogue 
 to learn to-night." 
 
 "I hink we have decided otherwise," replied 
 Lady Tin tern. 
 
 ^^ No ! no ! no ! I must have something to do in your 
 play — do Mrs. De Cameron, (who was coming from the 
 other end of the room, where she had been tormenting 
 Mr. Fitz Gibbon,) do let me be your Comic Muse, 
 I will do it to perfection — trust me." 
 
 And, though Lady Tintern did what she could to 
 suppress this plan, Lady Anne carried her point so far, 
 as to have the original epilogue given her to learn, and 
 then it was agreed it should, next day, when both had 
 been heard, be decided whether it should be spoken as 
 it was written, by her, or in an altered state, by Puff. 
 
 What had become, during the evening, of Emma ? 
 There had been at dinner some country neighbours. Sir
 
 228 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Isaac Hartington, his lady, and two daughters. He was 
 an old acquaintance of Lord Downham's, and had been 
 asked to meet him. He lived about ten miles from 
 Stoke Park ; the old cronies met with pleasure, and 
 talked over their youthful days, and school frolics long 
 passed ; they had been youngsters serving together in the 
 American war, and they mutually recollected anecdotes 
 of that struggle, that amused the company during din- 
 ner. But Lady Anne had no acquaintance with Sir 
 Isaac's family, she called them natives from the back 
 settlements, perfect savages, and would have ridiculed 
 them, if there had been any thing about them that could 
 be made ridiculous ; but her ingenuity could find none. 
 They were quiet people, whose dress, and manners, 
 accorded with their station ; they knew Miss Legh by 
 name, and took very kind notice of her, she hoped this 
 would keep Lord John off, but he found a place 
 behind the sofa where the MissHartingtons sat with 
 Emma, and continued to whisper, look, and sigh. 
 They were of course a good deal surprised, they just 
 knew him as a London man, who had the reputation 
 of being a great flirt, but this seemed almost beyond 
 the usual license of flirting.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. Q29 
 
 It was evident that, though Emma might be a little 
 distressed by being so pointedly followed, yet it was 
 done in such an insidious way, that the rest of the com- 
 pany might have supposed either of the other ladies 
 the object of his attentions, if they had not made pre 
 vious observations. Miss Hartingtons saw that she 
 could not help being flattered by it ; it was impossible 
 she should be otherwise by the devotion of a man of 
 his rank, and agreeable manners, especially if she was 
 ignorant of his general character. They wished they 
 could have enlightened her, but that was impossible — 
 they did the next kindest thing, they mutually deter- 
 mined not to mention to any one the observations they 
 had made — they would not mar the thing, if it was 
 serious, by raising a report, that might perhaps have 
 no foundation — nothing might be meant beyond the 
 amusement of the present hour; if she had been a 
 friend of theirs they should have trembled for her hap- 
 piness, for there is no crevice too small for love to 
 creep in at,, and the mother of mischief may be no 
 bigger than a midge's egg.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 It is not in the midst of a large party that any one 
 can analyze their own feelings, if they are so disposed, 
 and especially Emma Legh, who found herself envel- 
 oped in so many little nameless etiquettes, she was 
 called on to watch her words, and actions, on the 
 most trivial occasions, lest she should commit any 
 gaucherie. 
 
 She found the manners of the aristocratic class so 
 very different from what she expected. Lady Tintern 
 was very kind in giving her little hints, some of them 
 were of the most trivial kind, at least so thought Emma, 
 tliough by those she was living amongst, they were con- 
 sidered important. Madame Delavaux had made
 
 COUMfiY HOUSES. ^31 
 
 her young ladies bring a silver fork, and at home Em- 
 ma had continued this luxury, and had even persuaded 
 her father into the occasional use of one ; but she 
 found it so differently used and handled from what she 
 had been taught. But what surprised her most was 
 the degree of (what she thought rudeness) with which 
 fine people treated each other ; the way they lounged 
 about ; and Lady Anne Leslie astonished her by her 
 loud voice, and her boisterous laugh, and by the names 
 she called people; those she liked, man, woman, or 
 child, were the dearest ! the most interesting ! the most 
 beautiful creatures ! in the universe — and those she did 
 not like, were, without any real regard to the truth of 
 tlie matter, wretches ! horrors ! betes ! &c. ; but though 
 these were subjects of occasional reflection, they did 
 not occupy the principal share of Emma's cogitations 
 when she retired this evening, and abandoned herself 
 to reflection. 
 
 Lord John's attentions were too pointed for her to 
 conceal from herself that, even with the most humble 
 opinion of her own attractions, they were directed 
 wholly, and exclusively to her; she had avoided him as 
 much as possible, there was a sort of timid feeling,
 
 232 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 alniost amounting to fear, about her ; but in spite of 
 this, he would not be avoided. 
 
 The Miss Hartingtons, who had been so kind and 
 good natured in their notice of her, what must they 
 think ! Would they be likely to say any thing about it 
 in their neighbourhood ! they knew her father, and she 
 would not, for the world, he should hear of it ; he 
 would perhaps fetch her home ; and she was really be- 
 ginning to like the style of life she was now in ; it was, 
 to be sure, very different from what she was used to at 
 home. There days passed so quietly, and so like each 
 other, a week, nay a month, was at an end before she 
 was the least aware of it ; now a day would furnish re- 
 collection for a month ; at first she had been frightened 
 and unhappy, but now she understood things better, 
 was more used to the habits of higher society, and 
 thought she should learn a great deal that might be 
 useful to her ; in short she fancied, without being at all 
 aware of it, that she should learn in time to be a fine 
 lady, like Lady Tintern, for she was most captivating 
 and charming. 
 
 Emma did not whisper, even to her own heart, the
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 233 
 
 means by which such an enviable situation might be 
 attained; to imagine herself not unworthy of it was 
 a great step for a timid mind to take, in four or five 
 days ; neither did she venture to probe her own heart. 
 At first Lord John and his attentions, like every thing 
 else at Stoke Park, had alarmed and distressed her, but 
 now he was either altered in his manner, or she had got 
 used to it ; she no longer coloured when he came up to 
 her — she expected him to do so. In short, something 
 pleasant was creeping over her whole feeling towards 
 him ; had she been a little older, or a little more ex- 
 perienced in the ways of the world, she might in the 
 words of the song have said, 
 
 * Tell me, my heart, can this be love.' 
 
 Though, to such a question, she would fearlessly have 
 answered Xo. 
 
 Let us assure our young and inexperienced readers, 
 when they begin to like marked attentions, Cupid's bow 
 is bent, and his arrows are pointed at their hearts. We 
 do not offer this observation to the worldly and esta- 
 blishment-hunting Misses ; they have nothing natural, 
 or enuine about them, their motto is,
 
 234 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 * A little love when nursed with care. 
 Will lead a heart, and lead it far ' 
 
 Emma had that night ' pleasing dreams and slum- 
 bers light/ and when she joined the breakfast table, 
 Lady Anne for the first time noticed her, by saying, 
 without any introduction, 
 
 ^* What a nice run you have had on the lawn with 
 those dear little children, I longed to have come down 
 and joined you ; but I could not get Lizette to finish 
 my hair, I do believe she did it on purpose, for fear I 
 should derange all her handy-work ; but I should never 
 have picked up such a beautiful bloom as you have 
 done ; should I, Lord John 1" 
 
 This reference of course heightened Emma's already 
 brilliant colour, but Lord John carelessly said, 
 
 '^ Oh, Lady Anne, you are a pale beauty, you want 
 no rougCf either natural or artificial, it would spoil you, 
 Juno was painted pale." 
 
 Lady Anne put up her lip, and with a very arch 
 look, which said, even stronger than words could, 
 *' You shall smart for this, depend upon it!" but, as if 
 determined to baffle her, he took his seat at some dis- 
 tance from Emma, and, for once, seemed willingly to
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 235 
 
 leave her to Count Dunois ; he always bored her exces- 
 sively ; he stared at her, put his ugly face so close to her's 
 that she sometimes started away — he was more disagre- 
 able this morning than ever — or at least she felt him so." 
 
 It often happens that we dislike, or fancy we dis- 
 like, a thing when we have it, and regret it when it is 
 gone, especially if it administers to our vanity or our 
 self-love. Emma had as small a share of either as 
 could belong to any one of her age and pretensions. 
 And yet, much as she had thought herself worried and 
 tormented by Lord John's attentions, she was a little, 
 only a veri/ litde, she was sure it was only a very very 
 little, mortified at his desertion. 
 
 Lady Tintern had told her not to mind him, she 
 thought she had followed the advice ; and the same 
 kind friend told her that Lady Anne would keep him in 
 order, and this she found true ; she had a proof of its 
 truth before her ; therefore she was quite angry with 
 herself for not being glad she had got rid of him. 
 Yet she was not glad. Then to be sure he was an 
 agreeable man, with fascinating manners, though really 
 inordinately selfish, for he did on all occasions what 
 pleased his fancy, or whatever gratified his vanity, with-
 
 236 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 ,out the slightest consideration for the feelings of others, 
 or without any check, or restraint from principle ; but 
 he had a soft voice, and a devotion of manner she had 
 not been accustomed to ; and an apparent indifference 
 to himself, that was any thing but his real feeling. 
 Such was his carriage towards women ; with men he 
 was haughty and rude. Emma had heard of the fickle- 
 ness of men ; but this character she connected with 
 Dragoon officers with large mustaches and blue 
 jackets, '' they love, and they ride away,'* she knew it 
 was a part of their profession. 
 
 But she had not time for all these reflections during 
 breakfast, for Dunois was elaborately describing a 
 famous picture of Titian's, which he said she reminded 
 him of, and he gave a minute description of cherry 
 lips, penciled eye-brows, and all the other charms, till 
 she was quite annoyed by his hyperbole, more espe- 
 cially as she saw Lady Anne was laughing at him, and 
 trying to make Lord John do the same ; but without 
 success, for he preserved the appearance of perfect in- 
 difference, almost inattention : this Emma could not 
 understand, it was not like his usual manner, even to 
 see her annoyed, unnoticed.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 237 
 
 As they were leaving the breakfast room Lord Tin- 
 tern said : — 
 
 '* I suppose, Lady Anne, they have told you that 
 your horses arrived yesterday ; you will give your own 
 orders when you want to use them." 
 
 *' Oh, thank you, I always take care of myself; I 
 mean to ride at half past two, and I suppose I shall 
 have some equerries, does no one else ride?" 
 
 Lady Tintern said, " I cannot to day." 
 
 Lady Anne turned abruptly round to Emma, say- 
 ing, '^ you never ride, I suppose ?" 
 
 '^ I have not my pony here," was the modest reply. 
 
 " Miss Legh," said Lord Tintern, *^ is veiy humble 
 about her pony, as she calls it, for it is really one of 
 the prettiest little thorough-bred things I know, and 1 
 offered her father his own price if he would have let 
 me had it for Lady' Tintern, but nothing would tempt 
 him to part with an animal that carried his daughter 
 well, and that she was fond of. I am sorry I did not 
 think of desiring him to send it here for you. Miss 
 Legh, but if, after such a horse, you will condescend 
 to try Lady Tintern's mare, I will order it for you. 
 I know you are going to say you have no habit here,
 
 238 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 but I am sure Geraldiiie can lend you one, you are 
 nearly of a size, though she has not your height, but 
 habit petticoats, I believe, now are made six yards 
 long, let the height of the Lady be what it may." 
 
 During this time. Lady Anne and the gentlemen 
 had been disputing over a paragraph in the papers with 
 initials, as to who was meant by the scandal. 
 
 Till the hour of luncheon, Emma was occupied in 
 perfecting herself in her part of Cathos, and imme- 
 diately after it, the equestrian party set off. Lady 
 Anne had Mr. Fitz-Gibbon and Lord John on each 
 side of her, and Emma rode between Mr. Dupree and 
 a Mr. Lisbourne, a new arrived visitor ; Lord Tintern, 
 on the plea of business, excused himself from being 
 of the party, but deputed Mr. Fitz-Gibbon to be his 
 deputy as chaperon, and commended Miss Legh to his 
 particular care, as he dared not affront Lady Anne by 
 supposing she wanted protection when on her horse. 
 
 '^ Very well !" she exclaimed, /'so, if I am drowned, 
 
 or break my neck, you will none of you be in danger of 
 
 a coroner's inquest of man or woman slaughter, take 
 
 care I don't put you in jeopardy, out of revenge." 
 
 Mr. Lisbourne was to act the part of Sir Fretful
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 239 
 
 Plagiary, he was a lively, agreeable man, and, between 
 him and Mr. Dupree, Emma was not only amused, but 
 found herself with people of information ; there was 
 one drawback, it was Lord John's conduct, he came 
 not near her, but yet she saw, and felt, he was watching 
 her, if there was any difficulty to be passed. 
 
 They came to one in a rivulet, which was more 
 than usually swollen ; Lord Tintern's old groom warn- 
 ed them it might be deeper than they expected, and 
 that there were better places to pass it at. 
 
 Lady Anne was one of those obstinate, wilful per- 
 sons who always do that which they are advised not to 
 do, and was also a bold horse-woman ; so, taking up 
 the long skirt of her habit petticoat in her hand, she 
 dashed through the rivulet ; Lord John checked his 
 horse, who was attempting to follow, and turning short 
 round, took Emma's by the bridle, saying : — 
 
 " Lady Anne disdains assistance, but allow me, 
 Miss Legh, to take you to a shallower ford, where you 
 may cross without any danger to your habit. ^' 
 
 ^' I think," said Mr. Lisbourne, ^' as you had one 
 lady to take care of, Leslie, you might as well have left 
 Miss Legh to us, 1 have half a mind to challenge you 
 ofr it."
 
 240 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 '' Lady Anne disdained my assistance/' was the 
 reply, " but as I know every inch of this country from 
 hunting in it, Miss Legh will^ I am sure, forgive my 
 interference." 
 
 When the party collected on the other side of the 
 rivulet. Lady Anne's groom was wringing some of the 
 wet out of her petticoat, which, notwithstanding her 
 precaution, had not wholly escaped, she said : — 
 
 " You are entitled. Lord John, to my eternal gra- 
 titude for your care of me." 
 
 On his attempting to speak, " Oh, don't give your- 
 self the trouble of an excuse, I might have been drown- 
 ed like a puppy so long as Miss Legh or Lady Tin- 
 tern's mare, I don't pretend to guess which, had been 
 safe." 
 
 The way in which this was said was not in a 
 tone of pique, for she had rejected his assistance, but 
 there was a provoking air of tormenting him in it, and 
 perhaps of annoying Emma also, who, without any pre- 
 tensions, without ever having added the one to the 
 " thousand ladies" that ride in Hyde Park, was an ex- 
 cellent horse-woman, indeed, so good as to provoke 
 Lady Anne, that a little rustic should rival her in any 
 point.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 241 
 
 Lord John defended himself by assuring her that 
 " he knew the place she crossed at was perfectly 
 safe, only too deep for any lady's petticoat to escape 
 wetting, but, as she was obstinately bent on refusing his 
 assistance, he had ventured to offer it where he hoped 
 it would be accepted, especially as he saw neither of 
 Miss Legh's attendants seemed at all aware of the 
 depth of the water, and Lady Anne had set the ex- 
 ample of disregarding Lord Tintern's groom's advice ; 
 and, besides. Miss Legh was on a much lower horse 
 than Lady Anne's." 
 
 But she was not, or pretended not to be, appeased, 
 and according to her own maxim, that quarrelling is 
 very amusing, her's and Lord John's lasted the rest of 
 their ride, and many little hints of her's were overheard 
 by Emma, into whose mind they made so deep an im- 
 pression, that, between vexation and fatigue, she arrived 
 at home so exhausted — she went immediately to her 
 room, wrote a little note to Lady Tintern, begging her 
 kindly to excuse her at dinner, as she felt that, without 
 some rest and repose, she should be unable to perform 
 her part in the evening, when the theatre was to be 
 lighted up, and a dress rehearsal performed, not only 
 
 VOL. I. M
 
 242 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 to the tenants and servants, but to several families in 
 which there were children ; the clergyman's, who, with 
 his wife, dined tliere ; the apothecary, and the banker, 
 who was the principal shop-keeper of Reading, these 
 two last only came in the evening, but they were to be 
 gratified by occupying the front row of the sofas. 
 
 We have, as yet, said nothing of the origin of Count 
 Lally Dunois, an omission we ought to be ashamed of, 
 considering he was, at least in his own opinion, a per- 
 son of considerable importance. But we must now 
 bring him and his history a little before our readers. 
 
 He was born a short time previous to the French 
 revolution of 1789. His father, one of the ancienne 
 noblesse, was not only one of the few who rallied round 
 their monarch, but he defended him so ably in the Na- 
 tional Assembly, that he paid the price, during the 
 reign of terror, of his loyalty on the guillotine. His 
 wife, with her infant, fled to England, and was after- 
 ward dame d'honneur to the Duchesse d'Angouleme. 
 
 The count was educated at Maynooth college in 
 Ireland, and it was his mother's intention he should 
 have been an ecclesiastic, but not very much relishing 
 ^me of the restrictions connected with the profession,
 
 COUxNTRY HOUSES. 243 
 
 he deferred entering it ; the restoration of the Bourbons 
 arrived, and found him at liberty to push his fortunes in 
 the court of the restored family ; and he fondly hoped 
 diat the estates of his father, as well as his honours, 
 would be returned to him. But he was one of those 
 whose claims it was impossible for Louis XVIIl. to 
 satisfy, as one of Napoleon's generals, and one of those 
 also who had sworn allegiance to the Bourbons, was in 
 possession of his property; a place about the king's 
 person, and some money in the French funds, were 
 all that remained to him. 
 
 His mother dying from the effects of fright and agi- 
 tation, during the exile of the hundred days, the Count, 
 disgusted and disappointed, preferred moderate inde- 
 pendence in England, to the little consideration he now 
 met with at Versailles. 
 
 His education had given him a taste for literature, and 
 he fancied he understood English so perfectly as to be 
 ^able to write a tragedy in that language; he accordingly 
 composed one on the story of Guillaume Tell ; but had 
 not yet prevailed on any manager to bring it on the 
 stage : the utmost he had obtained was an audience of 
 friends, most of them foreigners, to hear him read it. 
 M 2
 
 244 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 And there was a story current about town, for the lite- 
 ral truth of uhich we do not pretend to vouch, though 
 we have it on the authority of Mr. Fitz Gibbon, who 
 professes himself to have been one of the auditors — 
 that out of sixty persons assembled on the occasion, 
 there was only one lady of eighty, whose old-fashi- 
 bned good breeding kept her there till the finale of the 
 reading, and it was conjectured, she had slept through 
 most of it, and was only roused, by her servants coming 
 in search of her, being alarmed at her staying out so 
 much beyond her usual hour. 
 
 In the course of the morning ride, the Count had 
 accidentally discovered that Lady Anne Lavvton was a 
 great heiress. He had before discovered she was um 
 peu capricieuse, mais n'importey sixteen thousand a 
 year, and a fine place must have something to weigh 
 against it. He was now a citizen of the world, and if 
 he had not much of its wealth, he had sixteen quarter- 
 ings to his arms, and one of them contained les fieur 
 de lis. He was not very young, so much the better for 
 the estate, he was less likely to squander it. He was 
 very fat, but he buttoned his coat as tight as possible, 
 and was reported by his valet to have some difficulty in
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 245 
 
 introducing himself into the other parts of his dress ; 
 he was only after all '^ a stout gentleman " he had 
 often heard Englishmen called by that name, no doubt 
 it was an honourable distinction ; in short, after taking 
 more than usual pains with his dress, destroying at least 
 two pair of cobweb stockings, and buckling his black 
 satin stock so tight as almost to produce strangulation ; 
 after surveying himself thoroughly in a large old fa- 
 shioned mirror that hung slanting from the far end oi 
 his room, he thus soliloquised before he went dowu 
 to dinner : 
 
 Fih bien, many great heiresses do much worse, par 
 di ! je suis noble, her father only a new earl of Ire- 
 land ! I have nothing to lose ; much to gain ; no rival 
 here ! unless that Mr. Dupree ; he rather what his 
 nation calls luhipper snapper, he caimot compare with 
 me, and I can fight hisn if he is troublesome — AllonSj 
 courage ! 
 
 All these operations had taken so much time, that 
 the bell which announced " dinner was served," rang 
 before he had adjusted his last shoe-string ; and his 
 thoughts being somewhat egart, in his hurry he missed 
 his way amongst the innumerable passages in which
 
 246 COUNTHY HOUSES. 
 
 the house abounded ; and if he had not luckily met a 
 house-maid who directed him, he might have wandered 
 about, and not have reached the table before the dessert. 
 The opportunity he thought his rank would give 
 him of taking Lady Anne in to dinner was gone, but 
 as he could not get next her to converse, it was a great 
 piece of good fortune that the place left for him was 
 opposite to her, he could '^ look unutterable things ;" 
 and his losing his way, and his soup, the part of his 
 dinner he valued most, so very much amused Lady 
 Anne, that he was abundantly gratified for all his 
 disasters, by her taking more notice of him than she 
 had ever done before. 
 
 She was one of those uncertain persons with whom 
 you might be a favourite in the morning, and an object 
 ef ridicule in the evening ; in their morning's ride his 
 horsemanship had made him the latter ; but he was 
 now appearing in a new character, and was charming. 
 What will not hope and champagne do ! 
 
 We will not profane the word love by so naming 
 Count Lally Dunois* new passion, it was much more 
 nearly allied to avarice. Once, and only once, during 
 dinner did he look for, and enquire after Madlle. Legh,
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 247 
 
 and when told she was fatigued with her ride, he sa- 
 crificed his old passion to his new one, by shrugging 
 up his shoulders, saying, '' Lady Anne Lawton never 
 can be tired." 
 
 During dinner, Lord Tintern, who had grown much 
 interested about Emma, asked where she was? and 
 was answered, by Lady Tintern, '* That she was a 
 little tired with her ride, and required some rest to be 
 tit for the evening performance." 
 
 ** Did the little brown mare behave well V asked 
 Lord Tintern, ^* what could tire her, for she is a great 
 rider ?" 
 
 " Oh ! exclaimed Lady Anne, she has been all 
 but drowned, for Lord John would drag her through 
 the deepest part of Longdown brook, I think you 
 call it." 
 
 ^* Indeed, Leslie, you ought to have known better," 
 said Lord Tintern, '^ for if any one is acquainted with 
 this country it should be you, who have hunted it ever 
 since you could sit a horse." 
 
 " There are various versions of the same story," 
 he replied, " you have Lady Anne's, some other time 
 you shall have mine, I never call a lady's repre se n -
 
 248 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 tation in question : I trust I am quite innocent of Miss 
 Legh's fatigue, I should be miserable if I thought [ 
 was not/' 
 
 " I believe you, from the bottom of my heart, in 
 that particular," said Lady Anne. 
 
 And even Lord John, who had that command of 
 countenance which belongs to those who live much 
 m the world, could not preserve his unmoved under 
 this speech, and the pointed tone in which it was made : 
 he coloured slightly. 
 
 Lady Tintern, with her usual tact, turned the con- 
 versation, by asking Mr. Manton some question about 
 one of his parishioners : but Lady Anne's manner 
 raised a suspicion in her mind that something more 
 than the fatigue of the ride had overcome Emma, and she 
 regretted that when she had gone into her room before 
 dinner she had been so easily satisfied by her assurance 
 that she was only a little fatigued, and should have 
 needed no rest, if it had not been for the represen- 
 tation in the evening : the moment she returned to the 
 drawing-room, she hghted her candle in order to go 
 to her protegee, and then see how the theatre looked, 
 and if there was light enough in it. Mrs. De Cameron 
 most officiously said :
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 249 
 
 " Do, Lady Tintern, let me go up with you, if you 
 are going to see Miss Legh, I am a most excellent 
 doctress, I am sure all this is too much for her, and 
 you know / can read her part to night to save her." 
 
 All these apparently kind offers Lady Tintern de- 
 cidedly refused, saying, 
 
 *^ Really Mrs. De Cameron you are making a moun- 
 tain out of nothing, I have seen Miss Legh, who is 
 only a little tired with her ride, as I often am, and in- 
 deed better horse-women ; my little mare is not so easy 
 as she appears to be ; I must go up to her, not to en- 
 quire after her health, for that I am persuaded is 
 perfect ; but I desired her not to dress, as she was not 
 coming down to dinner, but to put her costume as 
 Cathos on at once, and I am going to see if that is 
 as it should be ; but if you will be so good as to go to 
 the theatre, and see how they have managed the lamps, 
 I will join you there, before I change my dress." 
 
 This was not at all what Mrs. De Cameron intend- 
 ed, and by this arrangement she saw no chance of pre- 
 vailing on Emma to give up her part ; but there was 
 still a hope she might fail in it, on this evening's 
 exhibition ; and on her way to the theatre she said to 
 
 M 5
 
 250. COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 herself, ''what a provokhigly decided woman Lady 
 Tintern is, one may as well move a rock as turn her 
 from her purpose, but it would be delightful to out-wit 
 her at last, and oblige her to ask me to take the part." 
 
 When Lady Tintern saw Emma, she was, though 
 perfectly satisfied with her dress, struck with her 
 unusual paleness. 
 
 *' My dear little creature, " said she, '' what did 
 those wild folks do to you ? I don't think I shall ever 
 trust you with them again ; I thought Fitz Gibbon 
 would have been steady himself, and kept others so ; 
 as for Lady Anne, she is as strong as her horse, you 
 cannot do what she can, and she loves a little spiteful 
 mischief to her heart." 
 
 Emma felt the truth of this ; but answered cheer- 
 fully ''that she believed it was nothing more than not 
 having ridden for some days that had tired her." 
 
 "Well, we must repair the mischief as well as we 
 can ; you cannot go down looking as white as my hand- 
 kerchief, and though I know how inferior my rouge 
 box is to your own pretty colour, the difference will not 
 be perceived when you are surrounded by so many 
 lights, so sit down and let me touch you up."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 251 
 
 Those who have not from their infancy been told to 
 kiss mamma carefully, not to rub off her rouge ; those 
 who live in a class of life where the use of it is not 
 familiar, and who still persist in calling it painty may 
 have a faint idea of what Emma suffered whilst Lady 
 Tintern was putting it on ; she felt as if she was con- 
 verted into Jezebel herself! it seemed to her unsophis 
 ticated mind, nothing short of a crime to practise such 
 an imposition. 
 
 Minds unhacknied in deception feel the first, 
 though even a slight, deviation from rectitude, more 
 strongly, more acutely, and severely, than much more 
 serious errors, when the mind is hardened by intercourse 
 with the worldly ce n'est que le premier pas qui coute: 
 how lamentable that the first bright gloss of the mind 
 should ever be worn off by the false practices and 
 maxims of the world ! it can never be recalled, and we 
 fear it soon ceases to be regretted. 
 
 When Lady Tintern had left the room, Emma sat 
 tormenting herself that the necessity had arisen for 
 what Lady Tintern had done ; but it was amongst 
 her father's directionsthat she should, in every thing, be 
 guided by her ladyship, little did he think she would 
 paint his daughters face !
 
 252 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 She then ventured to look at herself in the glass ; 
 she had often as high a colour from exercise, but she 
 did not feel her face burn so, was it that horrid rouge, 
 or the consciousness of it ? she did not discover it was 
 both combined, but the sensation was so disagreeable, 
 it made her venture to rub some of it off, and she felt the 
 happier when she had done so, if she could have dared 
 to rub it entirely off, she would have been quite happy ; 
 but she tried, as it was, to think she was obeying her 
 father, at least.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Emma was soon summoned to the Green room, and 
 in common with actors, gentle and simple, was mclined 
 to go on the stage and peep through the curtain ; but Mr. 
 Fitz Gibbon reminded her of his caution not to look at 
 the audience ; he assured her it was not at all a formidable 
 one, old musty farmers, their wives and children, a par- 
 son, an apothecary, and the servants of the family, and 
 visitors, who were altogether nothing more than pillars 
 and posts. 
 
 Mr. Fitz Gibbon's prologue was spoken with great 
 spirit, but the principal hits of the forest of hlond caps 
 and the underwood of gauze sleeves, would have been
 
 2o4 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 entirely lost, but for two French waiting maids, who 
 indifferently represented their ladies. We do not at this 
 moment give the play bill, as those printed on pink 
 or white satin were not yet out. 
 
 The first scene between La Grange (Mr. Fitz 
 Gibbon), and Du Croisi (Lord John Leslie); and the 
 second, where they declare to old Georgibus (Count 
 Dunois), the ill usage of his niece and daughter, passed 
 quietly, only exciting the silent wonder of the auditors, 
 to most of whom it might as well have been in He- 
 brew. Mrs. De Cameron, as Marotte, had but little to 
 say ; when Lady Tintern, as Madelon, and Miss Legh, 
 as Cathos, entered, a broad faced chubby boy of five 
 years old, a farmer's son, called out " Fa-ather fa-aiher, 
 I say, be that my lady dressed up ?" 
 
 The auditors were not of a class used to restrain 
 their feelings, and having given their attention to what 
 they did not understand, indemnified themselves by 
 laughing at what they did comprehend ; the laugh was 
 catching, and ran through those who did, and those 
 who did not know the joke. 
 
 Lady Tintern w as excessively provoked, but seeing 
 her coadjutor in spite of all the rouge she had so ad-
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 255 
 
 mirably put on, change colour, she thought it pru- 
 dent to retreat, till tranquillity and decorum were 
 restored. 
 
 Whilst Emma was recovering her composure, and 
 Lady Tintern her temper, the mirth subsided, and the 
 urchin's remarks were silenced by his father, almost at 
 ihe danger of strangulation. 
 
 The rest of the play went off very fairly, the actors 
 were sensible where it failed, and prepared to correct 
 their errors at a future representation. 
 
 Lady Anne, as a muse, and the ghost of Sir Chris- 
 topher Hatton, was a joke beyond the greater part of 
 the spectators ; but Don Whiskerandos, Lord Burleigh 
 shaking his head, came within even the comprehension of 
 the provoking little urchin, whose throat escaping from 
 his father's grasp, exclaimed, *' What does that dumb 
 man mean by shaking his head, Fa-ather?" 
 
 On this occasion there were some who could not 
 please, and therefore could not be pleased ; amongst 
 these was Lady Anne ; she could not be dressed to her 
 own satisfaction, and the labours of the toilette pre- 
 vented her appearing during the performance, till she 
 came on in her character at the close of it. Mr.
 
 ^56 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Dupree, as ghost, was inimitable, but the little attention 
 she received, and the unbounded clapping bestowed on 
 Sir Christopher Hatton's ghost, made her excessively 
 angry, even though that applause was bought from the 
 vulgar, so that the moment she joined the supper party 
 she told Lady Tintern that '* really the lights and the 
 horrid smell of oil behind the scenes gave her such a 
 head-ache, and made her so ill, she would not for worlds 
 go through it again :" perhaps she expected to be a little 
 coquetted with, for she hinted " if the theatre was light- 
 ed with wax candles, it might be endurable," and she 
 almost said, she might then be induced to make 
 another trial • but Lady Tintern was heartily glad 
 the experiment had failed. 
 
 Not so Mrs. De Cameron, who tried what flattery 
 would do, and to her aid called in Count Lally, a 
 powerful assistant, especially under his present feelings : 
 heaven and earth were ransacked by him for compa- 
 risons of excellence, her ladyship was not one muse, 
 she was the nine united, Apollo and Hebe to boot ; he 
 had seen the inimitible Madlle. Mars in such a cos- 
 tume, he had forgotten the character, but the grace- 
 fulness of her actions, and the perfection of her
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 257 
 
 enunciation would bear no comparison with her lady- 
 ship's ; indeed the world had reason to regret her place 
 " in society precluded the chance of often seeing a per- 
 formance so exquisitely charmaiite. 
 
 It is wonderful, when people are out of humour, 
 especially with themselves, what egregious flattery they 
 will swallow, if it helps to restore their amour propre. 
 
 Lady Anne was conscious she had done the thing 
 badly ; in attempting perfection and novelty, she had 
 overstepped the mark, and she was half afraid had much 
 outreed the character; there was something in Dupree's 
 countenance that shewed she had, he had hardly pre- 
 served his ghostly gravity, and there was a curl on Mr. 
 Fitz Gibbon's lip, but in proportion to the keenness 
 with which she felt all this, so great was her vanity, 
 she determined eagerly to think Mrs. De Cameron 
 and Dunois the 6es^ judges, one had travelled so much, 
 was a pretty good classic, at least in her own estima- 
 tion, she had disputed on the antique with Nibby the 
 Antiquarian, and at Rome too ! and therefore must be a 
 judge whether she looked the character — what could the 
 others know about it ? Yet in spite of all this, she felt 
 her failure, and determined her nerves should prevent
 
 258 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 her doing it again, and she tried to make her inde- 
 scribable head-ache as interesting as possible; though 
 she failed even there, for no one heeded her, excepting 
 an enquiry from her father, who spoilt it, by saying, 
 
 '^ I never thought you would be able to do it, but 
 you know_, Anne, you are never to be dissuaded, you 
 must buy your experience," but to this little wound, 
 the balm of flattery was applied ! 
 
 How had poor Emma fared ? After the first discom- 
 fort, she had gone very creditably through her part, and if 
 she had reason to rejoice that Count Lally was detached 
 from her, it only left the coast clearer for Lord John, 
 and he was not backward in availing himself of it, nor 
 in observing that Lady Anne was too much occupied 
 with herself to give much attention to others. 
 
 Our readers in general must forgive us, and from 
 the younger part of them particularly we most humbly 
 solicit pardon and indulgence, if we do not relate all the 
 little tender nothings that were this evening — the short 
 part of it that included supper — poured into Emma's 
 ear, or describe the looks that accompanied them — o>* 
 the soft musical tone in which they were uttered. 
 
 We are old — the world with us is in the '^ sere and
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 9.59 
 
 yellow leaf," and we could not do justice to what is so 
 evanescent — we might as easily catch the tints of a rain- 
 bow. But fleeting and fragile as these things are, there 
 are two weak points on which they are calculated to 
 make deep impressions — the heart — and the imagi- 
 nation ! 
 
 This had been an important day in Enuna's life — 
 tlie most agitating she had ever passed ; how could she 
 help thinking over it — how little could she guess that 
 the so much dreaded part in the play was in fact the 
 least distressing — she wished she could sleep and forget 
 it all ; but if sleep comes to the weary body, it flies 
 from the weary and anxious mind, and when she laid 
 her throbbing temple and tried to shut her eyes, all 
 came at once in vision more strongly before her ; she 
 tried to forget— to forget was impossible — a vulnerable 
 part was touched, where forgetfulness does not dwell : 
 the imagination may forget, the memory may forget, 
 but the heart feels, and it vibrates even more quickly 
 at each returning recollection ; circumstances hardly 
 heeded at the time gained strength by reflection. 
 
 After hours of restlessness, nature at last gave way, 
 and Emma fell asleep, but waked in terror from her
 
 260 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 short slumber ; she dreamt she was drowning, and fan- 
 cied she felt all the agony of it ; but she thought Lord 
 John Leslie rescued her, at the hazard of his life ; but 
 when she turned round to thank him, he was metamor- 
 phosed into a Cobra di Capella flying from him, this 
 awakened her. 
 
 It may often be easy to account for dreams j they 
 are mostly made up of the transactions of the day — the 
 thoughts — the reading — or conversation with which we 
 have been occupied — and a tincture of pleasure or pain 
 are often given to them by the state of the nerves. 
 
 We are not going to investigate the "theory of 
 dreams," that has been ably done by a learned and 
 amiable prelate, but as we are taught in scripture that 
 angels watch over us, and particularly over the young 
 and innocent — may they not ? — we only ask the ques- 
 tion of those better informed than ourselves — sometimes 
 visit our slumbers when we have solemnly and humbly 
 committed ourselves to His care to whom they are 
 ministering spirits ? 
 
 If we may not in these pages be permitted to give 
 the subject so solemn a turn, we may at least be allowed 
 to say, that her guardian sylph did visit the sleeping
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. C6l 
 
 Emma, and inspire her dream. A little recovered from 
 the terror it occasioned, she began to think — had it any 
 meaning? — or what could it mean? — the more she 
 thought the more she convinced herself it could mean 
 nothing ; she had had painful and horrid dreams before, 
 especially if she had been frightened in the day. Yet 
 Eve and the serpent presented itself to her imagination ; 
 but the next moment she reproached herself with injus- 
 tice towards Lord John. He had kindly saved her 
 from a wetting, and a cold, if from no otlier danger ; 
 she could not be ungrateful for that kindness, and his 
 flattery was of so gentle and delicate a nature, that it was 
 difficult to think it was flattery, and there was nothing 
 of the serpent in it, for it was not tempting her to any 
 forbidden fruit, it merely expressed an admiration of 
 her beyond any other woman therCy and who could, 
 amongst those assembled at Stoke Park, come in com- 
 petition with her as an object of those kind attentions ? 
 there was no vanity in this, for Lady Tintern could 
 not be so talked to. Mrs. De Cameron was Lord 
 John's unutterable aversion — he always called her La 
 Precieuse Ridicule. Lady Anne he avoided — was 
 afraid of her, and yet constantly contradicting her.
 
 S62 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Emma thought she should be a better judge when 
 the house was fuller, which it would be for the play, a 
 few nights hence, and she could tell if Lord John's at- 
 tention to her was more than the common place of his 
 usual habit. 
 
 She could not very well analyze his conversation, 
 she was not yet much used to be talked to by young 
 men, especially of his grade ; she did not know how 
 far they would go, and yet mean nothing : — she was 
 determined to err on the right side, and believe toj little 
 instead of too much, and however some of his conver- 
 sation might have stolen its way to her heart, her 
 understanding reasoned against it. 
 
 She wished for her father's protection, and yet he 
 would be an awkward person in the society where she 
 was now placed, and he would not understand its ways, 
 as she was beginning to do. 
 
 She rose this morning fortified with the idea that 
 she had better, as much as possible, avoid Lord John, 
 till she was sure he had nothing of the Cobra di Capella 
 about him. 
 
 Natural good sense and good feeling will often 
 stand in the place of experience. Emma was right in
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 263 
 
 her judgment and determination, but not so equal to 
 its execution. 
 
 At breakfast the following morning, Lady Anne 
 was tolerably restored to her own good opinion ; she 
 inveighed violently against Lady Tintern's arrange- 
 ments, which she protested had occasioned her failure, 
 and she coaxed Mrs. De Cameron into good humour 
 after the injustice she had done to her Epilogue, by 
 
 the assurance, that if it had been got up at- it 
 
 would have been thought a great effort of genius. 
 
 Lady Anne was too much on the alert to-day for 
 Lord John to lay aside his caution ; he avoided a seat 
 next Miss Legh, and as she was making breakfast he 
 positively required reminding, or pretended to do so, 
 to offer her any assistance. 
 
 " What can have happened to you. Lord John ? 
 are you awake ? or have you dreamt over again your 
 part, and are afraid to approach Madlle. Cathos ?" 
 
 The mention of a dream brought Emma to her re- 
 collection, she coloured, and received the common place 
 attentions that Lord John had been called on to pay 
 her, as shyly and timidly as if the Cobra di Capella 
 had really been before her.
 
 264 COUJ^TRY HOUSES. 
 
 Nothing was ever lost on Lady Anne, who declared, 
 " there was something so extraordinary in the tea, she 
 must have some fresh made, she was afraid Miss Legh 
 was not well, really she did look pale now, and often 
 changed colour, and as for Lord John he must be 
 dreaming of some fair one he had left behind at Brigh- 
 ton, or had seen a glimpse of from an inn window, but 
 never learnt her name.'^ 
 
 Lady Tintern, who had been detained in her nursery 
 by one of her little girls being ill, now entered, and 
 instantly perceiving the drift of Lady Anne's mischiev 
 ous observations, sent to Lord Tintern for the letters 
 and papers which gave employment to all, and a new 
 turn to the conversation of the party ; and knowing 
 Emma's good nature, and extreme fondness for chil- 
 dren, asked her to go with her after breakfast and see 
 her little invalid, saying, 
 
 '^ I am sure you will be so kind as to read a little 
 story to Octavia whilst her sisters are at their lessons." 
 
 This request was most readily acceded to. Lady 
 Tintern added as he went to the nursery, ^' 1 don't offer 
 you my mare to-day, for I think she fatigues you ; but I 
 will take you a little drive with me, and get you out of
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 265 
 
 Lady Anne's way, for if she must have something to 
 torment, it shall fiot be i/0Uy my dear ! and she is, 
 besides, particularly ill-humoured to-day, from her, 
 failure last night, but you must not mind her, 1 am 
 only sorry the smallness of our present party has left 
 you so exposed ; but we shall be more at dinner to-day, 
 and her attention, I hope, will be otherwise engaged, 
 Lord John is always an object for her shafts ; but he 
 heeds them not : by the by, 1 must again caution you 
 my dear Miss Legh, not to mind him. I hope, for 
 your sake, for I see it always annoys you, that one or 
 other of the Miss Rileys, who are coming here to-day, 
 may occupy him ; but there is, I am sorry to say, a 
 fashion amongst the young men of the present day to 
 direct their attentions, not exactly where they might 
 most reasonably be expected. They fancy girls who go 
 out in town are always on the look out, though Lord 
 John is no prize for any body, for he is as poor as 
 a church mouse ; but when he is tired of making 
 unprofitable love, which is son mttier, he will, I dare 
 say, find some city heiress with money enough to 
 satisfy him — that is the plan of those younger brothers 
 now." 
 
 VOL. I. N
 
 266 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Though Lady Tintern did not feel at all certain, 
 that, notwithstanding his usual habits, Lord John might 
 really in this instance mean something; for Emma's 
 fortune was quite large enough to tempt him, and 
 had it been in possession, instead of reversion (or 
 rather dependent on her father's pleasure), it proba- 
 bly would have induced him to have serious inten- 
 tions. 
 
 His eldest brother was a person of unbounded ex- 
 pense, and his father, the Marquis of Chester, had so 
 embarrassed himself by repeatedly paying his son's 
 debts, added to some electioneering business, in which 
 he had been unsuccessful, that he was any thing but 
 rich or liberal to Lord John (his only younger son), 
 indeed his allowance to him was so small as to oblige 
 him to live a good deal abroad. 
 
 But however this might be. Lady Tintern felt it 
 prudent to represent it as she had done to Emma. 
 She was sometimes inclined to regret she had taken 
 charge of so young and engaging a person ; but 
 she found her so amiable, so natural, so genuine (for 
 there was no other word that would describe her), and 
 so capable of being made quite a " sweet creature"
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. £67 
 
 that her determination was to keep her more en- 
 tirely under her own eye and protection; it was 
 safest if nothing was meant, and she should soon 
 judge if the contrary was the case. 
 
 N 2
 
 CHAPTER IX, 
 
 As Mr. Morton, the rector of Stoke, was walking in 
 the morning after the dress rehearsal, as it was called, 
 he met Farmer Blunt, and, after talking to him on 
 parochial business, said, 
 
 '^ Well, farmer, how did you and your family like 
 the entertainment last night ? for I saw you all there." 
 
 " Why, your reverence," replied Blunt, with some 
 hesitation, " though to be sure it was very kind and 
 condescending of my lord to ask such as we, and very 
 condescending too, I must say, of my lady to let herself 
 down to play antics to please we, yet, if I must own the 
 truth, I did not much fancy it. Punch and Judy to 
 my mind is worth two of it ; one can understand Punch 
 beating his wife, and throwing his child out at window
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. ^69 
 
 to plague her, and I can laugh at those tricks the 
 clowns at the fair plays old Pantaloon ; but this was 
 running in and out, I could make nothing of it, and 
 when they got merry, and happy, and set a jigging, 
 comes an old Don, and, for no rime or reason, turns 
 them all out, and beats the fiddlers — poor stuff in 
 my mind, .sir.'* 
 
 *' But you must consider, Blunt, it was in a language 
 you could not understand, there was a part in English, 
 perhaps you liked that better." 
 
 '* Why no, sir, I could not find out the sense of 
 that, to be sure it was past my bed time, and so I might 
 be a little sleepy." 
 
 ^' That is very likely was the case," said Mr. 
 Morton, '* and listening, to people not used to it, 
 brings drowsiness." 
 
 *' With your pardon, sir, that's not always the case, 
 1 never sleeps when you preaches, more shame for me 
 if I did, when you gives 'us such good doctrine." 
 
 " I thank you for your compliment, farmer, it is 
 gratifying to me to know that my parishioners under- 
 stand me. But if you did not like the play, your 
 young people 1 suppose did ?"
 
 270 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 " Lord love you, sir, what is it that young folks like 
 now a days ? I am sure I can't find out, unless it is 
 every thing they cannot get, and nothing they can ! 
 There's Nancy, who has been doing nothing but talk 
 of this play, and thinking of it too, for this fortnight 
 past. Why, she gets up this morning as cross as two 
 sticks, would eat no breakfast, nor let me have mine in 
 comfort, because I had not put her to a French board- 
 ing school, as farmer FrankHn did his daughters, for 
 then she could have understood all the ladies and gen- 
 tlemen said ; and what if she had, I dare say it was but 
 nonsense and palaver. I am sure my children have no 
 reason to say I have not done the best I could for their 
 learning, for no sooner had I and my dame struggled 
 through our first setting off, but I got a box with a 
 hole in it for a hedication box, and every odd bit of 
 money I had I put in it, sometimes little, and some- 
 times more ; if I sold a load of wheat for more than I 
 expected, or a lot of sheep, or may be a calf, I put all 
 over and above the price I thought to get for it, into 
 this box, and a very pretty sum it turned out, I assure 
 you, sir, or I could not have put Nance for three years 
 to Mrs. PepperaFs boarding school, and then for a
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 271 
 
 year to the dress-making. But if I be not sorry for the 
 first, I am sure 1 be for the last; I don't know what 
 good it has done yet, but turn her head for the fashions, 
 and make her spend all her time over her bits of 
 clothes. 1 am sure when my dame, who has been 
 as hard-working a helpmate as a man need wish for, 
 can't see to mend and make my shirts, I shall be in a 
 pretty ragged condition for all Madam Nancy will do. 
 I caught her the othei- day over a book full of pictures 
 of fine madams with high heads, learning to dress like 
 'em, and I was going to light my pipe with it, to give 
 her a lesson, but I found it was Miss Cutout's book, 
 and I should have to pay half a crown for it ; and this 
 comes of hedication ; but this is not the worst, if 1 
 might tell my troubles to you, sir, who always so kindly 
 listen to distress ; if Nancy marries and gets a sharp 
 husband, and three or four children, that'll bring her to 
 her senses, and if she goes out as lady's maid, as she is 
 always wanting to do, by the time she has been soaked 
 to her skin, and had her inside jumbled out on a 
 dickey, as I see my lady's maid, she'll wish herself 
 back here looking after chickens and ducks at Old 
 Farm. But, sir, my \\orst sore is Thonns, who you
 
 272 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 were so very kind to, and promoted to be teacher, and 
 almost the head of your school ; to be sure he does 
 read almost as well as a parson, saving your reverence, 
 to whom I meant no offence ; and I did look, that if 
 Hopkins, who is in years like myself, dropt, he might, 
 through your favour, sir, have succeeded him both in 
 school and desk ; but, God bless your reverence, he 
 would not have it, if it was offered him. No, no ! 
 he'll have nothing but a place at court, or about some 
 public office, and he is always teasing me to ask my 
 lord. 1 tells him I might ask his lordship for an ex- 
 ciseman's place, and in time he might get to be a 
 supervisor, but that won't do for my gentleman, for such 
 he would be, he must have some'at to live in Lun- 
 non ; he helps to turn his sister's head, for he lets her 
 read some of his books, he has got one, the Family 
 Librari/, I am sure he had better read the Family 
 Bible, that will teach him to be obedient to his father 
 as Isaac was ; but would you believe it, sir, when I 
 have read my chapter, which, thank God, 1 am able to 
 do to my family every night, as well as the evening 
 prayer; we no sooner gets up from our knees, but up 
 comes my jackanapes, with, * Father, how do you prove 
 so and so?' I always answers him, the Bible^s the
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 273 
 
 word of God and His word must be true ; but I wish, 
 sir, if I might be &o bold to ask it, you would be 
 pleased to talk to him, he'd, may be, mind your autho- 
 rity more than mine, and you would find out all his 
 nonsense, for there is no end of it. He takes in a 
 book, that idle hound. Jack Clemens, goes round the 
 country with every month, they call il som'at about me- 
 chanicals ; and, would you believe it, sir, it was only last 
 week, after thumbing over this book, what does my 
 chap do, but corks up the spout of the tea kettle, I 
 thought he was mending it, and then he puts putty 
 round the lid, and sets it on the fire ; at last comes 
 such a bounce as frightens his poor mother out of her 
 life, who thought it was an earthquake, and I jumps 
 up, and thought the roof was coming down ; but it was 
 the kettle burst to pieces, and all the hot water flying 
 about, scalding a cat and two kittens who were lying 
 on the hearth, so that we were obliged to drown them, 
 and my spark only called it a sperament in hydro — , 
 something, I can't remember what, and cared no 
 more for the kettle than if it had been an old shoe ; 
 but when I stops the price of a new one out of his 
 wages, he'll sing another song." 
 
 N 5
 
 274 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 '* Perhaps," said Mr. Morton, willing to soften the 
 matter, ''your son has a turn for mechanics, and he 
 might make it advantageous to him if you chose another 
 line for him; all men are not born farmers." 
 
 *'True, sir; I fear he is one of that sort, worse 
 luck for me, who am his father ; it comes hard upon a 
 parent when his first-born will not stand in his shoes 
 when he is gone, and keep up the family. Why, sir, 
 as you may have heard. Old House Farm was rented 
 by my father, my grandfather, and his father before 
 him, for above a hundred years. It was my grandfather 
 who first began to think of setting up the family : he 
 thought, though posterity had done nothing for him, it 
 was no reason he should do nothing for posterity 1 So, 
 God rest his soul ! he scraped together, and built those 
 houses, Downs, and Hills we live in, that was the waste 
 then, free for any one to build on. My father was a 
 very frugal man, and not burthened with a large family, 
 for it pleased God to take to himself most of his children 
 in their infancy ; he built Tomkins's house, and planted 
 the orchard that now produces the best apples in Com- 
 mon-garden market; that conquest was the pride of 
 his life — Bony was never so happy when he got the
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 9,15 
 
 better of kings and emperors as my father when he 
 called that his ow7u'' 
 
 "And you, Blunt," said his rector, ''have not im- 
 poverished the family property ; I think you must have 
 doubled it." 
 
 '' Why, sir, I was lucky, and when wheat was high, 
 I made a bit something beyond my rent, and I was 
 lucky too in buying up bits of the common when it 
 was enclosed ; but then, sir, you must allow it is very 
 cutting to hear Thomas say he shall let, or may be sell, 
 it, when it is his ; but there's two words to that bargain, 
 and may be. Master Thomas, you may not have it to 
 sell ! those v.'ho would live by the plough, must handle 
 the plough, so that if Sara will mind it, and I'll keep 
 him straight from learning, I'll be bound ; why he shall 
 have it all." 
 
 *' But would that be just to your eldest son, Blunt? 
 don't let a little resentment induce you to bring a stain 
 on your own character." 
 
 " No, sir, I'd be sorry to do that, but its my own 
 winning, all but what 1 got from father, and it was won 
 with God's blessing, and the sweat of our brows, and 
 to have it all blown up in a tea kettle, is past human 
 patience."
 
 276 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 " Well but, Blunt, would it not be better, instead of 
 quarrelling with your son about his tastes, to endeavour 
 to turn them to his advantage." 
 
 '^ Lord help you, what can come of all his non- 
 sense ? No, sir, nothing but bad will come of it, he's al- 
 ways talking of one Intellect j who is 7narching about, 
 and by all I hear of this chap he is a great rascal, he is 
 just such another as Hunt, or Cobbett, and one Tom 
 Paine, who wanted, I remember to make all the world 
 as wise as himself. And Thomas says — not that I take 
 all his rum stuff for gospel — that he's told by Intellect 
 that in four or five years there'll be nothing but them rail- 
 ways, and steam-engines, no coach or horse, then to 
 be sure Intellect will march, at what my carter, who 
 has served in the Militia, calls ^' double quick time.'' 
 It's my mind, sir, though I'm no scholar, that the world 
 will soon be at an end." 
 
 "What do you judge from. Blunt? " 
 " Why, sir, if the world be'ent near at an end, I 
 think this country is." 
 
 " That is narrowing your circle a good deal, farmer, 
 for this country, great as you may think it, is a very 
 small spot in the world j but I should like to know
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 277 
 
 why you think so very badly of the state of tlie country, 
 who must have been, and are, thriving in it ? " 
 
 ** That's true, sir, but I go from this : my father, who 
 lived and died a good christian, and an honest man, 
 as I am sure your reverence will bear witness, he al- 
 ways said, no man can stand long on his head, his heels 
 must fall somewhere ; and when he used to see things 
 going, as he called it topsy-turvy, why he said the 
 country would have a rumshion to get it right again : 
 now, sir, I call things topsy turvy now, for there's my 
 Thomas, who ought to be minding the plough, is think- 
 ing of nothing but speraments, which might be very pret- 
 ty amusement for your master Edw ard ; and then there's 
 my lord, who, they say, when he goes into foreign parts, 
 stands in the place of the King, and has all the same hon- 
 ours done him ; and my lady, no doubt by the same rule, 
 is just the Queen ; and now in this here place, where 
 she is doubtless much respected, why she plays the 
 lady's maid, or what not, to please such as we 1 if her 
 ladyship had played Queen Elizabeth, or the Queeh of 
 Sheba, there would have been some sense in it, and we 
 shou'd have thought her grand, and in her proper place." 
 There was so much truth in this observation, that
 
 278 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Mr. Morton felt it dangerous ground to proceed on, 
 and therefore said, 
 
 ** Well, Blunt, there is some truth in what you say, 
 but I am rather in haste now, so when opportunity 
 offers, I will talk to your son." 
 
 *' And I must go too, sir, for if Master Intellect 
 gets into my farm-yard, I shall go to rack." 
 
 On his way home, Mr. Morton found food for re- 
 flection, in the farmer's natural good sense, and just 
 observations ; and whilst he rejoiced in the extension of 
 knowledge, as the probable, and apparent, means of 
 extending Christianity over the world, he felt sensibly 
 that '^ a little learning is a dangerous thing," and 
 that the houleversemeiit in the orders of society, from 
 the anxiety each class had to imitate the habits and 
 manners of a superior grade, was destroying the beauty 
 of the whole scale. 
 
 He resolved to address his parishioners upon the 
 subject, on the following Sunday ; as he felt fully 
 aware that Farmer Blunt's family was not the only one 
 that entertained such notions ; though perhaps they 
 were not by any other farmer, so judiciouly seen 
 through, and checked.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. ^79 
 
 Emma performed her promise to the little invalid, 
 and, after their drive, she accompanied Lady Tintern 
 into her flower garden and conservatory. They were 
 both equally fond of plants and gardening, Lady Tin- 
 tern knowing all the newest sorts and rarest specimens ; 
 Emma very skilful in the cultivation of the common 
 kinds ; each was busy, one directing her gardener in 
 the arrangement, the other trimming and tying up some 
 of her favourites, when Lord O'Donnel and his two 
 daughters, the Misses Riley, were announced, and fol- 
 lowed by a young man, whom Lord O'Donnel intro- 
 duced as Mr. Everard Price. 
 
 Strangers, and uninvited guests are not always w^el- 
 come ones, and on this occasion, especially, as Lady 
 Tintern had filled her house, to its utmost accommo- 
 dation, with her own friends, she was far from pleased 
 by this addition, and as she considered this an intruder, 
 she drew rather stiffly back at the presentation. Lord 
 O'Donnel, with his usual undaunted and good hu- 
 moured manner, said, 
 
 " I believe. Lady Tintern, I have taken a great 
 liberty in bringing my young friend, but his musical 
 talents make him so acceptable every where, I thought
 
 280 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 he might be so useful in such a party as this, that I 
 made the girls turn their abigail out of the carriage, 
 and give him her place." 
 
 Lady Tintern saw this infliction was inevitable, and 
 therefore bore it as well as she could, only saying, 
 
 *^ 1 am afraid Mr. Price (is not that his name) will 
 be very badly accommodated, for we are so full, I do 
 not think I can do more for him than get him a room 
 at a farm house." 
 
 Any where would do for Mr. Everard Price, 
 for so he wrote himself : whether *' the Reverend," 
 ought to be added, was doubtful from his dress, which 
 was a dark blue, fashionably made, surtout, a black 
 waistcoat, drab trousers, a black stock, and boots, that, 
 saving the want of spurs, might have done for a hus- 
 sar or lancer. He was never sorry to be taken for a 
 clergyman, it was a letter of credit, but there were oc- 
 casions when he was very glad to say he was not 7/et 
 ordained. He belonged in some way or other to Eton 
 College, but he never unnecessarily explained in what 
 way ; and he had hopes of preferment in the church, 
 but till this was certain, he took all the advantage pos- 
 sible of being a layman.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 281 
 
 After a few exclamations of admiration at the 
 beauty of the conservatory, and wonder at the variety 
 of spring flowers (for Easter was at its latest time this 
 year and the weather mild almost like summer), Lady 
 Tintern begged Emma to do the honours of the flower 
 garden to the Misses Riley, as she was rather tired ; and 
 she would wait for them under the south wall, if Lord 
 O'Donnel would be her companion. He was too 
 happy ! 
 
 He was one of what are called Union Lords, owing 
 his title to the support he gave to that measure, both 
 in, and out of parliament. He was of an ancient Mi- 
 lesian family, and sufficiently proud of that, and being 
 the proprietor of so many thousand acres of bog, and 
 barren land ; that of him it might be said, as of his 
 almost namesake Mac Donald, of Sky, that he would 
 be the richest man in Ireland if he could get two-pence 
 half-penny per acre for his land. But if it did not 
 yield him much profit, it afforded an admirable subject 
 of conversation, his hundreds of tenantry sounded well 
 at a dinner, though in reality they were naked and 
 starving, and the fish of his lakes were inexhaustible 
 to talk of, if they were not so easily obtained to eat.
 
 282 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 He had all the tact, as well as all the veracity j of his 
 countrymen ; he had not served government purely pro 
 amor pat rice ; he saved the ministers from the Irish 
 curse, for he never let " the grass grow in the road to 
 their houses." And, besides his title, and his seat in 
 the house of Commons, he had sundry little pickings — a 
 lord lieutenancy of a county, and a little snug sinecure 
 as collector of some duties in the port of Dublin. 
 
 But the acquisition of place, like ambition, is apt 
 to " grow on what it feeds," and he still paid court to, 
 and haunted ministers, and therefore his intimacy with 
 Lord Tintern. But he sometimes paid in kind ; he 
 had a great deal of influence in a very unruly part of 
 the north of Ireland, and he was bold and resolute in 
 carrying into execution any measures thought necessary 
 on this side the water. He lived the greatest part of 
 the year on his domain, much to the discomfort of 
 his daughters ; his only son was pushing his fortune 
 in the army, and was at this time with his regiment in 
 India. 
 
 Lord O'Donnel had come over on the meeting of 
 parliament before Christmas, and as there had not been 
 much gaiety going on in town, his daughters had occa-
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 283 
 
 sionally prevailed on him to go for a few days, either 
 to the Star aud Garter on Richmond hill, or to the 
 Sun at Salthill; and at the latter they made Mr. Everard 
 Price's acquaintance, he lived in the neighbourhood 
 of Eton, why and wherefore, he did not say, they re- 
 collected seeing him at the Opera, and with smartly 
 dressed men, and also at some second rate musical par- 
 ties, his singing was excellent, and his knowledge of 
 music great ; and, in return for assisting the Misses Riley 
 in their duets and trios, they were spoiling him with all 
 their might. 
 
 Lord O'Donnel represented him to Lady Tintern, 
 as *' a young man who had distinguished himself at 
 Eton, and had expectations {anglice) hopes of getting 
 a stall (minor of course) in some cathedral ; he had so 
 anxiously wished to be presented to a person of Lord 
 Tintem's influence, and was himself so acceptable in 
 society from his talents. Lord O'Donnel could not re- 
 sist bringing him, and again implored Lady Tintern's 
 forgiveness for having taken such an unwarrantable 
 liberty." 
 
 When a thing is past remedy, it is wisest to bear it, 
 as well as one can. Lady Tintern was not a person
 
 284 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 to turn her back on a useful guest, though he was 
 intruded on her, and Lord O'Donnel amused, and 
 was rather a favourite with, her, so she suffered herself 
 to be appeased, and determined that the Misses Riley 
 and their protege should do their part in entertaining 
 the friends she was collecting. 
 
 The party returned from their walk before Lord 
 O'Donnel had exhausted all the charming sallies with 
 which he meant to lull Lady Tintern's ear : the walkers 
 were liberal in all the epithets of lovely, beautiful, 
 enchanting, on the flower garden and shrubbery ; as 
 they passed through the conservatory, Mr. Price, who 
 was in full feather at the success of his introduc- 
 tion, said, 
 
 " What a capital room for music is this conserva- 
 tory ! do let us try La mia spada, without accompani- 
 ment." 
 
 Lady Tintern could not object, especially as she 
 wanted to be sure what the performance would be. It 
 was such as even to satisfy her, Emma was delighted, 
 and looked forward to the evening with unusual 
 pleasure. 
 
 The trio was not quite ended, when the first dinner
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 28o 
 
 bell rang^ and they immediately entered the house. 
 Lady Tintern ordered a servant to shew Mr. Price the 
 short way to the Stewart Lodge, and take his things 
 there.
 
 CHAPTER X, 
 
 The complacency with which Lady Anne had, on the 
 preceding evening, received the gross flattery of the 
 Count, had raised in him the most sanguine hopes of 
 success, and so determined was he to push his cause, 
 by evei7 effort, that he retired to his toilette earlier 
 than usual : but alas ! the best concerted plans are 
 often disturbed, if not destroyed by a trifle — in the 
 last finish to his dress a strap broke, his servant was 
 slow, as he thought, and awkward in adjusting it; so 
 much time was lost in accusation and defence, that to 
 his unutterable dismay, when he entered the drawing- 
 room, Lady Anne was actually on Lord Tintern's arm.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 287 
 
 and the unfortunate Count doomed to conduct the 
 eldest Miss Riley ; he was thrown so off his guard by 
 this second disappointment, he scarcely heeded the 
 lady committed to his charge, till, by an adroit manoeu- 
 vre, he contrived to get the next seat to Lady Anne ; I 
 can talk to her, said he to himself, for Tintern will be 
 too much taken up with his duty, as host, to attend 
 much to his fair neighbour. But Lady Anne was not 
 in the same humour as last night — she would talk to 
 Lord Tintern, and not listen to the Count ; and on the 
 other side Miss Riley was determined he should not 
 neglect her. She had been educated en pension in 
 France, spoke the language fluently, and, like most 
 English that do so, made it an excuse for saying ten 
 times as much, and fifty times as many silly things, as 
 would have done in their own language. 
 
 The French pique themselves on their language 
 being more adapted than any other for conversation, 
 it certainly abounds in small words and piquant ex- 
 pressions, suited to what is called small talk ; but if it 
 is small in matter, it is abundant in words. Of this 
 latter quality, the Count's neighbour made such full use 
 she hardly gave him time to eat, and rather tired and
 
 288 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 bored by listenings a quality his countrymen are not 
 in the habit of cultivating. He turned suddenly to 
 Lady Anne, and implored her to let Lord Tintern 
 help her to some pig. 
 
 '^ It was so susceptible f or he would not have re- 
 commended it to her ladyship." 
 
 Throwing herself back in her chair, Lady Anne 
 exclaimed, " What, under heaven, can you mean by a 
 susceptible pig ?" and bursting into a more violent lit 
 of boisterous laughter than any woman beyond the vul- 
 gar, excepting one of the highest rank and fashion, 
 had dared to indulge in, she called on the poor Count 
 for an explanation, the laugh was catching, even where 
 the joke was not heard. The Count looked as if he 
 had committed a crime, his very toupee standing up- 
 right with alarm : when the mirth had a little subsided 
 and the servants had composed the muscles of their 
 faces, he was called on to explain ; afraid at first to 
 trust himself again in English, he said he meant the 
 pig was tendre, or he believed touchy was the word. 
 
 No misnomer could have been more unfortunate 
 for himself, it admitted of such constant allusion and 
 play upon the word ; and Lady Anne was so merciless.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. '289 
 
 ill the exercise of her wit on the occasion ; that when 
 the company in the evening, as usual, divided into small 
 parties, the discomfited Count refused both whist and 
 ecarte, and took refuge in a retired corner of the room, 
 and challenged Mrs. De Cameron to a game at chess. 
 
 Lady Anne played ecarte whilst the elderlies were 
 at whist, and the men gathered round her, and betted. 
 The Misses Riley and their protege took possession of 
 the piano forte. Lady Tintern had her work-table, and 
 employed Emma to draw a pattern for her ; they had 
 not been long seated when Lord John seceded from the 
 ecart6 to the work-table, and placed himself not oppo- 
 site to Emma, but obliquely, so that he had a constant 
 view of her, whilst she only saw hiin when her head was 
 raised from her employment ; he rested his elbow on 
 his knee, and his head on his hand, which brought him 
 still more on a level, or rather below her. 
 
 It is inconceivable to those who have not studied 
 such matters, what importance there is'm jwsitio?} : what 
 would be nothing, said with the stiffness of ' attention ,' 
 at a drill, melts quite into the tender, and steals softly 
 on the ear, when brought into such contact as we have 
 described, with the person to whom it is addressed. 
 
 VOL. I. o
 
 290 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 '* Flow wonderfully those good folks are exerting 
 their voices for us uiiwo isteners," said he, '^ pity 
 
 they have not a cathedral, and a congregation for their 
 scene." 
 
 "It is delightful any where," said Emma, "and I 
 am sure we are much obliged to them." 
 " You are fond then of music ? " 
 At this moment Lady Tintern was called on to 
 settle a knotty point at the whist table ; and to Emma's 
 answering, 
 
 " Oh yes ! I doat on it, don't you like it, my Lord ?" 
 " Not that Pasta and Curioni screaming," he 
 replied, " but if I could again hear the delicious air 
 of El PajaritOy on the guitar, that I heard this mor- 
 ning, / should doat on that." 
 
 Emma felt the colour mount in her cheeks, but 
 by holding her head lower down over her occupation, 
 her long ringlets fell so over her face, that she did not 
 see that Lord John's eyes were rivetted on her counte- 
 nance ; it may be, she suspected they were so, and there- 
 fore did not look up. We cannot take upon ourselves 
 to determine such nice points, such scenes have so long 
 passed away from our remembrance, that we are afraid 
 of misleading our young readers.
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 291 
 
 Emma went on with her tracing, but it was evident 
 with no very steady hand ; and, after some pause, seeing 
 her determined not to reply to his observation. Lord 
 John said, 
 
 '' Have you any idea who in this house plays the 
 guitar ? and so exquisitely ! !" 
 
 " I believe," she replied, without raising her head, 
 " Lady Tintern does." 
 
 " It was not Lady Tintem's strains that / heard, I 
 know she was at that time in the theatre, it was a young 
 voice, and the whole thing was so perfectly Spanish, I 
 thought myself again in the spicy groves of Estramadura : 
 were you ever in Spain, Miss Legh?" 
 
 '^ No, never." 
 
 " How you, with your exquisite taste for the beau- 
 ties of nature, and your love of music would enjoy 
 their moonlight evenings ! Whoever it was that I heard 
 must have been there, as it is impossible otherwise to 
 catch their pathos and enthusiasm. I would give the 
 universe to know who it was." 
 
 Seeing Lady Tintern returning to her work-table, 
 Emma hoping this conversation, which was growing very 
 painful to her, would end, said, 
 o 2
 
 qgq COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 <' I dare say Lady Tintern can tell you." 
 But she said this with a doubtful, timid tone of 
 voice, that showed the expectation was not quite 
 
 sincere. 
 
 Lady Tintern, though she had left the table, was not 
 an inattentive observer of what seemed going on there, 
 and, though she could not hear what Lord John said, 
 his manner was so devoted, and Emma's so shy, she 
 almost fancied the important declaration had been 
 made ; when she resumed her seat, Emma regained 
 some of her composure, when Lord John said, 
 
 " Miss Legh refers me to you. Lady Tintern, to 
 satisfy my curiosity as to who the person was, 1 heard 
 singing to a guitar this morning : I know it could not 
 be you, for I saw you elsewhere." 
 
 Lady Tintern declared she was " quite ignorant of 
 any one but herself playing the guitar, and she certainly 
 had not touched her's that day ; it must be Lady 
 Anne's harp." 
 
 '* Impossible ! Lady Anne might have all the mas- 
 ters in the known world, and play every hour of her life, 
 but she would never arrive at any thing so simple, so 
 pathetic, and so truly Spanish !"
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 293 
 
 Lad> Tintern guessed the whole, but Emma had 
 made her escape, under pretence of getting a fresh 
 pencil, and slid toward the instrument to listen. 
 
 Miss Riley asked her if she sang and played ? she 
 replied, *• Oh no, excepting to amuse my father, and 
 lull him to sleep, but Lady Anne Lawton does both, 
 and, I believe, excels." 
 
 Wanting a little rest, the singers begged Lady Tin- 
 tern would prevail on Lady Anue to sing ; she w as in 
 the height of success with her ecarte and her bets, 
 and, at first, would not hear of being interrupted, but 
 after a little coquetiy, which she always practised on 
 such occasions, she suffered herself to be persuaded to 
 try her harp ; she did not plaj/ well, but she looked 
 gracefully, had studied her attitudes before a glass, and 
 her fine commanding figure appeared to advantage, so 
 that if she suspected ears might not be charmed, she 
 hoped eyes would be so. 
 
 Whilst this was arranging, Lord John drew again 
 near Emma, and, in his usual subdued tone, said, 
 
 " Have you any idea who that pigeon is, that those 
 girls are plucking ? " 
 
 '^ No, indeed ! but what can you mean by calling
 
 294 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 him a pigeon ? you might have applied that epithet to 
 some of those round the ecartt table, though it would 
 have been rather too severe." 
 
 " I own it was an absurd observation, but he gave 
 me the idea of a ' pigeon-winged head ' in Ansty's 
 Bath Guide ; but I will maintain in the more obvious 
 sense you have taken it, they are pigeoning him by 
 making all they can out of his lungs. Do you know 
 if he is a professional man ? I think I have seen that 
 odd phiz of his somewhere." 
 
 Though these observations were made in a sort of 
 whisper, Lord John would, without any scruple, have 
 said it all aloud, but as he did not, it served to con- 
 firm Lady Tintern's impression of the nature of his 
 conversation. 
 
 Lady Anne quavered and flourished to the utmost 
 of her power, and Mr. Everard Price could not help 
 adding, now and then a few notes as second, a piece 
 of impertinence she would have highly resented, had 
 she not felt at the moment her voice would not reach 
 the upper C ; and, as the song was applauded, she 
 felt obliged rather than offended, by the liberty, 
 and pleased by the assistance ; she therefore desired
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 295 
 
 he might be introduced to her ; he had always flattering 
 speeches ready cut and dried for all occasions, when 
 his interest required their use ; and to Lady Anne he 
 so well applied them, that she proposed a little prac- 
 tice after breakfast next morning, which was readily 
 agreed to by the other musical ladies. 
 
 " Do you mean to patronize this rehearsal of squall- 
 ing ? " said Lord John to Emma, *' or shall you 
 try and listen to the more enchanting sounds of the 
 guitar?" 
 
 " Probably neither one nor the other," replied 
 Emma, *^ I shall be employed in reading to a little 
 invalid." 
 
 ** Then," returned, he ** I shall go as far as I can 
 out of hearing of Lady Anne and Co." 
 
 When the party broke up, as Lady Tintern was 
 going to her dressing room, she invited Emma into 
 it, saying, 
 
 '* My dear Miss Legh, J don't mean to be imper- 
 tinent, but you are now under my protection, and, hav- 
 ing no parent here, I must, in virtue of my being in 
 their place, ask you, has Lord John been making a 
 proposal to you ? "
 
 296 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 Emma's look of unfeigned astonishment answered 
 the question before her unembarrassed reply of ^* Oh, 
 dear no ! how could your ladyship have such an idea?" 
 
 *' Nay, my dear, that was not at all extraordinary, 
 from the way he has been whispering in your ear all 
 tlie evening; don't think me a severe, hard-hearted 
 wretch, if 1 ask still farther, has he been making love 
 to you ? " 
 
 *' No ! no ! 1 assure you," replied Emma, " I ra- 
 ther think he has been quizzing me, for I must own 
 my transgression to you, Lady Tintern, whilst I was 
 alone in your boudoir this morning, I was tempted to 
 touch your guitar : pray forgive me, but the sight of 
 it brought so many happy hours to my recollection, 
 for, several years ago, when I was staying with my aunt 
 Johnson at Brompton, I learned to play a little on the 
 guitar, and a very little Spanish also, from an amiable 
 and interesting refugee, and it was one of her favourite 
 airs I was trying to recollect, but I will never touch 
 your guitar again, and do kindly forgive me for having 
 done it to-day." 
 
 "You are a dear, good, little girl," said Lady 
 Tintern kissing her cheek, "you want no pardon for
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 297 
 
 touching my guitar, do so as often as you like, only 
 don't do so when Lord John can hear you ; he is a 
 romantic young man, and, though he means no harm 
 by you, the more you keep out of his way the better ; 
 I will assist you to do so, for I do not like he should 
 make you an object of observation to the rest of the. 
 party by his admiration." 
 
 " Oh, do not call it admiration^ dearest Lady Tin- 
 tern, you had better call it persecution.^^ 
 
 Lady Tintern smiled at the simplicity and earnest- 
 ness with which this was said, but as she wished Emma 
 good night, the latter burst into tears. 
 
 <^ What is the matter, my dear," said Lady Tmtern, 
 in a most tender and feeling voice, " are you unhappy ?" 
 
 *'No indeed, Madam, I have every thing to make 
 me happy — only — Lord John will " 
 
 <* What my dear?" 
 
 " Nothing ma'am, only — talk to me." 
 
 *' Well, I will try what I can do for you," said Lady 
 Tintern soothingly, " don't be distressed at what half 
 your sex would be delighted with — attentions, even 
 though they mean nothing are seldom unacceptable, but 
 I quite understand your feelings, and I recommend you 
 o 5
 
 298 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 to turn your thoughts and attention to other people and 
 things ; only consider Lord John as a fly, who will buzz 
 about you as long as he stays, brush him gently off, that 
 is the best way, and not to make any fuss, as if you were 
 plagued by it, because that would give it a zest, and 
 make him more anxious to overcome your indifference ; 
 these men, my dear, and particularly those who are 
 recherche, as he considers himself, have a craving 
 vanity that is always searching for food ; but it is too 
 late to moralise, good night, and pleasant dreams; 
 but, remember, I shall expect you to be very open and 
 sincere with me, as you have hitherto been, and I will 
 do all I can that you shall not be teazed." On this 
 word Lady Tintern laid a strong emphasis as Emma 
 closed the door. 
 
 When in her own room she indulged in a plentiful 
 shower of tears. How strange ! said she to herself, 
 it is, that what Lady Tintern says other girls would like 
 should make me miserable ! Why cannot I like all the 
 flattering things Lord John says, and does j but they 
 make me uncomfortable. I wish I could ask any one 
 the cause of this ; I am sure Sophy Graham could 
 explain it, she is so clever. Lord John is most agree- 
 able, that I must allow j indeed young men of his rank
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 299 
 
 seem all of them lo have such gentle manners ; such 
 a delicate and refined way of saying, and doing, every 
 thing. Oh, how unlike the young men my father asks 
 to his house — it will be difficult to endure them when 
 I go back ; there are several here that I should like to 
 know better, Mr. Dupree particularly ; but Lord John 
 always comes in the way whenever he is going to speak 
 to me, he must be my evil genius ; and, come to that 
 determInation,Emma sought her pillow :• — over that nei- 
 ther her evil genius hovered, nor under it a Cobra de 
 Capella hid. 
 
 There is a feeling of pleasure, or rather of satisfac- 
 tion, in all minds at having, on however trifling an 
 occasion come to a decision, and more especially this is 
 the case with the young, to whom decision is generally 
 a new feeling. Emma had decided in her own mind 
 that young men of fashion are infinitely superior m 
 their manners, and possess in a much greater degree the 
 art of pleasing, than those of a lower grade, even if the lat- 
 ter they have received what is called a good education ; 
 but that they are infinitely more dangerous. At this mo- 
 ment Emma did not venture to carry the definition far- 
 ther, or the comparison to individuals, it was only the 
 class she thought so well of.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 The following morning a fresh disappointment awaited 
 Lady Tintern. Mr. Fermor arrived, as he had pro- 
 mised, to breakfast ; but brought word that his friends 
 Clifton and Guise were both ordered on guard at the 
 Tower, and it would be impossible for them to fulfil 
 their promise as performers in the Stoke Park theatri- 
 cals. Lady Tintern was in despair — wished, a thou- 
 sand and a thousand times, either that she had never 
 attempted the thing, or that the Tower had sunk into 
 the Thames. 
 
 *' Oh men ! you are deceivers ever ! " she exclaim- 
 ed. But Lady Anne was so eager for London news, she 
 w ould not let Lady Tintern^s lamentation be heard :
 
 COL ^ TRY HOUSES. 301 
 
 when her curiosity was satisfied, Mr. Fermor finding 
 the absence of his friends was so inconvenient, sug- 
 gested a remedy, saying, 
 
 " Oh, Lady Tintern, you may easily replace Guise, 
 and Clifton ; the Coldstream, w hich was brigaded with 
 ours in Portugal, joined in all our theatricals, and the 
 Critic was a favourite piece with us, and if Lord Tin- 
 tern will lend me a nag to ride over to Windsor, where 
 there's a company of them, I'll be bound to get as 
 many as you want." 
 
 This offer was thankfully accepet, and at luncheon- 
 time he returned with Captain Coulson, and Mr. Falk- 
 ner, whom he presented to Lady Tintern as such capi- 
 tal actors, that she regretted she had not pressed more 
 of their corps into her service. On calling over the 
 characters. Captain Coulson offered a capital beef-eater 
 in a Serjeant of theirs, and their assistant-surgeon would 
 do almost any character in the piece, or two if requir- 
 ed ; these were readily accepted, and Lady Tintern was 
 not sorry to hear that neither of the two last could 
 come till just in time for the performance. 
 
 Lady Tintern pressed her new friends to dinner, 
 which they accepted, and added permission to them
 
 302 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 to invite any brother officers they pleased to the per- 
 formance, well knowing that nothing keeps young ladies 
 in better humour than plenty of beaux, and above all 
 guardsmen. 
 
 During luncheon, Mr. Everard Price mentioned 
 *' that Gray the poet was buried in the church of Stoke, 
 and that there was a fair presumption that his Elegy 
 in a Country Church Yard might have been written 
 there, and his ode on Eton College, suggested, though 
 not written there. As Poetry and Music are sister arts, 
 the professors of the latter generally make pretensions 
 to the former ; the Misses Riley were enthusiastic lovers 
 of poetry, though they would not own to any thing 
 more, — but it would be so delightful to hear those 
 beautiful poems read on the spot that inspired them. 
 A party was therefore arranged to walk there, and Mr. 
 Everard Price was requested to take Gray's poems in 
 his pocket. Emma was delighted at this proposal, and 
 asked Lady Tintern if she recommended her joining 
 the party? 
 
 '' By all means," she replied, " for I saw Lord 
 John's horses waiting; so he rides, I suppose, with 
 Lady Anne, who never walks, but in Kensington
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 303 
 
 Gardens : if he should change his mind, which I do 
 not think she will allow him to do if she wants him, 
 you must keep with the Misses Riley ; they are his 
 aversion, and their protege his abhorrence. I do not 
 recommend you to the chaperonage of Mrs. De 
 Cameron, for she will be too much engrossed by criti- 
 cism, to attend you." 
 
 Lady Tintern had another motive for this last piece 
 of advice, which she did not communicate to Emma ; 
 she knew Mrs. De Cameron would, if possible, tire 
 her, and unfit her for the evening performance : but 
 she only charged her not to over fatigue herself with 
 walking. 
 
 Lady Anne, when she heard this party proposed, 
 felt sure Emma would be of it, and Lord John, too ; so, 
 to spoil this plan, she condescended to press him into 
 her service, saying, 
 
 " Lord John, I am sure your conscience must often 
 reproach you for the brutal part you acted towards me 
 when we crossed Langford brook ; if I had not been 
 the best tempered, and mo.t forgiving creature in the 
 world, I should never have spoken to you again ; but 
 now I will give you an opportunity to make the amende
 
 304 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 honorable-, you shall protect me from all the King's 
 beasts and birds. I am going lo Sand-pit gale to see 
 them, 1 won't be refused, don't attempt it. Papa and 
 Lord 7'intern are going to visit somebody al Engle- 
 field Green ; 1 shall lend my second horse to Fermor, 
 and 1 cannot go there tete a tete with him, so you must 
 be my chaperon." 
 
 Lord John yielded to her volubility, but without 
 any intention of being the proposed chaperon, and on 
 Mr. Fitz-Gibbon offering his services in that capacity, 
 and the two guards' officers as privileged people, beg- 
 ging to be her ladyship's escort. Lord John mounted 
 his horse, and rode in another direction. 
 
 The walkers set off, and Emma congratulated her- 
 self in having entirely escaped Lord John, when, 
 stopping to look at a fine view of Windsor Castle, and 
 Eton, which Mr. Everard (as he wished to be called, 
 dropping Price,) was pointing out, and explaining. 
 She was startled by Lord John's voice in her ear. 
 
 ^' You, I see, are a bhie, Miss Legh !" 
 
 ^^ Oh, no ! I assure you 1 have not the smallest 
 pretentions to it — how could you think so?" 
 
 "Because you are of this wise and critical party."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 305 
 
 '^ Indeed I am of it, very much for the pleasure 
 of the walk, though I own I shall like to hear some 
 passages in Gray's beautiful poem, illustrated by the 
 scenery by which it was suggested." 
 
 *' Then you are poetical, only you will not con- 
 fess it?" 
 
 *' Not in the least, but I always like information," 
 she replied. 
 
 " And what sort of information do you expect from 
 that pretty little delitanti coxcomb V 
 
 " Oh, he is not quite so bad as you think him, he 
 seems to know a great deal.'' 
 
 '' He pretends to," said Lord John, '* but if he 
 pleases you, and I beg your pardon for any thing 1 
 have said against him, he will in that case be a subject 
 of env?/ to me, rather than of antempt" 
 
 '^ Oh dear !" said Emma, laughing, *'how can you 
 suppose it possible for me to like or dislike any body I 
 have scarcely spoken to T 1 may, I hope, like his singing 
 without going any farther, or doing anything wrong." 
 
 '^ far be it from me to say that^oM ever can do 
 wiong. I may lament, but 1 never can arraign your 
 judgment — would I could sing !"
 
 306 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 The solemnity with which this wish was uttered 
 made Emma laugh; but though she did so, she felt 
 the conversation was taking so pointed a turn, that 
 Lady Tintern's injunctions came forcibly to her mind, 
 and she also perceived that Lord John had slackened 
 liis pace so that they were tete a tete and behind the 
 rest of the party ; this quite distressed her, but fortu- 
 nately a brook checked the progress of the rest of the 
 party ; some contrivance was necessary to cross it at all, 
 and then it could only be singly — so that in a few 
 minutes Emma and her companion mingled with the 
 rest of the party ; when they did so. Count Dunois 
 was standing on a large stone in the middle of the 
 brook, assisting the ladies one by one over it ; but 
 Lord John's activity enabled him to assist Emma 
 without her being much indebted to the Count. 
 
 "Well !" exclaimed Mrs. De Cameron, who was just 
 then out of humour with the Count, for not approving 
 of Johnson's criticism on Gray. " How unlucky we 
 were not to have Lord John here at first, it would have 
 saved us a great deal of trouble, and wet shoes also, 
 but I suppose he was conducting Miss Legh over some 
 asses-bridge his imagination had found."
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 307 
 
 Lord John held Mrs. De Cameron in too great con- 
 tempt to answer her, excepting by a low, solemn bow, 
 and turning to Emma, he said, 
 
 " I hope 1 shall not undergo persecution without 
 the reward of feeling that one lady, at least, will not 
 be in danger of getting cold." 
 
 Emma felt all the delicacy of this reply, and walked 
 on, in compact with the rest of the party, till they 
 came to the church-yard, which was surrounded by 
 such a wall as country church-yards usually are, and 
 which was much higher on the outer side, than on 
 the inner. 
 
 The sexton's cottage was enquired for, and his 
 wife came out, but she could not give the key of the 
 gate. Wilson, the carpenter, was at my Lord's putting 
 up a play house, and had it in his pocket. This dif- 
 ficulty was at last obviated by the gentlemen remov- 
 ing a few stones, of a heap that was against the wall, 
 and forming some steps, by which the party easily 
 mounted, and walking a few yards on the top of the 
 wall, got as easily down by a tomb-stone. Lord John 
 kept undeviatingly to Emma, though Mrs. De Cameron 
 gave him a palpable hint that she, from her greater
 
 308 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 weight, required far more assistance than younger Ladies. 
 
 The party having seated themselves in a group on 
 some adjoining tombstones, and requested Mr. Everard 
 Price to give them the Poems, the Ode ' on a distant 
 view of Eton College' was the first read ; but previously, 
 Mr. Price pointed out the different scenes that were 
 alluded to in the poem. He read, or rather recited, 
 with the important air of a school-boy, declaiming 
 **Ye distant spires, &c. " 
 
 At one end of the same stone, sat Miss Amelia 
 Riley and Mr. Dupree, and at the other, Emma, with 
 Lord John reclining behind her, so that he had the 
 command of her ear, without Mrs. De Cameron, who 
 was the person from whose observation he wished to 
 escape, knowing when he addressed Emma ; when 
 Mr. Price came to the line 
 
 * And catch a fearful joy.' 
 
 Lord John said in a low tone, '*how that describes 
 my present position ! " 
 
 Emma made no answer. When was read, 
 
 * The sunshine of the breast.' 
 
 He added, " may you, Miss Legh, ever, as now, 
 enjoy that, however deeply you may inflict 
 
 * Sorrow's piercing dart.' *
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 309 
 
 Emma still affected only to listen to the ode : but 
 it was evident to Lord John that she did so with a 
 palpitating heart; he therefore continued, and ap- 
 proaching still nearer to her ear, repeated after the 
 reader, 
 
 " Thought does destroy my paradise." 
 
 Emma's change of countenance showed how well 
 she understood the force of his allusion, but she made 
 no reply to any of his obervations ; though, if she had 
 been closely observed, perhaps her silence would not 
 have been unintelligible, but she turned her face from 
 her persecutor. 
 
 After the usual proportion of applause, that was, 
 as a matter of course, bestowed on the manner in 
 which the ode was recited, and the sense of the author 
 improved ; a good deal of coquetting on the part of 
 the performer took place, before he was prevailed on 
 to give them the Elegy also. 
 
 Emma's mind was too much occupied by her 
 position, which she felt it impossible to change, and 
 by her neighbour also, to attend to the poem as she 
 wished ; she was only meditating how she could escape
 
 310 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 from Lord John's perseverance ; she was still inclined 
 to call it persecution, flattering as it was. And she 
 was puzzled what account she could give to Lady 
 Tintern, whose advice and directions she seemed to 
 be so little attending to — but how could she help it? 
 So thoroughly absorbed was she by these ideas, and 
 so agitated at the same time, that she only imperfectly 
 heard some of the last lines he repeated. 
 
 But she had made up her mind, and like most 
 timid and inexperienced persons on a difficult occasion, 
 she prepared to do the worst in her power, to the best 
 of her judgment, that was, in a most decided way, to 
 avoid Lord John during the rest of the walk, and give 
 him no other possible opportunity of speaking to her 
 Had she formed, and persevered in, this resolution in 
 the beginning of the walk, it had been well ; but after 
 all she had been listening to — what would be Lord 
 John's interpretation of this conduct? and how 
 would he bear it ? this she did not think of. 
 
 As soon as the elegy was finished, Mrs. De Cameron 
 reminded the party that their situation was more agree- 
 able than prudent, and proposed walking briskly home, 
 to avoid all its ill consequences. They were obliged to
 
 COUNTRY HOUSES. 311 
 
 get over the wall in the same way as before, only that 
 going down on the stones was more perilous than going 
 up. Emma, by a manoeuvre, for which she pjave 
 herself great credit, turned round (when it was her 
 turn to go down, under pretence of speaking to Miss 
 Riley), and just when Lord John's hand was held out 
 to assist her, by which means his fell to Miss Amelia 
 Riley's, and Mr. Dupree's to Emma, who soon saw 
 with alarm the effect of this little artifice on Lord 
 John, his change of countenance almost startled her ; 
 but, after the first moment of surprise, at his being so 
 angry, she applauded herself for her resolution, and 
 determined to follow it up, by keeping so in the midst 
 of the party that he never got near her till they reached 
 the door of the house, where he placed himself so that 
 she could not avoid him ; when he said, 
 
 *^ For pity's sake, Miss Legh, tell me wiial I lia\c 
 done to offend you." 
 
 Emma summoned up all her fortitude, and said in 
 as firm a voice, and as cold an accent, as she could 
 assume, *' Nothing, my lord," and passed on. 
 
 That he was wretched, he took no pains to con- 
 ceal ; and if we were to analyze Emma's feelings they
 
 312 COUNTRY HOUSES. 
 
 would prove anything but happy, the effort she had 
 made had cost her much ; but there was a degree of self- 
 deception about her, arising partly from the innocence 
 of her own heart, and partly from her ignorance of 
 the workings of others, that made her fancy that the 
 more angry she made Lord John, and the more she 
 mortified her own feelings, the surer she was that her 
 conduct was right ; and we must allow her the merit, 
 under this impression, of determining to appear gay 
 and happy, if she did not feel so ; luckily for her, Lady 
 Tintern was so occupied by her own concerns, she had 
 no time to call on Emma for an account of her walk. 
 She knew Lord John joined the party, but it was 
 composed of several persons ; if Emma was a tolerable 
 manager, she might keep him from any particularity of 
 conduct ; she could not attend to every thing, she had 
 given Emma all the caution and advice in her power, 
 if she would not mind her, she must take the conse- 
 quence, and get a little heart- wounded. 
 
 END OF VOL I. 
 
 . B. BENSLEY, PRINTER, AXDOVER.