The moment that Mr. Temple reached his friend's chambers, he threw himself into a chair. "What repose! What leisure! What retirement is here!" cried he—— "A man can think and feel a moment for himself."
"Not well, I fear, in the midst of the crackling of these parchments," said Alfred, folding up the deeds at which he had been at work—— "And I wonder you don't complain, as you used to do, of their musty smell; for my part I think I am like that good Lawyer, who acquired a special love for the smell of old deeds——However, I have now done my business for this day, and I am your man for what you please——If you are not engaged by some of your great people, we cannot do better than dine together."
"With all my heart," said Mr. Temple.
"And where shall we dine?" said Alfred.
"Any where you please——But I have a great deal to say to you, Alfred, don't think of dining yet."
"At the old work!" cried Alfred.
"You think of convincing, while I think of dining." But, as he spoke, Alfred observed his friend's agitated countenance, and immediately becoming serious, he drew a chair beside Mr. Temple, and said:
"I believe, Temple, you have something to say, that you are anxious about. You know, that if there is any thing I can do, head, hand, and heart are at your service."
"Of that I am quite sure, else I should not come here to open my heart to you," replied Mr. Temple. Then he related all that had just passed between Lord Oldborough and himself, and ended by asking Alfred, "whether he thought there was any chance of success for his love?"
"You have not told me who the Lady is," said Alfred.
"Have not I?——but, surely, you can guess?"
"I have guessed——but I wish to be mistaken——Lady Frances Arlington?"
"Quite mistaken——Guess again——and nearer home."
"Nearer home!——One of my sisters?——Not Caroline, I hope?"
"Then it must be as I once hoped ... But why did you never mention it to me before?"
Mr. Temple declared, that he had thought there was so little chance of his ever being in circumstances in which he could marry, especially a woman who had not a large fortune of her own, that he had scarcely ventured to avow, even to himself, his attachment.
"I thought my love would wear itself out," added he. "Indeed I did not known how serious a business it was, till this sudden proposal was made to me of leaving England: then I felt, that I should drag, at every step, a lengthening chain. In plain prose, I cannot leave England without knowing my fate. But don't let me make a fool of myself, Alfred. No man of sense will do more than hazard a refusal: that every man ought to do, or he sacrifices the dignity of the woman he loves to his own false pride. I know, that in these days gentlemen suitors are usually expert in sounding the relations of the lady they wish to address. To inquire, whether the lady is engaged or not, is, I think, prudent and honorable: but beyond this, I consider it to be treacherous and base to endeavor, by any indirect means, to engage relations to say, what a lover should learn only from the lady herself. Therefore, my dear friend, all I ask is, whether you have reason to believe, that your sister Rosamond's heart is preengaged; or if you think, that there is such a certainty of my being rejected, as ought, in common prudence, to prevent my hazarding the mortification of a refusal?"
Alfred assured his friend, that, to the best of his belief, Rosamond's heart was disengaged——
"And," continued he, "as a witness is or ought to be prepared to tell his cause of belief, I will give you mine——Some time since I was commissioned by a gentleman, who wished to address her, to make the previous inquiry, and the answer was, quite disengaged.——Now as she did not accept of this gentleman, there is reason to conclude, that he did not engage her affections ..."
"Was he rich or poor, may I ask?" interrupted Mr. Temple.
"That is a leading question," said Alfred.
"I do not want you to tell me who the gentleman was, I know that would not be a fair question, and I trust I should be as far from asking, as you from answering it.——But there are so many rich, as well as so many poor men in the world, that in answering to the inquiry, rich or poor? what city or court man do you name?.——I want only to draw a general inference, as to your sister's taste for wealth."
"Her taste is assuredly not exclusively for wealth, for her last admirer was a gentleman of very large fortune."
"I am happy, at least in that respect, in not resembling him," said Mr. Temple. "Now for my other question——What chance ... for myself?"
"Of that, my good friend, you must judge for yourself.——By your own rule all you have a right to hear is, that I, Rosamond's brother ... have no reason for believing that she has such a repugnance to you, as would make a refusal certain.——And that you may not too much admire my discretion, I must add, that if I had a mind to tell you more, I could not. All I know is that Rosamond, as well as the rest of my family, in their letters, spoke of you with general approbation, but I do not believe the idea of considering you as her lover ever entered into her head, or theirs."——
"But now the sooner it enters the better," cried Mr. Temple, "Will you ... can you ... Have not you business to do for Lord Oldborough at Clermont-Park?"
"Yes——and I am glad of it, as it gives me an opportunity of indulging myself in going with you, my dear Temple ... I am ready to set out at any moment."
"God bless you!——The sooner the better then.——This night in the coach if you please.——I'll run and take our places," said he, snatching up his hat.
"Better send,"——cried Alfred, stopping him, "my man can run and take places in a coach as well as you, though he is not in love.——Do you stay with me. We will go to the coffee-house, dine, and be ready to set off."
"In the mean time," said Alfred, "you have relations and connexions of your own, who should be consulted."
Temple said he was sure, that all his relations and connexions would highly approve of an alliance with the Percy family.—— "But in fact," added he, "that is all they will care about the matter. My relations, though high and mighty people, have never been of any service to me; they are too grand, and too happy, to mind whether a younger brother of a younger brother sinks or swims; whether I live in single wretchedness, or double blessedness.——Not one relation has nature given, who cares for me half as much as the friend I have made for myself."
Sincerely as Alfred was his friend, and warmly interested for his success, yet he did not let this friendship interfere with the justice due to his sister, of leaving her sole arbitress of a question, which most concerned her happiness.
"You understand, Temple," said he, "before we set out, that my wishes in your favor are nothing to the purpose.——Much as I should like to have you for my brother-in-law, if love and fortune permit, yet observe, I shall use no influence with my sister, direct or indirect.——Indeed, my being conscious of my own attachment to you will make me peculiarly delicate and careful not to interfere or bias her in any degree, by telling my wishes."
Mr. Temple understood and approved of this, declaring, that it was precisely what he desired, and what he should do by any friend and sister in similar circumstances. His pride and reason, he said, would equally revolt from the idea of interference of friends in his favor.—— "Luckily there is no probability of this, for I am too poor for any prudent friend to interfere in my favor.——And were I as rich as Croesus, your sister's family I know practically, as well as theoretically, would leave her entirely to her own decision."——
All these preliminary delicacies——but not false delicacies, settled, the two friends set out on their journey.——During the last stage they were lucky enough to have the coach to themselves, and Mr. Temple made himself amends for the restraint, under which he had labored during the preceding part of the journey, whilst he had been oppressed by the presence of men, whose talk was of the lower concerns of life.——After he had descanted for some time on the perfections of his mistress, he ended with expressing his surprise, that his friend, who had often of late rallied him upon his being in love, had not guessed sooner who was the object of his passion.——
Alfred said, that the idea of Rosamond had occurred to him, because his friend's absence of mind might be dated from the time of his last visit to Clermont-Park; but said Alfred, as Lady Frances Arlington was there, and as I had formerly fancied, that her Ladyship's wish to captivate or dazzle you had not been quite without effect, I was still in doubt, and thought even your praises of Rosamond's disposition and temper, compared with her Ladyship's, might only be ruse de guerre, or ruse d' amour.
"There was no ruse in the case," said Mr. Temple; "I confess, that when I first emerged from my obscurity into all the light and life of the world of fashion, my eyes were dazzled, and before I recovered the use of them sufficiently to compare the splendid objects by which I found myself surrounded, I was wonderfully struck with the appearance of Lady Frances Arlington, and did not measure, as I ought, the immense difference between Lord Oldborough's secretary, and the niece of the Duke of Greenwich.——Lady Frances, from mere gaieté de coeur, likes to break hearts; and she wished to add one, however insignificant, to the number of her conquests.——I, a simple man of literature, unskilled in the wicked ways of the fair, was charmed by the innocent naïveté and frank gayety of Lady Frances, and all that was
"Strangely wild, or madly gay, "I call'd it only pretty Fanny's way."
"Fortunately, just as I was in imminent danger of exchanging true sighs for false smiles, I became acquainted with your sister Rosamond. In the country, and under circumstances more favorable for the development of character, than any which might occur for months or years in a town life, where all the men and women are merely actors, I had leisure to see and mark the difference and the resemblance between Lady Frances Arlington's character, and that of your sister.——They resembled each other in natural quickness of intellect, and of feeling; in wit, sprightliness, and enthusiasm, they were also to a certain degree alike.——
I was amused by Lady Frances Arlington's lively nonsense, till I heard your sister's lively sense.——Her Ladyship hazards saying every thing that occurs to her, and often makes happy hits; but your sister's style of wit is far superior, and far more agreeable, because it has the grace, elegance, and, above all, the infinite variety, which literary allusion supplies. I found myself pleased, not only with what she said, but with the trains of ideas, that, by a single word, she often suggested. Conversing with her, my mind was kept always active, without ever being over exerted or fatigued.——I can look back, and trace the whole progress of my attachment. I began in this way, by finding her conversation most delightful——but soon discovered, that she was not only more entertaining and more cultivated, but far more amiable than my idol, Lady Frances, because she had never been an idol, and did not expect to be adored.——Then she was more interesting, because more capable of being interested.——Lady Frances requires much sympathy, but gives little; and, for that enthusiasm of temper which had, at first, charmed me in her Ladyship, I began to lose my taste, when I observed that it was always excited by trifles, and by trifles that concerned herself more than any one else.——I used to think her——what every body calls her——a perfectly natural character, and so, perhaps, she is——but not the better for that——since she is what, I am afraid, we all are naturally——selfish.——Her Ladyship, if I may use the expression, is enthusiastically selfish.——Your sister——enthusiastically generous.——Lady Frances's manners are caressing, yet, I doubt, whether she feels affection for any one living, except just at the moment when they are ministering to her fancies.——It was Miss Percy's warm affection for her sister Caroline, which first touched my heart. ——I saw each in her own family.——The contrast was striking——In short, by the joint effect——of contrast and resemblance, my love for one Lady decreased as fast, as it increased for the other——and I had just wit and judgment enough to escape from snares, that could not have held me long, to chains that have power to hold me for ever."
To this history of the birth and progress of his love Mr. Temple added many expressions of his hopes, fears, and regrets, that he had not five thousand a year instead of five hundred, to offer his mistress; he at length became absolutely silent.——They were within view of the Hills, and too many feelings crowded upon his mind, to be expressed in words.
And now we might reasonably contrive to fill
"Twelve vast French romances neatly gilt," with the history of the following eventful fortnight——including the first surprise at the arrival of the travellers——the declaration of Mr. Temple's love——the astonishment of Rosamond on discovering, that she was the object of this passion——of a passion so generous and ardent——the consequent and rapid discovery of a hundred perfections in the gentleman, which had before escaped her penetration——the strong peculiar temptation to marry him, because he had not enough to live upon——the reaction of generosity on the other side of the question, which forbade to ruin her lover's fortune. The fluctuations of sentiment and imagination, the delicacies of generosity, gratitude, love, and finally the decision of common sense, reason, and prudence.
It was fortunate for Rosamond, not only that she had prudent friends, but that they had not made her in the least afraid of their superior wisdom, so that she had, from the time she was a child, told them every idea, as it rose in her vivid imagination, and every feeling of her susceptible heart; imprudent as she might appear in her confidential conversation, that imprudence never passed from words to actions.——And now, when she was called upon in an important event of life, to decide for herself; she acted with consummate discretion.
Mr. Temple's character and manners peculiarly pleased her, and his being a man of birth and family certainly operated much in his favor. Her parents now, as in Mr. Gresham's case, did not suffer their own tastes or prepossessions to interfere with her happiness. They had never urged her to accept of Mr. Gresham, because he was rich; nor did they influence her to reject Mr. Temple, because he was poor; but, without leaning too much to the worldly or to the romantic side of the question, they placed before her all the advantages and disadvantages of marrying a man of Mr. Temple's confined circumstances, and they left her understanding and feelings, to determine what ought to be done.
Caroline, grateful for the sympathy, which Rosamond had always shown her, took the warmest interest in this affair.——Caroline was the most excellent, indulgent, yet safe confident; and as a hearer, she was absolutely indefatigable; Rosamond never found her too busy, too lazy, or too sleepy to listen to her——late at night, early in the morning, or in the most hurried moment of the day, it was all the same, Caroline seemed to have nothing to do, but to hear, think, and feel for Rosamond.
"My dear Caroline," cried Rosamond, "I must marry Mr. Temple at once, on purpose to pay you for your patience in listening to me."
"And how will your marrying him pay me?"
"Why you know if I marry him next week, the week afterwards I shall accompany him on his embassy to that Court, where I shall see your Count Altenberg ... I beg your pardon ... Really, my dear Caroline, I did not think that name would crimson your face so deeply.——You have been so completely intent on my affairs, that I thought you had forgotten your own."
Caroline turned the conversation, and spoke of Mr. Temple, reminding Rosamond, "that it was absolutely necessary she should come to some decision, as the fortnight allowed by Lord Oldborough had now nearly elapsed. Mr. Temple's understanding, temper, disposition, and manners, Rosamond allowed to be excellent——his conversation was particularly agreeable.——In short, after searching in vain for an objection, she was obliged to confess, that she liked him. Indeed, before she had allowed this in words, her mother and sister had made the discovery, and had seen the struggle in her mind between love and prudence.——Mr. Temple's fortune was not sufficient for them to live upon, and she knew that a wife in his present circumstances must be a burden to him; therefore, notwithstanding all that his passion, and all that her own partiality could urge, she decidedly refused his proposal of an immediate union, nor would she enter into any engagement, or suffer him to bind himself by any promise for the future; but he obtained permission to correspond with her during his absence from England, and with the hope that she was not quite indifferent to him, he took leave of her——returned to town——waited upon Lord Oldborough——accepted of the embassy, and prepared for his departure to the continent.
"How I shall like to read his first letter from abroad!" said Rosamond——looking at Caroline—— "not for my own sake, or his, my dear, but just that we may satisfy our curiosity about the person who must not be named."
Now that there was an approaching possibility and probability of hearing of Count Altenberg, Caroline felt it extremely difficult to adhere to her resolution of never thinking of him, especially as her mind, which had been actively occupied and deeply interested in her sister's concerns, was now left to return upon itself in all the leisure of retirement.——Fortunately for her, about this time, she was again called upon for that sympathy, which she was ever ready to give to her friends.——She received the following letter from Mrs. Hungerford.
Letter from Mrs. Hungerford to Miss Caroline Percy. "Come, my beloved Caroline, my dear young friend, friend of my family, and of all who are most near and dear to me; come, and enjoy with me and them that happiness, which your judicious kindness long since foresaw, and your prudence promoted.——
"Had you any of that mean spirit of coquetry, which I see in so many, you might with charms and talents such as yours have entangled Mr. Barclay in a hopeless passion, and have wasted the best years of his life in a fruitless pursuit.——But you at once knew your own mind, convinced him that you knew it, and restored him to himself. You might have exhibited him a captive in your chains——honorable he would have thought them, and so would any other man of taste and sense——but you preferred to the gratification of vanity the certainty of not wounding the feelings of a friend, and the consequence is, that you have in that friend one, who loves and admires you as warmly as I do——I cannot say more.——
"My niece, Lady Mary Pembroke, is at last convinced, that she has it in her power to make Mr. Barclay permanently happy. Mr. Barclay has been obliged to take a considerable length of time, to convince her of the steadiness of his attachment. Indeed, her objection——that he had been charmed by such a coquet as the lady by whom we first saw him captivated, appeared to me strong, and I thought my niece right for adhering to it, more especially as I believed, that at the time her affections pleaded against her reason in his favor, and that, if she had been convinced long ago, it would not have been against her will.
"Mr. Barclay has behaved like a man of sense and honor. Without disguise he told her of his former attachment to you.——She instantly made an answer, which raised her high in my estimation. She replied, that Mr. Barclay's being detached from Lady Angelica Headingham by your superior merit was to her the strongest argument in his favor. She must, she said, have felt insecure in the possession of a heart, which had been transferred directly from Lady Angelica to herself, because she was conscious, that her own disposition was so different from her Ladyship's; but in succeeding to the affection, which he had felt for a woman of your character, she would feel perfect security, or at least reasonable hope, that by similar, though certainly inferior qualities, she might ensure his happiness and her own.——They are to be married next week——Lady Mary particularly wishes that you should be one of her bride-maids——Come then, my love, and bring all your Percys.——I shall not perfectly enjoy my own and my niece's happiness, till you share it with me——My daughter Mortimer, insists upon signing this as well as myself,
Mary-Elizabeth Hungerford, Kate Mortimer."
Caroline and all Mrs. Hungerford's Percys obeyed her summons with alacrity. Lady Mary Pembroke's marriage with Mr. Barclay was solemnized under the happiest auspices, and in the midst of approving and sympathizing friends.——As soon as the ceremony was over, and she had embraced and congratulated her niece, Mrs. Hungerford turned to Mrs. Percy, and in alow voice said,
"If it were not too much for one so happy as I am, so rich in blessings, to ask one blessing more, I should ask to be permitted to live to see the day when our dear Caroline ..."——Mrs. Hungerford pressed Mrs. Percy's hand, but could say no more; the tears rolled down her cheeks as she looked up to Heaven.——Some minutes afterwards, following Caroline with her eyes,
"Look at her, Mr. Percy!" said Mrs. Hungerford. "Did ever selfish coquet, in the height of triumph over lover or rival, enjoy such pleasure, as you see sparkling at this moment in that dear girl's countenance?"
The bride and bridegroom set off immediately for Mr. Barclay's seat in Berkshire. Lady Florence accompanied her sister; and Mr. Hungerford, after parting from both her nieces, entreated that Caroline might be left with her. "It is a selfish request I know, my dear, but at my age I cannot afford to be generous of the society of those I love.——Allow me to plead my age, and my ... Well, I will not say more, since I see it gives you pain, and since I see you will grant the prayer of my petition, rather than hear my claims to your compassion."
Caroline liked particularly to stay with Mrs. Hungerford at this time, when there was not any company at the Castle, no one but Mrs. Hungerford and her daughter, so that she had the full and quiet enjoyment of their society.——At this time of her life, and in the state of her mind at this period, no society could have been more agreeable, soothing, and useful to Caroline, than that of such a friend as Mrs. Hungerford. One, who had not forgotten the passions of youth; who could give at once sympathy and counsel; who was willing to allow to love it's full and exquisite power to exalt the happiness of human life, yet appeared herself, in advanced and serene old age, a constant example of the falsehood of the notion, that the enthusiasm of passion is essential to felicity.——An elegant and just distinction has been made by a philosophical writer between delicacy of passion, and delicacy of taste. One leading to that ill-governed susceptibility, which transports the soul to ecstasy, or reduces it to despair on every adverse or prosperous change of fortune; the other enlarging our sphere of happiness, by directing and increasing our sensibility to objects of which we may command the enjoyment, instead of wasting it upon those over which we have no control.——Mrs. Hungerford was a striking example of the advantage of repressing delicacy of passion, and cultivating delicacy of taste.
At an advanced age, she showed exquisite perception of pleasure in every work of genius; in conversation, no stroke of wit or humor escaped her quick intelligence, no shade of sentiment or politeness was lost upon her; and on hearing of any trait of generosity or greatness of soul, her whole countenance beamed with delight; yet with all this quickness of feeling she was quite free from fastidiousness, and from that irritability about trifles, into which those who indulge the delicacy of passion in youth are apt to degenerate in age.—— Caroline felt, every day, increasing affection as well as admiration for Mrs. Hungerford, and found time pass delightfully in her company. Beside that general and well chosen acquaintance with literature, which supplied her with perpetual resources, she had that knowledge of life and of the world, which mixes so well, in conversation, with the knowledge of books. She had known, intimately, most of the celebrated people of the last century, and had store of curious and interesting anecdotes, which she produced with so much taste and judgment, and told so well, as never to fatigue attention. Caroline found, that her mind was never passive or dormant in Mrs. Hungerford's company, she was always excited to follow some train of thought, to discuss some interesting question, or to reflect upon some new idea. There was, besides, in the whole tenor of her conversation and remarks, such a charm of benevolence, such an indulgence for human nature, with all it's faults and follies, as left the most pleasing and encouraging impression on the mind, and inspired hope and confidence.——Her anecdotes and her philosophy all tended to prove, that there is more virtue than vice, more happiness than misery, in life; and, above all, that there is a greater probability that the world should improve, than that it should degenerate.——Caroline felt pleased, continually to find her own favorite opinions and hopes supported and confirmed by the experience and judgment of such a woman as Mrs. Hungerford; and there was something gratifying to her, in being thus distinguished and preferred by one, who had read so much and thought so deeply. Mrs. Mortimer's sprightly conversation and constant cheerfulness, joined to her fondness for her mother and for Caroline, and the peculiar charm of good breeding, added to all the rest, contributed now to make Caroline happy at Hungerford-Castle ——almost as happy as she had ever been in her life.——
As Mrs. Hungerford had heard nothing more of Count Altenberg, she wisely forbore to touch upon the subject, or ever to mention his name to Caroline; and she saw, with satisfaction, the care with which her young friend turned her mind from every dangerous recollection. Sometimes, however, the remembrance of the Count was unavoidably recalled; once, in particular, in turning over the life of Sir Philip Sidney, there was a passage copied in his hand, on a slip of paper, which had accidentally been left in the book.
"Algernon Sidney, in a letter to his son, says that, in the whole of his life, he never knew one man, of what condition soever, arrive at any degree of reputation in the world, who made choice of, or delighted in the company or conversation of those, who in their qualities were inferior, or in their parts not much superior to himself."
"What have you there, my love? Something that pleases and interests you particularly, I see," said Mrs. Hungerford, not knowing what it was that Caroline was reading—— "Show it me, my dear, I am sure I shall like it."
Caroline, deeply blushing, gave her the paper,——the moment Mrs. Hungerford saw the hand writing, she was sorry she had asked for it. After reading, she folded it up, and putting it into her pocket-book, said,
"I knew I should be pleased——It is an observation that I wish I could write in letters of gold, for the advantage of all the young men in the world in whom I take any interest."
The energetic warmth with which Mrs. Hungerford spoke relieved Caroline, as it seemed to justify the delight she had involuntarily expressed——even to her own mind; the sentiment for the individual seemed now enveloped in general approbation and benevolence. She never loved Mrs. Hungerford better than at this instant.
Mrs. Hungerford observed, that none of the common sentimental passages, either in poetry or novels, ever seemed to affect Caroline; and to the romantic descriptions of love she was so indifferent, that it might have appeared to a common observer, as if she was, and ever would be, a stranger to the passion.——With many young ladies Mrs. Hungerford had remarked, that the description of one charming man will immediately awaken the recollection of another. By the help of the active and plastic powers of the imagination, any and every hero of a novel could be made, at pleasure, to appear the exact resemblance of each lady's different lover.——Some, indeed, professed a peculiar and absolute exclusive attachment, founded on unintelligible or indescribable merits or graces, but these ladies, she had found, were, of all others, most liable to change, and on further acquaintance with the world, to discover, on generalising their notions, similar or superior attractions in new models of perfection. In Caroline Mrs. Hungerford saw none of these capricious fancies; but she perceived, that Count Altenberg was associated in Caroline's mind strongly and justly with her highest ideas of excellence, and that it was not her imagination but her reason, which gave him the exalted place he held in her opinion.
Mrs. Mortimer, though as fond of Caroline as her mother was, either did not penetrate so deeply into her character, or willingly flattered herself, that a scheme which she had formed might succeed——A scheme of marrying Caroline to Captain Hungerford, her younger brother.——His last letter announced, that he was returning with the fleet to England, and he was expected home immediately.
"Think no more of it, my dear," said Mrs. Hungerford—— "I once formed a wish of this sort for Caroline——her own prudence ... But——Think no more of it, much as I should wish to have her for my daughter, I know it cannot be."
"I would lay my life upon it, that my brother Frederick will be charmed with her; she is all that I have heard him describe as most amiable, and her style of beauty exactly what will enchant him——He will lose his heart to her, as sure as he has a heart——and a noble heart it is."
"If you think so," said Mrs. Hungerford, "I should be sorry that Caroline were here, when he returns to us."
"Yes, my dear, why should I prepare for his noble heart ... disappointment."
"Trust to him," said Mrs. Mortimer, smiling, "Frederick will make his own way——in such a heart as Caroline's."——
"Of Count Altenberg we hear nothing," continued Mrs. Mortimer, "and if he should not return to this country, we may hope that, in time, my brother may deserve and obtain the place, which the faithless Count will have forfeited in her affections."
Mrs. Hungerford was persuaded, on the contrary, that if Caroline did not marry Count Altenberg, she would never marry any other man.
"We shall see, my dear mother," cried Mrs. Mortimer—— "My brother, I hope, will be here in a few days." But before Captain Hungerford arrived, Caroline was obliged to leave her friends at Hungerford-Castle.
A letter from her brother Erasmus informed her, that poor Lady Jane Granville was ill of a nervous fever, that she had no companion, no one to attend her but a maid-servant, and that she was much in want of some judicious friend, who could raise her spirits and tranquillize her mind, which was in a state of continual agitation about her law-suit. Caroline, remembering Lady Jane's former kindness, thought this a fit opportunity to show her gratitude; and happy as she was with her friends at Hungerford-Castle, she hesitated not a moment to sacrifice her own pleasure——She withstood all Mrs. Mortimer's urgent entreaties to stay "one week, only one week longer"——Her father and mother approved of Caroline's determination, and her brother Alfred carried her to London.
