Tales and Novels, Vol. VII by Maria Edgeworth

M >> Maria Edgeworth >> Tales and Novels, Vol. VII

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Perhaps our readers may not feel quite satisfied with this general
eulogium, and may observe, that all this might have been learnt from the
newspapers of the day. Then we must tell things plainly and simply, but
this will not sound nearly so grand, and letting the public behind the
scenes will destroy all the stage effect and illusion. Alfred Percy went
to Mrs. Falconer's unfashionably early, in hopes that, as Count Altenberg
dined there, he might have a quarter of an hour's conversation with him
before the musical party should assemble. In this hope Alfred was mistaken.
He found in the great drawing-room only Mrs. Falconer and two other
ladies, whose names he never heard, standing round the fire; the unknown
ladies were in close and eager converse about Count Altenberg. "He is
so handsome--so polite--so charming!"--"He is very rich--has immense
possessions abroad, has not he?"--"Certainly, he has a fine estate in
Yorkshire."--"But when did he come to England?"--"How long does he
stay?"--"15,000_l._, no, 20,000_l._ per annum."--"Indeed!"--"Mrs. Falconer,
has not Count Altenberg 20,000_l._ a year?"

Mrs. Falconer, seemingly uninterested, stood silent, looking through her
glass at the man who was lighting the argand lamps. "Really, my dear,"
answered she, "I can't say--I know nothing of Count Altenberg--Take care!
that argand!--He's quite a stranger to us--the commissioner met him at Lord
Oldborough's, and on Lord Oldborough's account, of course--Vigor, we must
have more light, Vigor--wishes to pay him attention--But here's Mr. Percy,"
continued she, turning to Alfred, "can, I dare say, tell you all about
these things. I think the commissioner mentioned that it was you, Mr.
Percy, who introduced the Count to Lord Oldborough."

The ladies immediately fixed their surprised and inquiring eyes upon
Mr. Alfred Percy--he seemed to grow in an instant several feet in their
estimation: but he shrunk again when he acknowledged that he had merely
met Count Altenberg accidentally at Greenwich--that he knew nothing of the
count's estate in Yorkshire, or of his foreign possessions, and was utterly
incompetent to decide whether he had 10,000_l._ or 20,000_l._ per annum.

"That's very odd!" said one of the ladies. "But this much I know, that he
is passionately fond of music, for he told me so at dinner."

"Then I am sure he will be charmed to-night with Miss Georgiana," said the
confidants.

"But what signifies that," replied the other lady, "if he has not--"

"Mr. Percy," interrupted Mrs. Falconer, "I have never seen you since that
sad affair of Lady Harriot H---- and Lewis Clay;" and putting her arm
within Alfred's, she walked him away, talking over the affair, and throwing
in a proper proportion of compliment. As she reached the folding doors, at
the farthest end of the room, she opened them.

"I have a notion the young people are here." She introduced him into the
music-room. Miss Georgiana Falconer, at the piano-forte, with performers,
composers, masters, and young ladies, all with music-books round her,
sat high in consultation, which Alfred's appearance interrupted--a faint
struggle to be civil--an insipid question or two was addressed to him.
"Fond of music, Mr. Percy? Captain Percy, I think, likes music? You expect
Captain Percy home soon?"

Scarcely listening to his answers, the young ladies soon resumed their own
conversation, forgot his existence, and went on eagerly with their own
affairs.

As they turned over their music-books, Alfred, for some minutes, heard only
the names of La Tour, Winter, Von Esch, Lanza, Portogallo, Mortellari,
Guglielmi, Sacchini, Sarti, Paisiello, pronounced by male and female voices
in various tones of ecstasy and of execration. Then there was an eager
search for certain favourite duets, trios, and sets of _cavatinas_. Next he
heard, in rapid succession, the names of Tenducci, Pachierotti, Marchesi,
Viganoni, Braham, Gabrielli, Mara, Banti, Grassini, Billington, Catalani.
Imagine our young barrister's sense of his profound ignorance, whilst he
heard the merits of all dead and living composers, singers, and masters,
decided upon by the Miss Falconers. By degrees he began to see a little
through the palpable obscure, by which he had at first felt himself
surrounded: he discerned that he was in a committee of the particular
friends of the Miss Falconers, who were settling what they should sing and
play. All, of course, were flattering the Miss Falconers, and abusing their
absent friends, those especially who were expected to bear a part in this
concert; for instance--"Those two eternal Miss Byngs, with voices, like
cracked bells, and with their old-fashioned music, Handel, Corelli, and
Pergolese, horrid!--And odious little Miss Crotch, who has science but
no taste, execution but no expression!" Here they talked a vast deal
about expression. Alfred did not understand them, and doubted whether
they understood themselves. "Then her voice! how people can call it
fine!--powerful, if you will--but overpowering! For my part, I can't stand
it, can you?--Every body knows an artificial shake, when good, is far
superior to a natural shake. As to the Miss Barhams, the eldest has no more
ear than the table, and the youngest such a thread of a voice!"

"But, mamma," interrupted Miss Georgiana Falconer, "are the Miss La Grandes
to be here to-night?"

"Certainly, my dear--you know I could not avoid asking the Miss La
Grandes."

"Then, positively," cried Miss Georgiana, her whole face changing, and
ill-humour swelling in every feature, "then, positively, ma'am, I can't and
won't sing a note!"

"Why, my dear love," said Mrs. Falconer, "surely you don't pretend to be
afraid of the Miss La Grandes?"

"You!" cried one of the chorus of flatterers--"You! to whom the La Grandes
are no more to be compared--"

"Not but that they certainly sing finely, I am told," said Mrs. Falconer;
"yet I can't say I like their style of singing--and knowledge of music, you
know, they don't pretend to."

"Why, that's true," said Miss Georgiana; "but still, somehow, I can never
bring out my voice before those girls. If I have any voice at all, it is in
the lower part, and Miss La Grande always chooses the lower part--besides,
ma'am, you know she regularly takes '_O Giove omnipotente_' from me. But
I should not mind _that_ even, if she would not attempt poor '_Quanto O
quanto e amor possente_'--there's no standing that! Now, really, to hear
that so spoiled by Miss La Grande--"

"Hush! my dear," said Mrs. Falconer, just as Mrs. La Grande appeared--"Oh!
my good Mrs. La Grande, how kind is this of you to come to me with your
poor head! And Miss La Grande and Miss Eliza! We are so much obliged to
you, for you know that we could not have done without you."

The Miss La Grandes were soon followed by the Miss Barhams and Miss Crotch,
and they were all "_so good, and so kind, and such dear creatures_." But
after the first forced compliments, silence and reserve spread among the
young ladies of the Miss Falconers' party. It was evident that the fair
professors were mutually afraid and envious of each other, and there was
little prospect of harmony of temper. At length the gentlemen arrived.
Count Altenberg appeared, and came up to pay his compliments to the Miss
Falconers: as he had not been behind the scenes, all was charming illusion
to his eyes. No one could appear more good-humoured, agreeable, and amiable
than Miss Georgiana; she was in delightful spirits, well dressed, and
admirably supported by her mother. The concert began. But who can describe
the anxiety of the rival mothers, each in agonies to have their daughters
brought forward and exhibited to the best advantage! Some grew pale, some
red--all, according to their different powers of self-command and address,
endeavoured to conceal their feelings. Mrs. Falconer now shone superior in
ease inimitable. She appeared absolutely unconcerned for her own daughter,
quite intent upon bringing into notice the talents of the Miss Barhams,
Miss Crotch, the Miss La Grandes, &c.

These young ladies in their turn knew and practised the various arts by
which at a musical party the unfortunate mistress of the house may be
tormented. Some, who were sensible that the company were anxious for their
performance, chose to be "_quite out of voice_," till they had been pressed
and flattered into acquiescence; one sweet bashful creature must absolutely
be forced to the instrument, as a new speaker of the House of Commons
was formerly dragged to the chair. Then the instrument was not what one
young lady was _used to_; the lights were so placed that another who was
near-sighted could not see a note--another could not endure such a glare.
One could not sing unless the windows were all open--another could not
play unless they were all shut. With perfect complaisance Mrs. Falconer
ordered the windows to be opened and shut, and again shut and opened; with
admirable patience she was, or seemed to be, the martyr to the caprices
of the fair musicians. While all the time she so manoeuvred as to divide,
and govern, and finally to have every thing arranged as she pleased. None
but a perfectly cool stander-by, and one previously acquainted with Mrs.
Falconer's character, could have seen all that Alfred saw. Perhaps the
interest he began to take about Count Altenberg, who was the grand object
of all her operations, increased his penetration. While the count was
engaged in earnest political conversation in one of the inner rooms with
the commissioner, Mrs. Falconer besought the Miss La Grandes to favour the
company. It was impossible for them to resist her polite entreaties. Next
she called upon Miss Crotch, and the Miss Barhams; and she contrived that
they should sing and play, and play and sing, till they had exhausted the
admiration and complaisance of the auditors. Then she relieved attention
with some slight things from Miss Arabella Falconer, such as could excite
no _sensation_ or envy. Presently, after walking about the room, carelessly
joining different conversation parties, and saying something obliging to
each, she approached the count and the commissioner. Finding that the
commissioner had finished all he had to say, she began to reproach him
for keeping the count so long from the ladies, and leading him, as she
spoke, to the piano-forte, she declared that he had missed such charming
things. She _could_ not ask Miss Crotch to play any more till she had
rested--"Georgiana! for want of something better, do try what you can give
us--She will appear to great disadvantage, of course--My dear, I think we
have not had _O Giove omnipotente_."

"I am not equal to that, ma'am," said Georgiana, drawing back: "you should
call upon Miss La Grande."

"True, my love; but Miss La Grande has been so very obliging, I could not
ask--Try it, my love--I am not surprised you should be diffident after what
we have heard; but the count, I am sure, will make allowances."

With amiable and becoming diffidence Miss Georgiana was compelled to
comply--the count was surprised and charmed by her voice: then she was
prevailed upon to try "_Quanta O quanto e amor possente_"--the count,
who was enthusiastically fond of music, seemed quite enchanted; and Mrs.
Falconer took care that he should have this impression left full and strong
upon his mind--supper was announced. The count was placed at the table
between Mrs. Falconer and Lady Trant--but just as they were sitting down,
Mrs. Falconer called to Georgiana, who was going, much against her will, to
another table, "Take my place, my dear Georgiana, for you know I never eat
supper."

Georgiana's countenance, which had been black as night, became all radiant
instantly. She took her mamma's place beside the count. Mrs. Falconer
walked about all supper-time smiling, and saying obliging things with
self-satisfied grace. She had reason indeed to be satisfied with the
success of this night's operations. Never once did she appear to look
towards the count, or her daughter; but assuredly she saw that things were
going on as she wished.

In the mean time Alfred Percy was as heartily tired by the exhibitions of
this evening as were many fashionable young men who had been loud in their
praises of the performers. Perhaps Alfred was not however a perfectly
fair judge, as he was disappointed in his own manoeuvres, not having
been able to obtain two minutes' conversation with the count during the
whole evening. In a letter to Rosamond, the next day, he said that Mrs.
Falconer's concert had been very dull, and he observed that "People can see
more of one another in a single day in the country than they can in a year
in town." He was further very eloquent "on the folly of meeting in crowds
to say commonplace nothings to people you do not care for, and to see only
the outsides of those with whom you desire to converse."

"Just as I was writing this sentence," continues Alfred, "Count Altenberg
called--how fortunate!--how obliging of him to come so early, before I
went to the courts. He has put me into good humour again with the whole
world--even with the Miss Falconers. He came to take leave of me--he is
going down to the country--with whom do you think?--With Lord Oldborough,
during the recess. Did I not tell you that Lord Oldborough would like
him--that is, would find that he has information, and can be useful? I hope
you will all see the count; indeed I am sure you will. He politely spoke of
paying his respects to my father, by whom the shipwrecked foreigners had
been so hospitably succoured in their distress. I told him that our family
no longer lived in the same place; that we had been obliged to retire to
a small estate, in a distant part of the county. I did not trouble him
with the history of our family misfortunes; nor did I even mention how
the shipwreck, and the carelessness of the Dutch sailors, had occasioned
the fire at Percy Hall--though I was tempted to tell him this when I was
speaking of M. de Tourville.

"I forgot to tell my father, that the morning when I went with the count
to Lord Oldborough's, among a heap of books of heraldry, with which his
table was covered, I spied an old book of my father's on the _arte_ of
deciphering, which he had lent Commissioner Falconer years ago. Lord
Oldborough, whose eye is quick as a hawk's, saw my eye turn towards it, and
he asked me if I knew any thing of that book, or of the art of deciphering?
Nothing of the art, but something of the book, which I recollected to be
my father's. His lordship put it into my hands, and I showed some pencil
notes of my father's writing. Lord Oldborough seemed surprised, and said
he did not know this had been among the number of your studies. I told him
that you had once been much intent upon Wilkins and Leibnitz's scheme of
a universal language, and that I believed this had led you to the art of
deciphering. He repeated the words 'Universal language--Ha!--then I suppose
it was from Mr. Percy that Commissioner Falconer learnt all he knew on this
subject?'

"'I believe so, my lord.'

"'Ha!' He seemed lost for a moment in thought, and then added, 'I wish I
had known this sooner--Ha!'

"What these _Haes_ meant, I was unable to decipher; but I am sure they
related to some matter very interesting to him. He explained himself no
farther, but immediately turned away from me to the count, and began to
talk of the affairs of his court, and of M. de Tourville, of whom he
seems to have some knowledge, I suppose through the means of his envoy,
Cunningham Falconer.

"I understand that a prodigious party is invited to Falconer-court. The
count asked me if I was to be one of them, and seemed to wish it--I like
him much. They are to have balls, and plays, and great doings. If I have
time, I will write _to-morrow_, and tell you who goes, and give you a
sketch of their characters. Mrs. Falconer cannot well avoid asking you to
some of her entertainments, and it will be pleasant to you to know who's
who beforehand."

CHAPTER XXIV.

Notwithstanding all the patronage of fashion, which the Miss Falconers
had for some time enjoyed, notwithstanding all their own accomplishments,
and their mother's address and knowledge of the world, the grand object
had not been obtained--for they were not married. Though every where
seen, and every where admired, no proposals had yet been made adequate to
their expectations. In vain had one young nobleman after another, heir
apparent after heir apparent, been invited, cherished, and flattered by
Mrs. Falconer, had been constantly at her balls and concerts, had stood
beside the harp and the piano-forte, had danced or flirted with the Miss
Falconers, had been hung out at all public places as a pendant to one or
other of the sisters.

The mother, seeing project after project fail for the establishment of
her daughters, forced to bear and to conceal these disappointments, still
continued to form new schemes with indefatigable perseverance. Yet every
season the difficulty increased; and Mrs. Falconer, in the midst of the
life of pleasure which she seemed to lead, was a prey to perpetual anxiety.
She knew that if any thing should happen to the commissioner, whose health
was declining; if he should lose Lord Oldborough's favour, which seemed not
impossible; if Lord Oldborough should not be able to maintain himself in
power, or if he should die; she and her daughters would lose every thing.
From a small estate, overwhelmed with debt, there would be no fortune for
her daughters; they would be left utterly destitute, and absolutely unable
to do any thing for themselves--unlikely to suit plain country gentlemen,
after the high style of company in which they had lived, and still more
incapable than she would be of bearing a reverse of fortune. The young
ladies, confident of their charms, unaccustomed to reflect, and full of the
present, thought little of these probabilities of future evil, though they
were quite as impatient to be married as their mother could wish. Indeed,
this impatience becoming visible, she was rather anxious to suppress it,
because it counteracted her views. Mrs. Falconer had still two schemes for
their establishment. Sir Robert Percy had luckily lost his wife within the
last twelvemonth, had no children, and had been heard to declare that he
would marry again as soon as he decently could, because, if he were to die
without heirs, the Percy estate might revert to the relations, whom he
detested. Mrs. Falconer had persuaded the commissioner to cultivate Sir
Robert Percy's acquaintance; had this winter watched for the time when law
business called him to town; had prevailed upon him to go to her house,
instead of staying, as he usually did, at an hotel, or spending his day at
his solicitor's chambers. She had in short made things so agreeable to him,
and he seemed so well pleased with her, she had hopes he would in time be
brought to propose for her daughter Arabella. To conciliate Sir Robert
Percy, it was necessary to avoid all connexion with _the other Percys_; and
it was for this reason that the commissioner had of late avoided Alfred and
Erasmus. Mrs. Falconer's schemes for Georgiana, her beautiful daughter,
were far more brilliant. Several great establishments she had in view.
The appearance of Count Altenberg put many old visions to flight--her
whole fancy fixed upon him. If she could marry her Georgiana to Count
Altenberg!--There would be a match high as her most exalted ambition could
desire; and this project did not seem impossible. The count had been heard
to say that he thought Miss Georgiana Falconer the handsomest woman he
had seen since he had been in London. He had admired her dancing, and had
listened with enthusiastic attention to her music, and to her charming
voice; the young lady herself was confident that he was, would be, or ought
to be, her slave. The count was going into the country for some weeks with
Lord Oldborough. Mrs. Falconer, though she had not seen Falconer-court
for fifteen years, decided to go there immediately. Then she should have
the count fairly away from all the designing mothers and rival daughters
of her acquaintance, and besides--she might, by this seasonable visit
to the country, secure Sir Robert Percy for her daughter Arabella. The
commissioner rejoiced in his lady's determination, because he knew that it
would afford him an opportunity of obliging Lord Oldborough. His lordship
had always been averse from the trouble of entertaining company. He
disliked it still more since the death of Lady Oldborough; but he knew that
it was necessary to keep up his interest and his popularity in the country,
and he would, therefore, be obliged by Mrs. Falconer's giving dinners
and entertainments for him. This game had succeeded, when it had been
played--at the time of the Marchioness of Twickenham's marriage. Mr.
Falconer was particularly anxious now to please Lord Oldborough, for he was
fully aware that he had lost ground with his patron, and that his sons had
all in different ways given his lordship cause of dissatisfaction. With
Buckhurst Falconer Lord Oldborough was displeased for being the companion
and encourager of his nephew, Colonel Hauton, in extravagance and gaming.
In paying his court to the nephew, Buckhurst lost the uncle. Lord
Oldborough had hoped that a man of literature and talents, as Buckhurst had
been represented to him, would have drawn his nephew from the turf to the
senate, and would have raised in Colonel Hauton's mind some noble ambition.

"A clergyman! sir," said Lord Oldborough to Commissioner Falconer, with
a look of austere indignation.--"What could induce such a man as Mr.
Buckhurst Falconer to become a clergyman?" The commissioner, affecting to
sympathize in this indignation, declared that he was so angry with his son
that he would not see him. All the time, however, he comforted himself
with the hope that his son would, in a few months, be in possession of
the long-expected living of Chipping-Friars, as the old incumbent was now
speechless. Lord Oldborough had never, after this disowning of Buckhurst,
mentioned his name to the father, and the commissioner thought this
management had succeeded.

Of John Falconer, too, there had been complaints. Officers returned
from abroad had spoken of his stupidity, his neglect of duty, and, above
all, of his boasting that, let him do what he pleased, he was sure
of Lord Oldborough's favour--certain of being a major in one year, a
lieutenant-colonel in two. At first his boasts had been laughed at by
his brother officers, but when, at the year's end, he actually was made a
major, their surprise and discontent were great. Lord Oldborough was blamed
for patronizing such a fellow. All this, in course of time, came to his
lordship's knowledge. He heard these complaints in silence. It was not
his habit suddenly to express his displeasure. He heard, and saw, without
speaking or acting, till facts and proofs had accumulated in his mind. He
seemed to pass over many things unobserved, but they were all registered
in his memory, and he would judge and decide at last in an instant, and
irrevocably. Of this Commissioner Falconer, a cunning man, who watched
parts of a character narrowly, but could not take in the whole, was
not aware. He often blessed his good fortune for having escaped Lord
Oldborough's displeasure or detection, upon occasions when his lordship had
marked all that the commissioner imagined he had overlooked; his lordship
was often most awake to what was passing, and most displeased, when he
appeared most absent or unmoved.

For instance, many mistakes, and much ignorance, had frequently appeared in
his envoy Cunningham Falconer's despatches; but except when, in the first
moment of surprise at the difference between the ineptitude of the envoy,
and the talents of the author of the pamphlet, his lordship had exclaimed,
"_A slovenly despatch_," these mistakes, and this ignorance, had passed
without animadversion. Some symptoms of duplicity, some evasion of the
minister's questions, had likewise appeared, and the commissioner had
trembled lest the suspicions of his patron should be awakened.

Count Altenberg, without design to injure Cunningham, had accidentally
mentioned in the presence of the commissioner and of Lord Oldborough
something of a transaction which was to be kept a profound secret from the
minister, a private intrigue which Cunningham had been carrying on to get
himself appointed envoy to the court of Denmark, by the interest of the
opposite party, in case of a change of ministry. At the moment when this
was alluded to by Count Altenberg, the commissioner was so dreadfully
alarmed that he perspired at every pore; but perceiving that Lord
Oldborough expressed no surprise, asked no explanation, never looked
towards him with suspicion, nor even raised his eyes, Mr. Falconer
flattered himself that his lordship was so completely engrossed in the
operation of replacing a loose glass in his spectacles, that he had not
heard or noticed one word the count had said. In this hope the commissioner
was confirmed by Lord Oldborough's speaking an instant afterwards precisely
in his usual tone, and pursuing his previous subject of conversation,
without any apparent interruption in the train of his ideas. Yet,
notwithstanding that the commissioner fancied that he and his son had
escaped, and were secure in each particular instance, he had a general
feeling that Lord Oldborough was more reserved towards him; and he
was haunted by a constant fear of losing, not his patron's esteem or
confidence, but his favour. Against this danger he constantly guarded. To
flatter, to keep Lord Oldborough in good humour, to make himself agreeable
and necessary by continual petty submissions and services, was the sum of
his policy.