Tales and Novels, Vol. VII by Maria Edgeworth

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

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It was in vain that Rosamond protested her shoes were not wet, and that her
sister's were perfectly dry; a few specks on their white justified Mrs.
Falconer's apprehensions.

"Where is my Arabella? If there was any body I could venture to trouble--"

Count Altenberg instantly offered his services. "Impossible to trouble you,
Count! But since you are so very good, perhaps you could find one of my
daughters for me--Miss Falconer--if you are so kind, sir--Georgiana I am
afraid is dancing."

Miss Falconer was found, and despatched with the Miss Percys, in spite
of all they could say to the contrary, to Mrs. Falconer's dressing-room.
Rosamond was permitted, without much difficulty, to do as she pleased; but
Mrs. Falconer's infinite fears lest Caroline should catch her death of cold
could not be appeased, till she had submitted to change her shoes.

"Caroline!" said Rosamond, in a low voice, "Caroline! do not put on those
shoes--they are too large--you will never be able to dance in them."

"I know that--but I am content. It is better to yield than to debate the
point any longer," said Caroline.

When they returned to the ball-room, Count Altenberg was in earnest
conversation with Mr. Percy; but Mrs. Falconer observed that the Count saw
Miss Caroline Percy the moment she re-appeared.

"Now is not it extraordinary," thought she, "when Georgiana dances so well!
is infinitely more fashionable, and so charmingly dressed!--What can strike
him so much in this girl's appearance?"

It was not her appearance that struck him. He was too well accustomed to
see beauty and fashion in public places to be caught at first sight by a
handsome face, or by a young lady's exhibition of her personal graces at
a ball; but a favourable impression had been made on his mind by what he
had previously heard of Miss Caroline Percy's conduct and character: her
appearance confirmed this impression precisely, because she had not the
practised air of a professed beauty, because she did not seem in the
least to be thinking of herself, or to expect admiration. This was really
uncommon, and, therefore, it fixed the attention of a man like Count
Altenberg. He asked Caroline to dance; she declined dancing. Mr. Temple
engaged Rosamond, and the moment he led her away, the Count availed himself
of her place, and a conversation commenced, which soon made Mrs. Falconer
regret that Caroline had declined dancing. Though the Count was a stranger
to the Percy family, yet there were many subjects of common interest of
which he knew how to avail himself. He began by speaking of Mr. Alfred
Percy, of the pleasure he had had in becoming acquainted with him, of
the circumstance which led to this acquaintance: then he passed, to Lord
Oldborough--to M. de Tourville--to the shipwreck. He paused at Percy-hall,
for he felt for those to whom he was speaking. They understood him, but
they did not avoid the subject; he then indulged himself in the pleasure of
repeating some of the expressions of attachment to their old landlord, and
of honest affection and gratitude, which he had heard from the peasants in
the village.

Mrs. Falconer moved away the moment she foresaw this part of the
conversation, but she was only so far removed as to prevent the necessity
of her taking any part in it, or of appearing to hear what it might be
awkward for her to hear, considering her intimacy with Sir Robert Percy.
She began talking to an old lady about her late illness, of which she
longed to hear from her own lips all the particulars; and whilst the old
lady told her case, Mrs. Falconer, with eyes fixed upon her, and making,
at proper intervals, all the appropriate changes of countenance requisite
to express tender sympathy, alarm, horror, astonishment, and joyful
congratulation, contrived, at the same time, through the whole progress
of fever, and the administration of half the medicines in the London
Pharmacopoeia, to hear every thing that was said by Count Altenberg,
and not to lose a word that was uttered by Caroline. Mrs. Falconer was
particularly anxious to know what would be said about the picture in the
gallery at Percy-hall, with which the Count had been so much charmed. When
he got into the gallery, Mrs. Falconer listened with breathless eagerness,
yet still smiling on the old lady's never-ending history of her
convalescence, and of a shawl undoubtedly Turkish, with the true,
inestimable, inimitable, little border.

Not a word was said of the picture--but a pause implied more to alarm Mrs.
Falconer than could have been expressed by the most flattering compliment.

Mrs. Falconer wondered why supper was so late. She sent to order that it
might be served as soon as possible; but her man, or her gentleman cook,
was not a person to be hurried. Three successive messengers were sent in
vain. He knew his importance, and preserved his dignity. The caramel was
not ready, and nothing could make him dispense with its proper appearance.

How much depended on this caramel! How much, of which the cook never
dreamed! How much Mrs. Falconer suffered during this half hour, and
suffered with a smiling countenance! How much, with a scowling brow, Miss
Georgiana Falconer made poor Petcalf endure!

Every thing conspired to discomfit Mrs. Falconer. She saw the manner in
which all the principal gentry in the country, one after another, expressed
satisfaction at meeting the Percy family. She saw the regard and respect
with which they were addressed, notwithstanding their loss of fortune and
station. It was quite astonishing to Mrs. Falconer. Every body in the
rooms, except her own set of town friends, seemed _so strangely_ interested
about this family. "How provoking that I was obliged to ask them here!--And
Count Altenberg sees and hears all this!"

Yes--all this confirmed, by the testimony of their equals in rank, the
favourable ideas he had first received of the Percys from their inferiors
and dependants. Every person who spoke to or of Caroline--and he heard many
speak of her who had known her from childhood--showed affection in their
countenance and manner.

At length, supper was announced, and Mrs. Falconer requested Count
Altenberg would take Lady Frances Arlington into the supper-room. Miss
Georgiana Falconer was anxious to sit as near as possible to her dear Lady
Frances, and this was happily accomplished.

The Count was more than usually agreeable; but whether this arose from his
desire to please the ladies who sat beside him, or those who sat
opposite to him, those to whom he was in politeness bound to address his
conversation, or those whose attention he might hope it would attract, were
questions of difficult solution.

As they were returning into the ball-room, Rosamond watched her
opportunity, made her way along a passage which led to Mrs. Falconer's
dressing-room, seized her sister's shoes, returned with the prize before
Caroline reached the antechamber, and, unseen by all, made her put them
on--"Now promise me not to refuse to dance, if you are asked again."

Count Altenberg engaged Miss Georgiana Falconer the first two dances--when
these were finished, he asked Caroline to dance, and Mrs. Falconer, who
dreaded the renewal of conversation between them, and who knew nothing of
Rosamond's counter-manoeuvre about the shoes, was surprised and rejoiced
when she saw Caroline comply, and suffer herself to be led out by Count
Altenberg. But Miss Georgiana, who had observed that Rosamond danced well,
had fears--the mother's hopes were disappointed, the daughter's fears were
justified. Caroline showed all the capability of dancing without being a
dancer, and it certainly did not escape the Count's observation that she
possessed what is most desirable in female accomplishments, the power to
excel without the wish to display. Immediately after she had finished
these dances, the favour of her hand was solicited by a certain Colonel
Spandrill. Colonel Spandrill, celebrated for his fashionable address and
personal accomplishments, had been the hoped-for partner of many rival
ladies, and his choice excited no small degree of emotion. However, it was
settled that he only danced with Miss Percy because Mrs. Falconer had made
it her particular request. One of these ladies declared she had overheard
that request; Colonel Spandrill then was safe from all blame, but the full
fire of their resentment was directed against poor Caroline. Every feature
of her face was criticised, and even the minutiae of her dress. They all
allowed that she was handsome, but each found some different fault with
her style of beauty. It was curious to observe how this secondary class of
young ladies, who had without discomfiture or emotion seen Caroline the
object of Count Altenberg's attention, were struck with indignation the
moment they suspected her of pleasing Colonel Spandrill. Envy seldom takes
two steps at once: it is always excited by the fear of losing the proximate
object of ambition; it never exists without some mixture of hope as well
as of fear. These ladies having no hope of captivating Count Altenberg,
Caroline did not then appear to be their rival; but now that they dreaded
her competition with a man whom they had hopes of winning, they pulled her
to pieces without mercy.

The Miss Falconers and their quadrille-set were resting themselves,
whilst this country dance was going on. Miss Georgiana was all the time
endeavouring to engage Count Altenberg in conversation. By all the modern
arts of coquetry, so insipid to a man of the world, so contemptible to a
man of sense, she tried to recall the attention of the Count. Politeness
obliged him to seem to listen, and he endeavoured to keep up that kind of
conversation which is suited to a ball-room; but he relapsed continually
into reverie, till at last, provoked by his absence of mind, Miss
Georgiana, unable to conceal her vexation, unjustly threw the blame upon
her health. She complained of the headache, of heat, of cold, of country
dances--such barbarous things!--How could any one bear any thing but
quadrilles? Then the music--the band was horrid!--they played vastly too
fast--shocking! there was no such thing as keeping time--did not Count
Altenberg think so?

Count Altenberg was at that moment beating time with his foot, in exact
cadence to Miss Caroline Percy's dancing: Miss Falconer saw this, but not
till she had uttered her question, not till it had been observed by all her
companions. Lady Frances Arlington half smiled, and half a smile instantly
appeared along a whole line of young ladies. Miss Georgiana suddenly became
sensible that she was exposed to the ridicule or sarcastic pity of those
who but an hour before had flattered her in the grossest manner: she had
expected to produce a great effect at this ball--she saw another preferred.
Her spirits sunk, and even the powers of affectation failed. The struggle
between the fine lady and the woman ceased. Passion always conquers art
at a _coup de main_. When any strong emotion of the soul is excited,
the natural character, temper, and manners seldom fail to break through
all that is factitious--those who had seen Miss Georgiana Falconer only
through the veil of affectation were absolutely astonished at the change
that appeared when it was thrown aside. By the Count the metamorphosis
was unnoticed, for he was intent on another object; but by many of the
spectators it was beheld with open surprise, or secret contempt. She
exhibited at this moment the picture of a disappointed coquette--the spasm
of jealousy had seized her heart; and, unable to conceal or endure the pain
in this convulsion of mind, she forgot all grace and decorum. Her mother
from afar saw the danger at this crisis, and came to her relief. The danger
in Mrs. Falconer's opinion was, that the young lady's want of temper should
be seen by Count Altenberg; she therefore carried him off to a distant part
of the room, to show him, as she said, "a bassoon player, who was the exact
image of Hogarth's enraged musician."

In the mean time Colonel Spandrill and Caroline had finished their dance:
and the colonel, who made it a principle to engross the attention of
the prettiest woman in the room, was now, after his manner, paying his
adorations to his fair partner. Promising himself that he should be able to
recede or advance as he thought proper, he used a certain happy ambiguity
of phrase, which, according to the manner in which it is understood,
or rather according to the tone and look with which it is accompanied,
says every thing--or nothing. With prudent caution, he began with darts,
flames, wounds, and anguish; words which every military man holds himself
privileged to use towards every fine woman he meets. Darts, flames, wounds,
and anguish, were of no avail. The colonel went on, as far as bright
eyes--bewitching smiles--and heavenly grace. Still without effect. With
astonishment he perceived that the girl, who looked as if she had never
heard that she was handsome, received the full fire of his flattery with
the composure of a veteran inured to public admiration.

Mrs. Falconer was almost as much surprised and disappointed by this as
the colonel could be. She had purposely introduced the gallant Colonel
Spandrill to the Miss Percys, in hopes that Caroline's head might be
_affected_ by flattery; and that she might not then retain all that
dignity of manner which, as Mrs. Falconer had sense enough to see, was her
distinguishing charm in the eyes of the Count. Frustrated, and dreading
every instant that with all her address she should not be able to manage
her Georgiana's temper, Mrs. Falconer became excessively impatient for the
departure of the Percy family.

"Mr. Falconer!" cried she; "Commissioner! Mrs. Percy ordered her carriage
a considerable time ago. They have a great way to return, and a dreadful
road--I am uneasy about them--do pray be so good to see what detains her
carriage."

The commissioner went out of the room, and a few minutes afterwards
returned, and taking Mrs. Falconer aside, said, "I have something to tell
you, my dear, that will surprise you--indeed I can scarcely believe it.
Long as I have known Lord Oldborough, I never knew him do, or think of
doing such a thing--and he ill--at least ill enough with the gout, for an
excuse--an excuse he thought sufficient for the whole county--and there are
people of so much more consequence--I protest I cannot understand it."

"Understand what, commissioner?--Will you tell me what has happened, and
you may be as much surprised as you please afterwards? Lord Oldborough has
the gout," added she, in an accent which expressed "_Well, all the world
knows that._"

"Lord Oldborough's own confidential man Rodney, you know--"

"Well, well, Rodney I do know--what of him?"

"He is here--I have seen him this instant--from his lord, with a message to
Mr. Percy, to let him know that there are apartments prepared for him
and all his family at Clermont-park; and that he insists upon their not
returning this night to the Hills, lest the ladies should be tired."

"Lord Oldborough!" repeated Mrs. Falconer; "Lord Oldborough!--the
ladies!--Clermont-park! where none but persons of the first distinction are
invited!"

"Ay, now you are surprised," cried the commissioner.

"Surprised! beyond all power of expression," said Mrs. Falconer.

"Beyond all power of dissimulation," she should have said.

"Count Altenberg, too, going to hand them to their carriage--going to
Clermont-park with them!--I wish to Heaven," said Mrs. Falconer to herself,
"I had never given this unfortunate ball!"

Mrs. Falconer was mistaken in this idea. It was not the circumstance of
meeting Caroline at a ball that made this impression on Count Altenberg;
wherever he had seen her, if he had had opportunity of conversing, and of
observing the dignity and simplicity of her manner, the same effect would
have been produced--but in fact Mrs. Falconer's fears, and her daughter's
jealousy, had much magnified the truth. Count Altenberg had not, as they
fancied, fallen desperately in love at first sight with Caroline--he had
only been pleased and interested sufficiently to make him desirous to see
more of her. Caroline, though so much the object of jealousy, had not the
slightest idea that she had made a conquest--she simply thought the count's
conversation agreeable, and she was glad that she should see him again at
breakfast the next morning.

CHAPTER XXVII.

Mr. and Mrs. Percy accepted of Lord Oldborough's invitation. They found
apartments prepared for them at Clermont-park, and servants ready to
attend, with the officious promptitude with which a great man's domestics
usually wait upon those who are supposed to stand high in their master's
favour.

During his illness Lord Oldborough had always breakfasted in his own room;
but his lordship appeared at the breakfast-table the morning after the
ball, ready to receive his guests. Nothing could be more gracious, more
polite, more kind, than his reception of Mr. Percy and his family. From the
moment he was introduced to the wife and daughters of his friend, he seemed
to throw aside the reserve and coldness of his manner--to forget at once
the statesman and the minister, the affairs of Europe and the intrigues
of the cabinet--to live entirely for the present moment and the present
company. The company consisted of the Percy family, Count Altenberg,
and Mr. Temple. It was a common practice with Lord Oldborough to set
conversation a-going, then to become silent, and to retire to his own
thoughts--he would just throw the ball, and leave others to run for it.
But now he condescended at least to join in the pursuit, though apparently
without ambition to obtain distinction in the race. After breakfast he
showed the ladies into his library; and, as he was himself disabled,
requested Mr. Temple to take down such books or prints as he thought
most worthy of their attention. Literature had been neglected, perhaps
undervalued, by Lord Oldborough, since he had devoted himself to politics;
but he could at will recall the classical stores of his youth; and on
modern books his quick eye and ear, joined to his strong and rapid
judgment, enabled him to decide better than many who make it the only
business of their lives to read. Even Mr. Percy, who knew him best, was
surprised; and still more surprised was Mr. Temple, who had seen him in
varieties of company, some of the highest rank and fashion both in wit and
literature, where his lordship had appeared either absent of mind or a
silent listener; but he now exerted those powers of conversation which he
usually suffered to lie dormant. Instead of waiting in proud expectation
that those who were in his company should prove their claims to his
attention, he now produced his own intellectual treasures; evidently not
for the vanity of display, but to encourage his guests to produce those
talents which he seemed to take it for granted that they possessed. It
appeared to be his sole object, his pride and pleasure, to pay attention to
the wife and daughters of his friend; and to show them and him to advantage
to an illustrious foreigner.

"Yes," said he, apart to Count Altenberg, "I am proud to show you a
specimen of a cultivated independent country gentleman and his family."

With his usual penetration, Lord Oldborough soon discerned the
characteristics of each of the ladies of this family--the good sense and
good breeding of Mrs. Percy, the wit and generous simplicity of Rosamond,
the magnanimity and the superior understanding of Caroline. As instances of
these different qualities appeared, his quick and brightening eye marked
his approbation, sometimes by a glance at Count Altenberg, by a nod to Mr.
Temple, or by a congratulatory smile as he turned to Mr. Percy.

"I now comprehend," said his lordship, "why Mr. Percy could never be
induced to take a part in public business. Ladies, you have done a great
injury to your country--you have made this gentleman too happy in domestic
life."

Lord Oldborough spoke this in a tone of raillery, and with a smile--but
the smile was succeeded by a deep sigh, and a dark gloom of countenance.
At this moment one of his secretaries, Mr. Shaw, came in with papers to be
signed. The minister reappeared. Lord Oldborough's mind turned instantly
to business; he withdrew to a table apart, sat down, and began to look over
the first paper that was laid before him. Mr. Percy rang the bell, and
something was said about not intruding on his lordship's time--he looked
up: "Mr. Temple, you are free. Mr. Shaw shall finish whatever letters it
is necessary should be written this morning. You shall have the pleasure
of being with your friends. It is a pleasure you deserve, sir, and can
appreciate. Mrs. Percy expressed a wish to see the grounds--you will show
them to these ladies. I am a prisoner still," said his lordship, looking
down at his gouty hand, "and always shall be a prisoner," added he, turning
his eye upon the papers which Mr. Shaw held.

The ladies, accompanied by Mr. Temple, and by Count Altenberg, went out to
walk. Mr. Percy stayed one moment to express his sense of the extraordinary
politeness and kindness with which Lord Oldborough had honoured him and his
family.

"You owe me no thanks, my dear sir. Kindness can be repaid only by
kindness. It is a species of debt, which in the course of my life I have
seldom been called upon to pay."

This was said not in a voice either of sentiment or of compliment, but
rather in an austere tone, and with a stern countenance of conquered
emotion. Without looking at Mr. Percy, he received and answered the
farewell shake of the hand; his lips were instantly after strongly
compressed; and, taking up his pen, the man was again absorbed in the
minister.

Mr. Percy joined the party who were going to walk in the park. Count
Altenberg had been unusually silent in Lord Oldborough's company: with the
becoming deference of a young man, in the presence of one superior in age,
and in high station, he had listened, eager to learn, instead of impatient
to talk. Attention of course now turned upon him, as the stranger and the
foreigner.

With the same perfect taste and good-breeding with which he knew how to pay
honour due, he received it, and appeared as much at his ease, whether he
was in the shade or the light, whether he was unnoticed or the object of
general attention. He had that air of self-possession, which characterizes
a person secure of his own resources, and not afraid to produce his
abilities.

The conversation turned at first upon the beauties of nature--Clermont-park
was one of the really magnificent places in England which an Englishman may
feel proud to show to a foreigner.

Count Altenberg politely and justly observed how different the country
seats of our nobility are from the ruinous and comfortless _chateaux_ of
most of the French nobility.

Clermont-park, however, was not new to the count. Commissioner Falconer
had the day after his arrival shown him every thing that was to be seen:
his attention, therefore, as they pursued their walk, was not so much
distracted by external objects as to prevent him from wishing to converse.
Finding that Mr. Percy had travelled, he spoke of Switzerland and Italy;
and, without any of the jargon of a connoisseur, showed that he felt with
sensibility and enthusiasm the beautiful and sublime. It soon appeared that
he had seen various countries, not merely with the eye of a painter and a
poet, but of a philosophical traveller, who can allow for the differences
of national taste, and discern how its variations are influenced by
climate, education, government, and local circumstances. In his rapid
panorama of foreign countries, he showed variety of knowledge, and without
illiberal prejudice against any nation, an amiable predilection for his
native country. Next to his own country he preferred England, which, as he
said, by the mother's side, he might call his own. She had early instilled
into him an admiration for our free constitution, and a love of our
domestic habits; but he had never before visited this country, and he was
particularly desirous to obtain an accurate knowledge of England, and of
the manners and modes of life of its inhabitants. He seemed thus eager to
obtain information, not merely to gratify a cursory or selfish curiosity,
but with a view to the future, and with a hope of doing permanent good.
It was clear that he was not only a philosophical but a benevolent
traveller, to whom nothing that concerns his fellow-creatures is foreign
or indifferent. His treasuring up all he had seen abroad, that could be
useful at home, reminded Caroline of Colonel Hungerford; but she observed
that Count Altenberg's views were more enlarged; he was unbiassed by
professional habits; his sphere of action was higher; heir to extensive
property, with all the foreign rights of territorial dominion hereditarily
his; and with a probability of obtaining the political power of ministerial
station; plans, which in other circumstances might have been romantic,
with Count Altenberg's prospects and abilities, were within the bounds of
sound judgment and actual practicability. But whatever these intentions
might be, they were only to be inferred from his conversation; he scarcely
spoke of himself, or of his own designs; whatever he was led to say on
such subjects, he seemed, immediately after he had said it, to feel as an
impropriety, not justified by the slight interest which the acquaintance of
a few hours could inspire.