Tales and Novels, Vol. VII by Maria Edgeworth

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

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In consequence of Lady Trant's intimation, which of course was made with
all possible delicacy, Georgiana and Mrs. Falconer wrote to Buckhurst in
the strongest terms, urging him to give up his intended marriage. There
were, as they forcibly represented, so many other old women with large
fortunes who could in the course of a short time be found, who would be
quite as good matches for him, that it would argue a total insensibility
to the interests and entreaties of his beloved mother and sister, if he
persisted in his present preposterous design. Buckhurst answered,

"MY DEAR MOTHER AND GEORGY,

"I was married yesterday, and am as sorry for it to-day as you can be.

"Yours truly,

"B.F.

"P.S.--There are other young men, with as good fortunes as English Clay, in
the world."

The letter and the postscript disappointed and enraged Mrs. Falconer and
Georgiana beyond description.

English Clay left his D.I.O. at Mrs. Falconer's door, and _banged_ down to
Clay-hall.

Georgiana, violent in the expression of her disappointment, would have
exposed herself to Lady Trant, and to half her acquaintance; but Mrs.
Falconer, in the midst of her mortification, retained command of temper
sufficient to take thought for the future. She warned Lady Trant to be
silent, and took precautions to prevent the affair from being known;
providently determining, that, as soon as her daughter should recover from
the disappointment of losing Clay-hall, she would marry her to Petcalf, and
settle her at once at the lodge in Asia Minor.

"Till Georgiana is married," said she to herself, "the commissioner will
never let me have peace: if English Clay's breaking off the match gets
wind, we are undone; for who will think of a rejected girl, beautiful or
fashionable though she be? So the best thing that can be done is to marry
her immediately to Petcalf. I will have it so--and the wedding-clothes will
not have been bought in vain."

The bringing down the young lady's imagination, however, from Clay-hall
to a lodge was a task of much difficulty; and Mrs. Falconer often in
the bitterness of her heart exclaimed, that she had the most ungrateful
children in the world. It seems that it is a tacit compact between mothers
and daughters of a certain class, that if the young ladies are dressed,
amused, advertised, and exhibited at every fashionable public place and
private party, their hearts, or hands at least, are to be absolutely at the
disposal of their parents.

It was just when Mrs. Falconer was exasperated by Georgiana's ingratitude,
that her son Buckhurst was obliged to come to London after his marriage, to
settle with his creditors. His bride insisted upon accompanying him, and
chose this unpropitious time for being introduced to his family. And such a
bride! Mrs. Buckhurst Falconer! Such an introduction! Such a reception! His
mother cold and civil, merely from policy to prevent their family-quarrels
from becoming public; his sisters--

But enough. Here let us turn from the painful scene, and leave this house
divided against itself.

CHAPTER XXXI.

LETTER FROM ALFRED TO HIS FATHER.

"MY DEAR FATHER,

"I send you two pamphlets on the causes of the late changes in the
ministry, one by a friend, the other by an enemy, of Lord Oldborough.
Temple, I should have thought the author of the first, but that I know he
has not time to write, and that there does not appear any of that _behind
the scene knowledge_ which his situation affords. All the pamphleteers and
newspaper politicians write as if they knew the whole--some confident that
the ministry split on one question--some on another; long declamations and
abuse follow as usual on each side, but WISE people, and of course myself
among that number, suspect 'that all that we know is, that we know
nothing.' That there was some private intrigue in the cabinet, which has
not yet transpired, I opine from Temple's reserve whenever I have mentioned
the subject. This morning, when I asked him to frank these pamphlets, he
laughed, and said that I was sending coals to Newcastle: what this meant
he refused to explain, or rather he attempted to explain it away, by
observing, that people of good understanding often could judge better at a
distance of what was passing in the political world, than those who were
close to the scene of action, and subject to hear the contradictory reports
of the day; therefore, he conceived that I might be sending materials for
thinking, to one who could judge better than I can. I tormented Temple for
a quarter of an hour with a cross-examination so able, that it was really a
pity to waste it out of the courts; but I could get nothing more from him.
Is it possible, my dear father, that you are at the bottom of all this?

"Lord Oldborough certainly told me the other day, and in a very significant
manner, and, as I now recollect, fixing his inquiring eye upon me as he
said the words, that he not only felt esteem and regard for Mr. Percy, but
_gratitude_--gratitude for tried friendship. I took it at the time as a
general expression of kindness; now I recollect the look, and the pause
after the word gratitude, I put this with Temple's coals to Newcastle. But,
if it be a secret, I must not inquire, and if it be not, you will tell it
to me. So I shall go on to my own affairs.

"The other day I was surprised by a visit at my chambers from an East-India
director. Lord Oldborough, I find, recommended it to him to employ me in
a very important cause, long pending, for a vast sum of money: the whole,
with all its accumulated and accumulating interest, depending on a point of
law. Heaven send me special sense, or special nonsense, sufficient to avoid
a nonsuit, of which there have been already no less than three in this
cause.

"What do you think of Lord Oldborough's kindness? This is only one of many
instances in which I have traced his desire to serve me. It is not common
with politicians, thus to recollect those who have no means of serving
them, and who have never reminded them even of their existence by paying
court in any way actively or passively.

"The Falconers are all discontented with his lordship at this moment,
because he has disposed of a sinecure place on which the commissioner had
long had his eye. His lordship has given it to an old disabled sea-captain,
whom he knew only by reputation.

"The accounts you have heard of Buckhurst's marriage are, alas! too
true; and what you have been told of the lady's age and ugliness is not
exaggerated. As to her temper and her avarice, I am afraid that what you
have heard of them is also true; for a brother lawyer of mine, who was
employed to draw the settlements, says she has taken care to keep every
penny she could in her own power; and that, in the whole course of his
practice, he never saw so hard a battle between love and parsimony. Poor
Buckhurst! who could have foreseen that this would be his fate! I met him
in the street yesterday with his bride, and he looked as if he would rather
be hanged than receive my congratulations: I passed without seeming to have
seen them.

"I have just received Mr. Barclay's letter, and am going to work upon
his settlements. So Caroline's wishes for Lady Mary Pembroke will be
accomplished. I asked Temple whether Lord Oldborough had heard any thing
of Count Altenberg since his return to his own country. Yes--one _private_
letter to Lord Oldborough, from which nothing had transpired but one line
of general thanks for civilities received in England. Temple, who seems
to have formed the same notion and the same wishes that we had, told me
yesterday, without my questioning him, that Lord Oldborough had written
with his own hand an answer to the Count, which none of the secretaries
have seen. Temple, in sealing up the packet, ventured to ask whether there
was any chance of seeing Count Altenberg again in England. 'None that he
knew,' Lord Oldborough answered. Temple, who of all men is least like
Commissioner Falconer in circumlocutory address, at once blurted out, 'Is
Count Altenberg going to be married?' Lord Oldborough turned and looked
upon him with surprise--whether surprise at his curiosity, or at the
improbability of the Count's making his lordship the confidant of his
love-affairs, Temple declares he was in too much confusion to be able to
decide. Lord Oldborough made no reply, but took up an answer to a memorial,
which he had ordered Temple to draw, pointed out some unlucky mistakes in
it, and finished by saying to him, 'Mr. Temple, your thoughts are not in
your business. _Sir, I do believe you are in love_;' which sentence Temple
declares his lordship pronounced with a look and accent that would have
suited, _Sir, I do believe you have the plague_.' And if so, do me the
justice to let me employ Mr. Shaw to do your business, till you are
married.'

"Temple says that Lord Oldborough is proud of showing himself a foe to
love, which he considers as the bane of ambition, and as one of the
weaknesses of human nature, to which a great man ought to be superior.

"Whether the secretary be right or wrong in this opinion of his lordship, I
have not seen enough to be able to determine; and I suspect that Temple
is not at present a perfectly calm observer. Ever since his visit to the
country he seems not to be entirely master of himself: his heart is still
hovering round about some absent object--what object, I do not know; for
though he does not deny my charge, he will not tell me the name of his fair
one. I suspect Lady Frances Arlington of having stolen his heart. I am very
sorry for it--for I am clear she is only coquetting with him. Temple says
that he is too poor to marry. He is so amiable, that I am sure he will make
any woman he marries happy, if it be not her own fault, and if they have
but enough to live upon. It grieves me to hear his unavailing daily regrets
for having quitted the bar. Had he continued in his original profession,
he might, and in all probability would have been, at this moment (as his
competitor, a man much his inferior in talent, actually is), in the receipt
of four thousand good pounds per annum, independent of all men; and might
have married any woman in any rank. Besides, even with such a patron as
Lord Oldborough, Temple feels dependence grievous to his spirit. He is of
a very good family, and was not early used to a subservient situation.
His health too will be hurt by his close confinement to the business of
office--and he has no time for indulging his literary taste--no play
for his genius: that was his original grievance at the bar, but his
present occupations are less congenial to his taste than law ever was.
His brother-secretary, Mr. Shaw, is a mere matter-of-fact man, who is
particularly unsuited to him--an objector to every thing new, a curtailer
and contemner of all eloquence: poor Temple is uneasy and discontented;
he would give up his situation to-morrow but that he cannot quit Lord
Oldborough. He says that he has a hundred times resolved to resign--that he
has had his letter written, and the words on his lips; but he never could,
when it came to the point, present the letter, or pronounce the farewell
to Lord Oldborough. Wonderful the ascendancy this man has over the
mind!--Extraordinary his power of attaching, with manners so little
conciliatory! Adieu, my dear father; I have indulged myself too long in
writing to you. I have to read over the late Mr. Panton's will, and to
give our friend Mr. Gresham an opinion upon it--notwithstanding Rosamond's
cruelty to him, he is as much our friend, and her friend, as ever. Panton's
will is on ten skins of parchment: and then I have a plea in rejoinder to
draw for Lady Jane Granville; and, worse than all, to read and answer four
of her ladyship's notes now on my table. By-the-bye, I would rather carry
on a suit for any four men, than for one such woman of business as poor
Lady Jane. She is never at rest one moment; never can believe that either
lawyer or solicitor knows what he is about--always thinks her letters and
notes can do more than bills in chancery, or than the lord chancellor
himself. She frets incessantly. I must request Erasmus to medicine her to
repose; she has absolutely a _law fever_. Erasmus is at Richmond--sent for
by some _grandee_: he is in high practice. He told me he began last week to
write to Rosamond, from the bedside of some sleeping patient, a full
and true answer to all her questions about Miss Panton; but the sleeper
awakened, and the doctor had never time to finish his story.

"Adieu a second time. Love to all.

"Dear father, yours affectionately,

"ALFRED PERCY.

"Just as I began the second skin of Panton's will, a note was brought to
me from--whom do you think? Lord Oldborough, requesting to see me at four
o'clock. What can his lordship want with me?--I must send this frank before
I can satisfy my own curiosity on this point--or yours, Rosamond."

After finishing the perusal of Mr. Panton's long-winded will, writing an
opinion upon it for Mr. Gresham, and penning a quieting note for poor Lady
Jane Granville, Alfred, eager to be punctual to the appointed hour, went to
the minister. He need not have looked at his watch so often, or have walked
so fast, for when he arrived it wanted five minutes of the time appointed,
and his lordship had not returned from a visit to the Duke of Greenwich. He
was told, however, that orders had been given for his admittance; and he
was shown into an apartment where he had leisure, during a full quarter of
an hour, to admire his own punctuality. At last he heard a noise of loud
huzzas in the street, and looking out of the window, he saw a crowd at the
farthest end of the street; and as it moved nearer, perceived that the
populace had taken the horses from Lord Oldborough's carriage, and were
drawing him to his own door with loud acclamations. His lordship bowed to
the multitude as he got out of his carriage rather proudly and coldly, yet
still the crowd threw up their hats and huzzaed. He apologized to Alfred,
as he entered the room, for having been later than his appointment.
Commissioner Falconer and Mr. Temple were with him, and the commissioner
immediately began to tell how they had been delayed by the zeal of the
people. Lord Oldborough took a paper from his pocket, and walked to the
window to read it, without seeming to hear one word that the commissioner
was saying, and without paying any attention to the acclamations of the
multitude below, which were again repeated on their seeing him at the
window. When his lordship had finished looking over the paper, he called
upon Alfred to witness it, and then presenting it to Mr. Falconer, he said,
in his haughtiest manner, "An equivalent, sir, for that sinecure place
which you asked for, and which it was out of my power to obtain for you.
_That_ was given as the just reward of merit, and of public services. My
private _debts_--" [Alfred Percy observed that his lordship did not use
the word _obligation_]. "My private debts to your family, Mr. Falconer,
could not be paid from the public fund with which I am entrusted, but you
will not, I hope, find me the less desirous that they should be properly
acknowledged. The annuity," continued he, putting his finger on the amount,
which the commissioner longed to see, but at which he had not dared yet to
look, "the annuity is to the full amount of that place which, I think you
assured me, would satisfy your and Mrs. Falconer's expectations".

"Oh! my lord, more than satisfy: but from your lordship's private
fortune--from your lordship's own emoluments of office, I cannot possibly
think--Mrs. Falconer would, I am sure, be excessively distressed--"

"Do me the favour, sir, to let no more be said upon this subject,"
interrupted Lord Oldborough. "As you return home, will you speak to those
poor people whom I still hear in the street, and advise them now to return
peaceably to their homes. My man Rodney, I am afraid, has thought it for my
honour to be too liberal to these good people--but you will speak to them,
commissioner."

The commissioner, who never completely felt Lord Oldborough's character,
imagined that at this moment his lordship secretly enjoyed the clamour
of popular applause, and that this cold indifference was affected; Mr.
Falconer therefore protested, with a smile, that he would do his best
to calm the enthusiasm of the people, but that it was a hard, if not
impossible task, to stem the tide of Lord Oldborough's popularity. "Enjoy
it, my lord!" concluded Mr. Falconer; "Enjoy it!--No minister in my memory
ever was so popular!"

As soon as the commissioner, after saying these words, had left the room,
Lord Oldborough, in a tone of sovereign contempt, repeated the word,
"Popularity! There goes a man, now, who thinks me fit to be a fool to
fame!"

"Popularity," said Mr. Temple, "is a bad master, but a good servant. A
great man will," as Burke says, "disdain to veer like the weathercock
on the temple of fashion with every breath of wind. But may he not, my
lord--say, for you know--may he not wisely take advantage of the gale,
and direct this great _power_, so as to work the state-machinery to good
purpose?"

"A dangerous power," replied Lord Oldborough, turning from his secretary
to Alfred, as if he were impatient to speak of business. Temple, who had
more of the habits of a man of letters than of a man of business or of a
courtier, was apt unseasonably to pursue a discussion, and to pique himself
upon showing sincerity by declaring a difference of opinion from his
patron. Utterly repugnant as this was to the minister's habits and temper,
yet in admiration of the boldness of the man, and in consideration for his
true attachment, Lord Oldborough bore it with magnanimous patience--when he
had time--and when he had not, would cut it short at once.

"In a mixed government, popularity, philosophically speaking, if I may
differ from your lordship--" Temple began.

"Permit me, sir, first," interrupted Lord Oldborough, "to settle my
business with Mr. Alfred Percy, who, being a professional man, and in high
practice, probably sets a just value upon his time."

Mr. Temple, who was a man of quick feelings, felt a word or glance of
reproof from Lord Oldborough with keen sensibility. Alfred could not fix
his own attention upon what his lordship was now beginning to say. Lord
Oldborough saw reflected in Alfred's countenance the disturbance in his
friend's: and immediately returning, and putting a key into Mr. Temple's
hand--"You will do me a service, sir," said he, "by looking over my
father's papers marked _private_ in red letters. They may be necessary in
this business--they are papers which I could trust only to one who has my
interests at heart."

Mr. Temple's face brightened instantly, and bowing much lower than usual,
he received the key with great respect, and hurried away to search for the
papers.

"For a similar reason, Mr. Alfred Percy," said Lord Oldborough, "they
shall, if you please, be put into your hands." His lordship moved a chair
towards Alfred, and seated himself. "My law-agent has not satisfied me of
late. A suit, into which I have been plunged by those who had the direction
of my business, has not been carried on with ability or vigour. I had
not leisure to look into any affairs that merely concerned myself.
Circumstances have just wakened me to the subject, and to the perception
that my private fortune has suffered, and will suffer yet more materially,
unless I am fortunate enough to find united in the same person a lawyer and
a friend. I have looked round and see many older barristers than Mr. Alfred
Percy, but none so likely to be interested in my affairs as the son of my
earliest friend, and few more capable of conducting them with diligence and
ability. May I hope, sir, for hereditary kindness from you, as well as for
professional services?"

No one knew better than Lord Oldborough how to seem receiving whilst he
conferred a favour; and if ever he appeared harsh, it was only where he
knew that the people to whom he spoke had not feelings worthy of his
consideration. His lordship was as much pleased by the manner in which this
trust was accepted, as our young lawyer could be by the manner in which it
was offered.

"My papers then shall be sent to you directly," said Lord Oldborough. "Look
over them, and if you are of opinion that my case is a bad one, I will stop
where I am. If, on the contrary, you find that justice and law are on my
side, proceed, persist. I shall trust the whole to you, sir, without a
farther question."

Lord Oldborough next spoke of a steward of his at Clermont-park, who, as
he had reason to suspect, was leagued with a certain Attorney Sharpe in
fraudulent designs: his lordship hoped that Mr. Alfred Percy, during his
vacations, when spent in that neighbourhood, might, consistently with his
professional duties, find time to see into these affairs; and, in his
lordship's absence, might supply the want of the master's eye.

Alfred assured his lordship that no effort or care should be wanting on his
part to justify the high confidence with which he was honoured.

"Since you are going to take charge of my business, sir," pursued Lord
Oldborough, "it is fit you should know my views relative to my affairs.
In my present situation, with the favour I enjoy, and the opportunities I
command, it would be easy to make my fortune whatever I pleased. Avarice is
not my passion. It is my pride not to increase the burdens of my country.
Mine is a generous country, ever ready to reward her public servants,
living or dying. But, whilst I live, never will I speculate upon her
generosity, and, when I die, never shall my heirs appeal to her compassion.
My power at its zenith, and my character being known, I can afford to
lay aside much of that adventitious splendour which adds nothing to true
dignity. Economy and dignity are compatible--essential to each other. To
preserve independence, and, consequently, integrity, economy is necessary
in all stations. Therefore, sir, I determine--for I am not stringing
sentences together that are to end in nothing--I determine, at this moment,
to begin to make retrenchments in my expenditure. The establishment at
Clermont-park, whither I have no thoughts of returning, may be reduced. I
commit that, sir, to your discretion."

Mr. Temple returned with the papers, on which Lord Oldborough put his seal,
and said his solicitor should deliver them, with all others that were
necessary, the next morning to Mr. Percy. Alfred, careful never to intrude
a moment on the time of the minister, rose, and, without repeating his
thanks, made his bow.

"I consider this lawsuit as a fortunate circumstance," said Lord
Oldborough, "since it affords me means at last of engaging Mr. Alfred
Percy in my service, in a mode which cannot," added his lordship, smiling,
"interfere with his family horror of ministerial patronage."

Alfred said something respectfully expressive of his sense of the
professional advantage he must derive from being employed by Lord
Oldborough--a species of patronage, by which he felt himself most highly
honoured, and for which he was sure his whole family would feel properly
grateful.

"Sir," said Lord Oldborough, following him to the door, "if I had ever
doubted it, you would convince me that perfect propriety of manner is
consistent with independence of mind. As to the rest, we all know the
difference between a client and a patron."

The management of Lord Oldborough's business necessarily led to an increase
of intercourse between his lordship and Alfred, which was peculiarly
agreeable to our young barrister, not only as it gave him opportunities of
seeing more of the character of this minister, but as it put it into his
power to be of service occasionally to his friend Mr. Temple. Chained to
a desk, his genius confined to the forms of office, and with a master too
high, and an associate too low, to afford him any of the pleasures of
society, he had languished for want of a companion. Alfred encouraged him
by example to submit to the drudgery of business, showed him that a man of
letters may become a man of business, and that the habits of both may be
rendered compatible. Temple now performed the duties of his office with
all that regularity which is supposed to be peculiar to dulness. About
this time he had been brought into parliament by Lord Oldborough, and
in the intervals of business, in that leisure which order afforded him,
he employed and concentrated his powers on a political question of
considerable importance; and when he was completely master of the subject,
he rose in the House of Commons, and made a speech, which from all
parties obtained deserved applause. The speech was published. A few days
afterwards, Mr. Temple happened to enter Lord Oldborough's cabinet earlier
than usual: he found his lordship reading; and reading with so much
attention, that he did not observe him--he heard his lordship's quick and
decided pencil mark page after page. At length, rising and turning to throw
the book on the table, Lord Oldborough saw his secretary copying a letter.