Tales and Novels — Volume 08
Edgeworth, Maria, 1767-1849
English
We will print you a perfectly bound paperback of your selected title and send it to you at your nominated address
Below is a summary of Tales and Novels — Volume 08
Online Distributed Proofreading Team
TALES AND NOVELS, VOLUME VIII
PATRONAGE, concluded; COMIC DRAMAS; LEONORA; AND LETTERS.
BY
MARIA EDGEWORTH.
IN TEN VOLUMES. WITH ENGRAVINGS ON STEEL.
PATRONAGE
CHAPTER XXXVI.
No less an event than Alfred's marriage, no event calling less imperatively
upon her feelings, could have recovered Lady Jane's sympathy for Caroline.
But Alfred Percy, who had been the restorer of her fortune, her friend in
adversity, what pain it would give him to find her, at the moment when he
might expect her congratulations, quarrelling with his sister--that sister,
too, who had left her home, where she was so happy, and Hungerford Castle,
where she was adored, on purpose to tend Lady Jane in sickness and
obscurity!
Without being put exactly into these words, or, perhaps, into any words,
thoughts such as these, with feelings of gratitude and affection, revived
for Caroline in Lady Jane's mind the moment she heard of Alfred's intended
marriage.
"Good young man!--Excellent friend!--Well, tell me all About it, _my
dear_."
It was the first time that her ladyship had said _my dear_ to Caroline
since the day of the fatal refusal.
Caroline was touched by this word of reconciliation--and the tears it
brought into her eyes completely overcame Lady Jane, who hastily wiped her
own.
"So, my dear Caroline--where were we? Tell me about your brother's
marriage--when is it to be?--How has it been brought about?--The last I
heard of the Leicesters was the good dean's death--I remember pitying them
very much--Were they not left in straitened circumstances, too? Will
Alfred have any fortune with Miss Leicester?--Tell me every thing--read me
his letters."
To go back to Dr. Leicester's death. For some months his preferments were
kept in abeyance. Many were named, or thought of, as likely to succeed him.
The deanery was in the gift of the crown, and as it was imagined that the
vicarage was also at the disposal of government, applications had poured
in, on all sides, for friends, and friends' friends, to the remotest link
of the supporters of ministry--But--to use their own elegant, phrase--the
hands of government were tied.
It seems that in consequence of some parliamentary interest, formerly given
opportunely, and in consideration of certain arrangements in his diocese,
to serve persons whom ministers were obliged to oblige, a promise had long
ago been given to Bishop Clay that his recommendation to the deanery should
be accepted on the next vacancy. The bishop, who had promised the living to
his sister's husband, now presented it to Mr. Buckhurst Falconer, with the
important addition of Dr. Leicester's deanery.
To become a dean was once the height of Buckhurst's ambition, that for
which in a moment of elation he prayed, scarcely hoping that his wishes
would ever be fulfilled: yet now that his wish was accomplished, and
that he had attained this height of his ambition, was he happy? No!--far
from it; farther than ever. How could he be happy--dissatisfied with his
conduct, and detesting his wife? In the very act of selling himself to this
beldam, he abhorred his own meanness; but he did not know how much reason
he should have to repent, till the deed was done. It was done in a hurry,
with all the precipitation of a man who hates himself for what he feels
forced to do. Unused to bargain and sale in any way, in marriage never
having thought of it before, Buckhurst did not take all precautions
necessary to make his sacrifice answer his own purpose. He could not
conceive the avaricious temper and habits of his lady, till he was hers
past redemption. Whatever accession of income he obtained from his
marriage, he lived up to; immediately, his establishment, his expenses,
Back