Jane and the madness of Lord Byron: being a Jane Austen mystery / by Stephanie Barron.
CHAPTER ONE
Summons from London 25 APRIL 1813 1813.
SLOANE S STREET, LONDON.
MR. WORDSWORTH OR S SIR W WALTER S SCOTT SHOULD NEVER struggle, as I do, to describe Spring in Chawton: the delight of slipping on one"s bonnet, in the fresh, new hour before breakfast, and securing about one"s shoulders the faded pelisse of jaconet that has served one so n.o.bly for countless Aprils past; of walking alone into the morning, as birdsong and tugging breezes swell about one"s head; of the catch in one"s throat at the glimpse of a fox, hurrying home to her kits waiting curled and warm in the den beneath the Park"s great oaks. Spring-in all its rains and clinging mud, its sharp green scents fullblown on the nose, and a newborn foal in the pasture below the Great House! struggle, as I do, to describe Spring in Chawton: the delight of slipping on one"s bonnet, in the fresh, new hour before breakfast, and securing about one"s shoulders the faded pelisse of jaconet that has served one so n.o.bly for countless Aprils past; of walking alone into the morning, as birdsong and tugging breezes swell about one"s head; of the catch in one"s throat at the glimpse of a fox, hurrying home to her kits waiting curled and warm in the den beneath the Park"s great oaks. Spring-in all its rains and clinging mud, its sharp green scents fullblown on the nose, and a newborn foal in the pasture below the Great House!
And in this glorious season, too, a splendid change has come upon the little Hampshire village I call my own-for my elder brother, the rich and distinguished Mr. Edward Austen Knight Knight, as he and all his numerous progeny must now stile themselves, having acceded to his benefactor"s surname as well as his estates in Kent and Hampshire-has descended in state upon Chawton Great House, with his full retinue of trusted servants, under-gardeners, grooms, coachmen, and what I am pleased to call Edward"s Harem: a hopeful clutch of motherless daughters, most too young to marry and still at home.
Edward intends to spend the better part of the summer in the antiquated pile that once was let to our dear neighbours, the Middletons, Mr. John Middleton having determined to give up the place when his treaty was run. While the Austen Knights idle away June and July in Hampshire, their princ.i.p.al seat-G.o.dmersham Park, in Kent-will submit to refurbishment, the interiors having grown sadly shabby without Edward"s late wife"s care. It is quite a treat to have one"s relations-and all the elegancies of table, coach, and society-but a stone"s throw from one"s door; and I spun many happy webs for myself that bright April morning, as I walked through the meadows, and listened to the song of a blackbird hidden somewhere in the hedgerow. Edward"s eldest daughter, f.a.n.n.y, is full twenty years old-and although a trifle subdued subdued for my taste, and possessed of starched notions quite appalling in one so young, she must be adjudged a welcome addition to the Cottage circle, whenever she may venture through the village in search of trifles and laughter. It was possible, I thought, that Martha Lloyd and I between us might be of use to poor dear f.a.n.n.y, in enlarging her spirit and mind-or at the very least, her capacity for wit. There is nothing so quelling in a young woman, I find, as a want of humour; but much must be forgiven the girl-she was thrust too young into the role of Mother, when Elizabeth died. f.a.n.n.y cannot have been more than fifteen, then; and at twenty, must feel already as though she has lived two lifetimes, in managing her father"s household. She is certain to find Chawton unutterably dull, however; the a.s.semblies in Alton are not such as she has been used to, in the elegant Kentish circle she frequents. Was there, I wondered, any young man in the neighbourhood capable of engaging her interest? for my taste, and possessed of starched notions quite appalling in one so young, she must be adjudged a welcome addition to the Cottage circle, whenever she may venture through the village in search of trifles and laughter. It was possible, I thought, that Martha Lloyd and I between us might be of use to poor dear f.a.n.n.y, in enlarging her spirit and mind-or at the very least, her capacity for wit. There is nothing so quelling in a young woman, I find, as a want of humour; but much must be forgiven the girl-she was thrust too young into the role of Mother, when Elizabeth died. f.a.n.n.y cannot have been more than fifteen, then; and at twenty, must feel already as though she has lived two lifetimes, in managing her father"s household. She is certain to find Chawton unutterably dull, however; the a.s.semblies in Alton are not such as she has been used to, in the elegant Kentish circle she frequents. Was there, I wondered, any young man in the neighbourhood capable of engaging her interest?
Considering and discarding the various scions of local families as I walked amidst the dew-laden gra.s.s, I was full of pleasurable schemes that dreadful morning. Once f.a.n.n.y was dismissed as too dear a prize for Alton"s youth, my mind revolved the various attractions of an altogether different cut of gentleman-one Henry Crawford: for I have reached a most delicious point in the writing of my third novel, which is to be called Mansfield Park Mansfield Park, when I must decide whether another f.a.n.n.y (a sober and rather humourless young woman entirely of my own invention, though not quite not quite my niece) is to make the roguish creature the Happiest of Men, or cast him into the Depths of Misery at a single word. my niece) is to make the roguish creature the Happiest of Men, or cast him into the Depths of Misery at a single word.
I had turned towards home after a brisk half-hour of exercise and rambling thought; when all at once it was as though a cloud moved swiftly across the sun, and my pleasure in the day was blotted out. The very air felt chill. I stopped short a good thirty paces from the Cottage door, a feeling of deepest dread in my heart-and for why? Only that a handsome chestnut hack was tethered to the post in the lane, one I recognised as my nephew Edward"s mount. Why should a morning call, even one paid so unfashionably before breakfast, have the power to stop my heart?
I ran the final distance to the door.
My brother"s eldest son and heir was standing before the fire, dressed not for hacking about the countryside in buckskins and boots, but for Town; his cravat meticulously tied, shirt points terrifyingly starched; a striped waistcoat trimly b.u.t.toned over primrose-coloured pantaloons. An Oxford lad of nearly nineteen, he had stiled himself a Corinthian of the First Stare; and it was this unwonted grandeur, as well as the expression of scared dignity on his young countenance, that informed me my heart had not erred. Disaster was in the air.
"What is it?" I whispered.
Ca.s.sandra came to me then, and enfolded me in her arms.
"An Express from Henry, to the Great House," she said.
"Has she gone?" I faltered. "And none of us aware?"
Edward cleared his throat. "Not quite gone, Aunt. But failing, Uncle Henry says. She is asking for you, I believe. Father says you are to travel up to London as soon as may be-in his chaise-and I am to bear you company."
"Edward!" I stared at him. "I am sure you should much rather be hunting rabbits on such a fine morning."
"So I should, ma"am," he stammered, "but under the circ.u.mstances-no exertion too great-should consider it an honour-wish most earnestly that you will accept my escort." He bowed stiffly, his face flushing with embarra.s.sment. "Not the thing, you know-lady travelling entirely alone. Might very well be offered an intolerable insult. Besides, m"father commands it."
Edward, whom I cared for and cajoled so many years since, when his own mother died-to be offering me escort! I understood, then, the punctiliousness of his manner and dress. My nephew was representing his House-and paying off a debt of grat.i.tude. I should be churlish to protest further; and besides, the hour was already advancing.
I uttered not another word, but dashed upstairs to throw what swift provision I could into a carpet bag. My beloved Eliza, Comtesse de Feuillide, wife of Mr. Henry Austen of Sloane Street-was dying dying. It seemed far too bitter a truth for Spring.
WHEN DID SHE FIRST APPREHEND HER MORTAL SICKNESS, I wondered for the thousandth time as the chaise jolted and swayed over the Hog"s-back an hour later?1 Was it so early as my descent on London some two years since, for the proofing of the typeset pages of Was it so early as my descent on London some two years since, for the proofing of the typeset pages of Sense and Sensibility Sense and Sensibility? She suffered then, as I recall, from a trifling cold, and took to her bed on the strength of it; but surely that was a deliberate indulgence, to avoid the necessity of attending Divine Service of a particular Sunday?
Eliza was never very fond of Divine Service; she had seen too much of Sin, to place her faith in either repentance or redemption; and she felt certain that the clergy were the very last last sort of men to lecture their brethren-indeed, she declared the whole pious enterprise an essay in hypocrisy. Eliza preferred to live her life and leave her neighbours to live theirs, without the benefit of unwanted advice or inspection; and on the whole, I confess I admire her philosophy. There is a great deal of disinterested benevolence in it. sort of men to lecture their brethren-indeed, she declared the whole pious enterprise an essay in hypocrisy. Eliza preferred to live her life and leave her neighbours to live theirs, without the benefit of unwanted advice or inspection; and on the whole, I confess I admire her philosophy. There is a great deal of disinterested benevolence in it.
If not April of 1811, then, the illness came upon Eliza soon after: a ma.s.s in the breast, that grew until it might almost have formed another-with tenderness, increasing pain, and suppuration. She had watched over her mother"s dying of the selfsame malady, years since. She recognised the Enemy.
My incorrigible Eliza. My gallant gallant friend. A word for gentlemen of high courage-but courage she brought to this final battle, knowing full well she would never triumph. The summer months of 1812 she spent in travel-relished two weeks in the sea air of Ramsgate in October-wished me joy of friend. A word for gentlemen of high courage-but courage she brought to this final battle, knowing full well she would never triumph. The summer months of 1812 she spent in travel-relished two weeks in the sea air of Ramsgate in October-wished me joy of Pride and Prejudice Pride and Prejudice"s sale to Mr. Egerton in November (which met with decided success at its publication this winter among the Fashionables of the ton ton!)-and by Christmas was rapidly declining.
And Henry?
I might have said that he has not the mind for Affliction; he is too busy; too active; too sanguine. All the increasing cares of banking-my Naval brother Frank being now a partner in Henry"s concern-and the activity necessary to a gentleman in the prime of his life, must inevitably attach Henry to the world. Add to this, that Eliza is fully ten years my brother"s senior, and that the gradual progression of the disease has offered an interval for resignation and acceptance-and we may apprehend the steadiness with which Henry meets his impending loss. And yet-his summons to me surely augurs an unquiet mind, a soul in need of comfort. To part with such a companion as Eliza!-Who, though she gave him no child, brought him endless cheer and laughter from the first day he met her, as a boy of fifteen, when she descended a la comtesse a la comtesse on the Steventon parsonage, and dazzled us all within an inch of our lives. on the Steventon parsonage, and dazzled us all within an inch of our lives.
"I believe Uncle Henry intends to give up Sloane Street," Edward observed as we rolled into Bagshot. "He claims he cannot bear to meet with my aunt"s memory at every stair and corner."
"Better to remove from London, then," I managed, my throat constricted, "for Eliza shall haunt every bit of it."
I HAVE KNOWN THE JOURNEY FROM HAVE KNOWN THE JOURNEY FROM C CHAWTON TO RUN FULL twelve hours, when leisure permitted; but we were to have no dawdling nuncheon, no walking before the coachman in admiration of April flowers, no pause for fine views as we descended the final stage into the Metropolis. Barely eight hours elapsed from the moment I bade farewell to Ca.s.sandra at the Cottage door, until I found myself alighting in Sloane Street. twelve hours, when leisure permitted; but we were to have no dawdling nuncheon, no walking before the coachman in admiration of April flowers, no pause for fine views as we descended the final stage into the Metropolis. Barely eight hours elapsed from the moment I bade farewell to Ca.s.sandra at the Cottage door, until I found myself alighting in Sloane Street.
We met the surgeon, Mr. Haden, on the threshold-Madame Bigeon being on the point of ushering the good man out, as we ushered ourselves within-and paused, despite a scattering of rain, to learn his opinion.
"I fear she is sinking, Miss Austen," he informed me sombrely. "A matter of hours must decide it. I have left a quant.i.ty of laudanum-you are to give her twenty drops, in a gla.s.s of warm water, as she requires it."
"But Eliza detests laudanum!" I cried. "I have known her dreams to be frightful under its influence."
"Her agony will be the more extreme without it." The surgeon doffed his hat to Edward and me, and stepped past us to the street.
"Mademoiselle Jane!" Mme. Bigeon"s elderly voice quavered on the greeting; she gave way that we might enter the hall, her black eyes filled with tears. "At last you are come! I feared-but it is not not too late. She sleeps much, yes, but she will wake for you, too late. She sleeps much, yes, but she will wake for you, mon Dieu mon Dieu! Come to her at once!"
With unaccustomed familiarity-such is the strength of feeling in the face of Eternity-the old Frenchwoman grasped my hand and drew me swiftly up the stairs. I could not stay even to loose my bonnet strings; and that I should be aware of such a nothing on the point of seeing Eliza, must be an enduring reproach. I am ashamed to own it.
Mme. Bigeon hesitated before the bedchamber door; it was ajar, so that I could just glimpse the outline of the bedstead, my brother Henry dozing in a straight-backed chair set up against the wall; and the silhouette of Mme. Marie Perigord-the old woman"s daughter and Eliza"s dresser, her constant reminder of all the glories of France that are gone beyond recall. Manon, as she is called, was seated near the bed, her sharp-featured face thrown into relief by the flame of a single candle; in her hand was a small bowl.
And beyond- Eliza.
Her eyes were closed, her breathing heavy; a few damp locks of hair escaped from her white cap. There was a peculiar odour on the air-a sweet, sickly smell that emanated from the open wound in her breast, and the great tumor lying malevolently there; no amount of warm compresses or fresh linen could blot out the taint.
I crept softly to the bedside, young Edward hesitating behind me.
Manon rose and drew back her chair. "Monsieur-mademoiselle...I cannot persuade her to take any of the broth. And it is Maman"s best broth, made from a pullet. Five hours it has been simmering on the stove-"
"Hush," Henry muttered, as he jerked awake. My brother"s dazed eyes met mine through the shuttered gloom. "Ah-Jane! You are come at last!"
He rose, and pulled me close; the stale odour of a closed room, and clothes too infrequently exchanged, clung about his person. Henry Henry-who is the nearest example of a Dandy the Austens may claim-had been neglecting himself.
"Praise G.o.d you came in time," he whispered.
"Mademoiselle!" Manon tugged impatiently at my sleeve. "Perhaps you will try? Perhaps she will take some broth from you, hein hein?"
"What does it matter?" Henry burst out, worn beyond bearing.
"But she must keep up her strength!" the maid protested.
Pointless to observe that strength would avail her mistress nothing, now.
Manon"s face crumpled into a terrible grimace and she began, painfully, to weep, turning away from the awkward crowd of Austens as though we had caught her at something shameful. Mme. Bigeon swept her daughter out of the room, murmuring softly in her native tongue, half-scolding. I had an idea of the maid"s high pitch of nerves, waiting in that darkened chamber through all the hours of a night and day as her mistress"s life slowly ebbed, ears p.r.i.c.ked for the sound of a particular set of horses halting in the street below. How like Eliza to hold on to the last, as though she knew I was hastening towards her!
But was she even aware of my presence?
"Dearest," Henry whispered, bending over Eliza. "Here is Jane arrived from Chawton."
Her eyelids flickered; the clouded gaze fixed for an instant on my brother"s face, unseeing. How great a change was come upon that sprite, that eager, winning countenance! And how helpless I felt, unable to save her, to forestall the dreaded end!
I took up the bowl of broth and the silver spoon still warm from Manon"s hand, leaned close to my dying cousin, and whispered, "Come, my darling, and try a little-to please your Jane."
YOUNG E EDWARD RETURNED IN HIS FATHER"S CHAISE THE next morning to Chawton. The rest of us watched with Eliza so long as our spirits would allow, although in truth Henry was never from the sick room. He dozed upright in a chair, regardless of whether the Frenchwomen or I were attending upon his wife. For my own part, I s.n.a.t.c.hed at sleep whenever one of the others relieved me-curling fully clothed on the comfortable bed in the best bedchamber. We ate what we could at odd hours, taking cold meat and tea in the breakfast room; Mme. Bigeon had no heart to cook, or rather her cooking was all for Eliza: possets, puddings, coddled eggs that were returned, one by one, untouched on their plates. Through the hours Eliza shuddered, and turned, her mind beset by the demons brought forth in laudanum; and though Henry and I would have stinted her, she suffered too much when the draughts were denied. next morning to Chawton. The rest of us watched with Eliza so long as our spirits would allow, although in truth Henry was never from the sick room. He dozed upright in a chair, regardless of whether the Frenchwomen or I were attending upon his wife. For my own part, I s.n.a.t.c.hed at sleep whenever one of the others relieved me-curling fully clothed on the comfortable bed in the best bedchamber. We ate what we could at odd hours, taking cold meat and tea in the breakfast room; Mme. Bigeon had no heart to cook, or rather her cooking was all for Eliza: possets, puddings, coddled eggs that were returned, one by one, untouched on their plates. Through the hours Eliza shuddered, and turned, her mind beset by the demons brought forth in laudanum; and though Henry and I would have stinted her, she suffered too much when the draughts were denied.
What did she mutter, as I leaned over her in the depths of the night? Regret...regret... Regret...regret... Her fingers claw-like at my wrist. Her fingers claw-like at my wrist.
The upright and devout would urge me to believe in a deathbed conversion-some softening of her pagan heart, as the life sped out of her-but I am too well acquainted with the little Comtesse. I regret nothing, Jane I regret nothing, Jane, she would wish me to know. Regret nothing Regret nothing. Not the madcap days in Marie Antoinette"s train, or the careless disregard for reputation and finances, the husband lost to the guillotine; not the dashing promenades in Hyde Park with a score of beaux dazzled by her wicked dark eyes. Her dead son she might yearn for-wasted from birth by too many ills-but even Hastings could never figure as cause for regret regret. Eliza cherished the boy, heedless of a world that declared him little better than an idiot.
She shall sleep beside him soon.
This morning, near dawn, there was a change. The poor roving spirit stilled and her body went slack, the eyes tightly closed. The sound of her laboured breathing mounted until it seemed to fill the whole room-the airless weight of that room, its single candle glowing. Henry"s hand clasped hers, but she seemed insensible of it; and at the last, with barely a flutter of its wings, Death entered the room. She turned her head once on the pillow, towards the window-raised herself slightly-and then fell back, a sh.e.l.l.
I waited, breath suspended. And apprehended that her breathing, too, was done-the very walls listened for it, every window frame strained; no sigh murmured back.
Henry stared at his wife as if willing her eyes to open. Then he placed her limp hand gently on the coverlet, and rose from his chair.
I would have gone to him; but the look on his face was terrible. He walked without a word from the room, and after a final glance at the still figure at its centre, I fled in search of the maids.
30 APRIL 1813 1813.
SLOANE S STREET.
ALL WEEK THE CANDLES HAVE FLICKERED BY HER BIER IN the pretty little salon she loved so well, where her Musical Evenings collected a gay throng and her morning callers were wont to sit; tributes of spring flowers arrived daily from Henry"s colleagues and Eliza"s acquaintance both highborn and low. Lord Moira sent a ma.s.sive wreath of lilies; but I think I liked best the posy of wildflowers offered at the kitchen door, by one unknown fellow Mme. Bigeon a.s.sures me was Eliza"s favourite hackney coachman. the pretty little salon she loved so well, where her Musical Evenings collected a gay throng and her morning callers were wont to sit; tributes of spring flowers arrived daily from Henry"s colleagues and Eliza"s acquaintance both highborn and low. Lord Moira sent a ma.s.sive wreath of lilies; but I think I liked best the posy of wildflowers offered at the kitchen door, by one unknown fellow Mme. Bigeon a.s.sures me was Eliza"s favourite hackney coachman.
Mrs. Tilson-the wife of one of Henry"s partners and a near neighbour-came to call, and sat with me a half-hour in Eliza"s boudoir; I cannot love her, but she forbore to express her displeasure at my sister"s frivolities quite so forcibly as in the past.
Eliza is to be buried at Hampstead tomorrow, beside her mother and son; Manon and I shall wait only for the train of black carriages to depart, before quitting Sloane Street ourselves.2 The poor maid is quite worn down with nursing Eliza, and could do with a rest in the country-I am to carry her off to Chawton, until Henry comes to fetch her. It shall be a comfort to have the Frenchwoman beside me, merely to dull the edge of grief. The poor maid is quite worn down with nursing Eliza, and could do with a rest in the country-I am to carry her off to Chawton, until Henry comes to fetch her. It shall be a comfort to have the Frenchwoman beside me, merely to dull the edge of grief.
The rain and bitter fog descended upon us today; Spring, it seems, is quite fled. Eliza"s death comes as a presentiment, a weight of dark cloud sitting over the house; we are all of us growing older, Henry and I and the two Frenchwomen.
The Autumn of my life is come-my hopes of happiness long since buried in an unmarked grave-and how long, pray, shall the sun endure, before Winter?
1 The Hog"s-back is a narrow ridge that runs between Farnham and Guildford; the road traveled by the Austens on their journey to London ran along the summit and offered excellent views of some six counties.- The Hog"s-back is a narrow ridge that runs between Farnham and Guildford; the road traveled by the Austens on their journey to London ran along the summit and offered excellent views of some six counties.-Editor"s note.2 Women generally did not attend funerals in Austen"s day.- Women generally did not attend funerals in Austen"s day.-Editor"s note.
CHAPTER TWO
An Interval for Reflection 5 MAY 1813 1813.
CHAWTON, HAMPSHIRE.
IF MY THOUGHT WAS TO PROVIDE M MANON WITH SUCCOR IN her time of grief, my impulse was misplaced, however well-intentioned. It is virtually impossible for a woman of middle years, who has served others nearly all her life, to leave off doing so, be she ever so eager to attempt the exercise. No sooner was Manon settled in a chair, with a bit of needlework to pa.s.s the time, than she must be jumping up and shifting the pillows for my mother"s back; or helping Mademoiselle Ca.s.sandra with the gathering of the new peas; or busying herself in the kitchen about the boiling of the tea. I spent our first Chawton morning following her anxiously about, and urging her to leave such cares to others, that she might take a refreshing turn in the garden, where the syringa is in bloom-but she would have none of it. I therefore set her to fashioning my mourning gowns-for I would not appear a dowd in respect of Eliza"s loss. Of all the women I have known, my late sister"s pa.s.sion for dress was insatiable. The task suited Manon"s needle so admirably, and animated her instincts as a Frenchwoman so well, that nothing would serve but that I must carry her into Alton for the purchase of such tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs and lengths of muslin and silk as a country village might provide. We were not many hours returned from our shopping, with the packages sent round by dogcart, before I was summoned to stand before the tiny looking gla.s.s that serves Ca.s.sandra and me for doing up our hair of a morning, while Manon pinned and trimmed to her heart"s content. her time of grief, my impulse was misplaced, however well-intentioned. It is virtually impossible for a woman of middle years, who has served others nearly all her life, to leave off doing so, be she ever so eager to attempt the exercise. No sooner was Manon settled in a chair, with a bit of needlework to pa.s.s the time, than she must be jumping up and shifting the pillows for my mother"s back; or helping Mademoiselle Ca.s.sandra with the gathering of the new peas; or busying herself in the kitchen about the boiling of the tea. I spent our first Chawton morning following her anxiously about, and urging her to leave such cares to others, that she might take a refreshing turn in the garden, where the syringa is in bloom-but she would have none of it. I therefore set her to fashioning my mourning gowns-for I would not appear a dowd in respect of Eliza"s loss. Of all the women I have known, my late sister"s pa.s.sion for dress was insatiable. The task suited Manon"s needle so admirably, and animated her instincts as a Frenchwoman so well, that nothing would serve but that I must carry her into Alton for the purchase of such tr.i.m.m.i.n.gs and lengths of muslin and silk as a country village might provide. We were not many hours returned from our shopping, with the packages sent round by dogcart, before I was summoned to stand before the tiny looking gla.s.s that serves Ca.s.sandra and me for doing up our hair of a morning, while Manon pinned and trimmed to her heart"s content.
I was arrayed in a sober dark grey, with rosettes of black silk cord about the bodice, the following morning-Manon having sat up with work candles the better part of the night so that the gown might be finished. Overcome by this evidence of her devotion to her mistress, I apprehended-amidst my profuse thanks-that the unfortunate creature could not get a wink of sleep in any case, for the utter silence of the country, and was desperately in want of her beloved London"s racket. Her exhaustion failed utterly to diminish her energy, however-the maid would would look mumchance at the prospect of taking up a book in the chair nearest the fire-and so my mother set her to baking bread, and later despatched her to Alton"s butcher and poulterer-which errand occupied so many hours, and gave her such a sense of importance, as a Londoner and a Foreigner in a country town, that I am sure her grief for Eliza was momentarily forgot. look mumchance at the prospect of taking up a book in the chair nearest the fire-and so my mother set her to baking bread, and later despatched her to Alton"s butcher and poulterer-which errand occupied so many hours, and gave her such a sense of importance, as a Londoner and a Foreigner in a country town, that I am sure her grief for Eliza was momentarily forgot.
As day followed day, however, I found myself seeking comfort alone in the out-of-doors, where I might walk towards the Great House in the hope of seeing f.a.n.n.y or another of my nieces; I made no progress at all in the th.o.r.n.y question of Mr. Henry Crawford, and his possible salvation through the love of a pure heart. It was impossible to write at my little table in the front parlour, with Manon endlessly sweeping the floors.
It was with a measure of thankfulness, therefore, that I saw a travelling chaise draw up before the Cottage door this Wednesday evening, and my brother Henry alight from it. There is no doubt that Manon is eminently useful about the place-but we are all of us fatigued beyond what may be borne, in finding out tasks for her.
"Jane," Henry said as he took my hand, "you look entirely recovered from your recent exertions."
"From the exertion, perhaps-but not the loss."
He inclined his head; we neither of us said anything further; we should not be reviving Eliza, after all, in talking over her end. But I could not like the cast of Henry"s countenance-whatever repose I had found, in regaining the country, he had failed to secure in Sloane Street.
When he had paid off the coachman and directed the man to the Crown at Alton, where he might find stabling for his team, I slipped my hand through Henry"s arm. He had exchanged his usual bright waistcoat for apparel of a sombre hue; the picture he made being so unlike our Henry that I suffered a pang, as though my brother, too, had gone into the grave with Eliza.
"Come inside. We keep shockingly country country hours, as you know, but you are only a little late for dinner-Mme. Perigord will certainly warm something for you." hours, as you know, but you are only a little late for dinner-Mme. Perigord will certainly warm something for you."
"How is she?"
"Pining for Town, I"m afraid. She holds our ways very cheap, in Hampshire. Other than the quality of our peas, she can find nothing to admire." I leaned towards him conspiratorially. "I confess I shall be heartily glad to have her off my hands, Henry! So much for benevolent impulse!"
"Yes-one tires of nothing so quickly as benevolence; and it is never valued as highly by the object as the giver!" The smile he flashed was almost almost the Henry of old. "Very well; I shall carry off my good French maid tomorrow, as soon as she has cooked us breakfast. She is sorely wanted at home. For you must know, Jane, that I have in mind a scheme of removal-I have set old Bigeon about it already. I intend to give up Sloane Street-" the Henry of old. "Very well; I shall carry off my good French maid tomorrow, as soon as she has cooked us breakfast. She is sorely wanted at home. For you must know, Jane, that I have in mind a scheme of removal-I have set old Bigeon about it already. I intend to give up Sloane Street-"
"So soon!" I interjected.
"-and live quite neatly and comfortably above my offices. Only think what a saving in the lease!"
"Indeed," I managed, having a sudden, sharp vision of the neighbourhood round No. 10, Henrietta Street-the building that houses Henry"s bank. Covent Garden, in all its noise and bustle, its theatre linkmen, its throng of carriages and torch-lit entryways; its gentlemen swaggering among the Impures who ply their trade in the shadow of opening nights-is hardly the locale for an Interval of Reflection, so appropriate to one But Lately Bereaved. No, for a Henry stricken in grief, something wilder and more severe was required; something like the fall of the rocky coast at Lyme, or the n.o.ble crags of Derbyshire! What a pity it was not November! There is no nursing a grief in May....
"Henry," I said as he pulled open the Cottage door, "I have had a capital notion. Should you not like to repair to the seaside for a period, in order to take the air, and recruit your strength?"
"The seaside, Jane?" He frowned at me. "I thought you were wishing Mme. Perigord at Bedlam!"
"Indeed," I a.s.sured him. "You might seek the seaside after after you have restored Manon to her mother. While the good Frenchwomen effect the removal of your things to No. 10, you might be taking restorative walks along the Cobb." you have restored Manon to her mother. While the good Frenchwomen effect the removal of your things to No. 10, you might be taking restorative walks along the Cobb."
"The Cobb?" he repeated, bewildered.
"In Lyme," I persisted. "You will recall that poor Father was forever taking Ca.s.sandra and me there, and at the very end of the Season, too, when the town was dreadfully thin of company and the a.s.semblies almost run. Or perhaps Worthing-"