George Selwyn: His Letters and His Life | Page 6

The characters of the two men, however, and
various points in their correspondence, seem to fix this relation upon
the Duke of Queensberry. Selwyn's interest was that of a man who
though without children had a strong and unusual affection for the
young. He looked forward to the pleasure her development and
education would be to him, and to the solace of her companionship in
old age. She enlisted his sympathy and devotion. From the first time he
saw her he wished to adopt her, and until the end of his life she was
first in his thought, and all his circle approved of his little friend.
He soon made provision for her in his will, writing to Lord Carlisle
July 26, 1774, that he must no longer delay in securing her future. In
1776 he placed her at school. After infinite trouble, Campden House
was chosen, where every day he either saw her or received
communications from the schoolmistress relative to her health, comfort,

and happiness.
"Mrs. Terry presents her compliments to Mr. Selwyn; has the pleasure
to assure him that dear Mademoiselle Fagniani is as well to-day as her
good friend could possibly wish her to be. She is this minute engaged
in a party at high romps."
"Mrs. Terry presents her best compliments to Mr. Selwyn; is very sorry
to find that he is so uneasy. The dear child's spirits are not depressed.
She is very lively; ate a good dinner; and behaves just like other
children. She hopes Mr. Selwyn will make no scruple of coming
to-morrow morning, or staying his hour, or more if he likes it; she will
then talk to him about the head; but in the meantime begs he will not
suppose that the dear child suffers by his absence, or that anything is
neglected; for if Mrs. Terry thought Mr. Selwyn could suppose such a
thing, she would wish to resign the charge. She begs he will come
to-morrow."
Mie Mie was a disturbing element, if also a satisfaction, in Selwyn's
life, for at all times overhanging present pleasure in her company was
the dread of losing her. In August of 1776 the Marchesa Fagniani and
her husband came to England. Selwyn had a fairly satisfactory
interview, in which it was settled that the child should not leave him for
a year. Before the time had expired he was exhausting every means to
procure a longer delay; he even applied to the Austrian Ambassador
that the Governor of Milan should use his influence with the family;
but her return was insisted upon, and in August of 1777 Mie Mie left
England to join her parents in Paris. The most careful and elaborate
arrangements were made by Selwyn for her safety and comfort while
travelling, and a list of the houses where stops were to be made given
to faithful attendants.
He dreaded however the pain of parting with the child, and when the
day of her departure arrived he absented himself to avoid the farewell,
and his spirits and health suffered from her loss. Two months later
Carlisle writes, "I never thought your attachment extraordinary. I might,
for your sake, have wished it less in the degree; but what I did think
extraordinary was that you would never permit what was most likely to

happen ever to make its appearance in your perspective. March speaks
with great tenderness and real compassion for your sufferings. Have
you been at Lady Holland's? Are you in my house? Do not stay too
long at Frognal; change the scene; it will do you good. Gratify every
caprice of that sort, and write to me everything that comes into your
head. You cannot unload your heart to any one who will receive its
weight more cheerfully than I shall do."
But next year we hear of Selwyn at Milan negotiating with Mie Mie's
relatives for her return. His proposals to make settlements on her met
with alternate rebuffs and promises that kept him in a state of
intermingled fear and hope. He was finally put off with the
understanding that she should return to him in the spring; and in
October he turned homeward.
In the spring it was arranged that the Marchesa Fagniani should bring
Mie Mie to Paris to be left a few weeks in a convent before Selwyn
should claim her. The meeting did not take place without a last trial of
patience for him. He arrived in Paris in April, expecting to find the
little traveller, but he was informed that the departure from Milan had
been delayed for a few days; this was followed by the news of a change
of plans, and that Selwyn must go to Lyons to meet the child, who
would be conducted there by her mother--a meeting Selwyn