Tales and Novels, vol 6 | Page 8

set; but, I should think, not among well-informed,
well-bred people."
"I big your pawdon, Colambre; surely I, that was born in England, an
Henglishwoman bawn, must be well infawmed on this pint, any way."
Lord Colambre was respectfully silent.
"Mother," resumed he, "I wonder that Miss Nugent is not married."

"That is her own fau't entirely; she has refused very good
offers--establishments that I own I think, as Lady Langdale says, I was
to blame to allow her to let pass: but young ledies, till they are twenty,
always think they can do better. Mr. Martingale, of Martingale,
proposed for her, but she objected to him on account of _he'es_ being
on the turf; and Mr. St. Albans' 7000_l._ a-year, because--I reelly
forget what--I believe only because she did not like him--and
something about principles. Now there is Colonel Heathcock, one of
the most fashionable young men you see, always with the Duchess of
Torcaster and that set--Heathcock takes a vast deal of notice of her, for
him; and yet, I'm persuaded, she would not have him to-morrow if he
came to the pint, and for no reason, reelly now, that she can give me,
but because she says he's a coxcomb. Grace has a tincture of Irish pride.
But, for my part, I rejoice that she is so difficult; for I don't know what
I should do without her."
"Miss Nugent is indeed--very much attached to you, mother, I am
convinced," said Lord Colambre, beginning his sentence with great
enthusiasm, and ending it with great sobriety.
"Indeed, then, she's a sweet girl, and I am very partial to her, there's the
truth," cried Lady Clonbrony, in an undisguised Irish accent, and with
her natural warm manner. But, a moment afterwards, her features and
whole form resumed their constrained stillness and stiffness, and in her
English accent she continued, "Before you put my idears out of my
head, Colambre, I had something to say to you--Oh! I know what it
was--we were talking of embarrassments--and I wish to do your father
the justice to mention to you, that he has been uncommon liberal to me
about this gala, and has reelly given me carte blanche; and I've a
notion--indeed I know,--that it is you, Colambre, I am to thank for
this."
"Me, ma'am!"
"Yes: did not your father give you any hint?"
"No, ma'am; I have seen my father but for half an hour since I came to
town, and in that time he said nothing to me--of his affairs."

"But what I allude to is more your affair."
"He did not speak to me of any affairs, ma'am--he spoke only of my
horses."
"Then I suppose my lord leaves it to me to open the matter to you. I
have the pleasure to tell you, that we have in view for you--and, I think
I may say, with more than the approbation of all her family--an
alliance--"
"Oh, my dear mother! you cannot be serious," cried Lord Colambre;
"you know I am not of years of discretion yet--I shall not think of
marrying these ten years, at least."
"Why not? Nay, my dear Colambre, don't go, I beg--I am serious, I
assure you--and, to convince you of it, I shall tell you candidly, at once,
all your father told me: that now you've done with Cambridge, and are
come to Lon'on, he agrees with me in wishing that you should make the
figure you ought to make, Colambre, as sole heir apparent to the
Clonbrony estate, and all that sort of thing; but, on the other hand,
living in Lon'on, and making you the handsome allowance you ought to
have, are, both together, more than your father can afford, without
inconvenience, he tells me."
"I assure you, mother, I shall be content--"
"No, no; you must not be content, child, and you must hear me: you
must live in a becoming style, and make a proper appearance. I could
not present you to my friends here, nor be happy, if you did not,
Colambre. Now the way is clear before you: you have birth and title,
here is fortune ready made--you will have a noble estate of your own
when old Quin dies, and you will not be any encumbrance or
inconvenience to your father or any body. Marrying an heiress
accomplishes all this at once--and the young lady is every thing we
could wish besides--you will meet again at the gala. Indeed, between
ourselves, she is the grand object of the gala--all her friends will come
en masse, and one should wish that they should see things in proper
style. You have seen the young lady in question, Colambre--Miss

Broadhurst--Don't you recollect the young lady I introduced you to last
night after the opera?"
"The little plain girl, covered with diamonds,