Tales and Novels, vol 6 | Page 8

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, who was standing beside Miss Nugent?"
"In di'monds, yes--But you won't think her plain when you see more of her--that wears off--I thought her plain, at first--I hope--"
"I hope," said Lord Colambre, "that you will not take it unkindly of me, my dear mother, if I tell you, at once, that I have no thoughts of marrying at present--and that I never will marry for money: marrying an heiress is not even a new way of paying old debts--at all events, it is one to which no distress could persuade me to have recourse; and as I must, if I outlive old Mr. Quin, have an independent fortune, there is no occasion to purchase one by marriage."
"There is no distress that I know of in the