“‘I believe so, my lord.’
“‘Ha!’ He seemed lost for a moment
in thought, and then added, ’I wish I had known
this sooner—Ha!’
“What these Haes meant, I was unable
to decipher; but I am sure they related to some matter
very interesting to him. He explained himself
no farther, but immediately turned away from me to
the count, and began to talk of the affairs of his
court, and of M. de Tourville, of whom he seems to
have some knowledge, I suppose through the means of
his envoy, Cunningham Falconer.
“I understand that a prodigious party is invited
to Falconer-court. The count asked me if I was
to be one of them, and seemed to wish it—I
like him much. They are to have balls, and plays,
and great doings. If I have time, I will write
to-morrow, and tell you who goes, and give you
a sketch of their characters. Mrs. Falconer cannot
well avoid asking you to some of her entertainments,
and it will be pleasant to you to know who’s
who beforehand.”
Notwithstanding all the patronage of fashion, which
the Miss Falconers had for some time enjoyed, notwithstanding
all their own accomplishments, and their mother’s
address and knowledge of the world, the grand object
had not been obtained—for they were not
married. Though every where seen, and every where
admired, no proposals had yet been made adequate to
their expectations. In vain had one young nobleman
after another, heir apparent after heir apparent,
been invited, cherished, and flattered by Mrs. Falconer,
had been constantly at her balls and concerts, had
stood beside the harp and the piano-forte, had danced
or flirted with the Miss Falconers, had been hung
out at all public places as a pendant to one or other
of the sisters.
The mother, seeing project after project fail for
the establishment of her daughters, forced to bear
and to conceal these disappointments, still continued
to form new schemes with indefatigable perseverance.
Yet every season the difficulty increased; and Mrs.
Falconer, in the midst of the life of pleasure which
she seemed to lead, was a prey to perpetual anxiety.
She knew that if any thing should happen to the commissioner,
whose health was declining; if he should lose Lord
Oldborough’s favour, which seemed not impossible;
if Lord Oldborough should not be able to maintain himself
in power, or if he should die; she and her daughters
would lose every thing. From a small estate,
overwhelmed with debt, there would be no fortune for
her daughters; they would be left utterly destitute,
and absolutely unable to do any thing for themselves—unlikely
to suit plain country gentlemen, after the high style
of company in which they had lived, and still more
incapable than she would be of bearing a reverse of
fortune. The young ladies, confident of their
charms, unaccustomed to reflect, and full of the present,
thought little of these probabilities of future evil,
