Mrs. Falconer was mistaken in this idea. It was
not the circumstance of meeting Caroline at a ball
that made this impression on Count Altenberg; wherever
he had seen her, if he had had opportunity of conversing,
and of observing the dignity and simplicity of her
manner, the same effect would have been produced—but
in fact Mrs. Falconer’s fears, and her daughter’s
jealousy, had much magnified the truth. Count
Altenberg had not, as they fancied, fallen desperately
in love at first sight with Caroline—he
had only been pleased and interested sufficiently
to make him desirous to see more of her. Caroline,
though so much the object of jealousy, had not the
slightest idea that she had made a conquest—she
simply thought the count’s conversation agreeable,
and she was glad that she should see him again at
breakfast the next morning.
CHAPTER XXVII.
Mr. and Mrs. Percy accepted of Lord Oldborough’s
invitation. They found apartments prepared for
them at Clermont-park, and servants ready to attend,
with the officious promptitude with which a great man’s
domestics usually wait upon those who are supposed
to stand high in their master’s favour.
During his illness Lord Oldborough had always breakfasted
in his own room; but his lordship appeared at the
breakfast-table the morning after the ball, ready
to receive his guests. Nothing could be more gracious,
more polite, more kind, than his reception of Mr.
Percy and his family. From the moment he was
introduced to the wife and daughters of his friend,
he seemed to throw aside the reserve and coldness
of his manner—to forget at once the statesman
and the minister, the affairs of Europe and the intrigues
of the cabinet—to live entirely for the
present moment and the present company. The company
consisted of the Percy family, Count Altenberg, and
Mr. Temple. It was a common practice with Lord
Oldborough to set conversation a-going, then to become
silent, and to retire to his own thoughts—he
would just throw the ball, and leave others to run
for it. But now he condescended at least to join
in the pursuit, though apparently without ambition
to obtain distinction in the race. After breakfast
he showed the ladies into his library; and, as he
was himself disabled, requested Mr. Temple to take
down such books or prints as he thought most worthy
of their attention. Literature had been neglected,
perhaps undervalued, by Lord Oldborough, since he
had devoted himself to politics; but he could at will
recall the classical stores of his youth; and on modern
books his quick eye and ear, joined to his strong and
rapid judgment, enabled him to decide better than
many who make it the only business of their lives
to read. Even Mr. Percy, who knew him best, was
surprised; and still more surprised was Mr. Temple,
who had seen him in varieties of company, some of
the highest rank and fashion both in wit and literature,
where his lordship had appeared either absent of mind
Copyrights
Tales and Novels — Volume 07 from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.
