Volume Ii Part 20 (2/2)
”You are quite right ... _say sa_, ... and it is just about time to get ready.... All our gentlemen will be there, you may be sure; and perhaps, you know, some one of them may join us, which is a great advantage, ...
for nothing makes women look so much like n.o.body as having no man near them.... As to marriage, I don't think of it for myself ... _jay pre mong party_; ... but I confess I do hate to be anywhere without the chance of a man's coming to speak to one ... _mays, eel foh meytra mong shappo ... o reyvoyr!_”
Mrs. Barnaby now found herself at last obliged to confess she did not understand her.
”Of course I know French perfectly,” she said; ”but as I have never been in the country, and not much in the habit of speaking it, even at home, I cannot always follow you.... I would give a great deal, Miss Morrison, to speak the language as beautifully as you do!”
”It is a great a.s.sistance in society, certainly,” replied Miss Morrison, very modestly; ”but I do a.s.sure you that it is quite impossible for anybody in the world to speak it as I do without being in the country, and taking the same incessant pains as I did. As to learning it from books, it is all nonsense to think of it ... how in the world is one to get the accent and p.r.o.nunciation?... But I must say that I believe few people ever learned so much in so short a time as I did. I invented a method for myself, without which I should never have been able to speak as I do. I never was without my pencil and paper in my hand, and I wrote down almost every word I heard, in such a manner as that I was always able to read it myself, without asking anybody. The English of it all I got easily afterwards, for almost everybody understands me when I read my notes according to my own spelling, especially English people; and these translations I wrote down over against my French, which I call making both a grammar and dictionary entirely of my own invention, ...
and I have often been complimented upon it, I a.s.sure you.”
”And I'm sure you well deserve it. I never heard anything so clever in my life,” replied Mrs. Barnaby. ”But how soon shall we begin our walk?”
”Now directly, if you please.... I will go and put on my hat ... that was what I said to you in French.... _Eel foh meytra mong shappo._”
Mrs. Barnaby then repaired to her toilet; and having done her very utmost to make herself as conspicuously splendid and beautiful as possible, turned to Agnes, who was still writing in her dark corner, and said,... ”You had better finish what you are about, Agnes, and I hope it is something that will improve you.... I am going out with Miss Morrison on business ... and if the evening is fine, I will take you a walk somewhere or other.”
Agnes again blessed their rencontre with this valuable new friend, and saw the satin and feathers of her aunt disappear with a feeling of great thankfulness that she was spared the necessity of attending them.
On leaving Mrs. Barnaby, Mr. Alexander Pringle paid a visit to his good friend and patient Lady Elizabeth Norris, (the aunt of Colonel Hubert,) who, as usual, was pa.s.sing a few weeks of the season at Cheltenham, as much for the sake of refres.h.i.+ng her spirits by the variety of its company, as for the advantage of taking a daily gla.s.s of water at its spring. The worthy apothecary was as useful by the information and gossippings he furnished on the former subject, as by his instructions on the latter, and was invariably called in, the day after her ladys.h.i.+p's arrival, however perfect the state of her health might be; and given moreover to understand that a repet.i.tion of a professional visit would be expected at least three times a week during her stay.
He now found the old lady sitting alone; for Sir Edward and Lady Stephenson, who were her guests, were engaged in one of their favourite morning expeditions, exploring the beautiful environs of the town, a pleasure which they enjoyed as uninterruptedly as the most sentimental newly-married pair could desire, as, by a strange but very general spirit of economy, few of the wealthy and luxurious visitants of Cheltenham indulge themselves in the expense of a turnpike.
”Soh! Pringle ... you are come at last, are you?” said Lady Elizabeth.... ”I have been expecting you this hour ... the Stephensons'
are off and away again to the world's end, in search of wild flowers and conjugal romance, leaving me to my own devices--a privilege worth little or nothing, unless you can add something new to my list here for next Wednesday.”
”Perhaps I may be able to a.s.sist your ladys.h.i.+p,” returned her Esculapius; ”that is, provided Lady Stephenson knows nothing about it, for I fear she has not yet forgiven my introduction of Mr. Myrtle and the two Misses Tonkins.”
”Stuff and nonsense!... What does it signify, now she is married and out of the way, what animals I get into my menagerie?... But I don't think, Pringle, that you are half such a clever truffle-dog as you used to be.... What a time it is since you have told me of anything new!”
”Upon my word, my lady, it is not my fault,” replied the apothecary, laughing; ”I never see or hear anything abroad without treasuring it in my memory for your ladys.h.i.+p's service; and I am now come expressly to mention a new arrival at the ----, which appears to promise well.”
”I rejoice.... Is it male or female?”
”Female, my lady, and there are two.”
”Of the same species, and the same race?”
”Decidedly not; but the contrast produces a very pleasant effect; and, moreover, though infinitely amusing, they are quite _comme il faut_. I understand the elder lady is sister to Mrs. Peters of Clifton.”
Mr. Pringle then proceeded to describe his visit to Mrs. Barnaby, and did justice to the florid style of her beauty, dress, and conversation.
But when he came to speak of the young girl who was _vouee au noir_, and of her aunt's pertinacious resolution that she should take the waters and be treated as an invalid, notwithstanding the very excellent state of her health, the old lady rubbed her hands together, and exultingly exclaimed, ”Good!... admirable!... You are a very fine fellow, Pringle, and have hit this off well. Why, man, I saw your delightful widow this morning at the Pump, rouge, ringlets, and all;... I saw her taste the waters and turn sick; and now, because she must have a reason for shewing herself at the Pump, she is going to make the poor girl drink for her.... Capital creature!... I understand it all ... poor little girl!... And so the widow wants acquaintance, does she?... I offer myself, my drawing-room shall be open to her, Pringle.... And now, how can I manage to get introduced to her?”
”You will not find that very difficult, Lady Elizabeth, depend upon it.... I will undertake to promise for this Mrs. Barnaby, that she will be visible wherever men and women congregate. At the ball, for instance, to-morrow night; does your ladys.h.i.+p intend to be there?”
”Certainly.... And if she be there, I will manage the matter of introduction, with or without intervention, and so obtain this full-blown peony for my shew on Wednesday next.”
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