The Absentee Read Online Free PDF Page A

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 IDEES 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 wished 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 anybody. Marrying an heiress accomplishes all this at once;
and the young lady is everything 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