The Convenient Marriage Read Online Free PDF

remarked but since the porter was able to inform the rather agitated governess that Miss Horatia had gone out attended by her maid, no great concern was felt. It was odd of Horatia, and very wayward, but no doubt she had only stolen out to buy the coquelicot ribbons she had coveted in a milliner's window, or a chintz patch for a gown. This was Elizabeth's theory, delivered in her soft, peaceable voice, and it satisfied Lady Winwood, lying upon the sopha with her vinaigrette to hand. The appearance of a town coach, drawn by perfectly matched bays with glittering harness, did not occasion more than a fleeting interest until it became apparent that this opulent equipage was going to draw up at the door of No 20.
    Charlotte exclaimed: 'Lord, who can it be? Mama, a caller!' She pressed her face against the window, and said: 'There is a crest on the panel, but I cannot distinguish - Lizzie, I believe it is Lord Rule!'
    'Oh no!' Elizabeth fluttered, pressing a hand to her heart.
    By this time the footman had sprung down, and opened the coach door. Charlotte grew pop-eyed. 'It's Horry!' she gasped.
    Lady Winwood clutched the vinaigrette. 'Charlotte, my nerves!' she said in a fading voice.
    'But, Mama, it is!' insisted Charlotte.
    Elizabeth had a premonition. 'Oh, what can she have been doing?' she said, sinking into a chair, and growing quite pale.
    'I hope nothing - nothing dreadful!'
    Impetuous footsteps were heard on the stairs; the door was opened ungently, and Horatia stood before them, flushed and bright-eyed, and swinging her hat by its ribbon.
    Lady Winwood's hands fumbled with her Medici scarf. 'Dearest, the draught!' she moaned. 'My poor head!'
    'Pray, Horry, shut the door!' said Charlotte. 'How can you bounce so when you know how shattered Mama's nerves are?'
    'Oh, I am sorry!' Horatia said, and carefully shut the door. 'I forgot. L-Lizzie, everything is settled, and you shall m-marry Edward!'
    Lady Winwood was moved to sit up. 'Good God, the child's raving! Horatia, what - what have you been doing?'
    Horatia tossed the cloak aside, and plumped down on the stool beside her mother's sopha. 'I've b-been to see Lord Rule!' she announced.
    'I knew it!' said Elizabeth, in the voice of Cassandra.
    Lady Winwood sank back upon her cushions with closed eyes. Charlotte, observing her alarming rigidity shrieked: 'Unnatural girl! Have you no consideration for our dearest Mama? Lizzie, hartshorn!'
    The hartshorn, the vinaigrette, and some Hungary Water applied to the temples restored the afflicted Lady Winwood to life. She opened her eyes and found just strength to utter: 'What did the child say?'
    Charlotte, fondly clasping her mother's frail hand, said: 'Mama, do not agitate yourself, I beg of you!'
    'You n-need not be agitated, M-mama,' Horatia told her penitently. 'It is quite true that I've b-been to see Lord Rule, but—'
    'Then all is at an end!' said Lady Winwood fatalistically. 'We may as well prepare to enter the Debtors' Prison. I am sure I do not mind for myself, for my Days are Numbered, but my beautiful Lizzie, my sweetest Charlotte—'
    'M-mama, if only you w-would listen to me!' broke in Horatia. 'I have explained everything to L-Lord Rule, and—'
    'Merciful heavens!' said Elizabeth. 'Not - not Edward?'
    'Yes, Edward. Of course I told him about Edward. And he is n-not going to marry you, Lizzie, but he p-promised he would be Edward's P-patron instead—'
    Lady Winwood had recourse to the vinaigrette again, and desired feebly to be told what she had ever done to deserve such calamity.
    'And I explained how n-nothing would induce Charlotte to m-marry him, and he did not seem to m-mind that.'
    'I shall die,' said Charlotte with resolution, 'of Mortification !'
    'Oh, Horry dear!' sighed Elizabeth, between tears and laughter.
    'And I asked him,' concluded Horatia triumphantly, 'if, he would marry m-me instead. And he is g-going to!'
    Her relatives were bereft of speech. Even Lady Winwood apparently considered that the