The Absentee by Maria Edgeworth - A complete eBook in pages (172 / 300)

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The Absentee by Maria Edgeworth
Book, page 172 / 300

'He has so.'

'And he should know your concerns: does he mind them?'

'He should know--he should know better; but as to minding our
concerns, your honour knows,' continued she, smiling again,
'every one in this world must mind their own concerns; and it
would be a good world, if it was even so. There's a great deal in
all things, that don't appear at first sight. Mr. Dennis wanted
Grace for a wife for his bailiff; but she would not have him; and
Mr. Dennis was very sweet to her himself--but Grace is rather
high with him as proper, and he has a grudge AGAIN' us ever
since. Yet, indeed, there,' added she, after another pause, 'as
you say, I think we are safe; for we have that memorandum in
writing, with a pencil, given under his own hand, on the back of
the LASE, to me, by the same token when my good lord had his foot
on the step of the coach, going away; and I'll never forget the
smile of her that got that good turn done for me, Miss Grace.
And just when she was going to England and London, and, young as
she was, to have the thought to stop and turn to the likes of me!
Oh, then, if you could see her, and know her, as I did! THAT was
the comforting angel upon earth--look and voice, and heart and
all! Oh, that she was here present, this minute!--But did you
scald yourself?' said the widow to Lord Colambre. 'Sure you
must have scalded yourself; for you poured the kettle straight
over your hand, and it boiling!--O DEEAR! to think of so young a
gentleman's hand shaking so like my own.

Luckily, to prevent her pursuing her observations from the hand
to the face, which might have betrayed more than Lord Colambre
wished she should know, her own Grace came in at this instant.

'There it's for you, safe, mother dear--the LASE!' said Grace,
throwing a packet into her lap. The old woman lifted up her
hands to heaven, with the lease between them.--'Thanks be to
Heaven!' Grace passed on, and sunk down on the first seat she
could reach. Her face flushed, and, looking much fatigued, she
loosened the strings of her bonnet and cloak--'Then, I'm tired;'
but, recollecting herself, she rose, and curtsied to the
gentleman.

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