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"Woe, woe: all things are clear."—SOPHOCLES: OEd. Tyr. 754.
THE privilege that statesmen ever claim,
Who private interest never yet pursued,
But still pretended 'twas for others' good.
. . . . . .
From hence on every humorous wind that veered
With shifted sails a several course you steered.
Absalom and Achitophel, Part ii.
LORD VARGRAVE had for more than a fortnight remained at the inn atM——-, too ill to be removed with safety in a season so severe. Evenwhen at last, by easy stages, he reached London, he was subjected to arelapse; and his recovery was slow and gradual. Hitherto unused tosickness, he bore his confinement with extreme impatience; and againstthe commands of his physician insisted on continuing to transact hisofficial business, and consult with his political friends in hissick-room; for Lumley knew well, that it is most pernicious to public mento be considered failing in health,—turkeys are not more unfeeling to asick brother than politicians to an ailing statesman; they give out thathis head is touched, and see paralysis and epilepsy in every speech andevery despatch. The time, too, nearly ripe for his great schemes, madeit doubly necessary that he should exert himself, and prevent beingshelved with a plausible excuse of tender compassion for his infirmities.As soon therefore as he learned that Legard had left Paris, he thoughthimself safe for a while in that quarter, and surrendered his thoughtswholly to his ambitious projects. Perhaps, too, with the susceptiblevanity of a middle-aged man, who has had his bonnes fortunes, Lumleydeemed, with Rousseau, that a lover, pale and haggard—just raised fromthe bed of suffering—is more interesting to friendship than attractiveto love. He and Rousseau were, I believe, both mistaken; but that is amatter of opinion: they both thought very coarsely of women,—one fromhaving no sentiment, and the other from having a sentiment that was but adisease. At length, just as Lumley was sufficiently recovered to quithis house, to appear at his office, and declare that his illness hadwonderfully improved his constitution, intelligence from Paris, the morestartling from being wholly unexpected, reached him. From Caroline helearned that Maltravers had proposed to Evelyn, and been accepted. FromMaltravers himself he heard the confirmation of the news. The lastletter was short, but kind and manly. He addressed Lord Vargrave asEvelyn's guardian; slightly alluded to the scruples he had entertainedtill Lord Vargrave's suit was broken off; and feeling the subject toodelicate for a letter, expressed a desire to confer with Lumleyrespecting Evelyn's wishes as to certain arrangements in her property.
And for this was it that Lumley had toiled! for this had he visited LisleCourt! and for this had he been stricken down to the bed of pain! Was itonly to make his old rival the purchaser, if he so pleased it, of thepossessions of his own family? Lumley thought at that moment less ofEvelyn than of Lisle Court. As he woke from the stupor and the first fitof rage into which these epistles cast him, the recollection of the storyhe had heard from Mr. Onslow flashed across him. Were his suspicionstrue, what a secret he would possess! How fate might yet befriend him!Not