“I am delighted to hear it,” said Lady Thick-nesse. “Such disinterested conduct does your lordship the greatest credit. Then I presume all will go on as before?”
“I hope so,” he replied. “But I am in doubt. Mrs. Calverley seems quite firm in her determination to break off the engagement.”
“But she has nothing to complain of,” remarked Sir Bridgnorth. “On the contrary, she is the sole cause of the misunderstanding. I take a totally different view of the matter from your lordship, and I suspect I am much nearer the truth. If she is now resolved to break off the match, it is because she is unwilling to lose her property.”
“Oh, pray don't put that unfair construction on her conduct!” exclaimed Lady Thicknesse.
“It seems to me quite natural,” said Sir Bridgnorth; “quite consistent with her character,” he added, in a whisper, to Lady Thicknesse.
“She seems very greatly troubled,” observed Lord Courland; “and if anything occurs in consequence, I shall never forgive myself.”
“Your lordship alarms yourself without reason, I think,” said Lady Thicknesse.
“You have not seen her this morning, I suppose?”
“I am very sorry to hear it,” replied Lady Thicknesse. “But she will soon get well again if the matter is settled, as I am persuaded it will be.”
“I ought to tell you she has bidden me farewell,” said his lordship.
“Don't despair,” rejoined Lady Thicknesse. “I'll undertake to bring you together again. I'm sorry you didn't call me in at the time; but it's not too late now.”
“Your ladyship gives me hopes,” said Lord Courland retiring.
“If she marries, as I trust she may,” observed Sir Bridgnorth, as soon as his lordship was out of hearing, “it will be an immense thing for Chetwynd and Mildred. But I doubt whether she will make such a sacrifice for Lord Courland.”
“I believe she is very much in love with him,” remarked Lady Thicknesse.
“Possibly,” said Sir Bridgnorth. “But this is too much to pay. As to her being in ignorance of the contents of her late husband's will, I never can credit that. Yet it puzzles me to conceive what she meant to do. Somehow or other, her plan has failed. Your ladyship thinks the matter will be easily settled. I am not of that opinion.”
“To tell you the truth, dear Sir Bridgnorth,” said Lady Thicknesse, “I do feel rather uneasy about Mrs. Calverley.”