Full upon them in this frame of mind, arrived Caroline’s great news from Beckley.
It was then that the Countess’s conduct proved a memorable refutation of cynical philosophy: she rejoiced in the good fortune of him who had offended her! Though he was not crushed and annihilated (as he deserved to be) by the wrong he had done, the great-hearted woman pardoned him!
Her first remark was: “Let him thank me for it or not, I will lose no moment in hastening to load him with my congratulations.”
Pleasantly she joked Andrew, and defended him from Harriet now.
“So we are not all bankrupts, you see, dear brother-in-law.”
Andrew had become so demoralized by his own plot, that in every turn of events he scented a similar piece of human ingenuity. Harriet was angry with his disbelief, or say, the grudging credit he gave to the glorious news. Notwithstanding her calmness, the thoughts of Lymport had sickened her soul, and it was only for the sake of her children, and from a sense of the dishonesty of spending a farthing of the money belonging, as she conceived, to the creditors, that she had consented to go.
“I see your motive, Mr. Cogglesby,” she observed. “Your measures are disconcerted. I will remain here till my brother gives me shelter.”
“Oh, that’ll do, my love; that’s all I want,” said Andrew, sincerely.
“Both of you, fools!” the Countess interjected. “Know you Evan so little? He will receive us anywhere: his arms are open to his kindred: but to his heart the road is through humiliation, and it is to his heart we seek admittance.”
“What do you mean?” Harriet inquired.