It was not the first time that Lady Tilney had availed herself of an intermediate hand to work out a favourite undertaking. With this view, some ten days after the fête at Avington Priory, and when the whole affair was openly spoken of throughout their circle, Lady Tilney sought an opportunity of communicating her views to Lady Tenderden; and having denied herself to every one else, they were soon in deep conference in the boudoir.
"Dear Lady Tenderden," said the former, addressing her, "I am sure that I may speak to you in confidence on a subject in which you will feel an equal if not greater interest than myself: I allude to our élève, la petite Georgina. This is a very silly affair of hers with Leslie Winyard, and is going too far: don't you think so?" Lady Tenderden gave no direct answer.
"Surely you must allow that she is not the sort of person to risk any hazards, or to manage this kind of affair well or with prudence. If allowed to go on by herself, she will run headlong down the precipice, and no earthly power can save her. Besides, it would be such a terrible thing for us, if there was any public scandal to ensue. Consider, my dear Lady Tenderden, we should all incur some portion of blame, and she would be pitied; while we should have all those persons whom we have banished without the pale of our society raving against us, and our system, as though it were a lazaretto in which all the plagues of Egypt were assembled. Now, though we know how false this is, still we ought to provide against it."
Lady Tenderden nodded assent as Lady Tilney went on:—"You agree with me, I am sure; for the curious and the disappointed will not judge coolly, and we must try to shelter ourselves from their imputations, however groundless. We ought to move on in a sphere out of the general nature of things; but, in order to do this impunément, it is necessary to be vigilant and prudent; and I assure you I am never off the watch."
"Peut-être; but den how would you do in this instance?"
"Ah! there lies the delicacy; in that how consists the difficulty of the business; for you know, as to la petite personne herself, we cannot with any safety compromettez ourselves by speaking to her on this subject. She is one of those innocent persons who would, I am sure, either start off at the bare mention of any liaison, and would make a great fuss, and a scene which might be very unpleasant to us all in a thousand ways; or else she might give tête baissé into the thing, so much the more from being warned against it, as your meek people always do; and, though not discreet, she has cunning enough to keep it strictly secret till the moment when she steps into the carriage which is to take her from her disconsolate husband."
"Peut-être," was again Lady Tenderden's brief reply.
Lady Tilney proceeded. "Now, I think there is one, and only one, way in which it can be managed; and your assistance will be vitally important for its success."
"Oh de graces! do not involve me in any of dese troublesome rôles: I am not at all de personne to play dem well; and l'inconduite de la petite en question makes me quite frissonné to think of any thing of the kind."