If, during the last moments of the waning season, nothing of stronger character had occurred, on Lady Glenmore's and Mr. Leslie Winyard's part, to attract the particular notice of the circle in which their liaison was matter of conversation, still there was no relaxation of his attentions, or of her apparent preference, to justify the belief that he had relinquished his pursuit, or that she had discarded him.
Lady Tilney, therefore, continually urged Lady Tenderden to the necessity of adopting the measures she had proposed; and the latter, having satisfied herself that no unpleasant responsibility was likely to attach to her, consented to fill her allotted part in the measure, and propose to Lady Glenmore to accompany her on a tour.
"What do you do with yourself this summer?" said Lady Tenderden to the latter, as she was sitting tête-à-tête with her one morning.
"Indeed I do not in the least know what are Glenmore's plans; but I should hope we shall go to the country somewhere, for I begin to feel that my health suffers from the racket of a town life. But whatever he chooses I shall like best, for nothing would do me any good if he were not to be of the party."
"Oh! quelle enfantillage! Well! I hoped you had chased away that bad habit of being always in de leading-string. What! you a minister's wife, and suppose that he is to follow you up stair and down stair en nourrisson all your life! My dear, how would de state be taken care of after this fashion?"
"True," said Lady Glenmore, sighing, "and I am now used to be alone." In fact Lady Tenderden knew that these words were uttered more from habit than from feeling them in the painful degree in which they would once have been spoken; and she replied,
"Well then, my dear ladi, il faut prendre son partie; and since it is impossible you should have him always à vos trousses, what think you of making a little excursion with me to Les Eaux de Barèges, or to Spa, for two or three months in the belle saison? This would, I should think, exactly suit you: it will refresh your beauty, refit your toilette, et vous reviendrez entièrement renouvellée. On se ressent de la fumée de Londres. It is quite necessary to go away; and a villegiatura in England is so dull!"
"What, go abroad!" said Lady Glenmore with unfeigned surprise.
"Vous êtes impayable," rejoined Lady Tenderden, "comme j'ai souvent eu l'honneur de vous dire. One would imagine you lived a hundred years ago, when people talked of going abroad as they would of going to the moon;—but, now, abroad is at home. Allons! I will not allow you to hesitate. Leave me to settle the matter with Glenmore. I will arrange every thing; and he shall come and meet you, and bring you home, in case I choose to pass the winter at Paris."
Lady Glenmore had not the least idea that her husband would think of consenting to this proposal, but gave a sort of half acquiescence, more to escape from Lady Tenderden's persecuting entreaties, than from any wish to realize the scheme; and she was quite astonished, some days afterwards, to find Lord Glenmore of opinion that this plan would be the pleasantest thing in the world for her, the best adapted to recruit her health, and in all ways the most eligible. Half grieved at the thoughts of absence from him, half gratified at his eager desire to procure her a pleasure, and persuaded at length by his solicitations to try the remedy of change of air for the languor which had of late appeared to have affected her naturally good constitution,—the wish too of yielding implicit obedience to his will,—all combined to determine to consent; and she finally agreed to the proposed excursion, which was soon followed by preparations and arrangements for their departure to Barèges.