His lordship, however, was very positive; and in that positive humor did he depart from his home, and direct his steps to the house of his troublesome but indispensable relative, Mr. Martindale. At that house Mr. Henry Augustus Tippetson was at that moment paying his most gracious attention to Clara; and the poor girl was listening with all the complacency of indifference to his silly prate concerning last night’s opera. Mr. Tippetson had just persuaded the young lady to indulge him so far as to permit him to hear one of Rossini’s airs on the piano-forte; and the first bar was hardly finished, when the arrival of the Earl of Trimmerstone was announced.
This announcement was an interruption more agreeable to Clara than to Mr. Tippetson, for the young lady was not in spirits; and to a dejected mind, sounds of joy are a sad and painful discord. But though Mr. Tippetson was sorry to be deprived of the pleasure of hearing the promised performance, he speedily took his leave of Clara, expressing a hope that he should enjoy that pleasure another day; and he left the room as soon as his lordship made his appearance.
CHAPTER IV.
“To go, alas! we know not where.”
Cooper.
Lord Trimmerstone had not been a very frequent visitor at his relative’s house, and therefore Mr. Martindale apprehended that the present was more likely a call of business than compliment; especially did he think so when he observed how very grave and serious his lordship looked. Conducting the Earl into the library, Mr. Martindale began:
“What, in the name of wonder, can be the matter with you now? Has your lordship had the misfortune to lose more than is quite convenient to pay, and are you coming to ask me to pay it for you?”