or lying down, when you can't stand.'
Lady Berryl went to Lady Clonbrony's apartment; she was met by Sir
Arthur.
'Come, my love! come quick!--Lord Colambre is arrived.'
'I know it; and does he go to Ireland? Speak instantly, that I may tell
Grace Nugent.'
'You can tell her nothing yet, my love; for we know nothing. Lord
Colambre will not say a word till you come; but I know, by his
countenance, that he has good and extraordinary news.'
They passed rapidly along the passage to Lady Clonbrony's room.
'Oh, my dear, dear Lady Berryl, come! or I shall die with impatience,'
cried Lady Clonbrony, in a voice and manner between laughing and crying.
'There, now you have congratulated, are very happy, and very glad, and
all that--now, for mercy's sake, sit down, Lord Clonbrony! for Heaven's
sake, sit down--beside me here--or anywhere! Now, Colambre, begin; and
tell us all at once!'
But as nothing is so tedious as a twice-told tale, Lord Colambre's
narrative need not here be repeated. He began with Count O'Halloran's
visit, immediately after Lady Clonbrony had left London; and went
through the history of the discovery that Captain Reynolds was
the husband of Miss St. Omar, and the father of Grace; the dying
acknowledgment of his marriage; the packet delivered by Count O'Halloran
to the careless ambassador--how recovered, by the assistance of his
executor, Sir James Brooke; the travels from Wrestham to Toddrington,
and thence to Red Lion Square; the interview with old Reynolds, and its
final result; all was related as succinctly as the impatient curiosity
of Lord Colambre's auditors could desire.
'Oh, wonder upon wonder! and joy upon joy!' cried Lady Clonbrony. 'So my
darling Grace is as legitimate as I am, and an heiress after all. Where
is she? where is she? In your room, Lady Berryl?--Oh, Colambre! why
wouldn't you let her be by?--Lady Berryl, do you know, he would not
let me send for her, though she was the person of all others most
concerned!'
'For that very reason, ma'am; and that Lord Colambre was quite right, I
am sure you must be sensible, when you recollect, that Grace has no idea
that she is not the daughter of Mr. Nugent; she has no suspicion that
the breath of blame ever lighted upon her mother. This part of the story
cannot be announced to her with too much caution; and, indeed, her mind
has been so much harassed and agitated, and she is at present so far
from strong, that great delicacy--'
'True
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