 Can you forgive her by Anthony Trollop chapter 77? This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer Please visit LibriVox.org. The percent recording is by Raju Amina45 at Hortman.com Can you forgive her by Anthony Trollop chapter 77 the Travellers return home Mr. Palliser did not remain long in Badden after the payment of pergo's bill Perhaps I shall not throw any undeserved discredit on his courage. If I say that he was afraid to do so What would he have said? What would he have been able to say if that young man had come to him demanding an explanation? So he hurried away to Strasbourg the same day much to his wife's satisfaction The journey home from thence was not marked by any incidents Gradually Mr. Palliser became a little more lenient to his wife and slightly less oppressive in his caution If he still inquired about the springs of the carriages He did so in silence and he ceased to enjoy the necessity of a day's rest after each day's journey By the time that they reached Dover He had become so used to his wife's condition that he made but little fluttering as she walked out of the boat by the narrow gangway Which is so contrived as to make an arrival there a serious inconvenience to a lady and a nuisance even to a man He was somewhat staggered when a big man in the middle of the night insisted on opening the little basket which his wife carried and was Uncomfortable when obliged to stop her on the plank why he gave up the tickets which he thought had been already Surrendered, but he was becoming used to his position and bore himself like a man During that journey home, Mr. Palliser had by no means kept his seat opposite to Lady Lanquora with constancy He had soon found that it was easier to talk to Mr. Gray than to his wife and Consequently the two ladies had been much together as had also the two generalmen What the ladies discussed maybe imagine one was about to become a wife and the other a mother and That was to be their fate after each had made up her mind that no such lot was to be hers It may however be presumed that for every one word that Ali spoke Lady Lanquora spoke 10 The two men drove these days of close intimacy were intent upon politics Mr. Palliser who may be regarded as a fox who had lost his tail the tail being in this instance The comfort of domestic privacy was eager in recommending his new friend to cut off his tail also Your argument would be very well said he if men were to be contended to live for themselves only Your argument would be very well said the other if it were used to a man who felt that he could do good to others by going into public life But it's wholly inefficacious if it recommends public life simply or chiefly because a man may gratify his own ambition by public services Of course, there is personal gratification and of course there is good done said mr. Palliser These are should be said mr. Gray Exactly and the two things must go together the chief gratification comes from the feeling that you are of use But if you feel that you would not be of use We need not follow the argument any further. We all know its nature and what between two such men would be said on both sides We all know that neither of them would put the matter altogether in a true light Men never can do so in words that the light within themselves be ever so clear I do not think that any man yet ever had such a gift of words as to make them a perfect exponent of all the wisdom within him But the effect was partly that which the weaker man of the two desired the weaker in the gifts of nature Though art had in some respects made it stronger Mr. Gray was shaken in his quiescent philosophy and startled Alice as much as he delighted her By word or two. He said as he walked with her in the courts on the lower It's all hollow here. He said speaking of French politics Very hollow said Alice who had no love for the French mode of carrying on public affairs Of all modes of governing this seems to me to be the surest of coming to a downfall They're not told that they are wise enough to talk but not wise enough to have any power of action It is as though men were cautioned that they were walking through gunpowder and that no fire could be allowed But we're at the same time enjoying to carry Lucifer matches in their pockets I don't believe in the gunpowder and I think there should be fire and plenty of it But if I didn't want the fire, I wouldn't have the matches It's odd to hear you talk politics said Alice laughing After this he dropped the subject for a while as though he were ashamed of it But in a very few minutes he returned to it manfully Mr. Palisar wants me to go into parliament upon hearing this Alice said nothing She was afraid to speak After all that had passed she felt that it would not become her to show much outward joy on hearing such a Proposition so spoken by him and yet she could say nothing without some sign of exaltation in her voice So she walked on without speaking and was conscious that her fingers trembled on his own What do you say about it? He asked What do I say? Oh John, what right can I have to say anything? No one else can have so much right putting aside of course myself who must be responsible for my own actions He asked me whether I could afford it and he seems to think that a smaller income Suffices for such work now than it did a few years since I Believe that I could afford it if I could get a seat that was not very expensive at the first outside He could help me there On that point, of course, I can have no opinion No, not on that point I believe we may take that for granted living in London for four or five months in the year might be managed But as to the mode of life Then Alice was unable to hold her tongue longer and spoke out her thoughts with more vehemence than discretion No doubt he combated them with some amount of opposition He seldom allowed outspoken enthusiasm to pass by him without some amount of hostility But he was not so perverse as to be driven from his new views by the fact that Alice approved them And she as she drew near home was able to think that the only flaw in his character was in the process of being cured When they reached London, they all separated It was Mr. Palisar's purpose to take his wife down to matching with as little really as possible London was at this time nearly empty and all the doings of the season were over It was now the first week of August and as parliament had not been sitting for nearly two months The town looked as it usually looks in September Lady Glencora was to stay but one day in part late and it had been understood between her and Alice That they were not to see each other How odd it is parting in this way when people have been together so long Said Lady Glencora. It always seems as though there had been a separate little life of its own Which was now to be brought to a close I suppose Mr. Gray you and I when we next meet will be far too distant to fight with each other I hope that may never be the case said Mr. Gray I suppose nothing would prevent his fighting. Would it Alice? But remember there must be no fighting when we do meet next and that must be in September With all my heart said Mr. Gray, but Alice said nothing Then Mr. Palazzo made his little speech Alice he said as he gave his hand to Mr. Palazzo Give my compliments to your father and tell him that I shall take the liberty of asking him to come down to matching for the early shooting September and that I shall expect him to bring you with him You may tell him also that he will have to stay to see you off But that he will not be allowed to take you away Lady Glencora thought that this was very pretty as coming from her husband and so she told him on their way home Alice insisted on going to Queen Anne Street in a cab by herself Mr. Palazzo had offered a carriage, but Mr. Gray of course offered himself as a protector But she would have neither the one nor the other If he had gone with her he might by chance have met her father And she was most anxious that she should not be encumbered by her lover's presence when she first received her father's congratulations They had slept at Dover and had come up by a midway train When she reached Queen Anne Street the house was desolate and she might therefore have allowed Mr. Gray to attend her But she found a letter waiting for her which made her for the moment forget both him and her father Lady MacLeod at Cheltenham was very ill and wished to see her knees as she said before she died I have got your letter said the kind old woman and I'm now quite happy It only wanted that to reconcile me to my departure I thought through it all that my girl would be happy at last Will she forgive me if I say that I have forgiven her The letter then went on to beg Alice to come to Cheltenham at once It's not that I'm dying now said Lady MacLeod though You will find me much altered and keeping my bed But the doctor says if years the worst cold weather I know what that means my dear And if I don't see you now before your marriage, I shall never see you again Pray get married as soon as you can I want to know that you are Mrs. Gray before I go If I were to hear that it was postponed because of my illness. I think it would kill me at once There was another letter from her from Kate full of course of congratulations and promising to be at the wedding That is said Kate Unless it takes place at the house of some one of your very grand friends and telling her that aunt we know Was to be married in a fortnight telling her of this and begging her to attend that wedding You should stand by your family said Kate and only think What my condition will be if I have no one here to support me Do come journeys are nothing nowadays. Don't you know I would go seven times the distance for you Mr. Cheesaker and Captain Belfay are friends after all and Mr. Cheesaker is to be best man Is it not beautiful as for poor me? I'm told I haven't a chance left of becoming mistress of oily meat and all its wealth Alice began to think that the hands were almost too full If she herself were to be married in September even by the end of September her hands were very full indeed Yet she did not know how to refuse any of the request made to her As to Lady MacLeod her visit to her was a duty which must of course be performed at once She would stay but one day in London and then go down to Cheltenham Having resolved upon this she at once wrote to her on to that effect As to that other affair down in Westmoreland she sighed as she thought of it, but she feared that she might go there also Kate had suffered too much on her behalf to allow of her feeling indifferent to such a request Then her father came in I didn't in the least know when you might arrive said he beginning with an apology for his absence How could I my dear? Alice gone to remind him that she herself had named the precise hour of the train By which they had arrived. It's all right. Papa said she I was very glad to have an hour to write a letter or two Poor lady MacLeod is very ill. I must go to her the day after tomorrow Dear dear dear. I had heard that she was poorly. She's very old, you know So Alice you have made it all square with mr. Gray at last Yes, Papa if you call that square Well, I do call it square. It has all come around to the proper thing I hope he thinks so What do you think yourself my dear? I have no doubt. It is a proper thing for me Papa Of course not of course not and I can tell you this Alice He is a man in a thousand. You have heard about the money What money papa the money that George had As the reader is aware Alice had heard nothing special about this money She only knew or supposed she knew that she had given 3 000 pounds to her cousin But now her father explained to her the whole transaction We couldn't have realized your money for months. Perhaps said he But Gray knew that some men must have roped enough before they can hang themselves Alice was unable to say anything on the subject to her father But to herself she did declare that not in that way or with that hope had John Gray produced this money He must be paid papa. She said paid he answered He can pay himself now. It may make some difference in the settlements perhaps But he and the lawyers may arrange that I should not think of interfering with such a man as Gray If you could only know my dear what I have suffered Alice in a penitential tone expressed a sorrow and then he too assured her that he had forgiven her Bless you my child. He said and make you happy and good and and and very comfortable After that he went back to his club Alice made her journey down to Cheltenham without any adventure and was received by Lady McLeod with open arms Dearest Alice it is so good of you. Good said Alice Would I not have gone a thousand miles to you? Lady McLeod was very eager to know all about the coming marriage I can tell you now my dear Though I couldn't do it before that I knew he would persist forever. He told me so himself in confidence He has persisted on that is certain And I hope you will reward him a beautiful woman without discretion is like a pearl in his wine snout But a good wife is a crown of glory to her husband. Remember that my dear and choose your part for his sake I won't be that unfortunate pearl if I can help it on We can all help it if you set about it in the right way And Alice you must be careful to find out all his likes and his dislikes Dear me, I remember how hard I found it, but then I don't think I was so clever as you are Sometimes I think nobody has ever been so stupid as I have Not stupid my dear If I must say the word it is self will but dear all that is forgiven now. Is it not? There is forgiveness which it's rather hard to get said Alice There was something said than as to the necessity of looking for pardon beyond this world, which I need not hear repeat To all her old friends little sermons Alice was infinitely more attentive than had been her won't So that lady Macleod was comforted and took heart of grace And at last brought forth from under her pillow a letter from the Countess of Midlothian Which she had received a day or two since and which bore upon Alice's case I was not quite sure whether I would show it to you said lady Macleod Because you will answer her when she wrote to you But when I am gone as I shall be soon She will be the nearest relative you have on your mother's side and from her great position, you know Alice But here Alice became impatient for the letter Her aunt handed it to her and she read as follows Castle Ricky July 18th Dear lady Macleod. I'm sorry to hear of the symptoms you speak about I strongly advise you to depend chiefly on 50 They should be very careful to send it up quite free from Greece And it should not be too strong of the me There should be no vegetables in it not so, you know, but beef tea If anything acts upon your strength that will I need not tell one who has lived as you have done where to look for that other strength Which alone can support you at such a time as this I would go to you if I thought that my presence would be any comfort to you But I know how sensitive you are and the shop might be too much for him If you see Alice Pazor on her return to England as you probably will pray tell her From me that I give her my warmest congratulations And that I am heartily glad that matters are arranged I think she treated my attempts to heal the wound in a manner that they did not deserve But all that shall be forgiven Astral also her original bad behavior to move Mr. Gray Alice was becoming weary of so much forgiveness And told herself as she was reading the letter that that of Lady Mithlothian Was at any rate unnecessary. I trust that we may yet meet and be friends continued Lady Mithlothian I'm extremely gratified at finding that he has been taught so much of by Mr. Palizer I'm told that Mr. Palizer and Mr. Gray have become great friends And if this is so Alice must be happy to feel that she has had it in her power to confer so great a benefit On her future husband as he will receive from this introduction I ain't a bit happy and I have conferred no benefit on Mr. Gray explained Alice Who was unable to repress the anger occasioned by the lost paragraph? But it's a great benefit my dear Mr. Palizer has every bit as much cause to be gratified for that as Mr. Gray and perhaps more Poor Lady MacLeod could not argue in the matter in her present state She merely sighed and moved her shriveled old hand up and down upon the counter pain Alice finished the letter without further remarks It merely went on to say how happy the writer would be to know something of her cousin as Mrs. Gray As also to know something of Mr. Gray and then gave a general invitation to both Mr. and Mrs. Gray Asking them to come to Castle Reiki whenever they might be able The motionless with whom Lady Midlothian was staying had expressly desired her to give this message Alice however could not but observe that Lady Midlothian's invitation applied only to another person's house I'm sure she means well said Alice Indeed. She does said Lady MacLeod And then you know you will probably have children and think what a thing it will be for them to know the Midlothian family You shouldn't rob them of their natural advantages Alice remained awake with her aunt and went from thence direct to Westmoreland Some order as to the bridal preparations. We must presume she gave on that single way Which she passed in London Much advice she had received on this head from Lady Glekora And no inconsolable amount of assistance was to be rendered to her at matching During the fortnight. She would remind her before her marriage Something also let's hope she might do it Something no doubt she did do Something also might probably be achieved among the wilds in Westmoreland But that's something would necessarily be of a nature not requiring fashionable tradespeople While at Cheltenham She determined that she would not again return to London before her marriage This was all was caused by a very urgent letter from Mr. Gray and by another almost equally urgent from Lady Glekora The marriage did not take place in September. She would not be present at it The gosh of the world of Lady Glekora's world had met together and come to a great decision Lady Glekora was to be removed in October to Gathram Castle And remind her till the following spring so that the hair might in truth be born in the purple It's such a bore said Lady Glekora, and I know it will be a girl But the Duke isn't to be there except for the Christmas week An invitation for the ceremony at matching had been sent from Palisade from Mr. Welsard And another from Lady Glekora to Kate whom I long to know said her ladyship And with whom I should like to pick a crow if I dare as I'm sure she did all the mischief End of chapter 77 This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information or to volunteer Please visit LibriVox.org The percent recording is by Raju Amina45 at Hortman.com Chapter 78 of Can You Forgive Her This is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer Please visit LibriVox.org Recorded by Mill Nicholson Can You Forgive Her by Anthony Trollop Chapter 78, Mr. Cheesako's Fate It must be acknowledged that Mrs. Greenough was a woman of great resources And that she would be very prudent for others Though I fear the verdict of those who know her must go against her in regard to prudence in herself Her marriage with Captain Belfield was a rash act Certainly a rash act Although she did take so much care in securing the payment of her own income into her own hands But the manner in which she made him live discreetly for some months previous to his marriage The tact with which she renewed the friendship which had existed between him and Mr. Cheesako And the skill she used in at last providing Mr. Cheesako with a wife Obligious all to admit that as a general she had great powers When Alice reached Bavassa Hall she found Charlie Fairstairs established there on a long visit Charlie and Kate were to be the two bridesmaids And as Kate told her cousin in their first confidential intercourse on the evening of Alice's arrival There were already great hopes in the household that the master of oily mead might be brought to surrender It was true that Charlie had not a shilling and that Mr. Cheesako had set his heart on marrying an heiress It was true that Ms. Fairstairs had always stood low in the gentleman's estimation As being connected with people who were as much without rank and fashion as they were without money And that the gentleman loved rank and fashion dearly It was true that Charlie was no beauty and that Cheesako had an eye for feminine charms It was true that he had despised Charlie and had spoken his contempt openly That he had seen the girl on the sands at Yarmouth every summer for the last 10 years And about the streets of Norwich every winter And had learned to regard her as a thing poor and despicable Because she was common in his eyes It is thus that the Cheesakers judge of people But in spite of all these difficulties Mrs. Greenow had taken up poor Charlie's case And Kate Vivassa expressed a strong opinion that her aunt would win What has she done to the man? Alice asked Coaxed him simply that She has made herself so much his master that he doesn't know how to say no to her Sometimes I have thought that he might possibly run away But I have abandoned that fear now She has little confidences with him from day to day Which are so alluring to him that he cannot tear himself off In the middle of one of them he will find himself engaged But the unfortunate girl won't it be a wretched marriage for her? Not at all. She'll make him a very good wife He's one of those men to whom any woman after a little time will come to be the same He'll be rough with her once a month or so and perhaps tell her that she brought no money with her But that won't break any bones and Charlie will know how to fight her own battles She'll save his money if she brings none and in a few years time They will quite understand each other Mr. Cheesaker and Captain Belfield were at this time living in lodgings together at Penrith But came over and spent every other day at Vivassa Returning always to their lodgings in the evening It wanted but eight days to the marriage when Alice arrived and preparations for that event were in progress It's to be very quiet Alice said her aunt as quiet as such a thing can be made I owe that to the memory of the departed one I know that he is looking down upon me and that he approves all that I do Indeed he told me once that he did not want me to live desolate for his sake If I didn't feel that he was looking down and approving it I should be wretched indeed She took Alice up to see her trusso and gave the other expectant bride some little hints Which under present circumstances might be useful Yes indeed only three in six months apiece and they're quite real Feel them you wouldn't get them in the shops under six Alice did feel them and wondered whether her aunt could have saved the half crown honestly I had my eyes about me when I was up in town my dear and look here these are quite new Have never been on yet and I had them when I was married before There is nothing like being careful my dear I hate meanness as everybody knows who knows me but there is nothing like being careful You have a lot of rich people about you just now And will have ever so many things given you which you won't want Do you put them all by and be careful? They may turn out useful, you know Saying this Mrs. Greenow folded up among her present bridal belongings Sundries of the wealth which had accrued to her in an earlier stage of her career And then Mrs. Greenow opened her mind to Alice about the captain He's as good as gold my dear he is indeed in his own way Of course I know he has faults and I should like to know who hasn't Although poor dear Greenow certainly was more without them than anybody else I ever knew As this remembrance came upon Mrs. Greenow she put her handkerchief to her eyes And Alice observed that that which she held still bore the deepest hem of widowhood They would be used no doubt till the last day and then put by in lavender the future possible occasions Belfield may have been a little extravagant, I dare say he has But how can a man help being extravagant when he hasn't got any regular income? It has been ill treated in his profession very It makes my blood curdle when I think of it After fighting his country's battles through blood and dust and wounds But I'll tell you about that another time I suppose a man seldom does make a fortune aren't I being a soldier? Never my dear much better to be a tailor don't you ever marry a soldier But as I was saying he is the best tempered creature alive and the staunchest friend I ever met You should hear what Mr. Cheeseacre says of him But you don't know Mr. Cheeseacre No aunt not yet if you remember he went away before I saw him when he came here before Yes, I know poor fellow Between you and me Kate might have had him if she liked But perhaps Kate was right I don't think he would have suited Kate at all Because of the farm yard you mean Kate shouldn't give herself airs Money's never dirty, you know, but perhaps it's all for the best There's a sweet girl here to whom he is violently attached and who I hope will become Mr. Cheeseacre But as I was saying the friendship between these two men is quite wonderful And I have always observed that when a man can create that kind of affection in the bosom of another man He invariably is the sort of man The man in fact who makes a good husband Alice knew the story of charlie fair stares and her hopes knew of the quarrels between belfield and cheese acre knew almost as much of belfield's past life as mrs. Greeno did herself And mrs. Greeno was no doubt aware that such was the case Nevertheless, she had a pleasure in telling her own story And told it as though she believed every word that she spoke On the following day the two gentlemen came over according to custom And alice observed that mrs. fair stares hardly spoke to mr. Cheeseacre Indeed her manner of avoiding that gentleman was so very marked that it was impossible not to observe it They drank tea out of doors And when mr. Cheeseacre on one occasion swaldered over towards the end of the bench on which charlie was sitting Charlie got up and walked away And in strolling about the place afterwards And in going up through the wood She was at great pains to attach herself to some other person So that there should be no such attaching between her and the owner of oily need At one time mr. Cheeseacre did get close up to her and spoke some word Some very indifferent word He knew that he was being cut and he wanted to avoid the appearance of a scene I don't know sir Said charlie Again moving away with excellent dignity And she had once attached herself to alice who was close by I know you have just come home from switzerland Said charlie Beautiful switzerland My art pence for switzerland Do you tell me something about switzerland Mr. Cheeseacre had heard that alice was the dear friend of a lady who would probably someday become a duchess He therefore naturally held her in awe and slunk away On this occasion mrs. Greeno clung lovingly to her future husband And the effect was that mr. Cheeseacre found himself to be very much alone and unhappy He had generally enjoyed these days at vivasa hall having found himself or fancied himself to be the dominant spirit there That mrs. Greeno was always in truth the dominant spirit I need hardly say But she knew how to make a companion happy And well also how to make him wretched On the whole of this day Poor Cheeseacre was very wretched I don't think I shall go there any more He said to belfield as he drove the gig back to penrith that evening Not go there any more cheesy Said belfield why we ought to have the dinner out in the field on friday? It's your bespeak Well, yes, I'll go on friday, but not after that You stop and see me turned off old fellow What's the use? You get your wife and that's enough for you The truth is that since that girl came down from london with her damned heirs The girl from london with the heirs was poor ellis The place is quite changed I'm blessed if the whole thing isn't as dark as ditch water I'm a plain man. I am and I do hate your swells Against this view of the case captain belfield argued stoutly But cheeseacre had been offended And throughout the next day he was cross and touchy He wouldn't play billiards and on one occasion hinted that he hoped he should get that money soon You did admirably my dear said mrs. Greeno that night to charlie fair stares The widow was now on terms almost more confidential with miss fair stares than with her own niece kate vassar She loved a little bit of intrigue And though kate could intrigue as we have seen in the story kate would not join her aunt's intrigues You did it admirably I really did not think you had so much in you Oh, I don't know Said charlie blushing at the praise And it's the only way my dear The only way I mean for you with such a one as him And if he does come round you'll find him an excellent husband I don't think he cares for me a bit said charlie whimpering Who nonsense Girls never know whether men care for them or not If he asked you to marry him Won't that be a sign that he cares for you? And if he don't why there'll be no harm done If he thinks it's his money began charlie Now don't talk nonsense charlie said mrs. Greenow or you'll make me sick Of course, it's his money more or less You don't mean to tell me you'd go and fall in love with him if he was like belfield and hadn't got a rap I could afford that sort of thing you can't I don't mean to say you ain't to love him Of course you're to love him And I've no doubt you will and make him a very good wife I always think that worldliness and sentimentality are like brandy and water I don't like either of them separately but taken together they make a very nice drink I like them warm with as the gentlemen say To this little lecture miss fair stares listened with beautiful patience And when it was over she said nothing more of her outraged affections or of her disregard for money And now my dear mind you look your best on friday I'll get him away immediately after dinner And when he's done with me you can contrive to be in his way You know The next day was what kate called the blank day at the hall The ladies were all alone and devoted themselves as was always the case on the blank days to millinery and household cares Mrs. Greeno as has before been stated had taken a lease of the place and her troubles extended beyond her mere bridal wardrobe Large trunks of household linen had arrived and all this linen was marked with the name of greeno Greeno five point five eight Greeno seven point five two And a good deal had to be done before this ancient wealth of housewifery could probably be converted to belfield purposes We must cut out the pieces Jeanette and work them in again ever so carefully said the widow after some painful consideration It will always show said Jeanette shaking her head But the other would show worse said the widow and if you find draw it not one person in ten will notice it We'd always put them on with the name to the feet, you know It was not quite true that cheese acre had bespoke the dinner out in the field Although no doubt he thought he had done so The little treat if treated was had all been arranged by mrs. Greeno who was ever ready to create festivities There was not much scope for a picnic here Besides their own party which of course included the captain and mr. Cheese acre No guest could be caught except the clergyman That low church clergyman who was so anxious about his income and with whom the old squire had quarrelled Mrs. Greeno had quickly obtained the advantage of his alliance And he who was soon to perform on her behalf the marriage ceremony had promised to grace this little festival The affair simply amounted to this That they were to eat their dinner Uncomfortably in the field instead of comfortably in the dining room That mrs. Greeno knew that Charlie's charms would be much strengthened by a dinner out of doors Nothing she said to Kate Nothing makes a man come forward so well as putting him all together out of his usual tack A man who wouldn't think of such a thing in the drawing room Would be sure to make an offer if he spent an evening with a young lady downstairs in the kitchen At two o'clock the gig from Penrith arrived at the hall And for the next hour both cheese acre and the captain were engaged in preparing the tables And carrying out the vians The captain and Charlie fair stares were going to lay the cloth Let me do it said cheese acre taking it out of the captain's hands Oh, certainly said the captain giving up his prize Captain Bellefield would do it much better Said Charlie with a little toss of her head He's as good as a married man and they always do these things best The day was fine and although the shade was not perfect and the midges were troublesome The dinner went off very nicely It was beautiful to see how well mrs. Greeno remembered herself about the grace Seeing that the clergyman was there She was just in time and would have been very angry with herself and have thought herself awkward had she forgotten it Mr. Cheese acre sat on her right hand and the clergyman on her left And she hardly spoke a word to Bellefield Her sweetest smiles were all given to cheese acre She was specially anxious to keep her neighbor the parson in good humor And therefore illuminated him once and every five minutes with a passing ray But the full splendor of her light was poured out upon cheese acre as it never had before been poured How she did flatter him and with what a capacious gullet did he swallow her flatteries Oily mead was the only paradise she had ever seen Ah me when I think of it sometimes But never mind A moment came to him when he thought that even yet he might win the race And send Bellefield away howling into outer darkness A moment came to him and the widow saw the moment well I know I have done for the best said she and therefore I shall never regret it At any rate it's done now Not done yet said he plaintively Yes done and done and done Besides a man in your position in the county should always marry a wife younger than yourself A good deal younger Cheese acre did not understand the argument but he liked the allusion to his position in the county And he perceived that it was too late for any changes in the present arrangements But he was happy and all that feeling of animosity to Alice had vanished from his breast Poor Alice she at any rate was innocent With so much of her own to fill her mind she had been but little able to take her share in the grino festivities And we may safely say that if mr. Cheese acre's supremacy was on any occasion attacked It was not attacked by her His supremacy on this occasion was paramount And during the dinner and after the dinner He was allowed to give his orders to belfield in a manner that must have gratified him much You must have another glass of champagne with me my friend Said mrs. Greeno and mr. Cheese acre drank the other glass of champagne It was not the second nor the third that he had taken After dinner they started off for a ramble through the fields And mrs. Greeno and mr. Cheese acre were together I think that charlie fairstairs did not go with them at all I think she went into the house and washed her face and brushed her hair and settled her muslin I should not wonder if she took off her frock and ironed it again Captain belfield i know went with alice and created some astonishment By assuring her that he fully meant to correct the error of his ways I know what it is, he said, to be connected with such a family as yours mrs. Vevasa He too had heard about the future duchess and wished to be on his best behaviour Kate fell to the lot of the parson This is the last time we shall ever be together in this way Said the widow to her friend Oh no, said cheese acre, I hope not The last time On wednesday I become mrs. Belfield And I need hardly say that I have many things to think of before that Mr. Cheese acre, I hope we are not to be strangers hereafter Mr. Cheese acre said he hoped not Oily mead would always be open to captain and mrs. Belfield We all know your hospitality, said she, it is not today nor tomorrow That I, or my husband, that is to be, will have to learn that He always declares that you are the very bow ideal of an English country gentleman Merely a poor Norfolk farmer, said cheese acre I never want to put myself beyond my own place There has been some talk about the commission of the peace, but I don't think anything of it It has been the greatest blessing in the world for him that he has ever known you Said mrs. Greeno, still talking about her future husband I've tried to be good-natured, that's all Damn me mrs. Greeno, what's the use of living if one doesn't try to be good-natured? There isn't a better fellow than Belfield living He and I ran for the same plate, and he has won it He's a lucky fellow, and I don't begrudge him his luck That's so manly of you, Mr. Cheese acre But indeed, the plate you speak of was not worth your running for I may have my own opinion about that, you know It was not Nobody knows that as well as I do, or could have thought over the whole matter so often I know very well what my mission is in life The mistress of your house, Mr. Cheese acre, should not be any man's widow She wouldn't be a widow then, you know A virgin heart should be yours And a virgin heart may be yours if you choose to accept it Oh bother If you choose to take my solicitude on your behalf in that way, of course I have done You were good enough to say just now that you wished to see me and my husband in your hospital halls After all that has passed, do you think that I could be a visitor at your house unless there is a mistress there? Upon my word, I think you might No, Mr. Cheese acre, certainly not For all our sakes I should decline But if you were married, you're always wanting to marry me, Mrs. Greeno I do, I do It is the only way in which there can be any friendship between us And not for worlds would I lose that advantage for my husband Let alone what I may feel for myself Why didn't you take me yourself, Mrs. Greeno? If you can't understand, it is not for me to say anything more, Mr. Cheese acre If you value the warm affection of a virgin heart Why, Mrs. Greeno, all yesterday she wouldn't say a word to me Not say a word to you? Is that all you know about it? Are you so ignorant that you cannot see when a girl's heart is breaking beneath her stays? This almost improper illusion had quite an effect on Mr. Cheese acre's sensitive bosom Did you say a word to her yesterday? And if not, why have you said so many words before? Oh, Mrs. Greeno, come It is, oh, Mrs. Greeno But it is time that we should go back to them They had been sitting all this time on a bank under a hedge We will have our tea, and you shall have your pipe and brandy and water And Charlie shall bring it to you Shall she, Mr. Cheese acre? If she likes, she shall, of course Do you ask her? And she'll like it quick enough But remember, Mr. Cheese acre, I'm quite serious in what I say about you having a mistress for your house Only think what an age you'll be when your children grow up if you don't marry soon now They returned to the field in which they had dined And found Charlie under the trees with her muslin looking very fresh What, all amort, said Mrs. Greeno Charlie did not quite understand this, but replied that she preferred being alone I have told him that you should fill his pipe for him, said Mrs. Greeno He doesn't care for ladies to fill his pipe for him, said Charlie Do you try, said the widow, while I go indoors and order the tea It had been necessary to put the bait very close before Cheese acre's eyes Or there would have been no hope that he might take it The bait had been put so very close that we must feel sure that he saw the hook But there are fish so silly that they will take the bait although they know the hook is there Cheese acre understood it all Many things he could not see But he could see that Mrs. Greeno was trying to catch him as a husband for Charlie fair stares And he knew also that he had always despised Charlie And that no worldly advantage whatever would accrue to him by a marriage with such a girl But there she was, and he didn't quite know how to avoid it She did look rather nice in her clear starched muslin frock And he felt that he should like to kiss her He didn't marry her because he kissed her The champagne which had created the desire also gave him the audacity He gave one glance around him to see that he was not observed And then he did kiss Charlie fair stares under the trees Oh, Mr. Cheese acre, said Charlie Mr. Cheese acre echoed a laughing voice And poor Cheese acre looking round Saw that Mrs. Greeno who ought to have been inside the house looking after the boiling water Was moving about for some unknown reason within sight of the spot which he had chosen for his dalliance Mr. Cheese acre said Charlie sobbing How dare you do that and where all the world could see you It was only Mrs. Greeno, said Cheese acre And what will she think of me? Lord bless you, she won't think anything about it But I do I think a great deal about it I don't know what to do I don't I don't Whereupon Charlie got up from her seat under the trees And began to move away slowly Cheese acre thought about it for a moment or two Should he follow her or should he not? He knew that he had better not follow her He knew that she was baited with a very visible hook He knew that he was a big fish for whom these two women were angling But after all, perhaps it wouldn't do him much harm to be caught So he got up and followed her I don't suppose she meant to take the way towards the woods Towards the little path leading to the old summer house up in the trees She was too much beside herself to know where she was going No doubt But that was the path she did take And before long, she and Cheese acre were in the summer house together Don't Sam, don't Somebody really will be coming Well then, there Now, I won't do it again It was thus she spoke And the last kiss was given on this occasion Unless there may have been one or two later in the evening To which it is not necessary more especially to allude here But on the occasion of that last kiss in the summer house This fair stares was perfectly justified by circumstances For she was then the promised bride of Mr. Cheese acre But how was he to get down again among his friends? That consideration troubled Mr. Cheese acre as he rose from his happy seat after that last embrace He had promised Charlie and perhaps he would keep his promise But it might be as well not to make it all too public at once But Charlie wasn't going to be thrown over Not if she knew it, as she said to herself She returned therefore triumphantly among them all Blushing indeed, and with her eyes turned away, and her hand now remained upon her lover's arm But still so close to him that there could be no mistake Goodness gracious Charlie, where have you and Mr. Cheese acre been? Said Mrs. Greenough We got up into the woods and and lost ourselves Said Charlie Oh, indeed said Mrs. Greenough It would be too long to tell now in these last pages of our story How Cheese acre strove to escape and with what skill Mrs. Greenough kept him to his bargain I hope that Charlie fair stares was duly grateful Before that evening was over Under the comfortable influence of a glass of hot brandy and water The widow had I think herself mixed the second glass for Mr. Cheese acre Before the influence became sufficiently comfortable He was forced to own that he had made himself the happy possessor of Charlie fair stares heart and hand And you're a lucky man Said the widow with enthusiasm And I congratulate you with all my heart Don't let there be any delay now because a good thing can't be done too soon And indeed before that night was over Mrs. Greenough had the pair together in her own presence and then fixed the day The fellow ought to be allowed to turn himself Cheese acre said to her pleading for himself and a whisper But no Mrs. Greenough would give him no such mercy She knew to what a man turning himself might probably lead She was a woman who was quite in earnest when she went to work And I hope that Ms. Fair Stares was grateful Then in that presence was in truth the last kiss given on that eventful evening Come Charlie be good natured to him He's as good as your own now said the widow and Charlie was good natured It's to be as soon as ever we come back from our trip Said Mrs. Greenough to Kate the next day and I'm lending her money to get all her things at once He shall come to scratch though I go all the way to Norfolk by myself and fetch him by his ears He shall come as sure as my name's Greenough Or Belfield as it will be then you know And I shouldn't wonder if she did have to go to Norfolk said Kate to her cousin That event however cannot be absolutely concluded in these pages I can only say that when I think of Mrs. Greenough's force of character and warmth of friendship I feel that Ms. Fair Stares prospects stand on good ground Mrs. Greenough's own marriage was completed with perfect success She took Captain Belfield for better or for worse With a thorough determination to make the best of his worst And to put him on his legs if any such putting might be possible He at any rate had been in luck If any possible stroke of fortune could do him good He had found that stroke He had found a wife who could forgive all his past offenses and also if necessary some future offenses Who had money enough for all his wants and kindness enough to gratify them And who had moreover which for the captain was the most important Strength enough to keep from him the power of ruining them both Reader let us wish a happy married life to captain and mrs. Belfield The day after the ceremony Alice Vivassa and Kate Vivassa started for matching priory End of chapter 78 Chapter 79 of can you forgive her? This is a LibriVox recording All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org Can you forgive her by Antony Trollop? Chapter 79 Diamonds are diamonds Kate and Alice as they drew near to their journey's end Were both a little flurried and I cannot but own that there was cause for nervousness Kate Vavasor was to meet mr. Gray for the first time Mr. Gray was now staying at matching and was to remain there until a week of his marriage He was then to return to Cambridgeshire for a day or two And after that was to become a guest at the rector's house at matching the evening before the ceremony Why not let him come here at once? Lady Glencora had said to her husband It is such nonsense, you know But mr. Palacere would not hear of it Mr. Palacere, though a radical in public life, would not for worlds transgress the social laws of his ancestors And so the matter was settled Kate on this very day of her arrival at matching would thus see mr. Gray for the first time And she could not but feel that she had been the means of doing mr. Gray much injury She had moreover something Not much indeed, but still something of that feeling which made the palacers terrible to the imagination Because of their rank and wealth She was a little afraid of the palacers But of mr. Gray she was very much afraid And Alice also was not at her ease She would feign have prevented so very quick a marriage had she not felt that now After all the trouble that she had caused There was nothing left for her but to do as others wished When a day had been named she had hardly dared to demure And had allowed lady glencora to settle everything as she had wished But it was not only the suddenness of her marriage which dismayed her Its nature and attributes were terrible to her Both lady midlothian and the Marchines of old reekie were coming When this was told to her by letter she had no means of escape Lady mcleod is right in nearly all that she says Lady glencora had written to her At any rate you'd needn't be such a fool as to run away from your cousins Simply because they have handles to their names You must take the thing as it comes Lady glencora moreover had settled for her the list of bridesmaids Alice had made a petition that she might be allowed to go through the ceremony with only one With none but Kate to back her But she ought to have known that when she consented to be married at matching And indeed she had had very little power of resisting that proposition All such questions would be decided for her Two daughters therefore of lady midlothian were to act Lady jane and lady mary And the one daughter of the marchines Who was also a lady jane And there were to be two miss howards down from london Girls who were known both to alice and to lady glencora And who were in some distant way connected with them both A great attempt was made to induce the two miss palace airs to join the bevy But they had frankly pleaded their age No woman should stand up as a bridesmaid said the strong-minded sophie Who doesn't mean to get married if she can Now I don't mean to get married and I won't put myself among the young people Lady glencora was therefore obliged to submit to do the work with only six But she swore that they should be very smart She was to give all the dresses and mr. palace air was to give a brooch and an armlet to each She is the only person in the world. I want to pet except yourself Lady glencora had said to her husband And he had answered by giving her carte blanche as regards expense All this was very terrible to Kate who had not much feminine taste for finery Of the dress she had heard Of the dress which was waiting at matching to be made up after her arrival Though as yet she knew nothing of the trinkets There are many girls who could submit themselves at a moment to the kindness of such a woman as lady glencora Perhaps most girls would do so For of all such women in the world lady glencora was the least inclined To patronize or to be condescending in her kindness But kate fabasore was one to whom such submission would not come easily I wish I was out of this boat. She said to alice in the train So that I might be shipwrecked alone No, there can be no shipwreck to you When the day of action comes you will be taken away Up to heaven upon the clouds But what are they to do with me? You'll find that glencora will not desert you You can't conceive what taste she has I'd sooner be bridesmaid to tarly fair stares. I would indeed My place in the world is not among cabinet ministers and old countesses Nor mine Yes, it seems that yours is to be there They are your cousins and you have made at any rate one great friend among them One who is to be the biggest of them all And are you going to throw me over kate? To tell the truth alice I sometimes think you had better throw me over I know it would be sad Sad for both But perhaps it would be better I have done you much harm and no good And now where I am going I shall disgrace you She talked even of getting out at some station and returning And would have done so had not alice made it impossible As it was the evening found her and alice together entering the park gate at matching In Lady Glencora's carriage Lady Glencora had sent a note to the station She could not come herself, she said, because Mr. Palacere was a little fussy You'll understand, dear, but don't say a word Alice didn't say a word, having been very anxious not to lower Mr. Palacere in her cousin's respect None of the Lady Jane's and Lady Mary's were at matching when they arrived Indeed there was no guest there but Mr. Gray For which Kate felt herself to be extremely grateful Mr. Gray came into the hall, standing behind Mr. Palacere, who stood behind his wife Alice passed by them both and was at once in her lover's arms Then I must introduce myself, said Lady Glencora to Kate, and my husband also This she did, and no woman in England could have excelled her in the manner of doing it I have heard so much about you, said she, still keeping Kate's hand, and I know how good you've been and how wicked you have been, she added in a whisper Then Mr. Gray was brought up to her, and they were introduced It was not till some days had passed over them that she felt herself at all at her ease with Mr. Gray And I doubt whether she ever reached that point with Mr. Palacere But Lady Glencora she knew, and liked, and almost loved, from the first moment of their meeting Have you heard the news? said Lady Glencora to Alice, the first minute that they were alone Alice, of course, had not heard the news Mr. Botte is going to marry Mrs. Marsham There is such a row about it Plantagenet is nearly mad I never knew him so disgusted in my life Of course I don't dare to tell him so, but I am so heartily rejoiced You know how I love them both, and I could not possibly wish any better reward for either Alice, who had personally known more of Mr. Botte than of Mrs. Marsham, said that she couldn't but be sorry for the lady She's old enough to be his mother, said Lady Glencora Otherwise I really don't know any people better suited to each other The best is that Mr. Botte is doing it to regain his footing with Mr. Palacere I am sure of that And Plantagenet will never speak to him again But Alice, there is other news What other news? It is hardly news yet, and of course I am very wicked to tell you, but I feel sure Mr. Gray knows all about it, and if I didn't tell, he would He hasn't told me anything yet He hasn't had time, and when he does, you mustn't pretend to know I believe Mr. Palacere will certainly be Chancellor of the Exchequer before next month And if so, he'll never come in for Silverbridge again But he'll be in Parliament, will he not? Oh yes, he'll be in Parliament I don't understand all about it There is a man going out for the county, for Barsacher Some man whom the Duke used a favour, and he wants Plantagenet to come in for that I can't understand what difference it makes But he will be in the Cabinet Oh yes, but who do you suppose is to be the new member for Silverbridge? I can't guess, said Alice, though of course she did guess Mind, I don't know it. He has never told me But he told me that he had been with the Duke, and asked the Duke to let Jeffrey have the seat The Duke became as black as thunder, and said that Jeffrey had no fortune In short, he wouldn't hear of it Poor Jeffrey We must try to do something for him, but I really don't know how Then the Duke said that Plantagenet should put in for Silverbridge Some friend who would support himself And I fancy, mind it's only fancy But I fancy that Plantagenet mentioned to his Grace One, Mr. Gray Oh, Glencora They've been talking together till sometimes I think Mr. Gray is worse than Plantagenet When Mr. Gray began to say something the other night in the drawing room about sugar I knew it was all up with you He'll be a financial secretary You see if he isn't, or a lord of something, or an under somebody of state And then someday he'll go mad Either because he does, or because he doesn't, get into the Cabinet Lady Glencora, as she said all this, knew well that the news she was giving Would please her cousin better than any other tidings that could be told By degrees the guests came The two Miss Howards were the first And they expressed themselves as delighted with Lady Glencora's taste And with Mr. Palacere's magnificence For at that time the brooches and armlets had been produced Kate had said very little about these matters But the Miss Howards were loud in their thanks But they were good-humored, merry girls And the house was pleasanter after their arrival than it had been before Then came the dreaded personage, the guest Lady Midlothian On the subject of Lady Midlothian, Kate had really become curious She had a real desire to see the face and gait of the woman And to hear her voice Lady Midlothian came And with her came Lady Jane and Lady Mary I am by no means sure that Lady Jane and Lady Mary Were not nearly as old as the two Miss Palacere's But they were not probably so fully resolved As to the condition of their future modes of living As were those two ladies And if so, they were not wrong to shine as bridesmaids With them Alice had made some slight acquaintance During the last spring in London And as they were now to attend upon her as the bride They were sufficiently gracious To Kate, too, they were civil enough And things in public went on very pleasantly at matching A scene there was, of course, between Alice and Lady Midlothian A scene in private You must go through it, Lady Glencora had said, with Jaco's mournfulness And why should you not let her jump upon you a little? It can't hurt you now But I don't like people to jump upon me, Alice said And why are you to have everything just as you like it? You are so unreasonable Think how I've been jumped on Think what I have borne from them If you knew the things she used to say to me You would not be such a coward I was sent down to her for a week And had no power of helping myself And the Marchioness used to be sent for to look at me For she never talks She used to look at me and groan And hold up her hands till I hated her the worst of the two Think what they did to me And yet they are my dear friends now Why should you escape altogether? Alice could not escape altogether And therefore was closeted with Lady Midlothian for the best part of an hour Did Lady MacLeod read to you what I wrote? The Countess asked Yes, that is, she gave me the letter to read And I hope you understand me, Alice Oh yes, I suppose so You suppose so, my dear If you only suppose so, I shall not be contented I want you to appreciate my feelings towards you thoroughly I want you to know that I am most anxious as to your future life And that I am thoroughly satisfied with the step you are now taking The Countess paused, but Alice said nothing Her tongue was itching to tell the old woman that she cared nothing for this expression of satisfaction, but she was aware that she had done much that was deserving of punishment And resolved to take this as part of her penance She was being jumped upon, and it was unpleasant But after all that had happened it was only fitting that she should undergo much unpleasantness Thoroughly satisfied continued the Countess And now I only wish to refer, in the slightest manner possible, to what took place between us when we were both of us under this roof last winter Why refer to it at all, Lady Midlothian? Because I think it may do good, and because I cannot make you understand that I have thoroughly forgiven everything, unless I tell you that I have forgiven that also On that occasion I had come all the way from Scotland on purpose to say a few words to you I am so sorry that you should have had the trouble I do not regret it, Alice I never do regret doing anything which I believe to have been my duty There is no knowing how far what I said then may have operated for good Alice thought that she knew very well, but she said nothing I must confess that what I then understood to be your obstinacy, and I must say also, if I tell the truth, your indifference to all prudential considerations whatever, not to talk of appearances and decorum, and I might say, anything like a high line of duty or moral conduct shocked me very much It did indeed, my dear Taking it all together I don't know that I was ever more shocked in my life The thing was so inscrutable Here Lady Midlothian held up one hand in a manner that was truly imposing So inscrutable But that is all over now What was personally offensive to myself I could easily forgive, and I do forgive it I shall never think of it any more Here Lady Midlothian put up both her hands gently as the wafting the injury away into the air But what I wish especially to say to you is this Your own conduct is forgiven also Here she paused again and Alice winced Who was this dreadful old Countess? What was the Countess to her that she should be thus tormented with the old woman's forgiveness? John Gray had forgiven her, and of external forgiveness that was enough She had not forgiven herself, would never forgive herself altogether, and the pardon of no old woman in England could assist her in doing so She had sinned, but she had not sinned against Lady Midlothian Let her jump upon you and have done with it, Lady Glencora had said She had resolved that it should be so, but it was very hard to keep her resolution The Marchioness and I have talked it over continued Lady Midlothian And she has asked me to speak for both her and myself There is comfort at any rate in that, thought Alice, who had never yet seen the Marchioness We have resolved that all those little mistakes should be as though they had never been committed We shall both be most happy to receive you and your husband, who is, I must say, one of the most gentlemen-like-looking men I ever saw It seems that he and Mr. Palacere are on most friendly, I may say, most confidential terms, and that must be quite a pleasure to you It's a pleasure to him, which is more to the purpose, said Alice Exactly so, and now, my dear, everything is forgiven and shall be forgotten Come and give me a kiss, and let me wish you joy Alice did as she was bidden, and accepted the kiss and the congratulations, and a little box of jewelry, which Lady Midlothian produced from out of her pocket The diamonds are from the Marchioness, my dear, whose means, as you doubtless are aware, greatly exceed my own The garnets are from me. I hope they may both be worn long and happily I hardly know which was the worst The lecture, the kiss, or the present The latter, she would have declined had it been possible, but it was not possible When she had agreed to be married at matching, she had not calculated the amount of punishment which would thereby be inflicted on her But I think that, though she bore it impatiently, she was aware that she had deserved it Although she fretted herself greatly under the infliction of Lady Midlothian, she acknowledged to herself, even at the time, that she deserved all the lashes she received She had made full of herself in her vain attempt to be greater and grander than other girls And it was only fair that her folly should be in some sort punished before it was fully pardoned John Gray punished it after one fashion, by declining to allude to it, or to think of it, or to take any account of it And now Lady Midlothian had punished it after another fashion, and Alice went out of the Countess's presence with sundry inward exclamations of maya culpa, and with many unseen beatings of the breast Two days before the ceremony came the Marchinesse and her Auguste daughter Her Lady Jane was much more Auguste than the other Lady Jane, very much more Auguste indeed She had very long flaxen hair, and very light blue eyes, which she did not move frequently And she spoke very little One may almost say not at all, and she never seemed to do anything But she was very Auguste, and was, as all the world knew, engaged to marry the Duke of Dumfresher, who, though twice her own age, was as yet childless, as soon as he should have completed his mourning for his first wife Kate told her cousin that she did not at all know how she should ever stand up as one in a group with so Auguste person as this Lady Jane, and Alice herself felt that such an attendant would quite obliterate her But Lady Jane and her mother were both harmless The Marchinesse never spoke to Kate, and hardly spoke to Alice, and the Marchinesse's Lady Jane was quite as silent as her mother On the morning of this day, the day on which these very Auguste people came, a telegram arrived at the priory calling for Mr. Palliser's immediate presence in London He came to Alice full of regret, and behaved himself very nicely Alice now regarded him quite as a friend Of course I understand, she said, and I know that the business which takes you up to London pleases you Well, yes, it does please me I am glad I don't mind saying so to you But it does not please me to think that I shall be away at your marriage Pray make your father understand that it was absolutely unavoidable But I shall see him, of course, when I come back And I shall see you, too, before very long Shall you? Oh, yes And why so? Because Mr. Gray must be at Silverbridge for his election But perhaps I ought not tell you his secrets Then he took her into the breakfast parlour, and showed her his present It was a service of Sevre China, very precious and beautiful I got you these things because Gray likes China So do I like China, said she, with her face brighter than he had ever yet seen it I thought you would like them best, said he Alice, looking up at him with her eyes full of tears, told him that she did like them best And then, as he wished her all happiness, and as he was stooping over her to kiss her, Lady Glencora came in I beg pardon, said she, I was just one minute too soon, was I not She would have them sent here and unpacked, said Mr. Palliser, though I told her it was foolish Of course I would, said Lady Glencora, everything shall be unpacked and shown It's easy to get somebody to pack them again Much of the wedding tribute had already been deposited with the China, and among other things there were the jewels that Lady Midlothian had brought Upon my word, her ladyship's diamonds are not to be sneezed at, said Lady Glencora I don't care for diamonds, said Alice Then Lady Glencora took up the Countess's trinkets, and shook her head and turned up her nose. There was a wonderfully comic expression on her face as she did so To me they are just as good as the others, said Alice To me they are not, then, said Lady Glencora Diamonds are diamonds, and garnets are garnets, and I am not so romantic, but what I know the difference On the evening before the marriage, Alice and Lady Glencora walked for the last time through the priory ruins. It was now September, and the evenings were still long, so that the ladies could get out upon the lawn after dinner. Whether Lady Glencora would have been allowed to walk through the ruins so late as half-past eight in the evening, if her husband had been there may be doubtful. But her husband was away, and she took this advantage of his absence Do you remember that night we were here? said Lady Glencora When shall I forget it? or how is it possible that such a night should ever be forgotten? No, I shall never forget it. Oh, dear, what wonderful things have happened since that! Do you ever think of Geoffrey? Yes, of course I think of him. I did like him so much. I hope I shall see him some day. And he liked you, too, young woman, and what was more, young woman, I thought at one time that, perhaps, you were going to like him in earnest. Not in that way, certainly. You've done much better, of course, especially as poor Geoffrey's chance of promotion doesn't look so good now. If I have a boy, I wonder whether he'll hate me. Why should he hate you? I can't help it, you know, if he does. Only think what it is to plantagen it. Have you seen the difference it makes in him already? Of course it makes a difference—the greatest difference in the world. And think what it will be to me, Alice. I used to lie in bed and wish myself dead, and make up my mind to drown myself, if I could only dare. I shan't think any more of that poor fellow now. Then she told Alice what had been done for Bergo, how his uncle had paid his bills once again, and had agreed to give him a small income. Poor fellow, said Lady Glencora, it won't do more than buy him gloves, you know. The marriage was magnificent, greatly to the dismay of Alice, and to the discomfort of Mr. Vavasor, who came down on the eve of the ceremony, arriving while his daughter and Lady Glencora were in the ruins. Mr. Gray seemed to take it all very easily, and, as Lady Glencora said, played his part exactly as though he were in the habit of being married at any rate once a year. Nothing on earth will ever put him out, so you need not try, my dear, she said, as Alice stood with her a moment alone in the dressing-room upstairs before her departure. I know that, said Alice, and therefore I shall never try. End of Chapter 79. Recording by Laura Koskinen Chapter 80 of Can You Forgive Her This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Can You Forgive Her? by Antony Trollup Chapter 80 The story is finished within the halls of the Duke of Omnium. Mr. Gray and wife were duly carried away from matching priory by post-horses, and did their honeymoon we may be quite sure, with much satisfaction. When Alice was first asked where she would go, she simply suggested that it should not be to Switzerland. They did, in truth, go by slow stages to Italy, to Venice, Florence, and on to Rome. But such had not been their intention when they first started on their journey. At that time Mr. Gray believed that he would be wanted again in England, down at Silverbridge in Barzature, very shortly. But before he had married a week, he learned that all that was to be postponed. The cup of fruition had not yet reached Mr. Palacere's lips. There will be no vacancy either in the county or in the borough till Parliament meets. That had been the message sent by Mr. Palacere to Mr. Gray. Lady Glencora's message to Alice had been rather more full, having occupied three pages of note-paper, the last of which had been crossed, but I do not know that it was more explicit. She had abused Lord Brock, had abused Mr. Feinspun, and had abused all public things and institutions, because the arrangements as now proposed would be very comfortable to Alice, but would not, as she was pleased to think, be very comfortable to herself. You can go to Rome and see everything and enjoy yourself, which I was not allowed to do, and all this noise and bother and crowd of electioneering will take place down in Barzature, just when I am in the middle of all my trouble. There were many very long letters came from Lady Glencora to Rome during the winter. Letters which Alice enjoyed thoroughly, but which she could not but regard as being very indiscreet. The Duke was at the castle during the Christmas week, and the descriptions of the Duke and of his solicitude as to his heir were very comic. He comes and bends over me on the sofa, in the most stupendous way, as though a woman to be the mother of his heir must be a miracle in nature. He is quite awful when he says a word or two, and more awful in his silence. The devil prompted me the other day, and I said I hoped it would be a girl. There was a look came over his face which nearly frightened me. If it should be, I believe he will turn me out of the house, but how can I help it? I wish you were going to have a baby at the same time, then if yours was a boy and mine a girl, we'd make a change. This was very indiscreet. Lady Glencora would write indiscreet letters like this, which Alice could not show to her husband. It was a thousand pitties. But December and January wore themselves away, and the time came in which the grays were bound to return to England. The husband had very fully discussed with his wife that matter of his parliamentary ambition, and found in her a very ready listener. Having made up his mind to do this thing, he was resolved to do it thoroughly, and was becoming almost as full of politics, almost as much devoted to sugar, as Mr. Palacere himself. He, at any rate, could not complain that his wife would not interest herself in his pursuits. Then, as they returned, came letters from Lady Glencora, written as her troubles grew nigh. The duke had gone, of course, but he was to be there at the appointed time. Oh, I do so wish he would have a fit of the gout in London, or at Timbuktu, said Lady Glencora. When they reached London they first heard the news from Mr. Vavasor, who, on this occasion, condescended to meet them at the railway. The duke has got an air, he said, before the carriage door was open. Born this morning. One might have supposed that it was the duke's baby, and not the baby of Lady Glencora and Mr. Palacere. There was a note from Mr. Palacere to Mr. Gray. Mr. Palacere had scorned to use the word child. Lady Glencora and the boy are quite as well as can be expected. Both the new rits were moved for last night. Mr. Palacere's honors, as will be seen, came rushing upon him all at once. Wondrous little baby! What have the gods not done for thee, if thou canst only manage to live till thy good things are all thine own? To live through all the terrible solicitude with which they will envelop thee. Better than royal rank will be thine, with influence more than royal, and power of action fettered by no royalty. Royal wealth, which will be really thine own, to do with it as it besemeth thee. Thou wilt be at the top of an aristocracy in a country where aristocrats needgird themselves with no buckram. All that the world can give will be thine. And yet when we talk of thee religiously, philosophically, or politico-economically, we are won't to declare that thy chances of happiness are no better, no better if they be no worse, than are those of thine infant neighbor, just born, in that farmyard cradle. Who shall say that they are better or that they are worse? Or if they be better or if they be worse, how shall we reconcile to ourselves that seeming injustice? And now we will pay a little visit to the small one, born in the purple, and the story of that visit shall be the end of our history. It was early in April, quite early in April, and Mr. and Mrs. Gray were both at Gatherham Castle. Mrs. Gray was there at the moment of which we write, but Mr. Gray was absent at Silver Bridge with Mr. Palisair. This was the day of the Silver Bridge election, and Mr. Gray had gone to that ancient borough to offer himself as a candidate to the electors, backed by the presence and aid of a very powerful member of the cabinet. Lady Glencora and Alice were sitting upstairs with the small purple-born one in their presence, and the small purple-born one was lying in Alice's lap. It is such a comfort that it is over, said the mother. You are the most ungrateful of women. Oh Alice, if you could have known, your baby may come just as it pleases. You won't lie awake trembling how on earth you will bear your disgrace, if one of the vile, weaker sex should come to disturb the hopes of your lords and masters. For I had too, which made it so much more terrible. I'm sure Mr. Palisair would not have said a word. No, he would have said nothing, nor would the Duke. The Duke would simply have gone away instantly, and never have seen me again till the next chance comes, if it ever does come. And Mr. Palisair would have been as gentle as a dove, much more gentle than he is now, for men are rarely gentle in their triumph. But I should have known what they both thought and felt. It's all right now, dear. Yes, my Bonnie boy, you have made it all right for me, have you not? And Lady Glencora took her baby into her own arms. You have made everything right, my little man. But, oh Alice, if you had seen the Duke's long face through those three days, if you had heard the tones of the people's voices as they whispered about me, if you had encountered the oppressive cheerfulness of those two London doctors. Doctors are such bad actors. You would have thought it impossible for any woman to live throughout. There's one comfort. If my little mannequin lives, I can't have another eldest. He looks like living, don't he, Alice? Then were perpetrated various mysterious ceremonies of feminine idolatry, which were continued till there came a grandly dressed old lady, who called herself the nurse, and who took the idol away. In the course of that afternoon, Lady Glencora took Alice all over the house. It was a castle of enormous size, quite new, having been built by the present proprietor, very cold, very handsome, and very dull. What an immense place! said Alice, as she stood looking round her in the grand hall, which was never used as an entrance except on very grand occasions. Is it not? And it cost—oh, I can't tell you how much it cost—a hundred thousand pounds or more. Well, that would be nothing, as the Duke, no doubt, had the money in his pocket, to do what he liked with at the time. But the joke is—nobody ever thinks of living here. Who would live in such a great, overgrown place such as this, if they could get a comfortable house like matching? Do you remember Long Royston and the hot water pipes? I always think of the poor Duchess when I come through here. Nobody ever lives here, or ever will. The Duke comes for one week in the year, and Plantagenet says he hates to do that. As for me, nothing on earth shall ever make me live here. I was completely in their power, and couldn't help their bringing me here the other day, because I had, as it were, disgraced myself. How disgraced yourself? In being so long, you know, before that gentleman was born. But they shan't play me the same trick again. I shall dare to assert myself now. Come, we must go away. There are some of the British public come to see one of the British sights. That's another pleasure here. One has to run about to avoid being caught by the visitors. The housekeeper tells me they always grumble because they are not allowed to go into my little room upstairs. On the evening of that day Mr. Palacere and Mr. Gray returned home from Silverbridge together. The latter was then a member of Parliament, but the former, at that moment, was the possessor of no such dignity. The election for the borough was now over, whereas that for the county had not yet taken place. But there was no rival candidate for the position, and Mr. Palacere was thoroughly contented with his fate. He was at this moment, actually, Chancellor of the Exchequer, and in about ten days' time would be on his legs in the house, proposing, for his country's use, his scheme of finance. The two men were seated together in an open carriage, and were being whirled along by four horses. They were both no doubt happy in their ambition. But I think that of the two Mr. Palacere showed his triumph the most. Not that he spoke even to his friend, a word that was triumphant in its tone. It was not thus that he rejoiced. He was by nature too placid for that. But there was a nervousness in his contentment, which told the tale to any observer who might know how to read it. I hope you'll like it, he said, to Gray. I shall never like it as you do, Gray answered. And why not? Why not? In the first place I have not begun it so young. Any time before thirty-five is young enough. For useful work, yes, but hardly for enjoyment in the thing. And then I don't believe it all as you do. To you the British House of Commons is everything. Yes, everything, said Mr. Palacere, with unwanted enthusiasm. Everything. Everything. That and the Constitution are everything. It is not so to me. Ah, but it will be. If you really take to the work and put yourself into harness it will be so. You'll get to feel it as I do. The man who is counted by his colleagues as number one on the treasury bench in the English House of Commons is the first of living men. That's my opinion. I don't know that I ever said it before, but that's my opinion. And who is the second, the purse-bearer to this great man? I say nothing about the second. I don't know that there is any second. I wonder how we shall find Lady Glencora and the boy. They had then arrived at the side entrance to the castle, and Mr. Gray ran upstairs to his wife's room to receive her congratulations. And you are a Member of Parliament? she asked. They tell me so, but I don't know whether I actually am one till I've taken the oaths. I am so happy. There's no position in the world so glorious. It's a pity you are not, Mr. Palacer's wife. That's just what he has been saying. Oh, John, I am so happy. It is so much more than I have deserved. I hope—that is, I sometimes think— Think what, dearest? I hope nothing that I have ever said has driven you to it. I'd do more than that, dear, to make you happy," he said, as he put his arm round her and kissed her. More than that—at least, if it were in my power. Probably my readers may agree with Alice that, in the final adjustment of her affairs, she had received more than she had deserved. All her friends, except her husband, thought so. But as they have all forgiven her, including even Lady Midlothian herself, I hope that they who have followed her story to its close will not be less generous. End of Chapter 80 End of Can You Forgive Her? by Antony Trollop Recording by Laura Koskinen