"Rather to be lighted there, if possible," said Belinda; and she endeavoured to turn the conversation to what she thought must be more immediately interesting to Lady Delacour--her own health. She assured her, with perfect truth, that she was at present more intent upon her situation than upon Cupid or his torch.
"I believe you, my generous Belinda!" said Lady Delacour; "and for that very reason I am interested in your affairs, I am afraid, even to the verge of impertinence. May I ask why this _preux chevalier_ of yours did not attend you, or follow you to town?"
"Mr. Vincent?--He knew that I came to attend your ladyship. I told him that you had been confined by a nervous fever, and that it would be impossible for me to see him at present; but I promised, when you could spare me, to return to Oakly-park."
Lady Delacour sighed, and opened Clarence Hervey's letters one after another, looking over them without seeming well to know what she was about. Lord Delacour came into the room whilst these letters were still in her hand. He had been absent since the preceding morning, and he now seemed as if he were just come home, much fatigued. He began in a tone of great anxiety to inquire after Lady Delacour's health. She was piqued at his having left home at such a time, and, merely bowing her head to him, she went on reading. His eyes glanced upon the letters which she held in her hand; and when he saw the well-known writing of Clarence Hervey, his manner immediately altered, and, stammering out some common-place phrases, he threw himself into an arm-chair by the fireside, protesting that he was tired to death--that he was half dead--that he had been in a post-chaise for three hours, which he hated--had ridden fifty miles since yesterday; and he muttered that he was a fool for his pains--an observation which, though it reached her ladyship's ears, she did not think proper to contradict.
His lordship had then recourse to his watch, his never-failing friend in need, which he always pulled out with a particular jerk when he was vexed.
"It is time for me to be gone--I shall be late at Studley's."
"You dine with his lordship then?" said Lady Delacour, in a careless tone.
"Yes; and his good burgundy, I hope, will wind me up again," said he, stretching himself, "for I am quite down."