Well, then, after going about doing good, she decided to settle down and do good. As for Marsh, he had only to obey. Judge for yourself: the mild, gray-haired vicar of Calverly, who now leaned on la Marsh as on a staff, thought it right at the beginning to ascertain that she was not opposing her husband's views. He put a query of this kind as delicately as possible.
“My husband!” cried she. “If he refused to go to heaven with me, I'd take him there by the ear.” And her eye flashed with the threat.
Well, somebody told this lady that Mr. Vandeleur was ruined, and in Dr. Suaby's asylum, not ten miles from her country-seat. This intelligence touched her. She contrasted her own happy condition, both worldly and spiritual, with that of this unfortunate reprobate, and she felt bound to see if nothing could be done for the poor wretch. A timid Christian would have sent some man to do the good work; but this was a lion-like one. So she mounted her horse, and taking only her groom with her, was at Bellevue in no time.
She dismounted, and said she must speak to Dr. Suaby, sent in her card, and was received at once.
“You have a gentleman here called Vandeleur?”
The doctor looked disappointed, but bowed.
“Certainly, madam.--James, take Mrs. Marsh into a sitting-room, and send Mr. Vandeleur to her.”
“He is not violent, is he?” said Mrs. Marsh, beginning to hesitate when she saw there was no opposition.
“Not at all, madam--the Pink of Politeness. If you have any money about you, it might be as well to confide it to me.”
“Oh, no: much too well conducted: but he will most likely wheedle you out of it.”
“No fear of that, sir.” And she followed James.
He took her to a room commanding the lawn. She looked out of the window, and saw several ladies and gentlemen walking at their ease, reading or working in the sun.
“Poor things!” she thought; “they are not so very miserable: perhaps God comforts them by ways unknown to us. I wonder whether preaching would do them any good? I should like to try. But they would not let me; they lean on the arm of flesh.”
Her thoughts were interrupted at last by the door opening gently, and in came Vandeleur, with his graceful panther-like step, and a winning smile he had put on for conquest.