Matilda's grateful heart overflowed; speech indeed was not lent her, but her tears, her expressive looks forcibly conveyed the language she could not utter.
In the meantime Mademoiselle De Fontelle was not idle; scarce a person the Marchioness was acquainted with, but knew she had taken a girl under her protection, who had robbed and run away from her uncle, with a young handsome footman; and during two days circulation of the story Miss Weimar was detected by her uncle in several low intrigues, which he kindly forgave, 'till quite abandoned and incorrigible, she had taken away all his gold and jewels, and came to Paris with this fellow, whom the Marchioness herself had taken into the house.
'Ciel,' cries one, shrugging her shoulders, 'a pretty story indeed; this is the discreet, the admirable Marchioness De Melfort, held up as a pattern to all the women in Paris.' 'Yes, I thought she was a wonder,' said another; 'abundance of art, to be sure she has; for I'll answer for it, this intrigue with a footman is not the first by many; but, poor woman, her charms are in their wane now, so the man is a substitute for the master.' 'What,' cries a third, 'has the Marchioness herself an intrigue? Lord, didn't you hear that? why this girl is only a cover to her own amusements.' 'Well,' said a fourth, 'I saw both the other night at Madame De Bouville's, and I am sure they are both ugly enough, notwithstanding the men made such a fuss about them.'
'Twas thus the scandal of Mademoiselle's fabricating was increased and magnified among their generous and charitable acquaintance: like Sir Peter Teale's wound, it was in all parts of his body, and by a variety of murderous weapons, when the poor man was unconscious of having received any himself, and could scarce obtain credit when he appeared in perfect health: so unwilling is the good-natured world to give up a story that is to the disadvantage of others. It was in vain the Countess De Bouville, her son and daughter, Madame De Nancy and her sister, attempted to stop the scandalous tales; like lightning it flew from house to house, and every one who had no character to lose, and others of suspected reputation only rejoiced to level an amiable respectable woman with themselves.
The Count De Bouville was distracted; he flew from a set of envious wretches to the Marquis De Melfort's; when he entered the room he met the eyes of the lovely dejected Matilda, with such an expression of grief and softness in them, that it pierced his heart: she blushed, and withdrew them, with a sigh she could not suppress. The Marquis had left the room, the Marchioness was holding her young friend's hand with an affectionate tender air.
After the usual compliments he enquired particularly after Matilda's health; she could not trust her voice just then to speak, the Marchioness answered, 'She is better, only a dejection on her spirits, which you must assist in removing: I was trying to persuade her to accompany me in a carriage to pay a few visits.' The Count, alarmed at the intention, replied, 'Paying visits might possibly be too fatiguing, but an airing would surely be of service.' 'Well then,' said the Marchioness, forgetful of her Lord's caution, 'you shall accompany us.' The carriage, which was in waiting, drawing up, he gladly escorted the two ladies to it, and took his seat very quietly opposite to Matilda, who had hitherto observed a profound silence. He contrived however to draw her into a little conversation, and was charmed with her good sense and sweetness of manners. The languor that pervaded her fine features, powerfully engaged the heart, and the Count could not help thinking how happy that man must be who was destined to possess so great a treasure! This reflection caused a sudden alteration in his countenance; he grew thoughtful and uneasy, when he was disturbed in his reverie by an exclamation from the Marchioness, 'Good heavens! what insolence.' 'What's the matter, madam?' 'Bless me, didn't you observe the two carriages that past, in one was Madame Remini and her two daughters, in the other Madame Le Brun, her niece, and two others of my acquaintance. As the carriage past, I bowed and kissed my hand; they one and all returned a slight bow, and laughed in each other's faces: upon my word I never saw such rudeness.' The Count who could too well account for this behaviour, was however very much vexed. 'Dear madam,' said he, 'such impertinent women are scarce worth your notice, and only deserving contempt.' 'That's true, Count,' replied she, 'and henceforth I shall treat them as they deserve.'
As neither of the parties were in high spirits, their airing was not a long one, and they returned to the house as the Marquis entered it.
After they were seated the Marchioness was expressing her wishes to be in England. 'Does Miss Weimar accompany you?' asked the Count. 'I hope so,' replied the Marchioness. The Marquis giving the Count a glance, they retired to the library, where the conversation of the morning, between Mr Weimar and Matilda, was repeated. The Count felt indignation, pity, and resentment; he was delighted with Matilda's spirit, yet most sincerely felt for her unhappy situation. 'Good God, my dear Marquis, what is to be done for this amiable girl?' 'I hope,' he replied, 'we shall prevail on him to leave her with us, - to-morrow will determine; but take it how he will, I have this day made several persons acquainted with his being the guardian of Matilda, and his offers of marriage in my presence: the circumstance of a young lady's flying from her guardian is nothing extraordinary, and will, I hope, do away the scandal that has been propagated at her expence.' 'You are very good,' returned the Count, 'and I am sure she merits the esteem of all the world.' He took his leave under such a contrariety of sentiments, and so much real concern for the unfortunate Matilda, that when he returned to his sister she was quite alarmed, and asked a thousand questions relative to her friend. When he had explained every thing, the gentle Adelaide felt equal concern, and lamented that her troubles were of a kind that placed it out of the power of their friendship to afford her any consolation or relief.
Whilst they were expressing mutual regret Mademoiselle De Fontelle was announced; she was received with a coldness that would have mortified any other person, but putting on a gay air, 'Ah! Count, so soon returned from your party; I did not expect to find you here.' 'Perhaps, madam, had I known your intended visit, I might have been elsewhere.' 'Very polite, upon my word,' said she, colouring deeply; 'your brother, my dear Bouville, has acquired the English roughness of manners, by his tour to that country.' 'I hope, madam,' replied he, significantly, 'I have acquired the sincerity of that nation, at least, to speak as I think; and as a proof of it, were you not my sister's guest, I should be free enough to say, I so much detest the fabricators of scandal, that I heartily rejoice when they are mortified by being obliged to hear the object of their envy is as much superior to them in every amiable quality of the mind, as she is in the beauty of her person, and that it will be her own fault only if she is not established in a more brilliant situation than her enemies can boast of.'
With these words he left the room, with a look of scorn she could not support, but burst into tears. 'Your brother has cruelly insulted me,' said she. 'I am sorry for it, and for the occasion,' answered Mademoiselle De Bouville; 'but indeed you have been too unguarded in your reports to the disadvantage of Miss Weimar.' 'Name her not,' cried she, 'I hate her.' 'That may be,' returned the other, 'nevertheless I hold it my duty to do her justice.' She then briefly mentioned Mr Weimar was only her guardian, and that he was come after her to solicit her hand, the only thing for which she left him. His offers before the Marquis and his lady, and the very great justice he did her character. The malicious girl was ready to burst with spleen, but carried it off with an air. 'Upon my word,' said she, 'Mr Weimar was himself the person who first mentioned the affair to her disadvantage; and I suppose there is some point to carry, or some mystery in an affair where there are such contradictions, which I do not comprehend, and which, I dare say, will deceive nobody, though I would venture to swear, hardly any person will concern themselves about the Marchioness's little protégée, or whether the German is uncle or not to one whom no body knows.' She arose, and desiring her respects to her very polite brother, flounced out of the room.
Neither her resentment nor absence was a subject of regret to Adelaide, who only visited her in compliance with the fashion of the times, which is to go every where with the rest of the world, and assist in forming