Page:Lady Anne Granard, or Keeping up Appearances Volume 2.pdf/8

6 good fortune, with all its concomitant advantages, would be insured to her connexions, after which her death would be the most interesting thing possible, and make an astounding impression. The worst of it is, if teazed too much, the complaint may turn to a galloping consumption, and she may die before any thing can be done. How horrible to have death in one's own house? But that must be guarded against; she shall die in a lodging, I am determined!" Whilst thus soliloquizing, the doomed one was certainly making the best effort to live which had taken place for three weeks, by eating a good breakfast, to the great delight of Helen, who, encouraged by a glance of permission, took up the newspaper, and was not long ere she saw in the list of departures from Mivart's hotel:— "Viscount Meersbrook for Portsmouth, the Hon. Lieutenant Arthur Hales for his ship, the Thetis;" news which she contrived the eye of Georgiana should glance at; and although an idea of a voyage to she knew not whither presented threats of an interminable parting, this painful knowledge confirmed, in all respects, the facts she had assumed. She doubted not that she was the object of Arthur's tender and honourable love—a love she certainly returned; that he had made her an offer of his hand, which she earnestly, though modestly, desired to accept, since his fortunes were at all events superior to her own, and could by no means include the personal and