Page:Lady Anne Granard 2.pdf/235

Rh That family, like many others, were now on the wing, and although, from the representations of her husband, her grace did not actually visit the chamber of the sufferer, she neglected no means of assisting her; the finest fruit being constantly selected for Lady Anne, and constant inquiries made as to their power of being useful. Alas! in these cases every one must bear her own burden; sympathy may soften the affliction, wealth may procure many alleviations, but the king must bear his individual pangs as surely as the pauper, with this difference, that he has been less used to them, in all probability, and, therefore, finds them more severe. About the middle of the day following, Count Riccardini arrived with both the daughters of Lady Anne, for Louisa could not bear to be left behind, although her child and the nursemaid were unavoidable incumbrances; but, as the Count immediately took a lodging for Mrs. Penrhyn and himself, they were stationed there. This new relative, who constantly called himself their uncle, seemed to the sisters like a man dropped from the skies, for, although he had been mentioned by Mary in her latter letters, he had not in any manner become familiar to their ideas, and the very little which had ever dropped from their mother's lips respecting himself and their unfortunate aunt, was that of unqualified contempt and utter reprobation. They had actually ranked him with those of his country who travel with monkeys and white