Page:Lady Anne Granard 3.pdf/166

164 But there was a knock at Mr. Palmer's door: human nature could bear no more, and Georgiana was down stairs, and, truth to own, across the street and in the library before Mr. Palmer had wiped his spectacles, and Mrs. Palmer drawn her chair close beside his, to hear that Arthur was safe, and so reduced, his brother would not have him seen by Georgiana at present for the world; but she must imagine a thousand loves and good wishes from him, though happily, at this time, he was asleep. So soon as it was possible for him to bear the fatigue, he would of course present himself at the Admiralty; probably the writer should be up before then, and was "their happy affectionate Meersbrook." Helen, who, being employed below, had seen the way in which Georgiana fled, and earnestly desired to follow her, completely comprehending her movement, yet felt it was her imperative duty to hasten to their mother, whom she found, with the usual prudence of a person given to extravagant habits, carefully tearing away the spoiled part of the note, and folding the other in such wise as to make it useful. On seeing how things stood, she placed herself on the unoccupied chair, and signified her readiness to write, as they had nearly finished below. "Well, I must say, it is a comfort to have any