an unprintable combination of the sacred and the profane

So delightful to be going out of Town to dear Worblewood! thought Myo – Hermione, now Countess of Trembourne. Oh, there had been a deal of fuss and bother as to whether 'twas prudent for her to undertake the journey in her condition, but as ever, Dr Ferraby had been entire soothing – the good roads there were these days – modern fine-sprung carriages – 'tis not the old tale of being jolted and tossed from side to side – almost as smooth as taking the railway – providing due care is taken –

So due care was taken and they proceeded at a very cautious pace and there was no matter of being tossed about. Indeed, so calm was the entire proceeding that dear Nora looked a deal less pale and sickly than she usually did when traveling.

Sure they would be quite the party at Worblewood! Jimsie and herself – darling Mama – Nora her sister-in-law, Lady Eleanor Upweston, in mourning for her late father – her brother Grinnie, Lord Peregrine, that she supposed they should get into the practise of calling Talshaw? now he was heir – once their school-terms were over, her younger brother Lord Lucius – Lucie – and Jimsie’s brother Lewis – and they were in anticipation of a visit from that agreeable Yorkshireman and archaeologist Mr Chilfer, with the prospect of digging in the field where it was believed there might be a Roman villa lying beneath.

While Surgeon-Major Hicks would be calling from time to time, to see how she did with the exercizes he had prescribed for her lame leg, and she fancied Lucie and Lewis would quite badger him for tales of the campaigns in the Punjaub – Hicks would oft declare his admiration for the Sikhs, first-rate fighting men, and 'tis a very admirable religion they follow –

Mr Averdale, that would be coming for a probationary period as Jimsie’s secretary, a thing sorely needed. Having left Oxford loaded with academic honours, to hear Grinnie tell it, had gone be admired in the bosom of his family for a little while before he came to Worblewood.

But Myo had quite the greatest confidence in the Tilburys, that were butler and housekeeper, to have everything in the way of bedchambers and sitting-rooms &C already well under hand, while Mrs Apcott, she fancied, would quite delight in feeding a pack of hungry young men!

It was a considerable relief, she must inwardly confess to herself, that being in mourning for her late elder brother she might eschew a deal of going about in local society. Jimsie, in spite of being in mourning himself for the late Earl, would be obliged to go about somewhat, in particular with the election impending. But she might lead a pleasant quiet life in a place that was very dear to her heart – walk a little in the grounds – consider upon the gardens –

Doubtless her father, Lord Saythingport, would be entertaining the local Tory interest at Roughton Arching, that marched with Worblewood, but indeed, her condition – Jimsie’s mourning – would preclude having to have much to do with 'em – Jimsie was very much a recruit to the Mulcaster set, that were radical even among the Whigs!

So here they were, already entirely comfortably settled – Mama had a sitting-room of her own but chose mostly to sit in Myo’s lovely Dutch parlour with its view to the gardens, and while they had picked out a fine light upper room for Nora to be at her lace-making, she found that Myo’s parlour was entirely eligible to the purpose! –

Jimsie went have serious convocation with the steward, and the keeper, &C.

And, such a pleasure! Here was one of the Roughton Arching carriages drew up, gave them a little pause – but down stepped Grinnie, in mourning of course, and Tilbury bustling about instructing the men where to take the trunks –

Grinnie kissed his mother and Myo, bowed very elegant over Nora’s hand, shook Jimsie’s hand, and they drew him into the house.

Lord, this is a deal better! he said, looking around. Had to go do the proper thing and be received as heir – introduced about Father’s set, what a tedious crowd they are – Sir Robert Peel is the very devil to 'em, worse than Russell – at least they did not have their daughters with 'em, 'twas a bachelor party, but there was a deal of discourse of the young ladies –

They came to the Dutch parlour, where by some positive alchemy coffee had already appeared.

That is being somewhat vulgar beforehand, Mama remarked.

Grinnie snorted as he sat down and accepted a cup. O, Father has been exhorting me on the importance of matrimony and the wise choice of a spouse – and how to weigh the several factors of breeding, or interest, or a fine portion – 'tis enough to make a fellow declare himself an admirer of Newman, but to fancy he did not go far enough and become a monk.

Really, Grinnie! said Mama, smiling. Or mayhap that Mr Grigson could put you in way of some very wealthy Celestial lady with exceeding tiny feet?

Grinnie blushed a little as they all laughed. Or perchance, he went on, that one had been converted to the views of Miss Ferraby – but anyway, I have conceded that I will think upon the matter.

They all agreed that there was no harm in thinking on the question – and, Nora ventured, reading over the form of matrimony in the Prayerbook as to what marriage should be, thought those words very beautiful. She then mumbled into a confused blush.

Myo was rather glad that Lucie had not yet joined the party, for was still given to schoolboy humour and would, she feared, have been like to suggest a deal of unlikely ladies as potential brides.

A few days later Mr Averdale arrived, followed shortly by Lucie and Lewis, and then Mr Chilfer.

Such an agreeable man! thought Myo. Nothing of the coarse or encroaching about his manners – one apprehended that he was entire welcomed by those that had antient ruins on their estates to assist at the diggings, in Yorkshire and elsewhere, had acquired a deal of polish or mayhap 'twas native good breeding.

Became quite the greatest favourite of Lucie and Lewis, that even abandoned the trout-stream in order to participate in the excavation – that they were exhorted to undertake very gentle and careful – while he and Grinnie had the most scholarly discourse concerning the Roman occupation and its withdrawal from the shores of Britannia. While Grinnie confided his regret at having to renounce his Oxford fellowship, Chilfer declared that one might do a deal of fine work outside college walls, mentioning certain names.

While Jimsie and Averdale were most exceeding conscientious about getting affairs in order, they too would stroll out to the field to see how matters went – for there had been finds, mostly pieces of pottery, but also a coin or two, that was deemed very encouraging.

One afternoon they had all come indoors to the parlour for tea, as rain showers threatened. Tilbury came in with his card-tray, saying, with a very blank expression, that two ladies had come to call, was Lady Trembourne at home?

They hardly needed to look at the cards to guess that here was Dowager Lady Balstrup – one dared suppose the other lady was La Signora Umberti – returned to Attings from her travels about the country and going to and fro among her neighbours to see what was the news with them.

So they came in, and introductions were made.

Mr Chilfer enquired was La Signora any connexion of the late scholar and patriot, Il Professore Umberti? Had quite religiously read his writings – even managed to make his way through the ones writ in his native tongue with the aid of a dictionary –

La Signora with a slight tearful choke admitted that she was the widow of the late Professore and recounted the tale of their exile following the events of '30.

That had been very fine in the late Lord Raxdell! exclaimed Chilfer – La Signora added testimony to the generosity of the Dowager Marchioness of Bexbury –

That would be the widow of the antiquarian? – La Signora nodded, and mentioned that she had been most conscientious about placing his collections in the British Museum – had read his writings. Greatly inspired by them and those of Il Professore with the greatest longing to go visit those parts – but alas, the cares of business – mayhap, someday, when he could confide the papermill to his son’s hands –

La Signora declared that did he purpose such an excursion, she was still able to provide letters of introduction – had recently done the like for her former pupil Emmy Reveley, now Mrs di Serrante –

As the company desired to know had she lately had any news from the di Serrantes at Naples, came in Averdale, that looked somewhat taken aback. Introductions were made and Lady B, as was her wont, immediately started interrogating him about his family. La, it turned out that the Averdales, country squires in a very modest way in Staffordshire, could by some means be shown to have some remote connexion to the Balstrups. Mama smirked and leaned over to murmur on Myo’s ear that sure the College of Heralds ought to consult with Lady B whenever they were about making up pedigrees!

When he was finally released to be made known to La Signora, he apologized for not being able to address her in Italian – I am able to read it, but alas, have not had any instruction in speaking that tongue.

Lady Balstrup intervened to say that she had learnt Italian, along with French and German, as a girl, and now she and Signora recreated themselves with reading to one another in those tongues, and sure they would be delighted should any of the Worblewood party care to join 'em.

Mr Averdale looked very longing.

Myo sat up a little and said, sure they were very took up with this excavation – when the weather was a little finer the ladies should come see how it went – and of course her husband Lord Trembourne and Mr Averdale were very busy with the cares of the estate –

Lady B looked knowing, for the late Earl’s lack of attention to business while spending a great deal on quacks and spaws was common gossip.

– but sure it could only be beneficial to have a little rational recreation as a break from those labours.

Grinnie reached over and squeezed her hand. 'Tis an excellent argument. I will go put it to your husband.

How very thoughtful of Grinnie. Really, he became so quietly confident – so responsible – in all things so unlike their deceased brother.