" which she has been guilty of. Be"cause she had been a fort of humble " friend when we were quite girls, she " had the effrontery to beg me to intro" duce her husband to you; a fellow, " whose grandfather was nothing but a " travelling pedlar. Did you ever know " such audacity !" Doubtless fir William would have felt very angry, if one of his own relations had contaminated the blood of Powerfcourt by mixing it with the "puddle of a pedlar," and his resentment might have continued, till he discovered that he had it in his power to do the difgraced couple an act of service; but he thought it very ridiculous that a family of yesterday should in this instance pretend to the same delicacy with one that could be traced through untold centuries. Her ladyship, perceiving that the glow of resentment did not kindle in in his countenance so fast as she expected, added by way of climax, " And " she sent the letter the very day when "she knew I intended to receive com pany;-only think of endeavouring "to occupy my attention at such a " time." " I think," said fir William emphatically, "that poor Mrs. Evans has been " very unfortunate in applying when you were either too much engaged " by pleasure or pain to attend her. But " a promise is a promise, let people " claim it when they will." Lady Powerscourt's confcience here gave her a severe pang, and the confusedly answered, that she was fure she never meant to make any engagement; she durst swear that the never faid fo; at least, if the had, she had quite forgotten it. "Very likely, very likely," replied the good man; "you never meant what you faid, and so forgot all about it. "But you see she has remembered it, " and perhaps the world may think "that it is owing to me that you have " not kept your word, at least accord"ing to Mrs. Evans's account of the " matter: however, I will try to clear up the mistake; and as she is your " friend and relation, they shall not be " left destitute." Sir William here rose and hurried out of the room, while lady Powerscourt loudly disclaimed the word relation, protesting Mrs. Evans could not be nearer than a second cousin, which she counted nothing at all, CHAP VI. One self.approving hour whole years outweighs POPE. THE benevolence of fir William Powerscourt was not confined within the narrow limits of relations and friends. It was not annihilated by the supposition of ingratitude, nor did its delicate sensibility shrink from the contact of human infirmity. It seemed a ray of that beneficence which causes the fun to rife upon the evil and the good, and the rain to fall upon the just and the unjust. Nor was his idea of charity limited to the virtue of beneficence. Combining with his natural placability of temper, it produced the most cordial defire of being at peace with all mankind, and made made ready forgiveness almost outstep offence. He mounted his horse, and rode to Llangollen. On the road he meditated not on the faults of lady Powerscourt, for perhaps his imagination was afraid of venturing into such an ample field, but on the speediest means of alleviating the evils which her neglect had caused. Having heard an excellent character of the Evans's from some neighbouring gentlemen, he hastened to the cottage which sheltered modest worth. He found the wife engaged in the humble offices of domestic business, while the husband was rocking a little baby to fleep, and penning his Sunday discourse. However inelegant these occupations might be, fir William Powerfcourt fancied that they both looked like very sensible people, and very good Christians. |