第18章

But now it was to be more resolutely undertaken, at a more early hour, that nothing might be neglected of attention to Lady D. or amusement to Charlotte.—'And if you should find a favourable opening my Love,' said Mr. P. (who did not mean to go with them)—'I think you had better mention the poor Mullins's situation, and sound her Ladyship as to a Subion for them. I am not fond of charitable subions in a place of this kind—It is a sort of tax upon all that come—Yet as their distress is very great and I almost promised the poor Woman yesterday to get something done for her, I believe we must set a subion on foot—and therefore the sooner the better,—and Lady Denham's name at the head of the List will be a very necessary beginning.— You will not dislike speaking to her about it, Mary?'—'I will do whatever you wish me,' replied his Wife—'but you would do it so much better yourself. I shall not know what to say.'—'My dear Mary,' cried he, 'it is impossible you can be really at a loss. Nothing can be more simple. You have only to state the present afflicted situation of the family, their earnest application to me, and my being willing to promote a little subion for their relief, provided it meet with her approbation.' 'The easiest thing in the World'—cried Miss Diana Parker who happened to be calling on them at the moment. 'All said and done, in less time than youhave been talking of it now.—And while you are on the subject of subions Mary, I will thank you to mention a very melancholy case to Lady D. which has been represented to me in the most affecting terms.—There is a poor Woman in Worcestershire, whom some friends of mine are exceedingly interested about, and I have undertaken to collect whatever I can for her. If you would mention the circumstance to Lady Denham!—Lady Denham can give, if she is properly attacked—and I look upon her to be the sort of Person who, when once she is prevailed on to undraw her Purse, would as readily give ten guineas as five.—And therefore, if you find her in a Giving mood, you might as well speak in favour of another Charity which I and a few more, have very much at heart: the establishment of a Charitable Repository at Burton on Trent.—And then,—there is the family of the poor Man who was hung last assizes at York, tho' we really have raised the sum we wanted for putting them all out, yet if you can get a Guinea from her on their behalf, it may as well be done.' 'My dear Diana!' exclaimed Mrs. P.—'I could no more mention these things to LadyD. than I could fly.'—'Where's the difficulty?—I wish I could gowith you myself—but in five minutes I must be at Mrs. G.—to encourage Miss Lambe in taking her first Dip. She is so frightened, poor Thing, that I promised to come and keep up her Spirits, and go in the Machine with her if she wished it—and as soon as that is over, I must hurry home, for Susan is to have Leaches at one o'clock—which will be a three hours business,— therefore I really have not a moment to spare—besides that (between ourselves) I ought to be in bed myself at this present time, for I am hardly able to stand—and when the Leaches have done, I dare say we shall both go to our rooms for the rest of theday.'—'I am sorry to hear it, indeed; but if this is the case I hope Arthur will come to us.'—'If Arthur takes my advice, he will go to bed too, for if he stays up by himself, he will certainly eat and drink more than he ought;—but you see Mary, how impossible it is for me to go with you to Lady Denham's.'—'Upon second thoughts Mary,' said her husband, 'I will not trouble you to speak about the Mullins.—I will take an opportunity of seeing Lady D. myself.—I know how little it suits you to be pressing matters upon a Mind at all unwilling.'—His application thus withdrawn, his sister could say no more in support of hers, which was his object, as he felt all their impropriety and all the certainty of their ill effect upon his own better claim.—Mrs P. was delighted at this release, and set off very happy with her friend and her little girl, on this walk to Sanditon House.—It was a close, misty morning, and when they reached the brow of the Hill, they could not for some time make out what sort of Carriage it was, which they saw coming up.