Let me pray of you to leave this
place without delay. I know that you will urge against me the benefit
of avoiding the various surmises which will arise from the apparent
precipitancy of our retreat; but trust to me, my lord, that it is a
necessary measure, and that we have nothing to fear from the
opposition of the king.
"The pretext we adopted for our hasty retirement from public life was
the delicate state of Lady Greville's health, who was within a few
months of becoming a mother; and having hastily passed through the
necessary ceremonies, we again exchanged the tumults of the capital
for the exquisite enjoyments and freedom of home. As we traversed
the venerable avenue at Silsea, amid the acclamations of my assembled
tenantry, I formed the resolution never again to desert the dwelling
of my ancestors; but having now entered into the bonds of domestic
life, to seek from them alone the future enjoyments of existence.
I had in one respect immediate reason to congratulate myself on the
change of our destiny, for Theresa, whose health had for some months
gradually declined, soon regained her former strength in the quiet of
the country. She occupied herself constantly in some active
employment. The interests of the sick, the poor, and the decrepit,
led her frequently to the village; where I doubt not you have often
heard her named with gratitude and affection; and when she returned
to the castle, the self-content of gratified benevolence spread a
glow over her countenance which almost dispelled the clouds of sorrow
still lingering there.
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