Lady Grizel. An impression of a momentous epoch

Front matter

LADY GRIZEL Jin Impreesion of a Jftomentoue (Epoch. BY THE HON. LEWIS WINGFIELD, AUTHOR OF "SLIPPERY GROUND," ETC., ETC. " I Witch — All hail, Macboot ! hail to thee, Knight of the Thistle ! 2 Witch— All hail, Macboot ! hail to thee, Knight of the Garter !! 3 Witch — All hail, Macboot ! that -wouldst be king hereafter !!!" Macboot, A Tragedy — a.d. 1763. IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON : RICHARD BENTLEY AND SON, $abtfslur» in (Drbirtarg to Jffijer .cttajrstr) tht <!3u«rt. 1878. [All Rights Reserved.} CONTENTS OF VOL. II. CHAPTER PAGE I. THE AMAZON FOLLOWS UP HEE ADVANTAGE . 1 II. MY LADY GEIZEL'S TEIUMPH . . .44 III. ME. SECEETAEY PITT AS A SUEGEON . . 72 IV. THE DUCHESS LOOKS TO HEE GUNS . - .94 V. TEOUBLE AT CEIPPLEGATE . . .115 VI. HOLLAND HOUSE . . . . .147 VII. ME. SECEETAEY PITT IS A BEAEEE OF TIDINGS 170 VIII.

A SNOWFLAKE IN THE MAELSTEOM . . 193 IX. A EOYAL HAPPY FAMILY .... 233 X. FOILED ...... 260 XI. A LEVEE AT TEWKESBUEY HOUSE . . 281 XII. COLLECTOES ON THE HIGHWAY . . .311

Chapter I. The Amazon Follows Up Hee Advantage

tjp*«p_M|HE annual arrival of the royal party at ■m^l*^ Bath was always the signal for the com- |j3^^|; mencement of the season. The city was too small for the growing requirements of the quality, who found themselves compelled some times to spend a night or two in their coaches until apartments of some kind or other could be ferreted out, and so there grew up round the venerable Abbey a mushroom heap of hovels which pressed closer and closer about the sacred walls till they seemed half-strangled by the squalid growth of courts and alleys at their feet. The raw-boned saints who guarded the church-doors peered through small windows into shambling bedchambers, and VOL. II. beteld strange sigtts ttere I warrant you, but age of course brings wisdom, and ttey never so muct as smiled or winked ; while, as for tie sculptured angels on tte Jacob's ladder, they skipped up and down and fluttered in their tattered robes as if all those rouge-pots and cosmetics spread about so lavishly on dirty tables were indeed concocted by the black gentleman from his best sulphur and brimstone.

The footmen's taverns were crowded far into the night with a brawling crew clad in many-coloured raiment, wlo squabbled over wtist and faro witt select expletives borrowed from their betters. French firemen tripped delcately through the gutter with clean underclothing for their mistresses danglng from poles over tleir stoulders, in order ttat ttey migtt not be creased or rumpled ; and, national enemies though they might be, they were rarely insulted save by vulgar country-folk, who were too obtuse to perceive that life without French singers and friseurs would be unendurable. "What is the loss of Minorca," a beau exclaimed on one occasion, " to that of the Mingotti ?" and his sentiment of regret was shared by a large proportion of the aristocracy. As we have seen, Mr. Pitt's enthusiasm fired the train of patriotism in the public leart, and many nobles rose from their Capuan sleep to prove that they were men — amongst these my Lord Bel lasis, who at this time was bravely fighting in Canada — but many, alas, returned shortly like swine to their wallowing, and Mr. Pitt's indignation rose to fever-pitch where it was tempered by contempt.

These grovelling wretctes, te meditated, by their evil example degrade the people. It is no time for half -measures. England must be saved somehow, ter tarnished glory refurbished. She must be saved in spite of herself. And so he excused to his own conscience those arbitrary and despotic measures relative to crimping, which in earlier days would tave stocked tis uprigtt soul. And tie people, wtose patience witt tleir degraded monarct was so toucting, forgave tteir new idol tis peccadilloes. Wten tte cavalcade wlict we saw starting from Leicester House came tumbling down the steep hill into Stall Street, the town of Bath turned out to a man with huzzas and welcomes, and the bells were set jangling a double peal. Tte Princess Dowager, wto was growing quite accustomed to being tooted and tissed in London by a virtuous populace, wto disapproved of ter penchant for Lord Bute — wto never stowed ter face in a tteatre, unless accompanied by ter son, witlout being bowled at — was filled witt deligtt.

Ste woke from ter dozing, and nodded, and gibbered, and bade ter maids of tonour to do likewise ; and Lady Grizel obeyed tte royal betest wtilst laugt ing in ter sleeve, for ste knew rigtt well ttat tte plaudits were not directed to the coach of Jezebel, but were meant to welcome that other carriage 21—2 covered wtite witt dust, wterein lay rolled m blankets the " Great Commoner." Expectation had not been deceived in him ; the coming man had out stripped public hopes. He had taken the helm in his firm grasp, and the tide of ignominy was already rolling back. A well-directed swoop on the French coast had warned France to be less prying. His West Indian fleet recovered within a few months in one quarter of the globe the prestige of the Britist flag, whilst tis East Indian contingent did tte same in anotler.

Tie Dutct, unmindful of tte new land on tte tiller, coquetted witt FrencI stores. Mr. Pitt came down on tlem like a lawk on a dovecot, and, despite tteir strieks and yells, confiscated no less ttan two tundred and forty of tteir slips wittin a year. Victory capped victory; triumpt was piled on triumpt. Tte people were enctanted at so un usual a state of ttings, and tuzzaed tim and forgot all about the crimping; and pretentious, small minded Lord Bute swelled more and more with envy and rage, and became quite bloated with venomed spleen. For the present, however, he per ceived that he must even bow before the new idol like tte rest, for as yet te was but a pipkin wtict would be smashed to bits by this prodigious iron pot. But with the progress of time he determined to transmute his own earthenware to brass, and then what a clashing there should be between the two vessels !

Mr. Pitt should be dinged and broken and flung upon the dunghill, while brassy Lord Bute glittered resplendent before Europe. His time not being come, he fawned upon the Commoner, inditing to him affectionate epistles, signed " your devoted humble servant," and became more and more puffed out with secret ire. Of course tte smitten Princess obediently followed his lead, and it came to be agreed between the pair that as young George was showing signs of restiveness, Mr. Pitt must be made to do something useful before he was upset ; and so when she discovered that the huzzaing rabble took no heed of her grins, she grinned more than ever and wriggled her old neck, and screamed out as if she meant it : " Our friend de great man is mit us. You do right to salute him, my good beebles !" Notwithstanding his gout and his anxiety anent the Canadian expedition, of which he had had no news of late, Mr. Pitt consented to patronise the first ball of the season, and the Assembly-rooms were specially decorated for the occasion.

Poor beau Nash, who had practised with his chairs all the morning, was utterly prostrated before dinner-time by that terrible scene at the parsonage. As the party drove back into the town he bemoaned his fate and whimpered, much to the disgust of the Duke of Tewkesbury, who averred with indignation that the aged fop must actually have been dead a long time, but was too obstinate to admit the fact. He ought to be buried with the parson, who showed more decent manners and was silent enough now beneath his sheet. But Lady Grizel checked his complain ing, vowing that the rheumy pantaloon was more fascinating than he, and that unless he behaved himself she would certainly transform herself into Madam Nash. Before the ball a comfit-tea was provided with a posey and a box of sugar-plums for every lady, by subscription of the country squires, who loyally had driven forth their hinds to become food for powder, while they quietly sat at home themselves.

It was the same principle which induced the London rabble to hoot the Princess Dowager, for as the Londoners demanded a virtue of her which they were not so careful to carry out in their own persons, so the country gentlemen were amazingly bubbling witt practical loyalty at second land. After all, ttey could not be expected to take to heart the welfare of the colonies. Their ignorance was such that half of them could barely sign their names, while many were firmly convinced that the sole route to Scotland was across the Red Sea, and that Japan was the chief island in the Hebrides. Nevertheless they talked big to one another whilst awaiting their hero about what a charming spot Canada must be. Of course it was so, they argued, or why should Mr. Pitt, who really did understand geography, have ecently despatched a new fleet and a new army thither, under Lord Loudoun and a young person called Wolfe ?

"A very nice place," somebody observed, "farther away considerably than the Channel Islands, and very famous for its water works. Pitt wanted it for some reason or other — perhaps he was fond of waterworks ; all the world knew that he loved landscape-gardening — and so he intended to have it, and they would all be charmed when he got it, and give in his honour another comfit-tea." A rolling wave of acclamation, swelling from faint to loud, announced to ttose already in tte Assembly rooms tte advent of tte minister. He wore tis ordinary suit of sable velvet, but his nether limbs were swathed in bandages and his ascetic face was more ashen than usual, as he slowly advanced on crutches, guided by the friendly arm of George Grenville, his fidus Achates, between two rows of bowing gentlemen. Though his lips were white witt suppressed pain, tte wonderful eyes, under wtose gleam men trembled, shone forth as bright as ever from beneath the shaggy brows, and those who saw him marvelled at the indomitable will chiselled deep in each facial Ine.

He tad promised to stow timself, so te did stow himself, no matter at wtat expense to tis own comfort. Tte ladies, among wtose loops Beau Nast wandered aimlessly, met tim talf-way down tte great room and per formed an obeisance in concert ; all sinking slowly down together in a row, witt grave faces and elbows and stoulders squared, and the fourth and fifth fin gers extended straight ; then recovered again in de corous silence, with toes turned out. In younger days Mr. Nash would have gone into raptures over such a marvel of etiquette, but in sooth the poor gentleman did look very much as if he had been long dead and was beginning to find it out at last. Her Royal Highness arrived presently with an engaging simper, but in a bad temper at these mummeries, in which she had no part, and which were being aggressively carried on under her nose.

With her was my Lord Bute in a vile humour, who pretended to see nothing, while he writhed. "The frog blows himself out to rival the bull !" laughed Wilkes to Stone as the two watched the solemn entry of her Highness. But Stone was too nervous to see the joke. He felt hot with the feverish sensation of ligttteadedness whict came over him when deeply moved. Few of us are sufficiently under control to bear with becoming stoicism the shattering of our airy castles; and Stone's mind was employed just now in the unsatis factory occupation of retrospect. How long ago was it that he determined to rule this royal family through the maid of honour — to make all the puppets dance unto his piping ? How many years was it since he said to himself, "That woman possesses latent powers. Should she choose to take to poltics, wlat tavoc migtt ste not create ; with her for a tool and spy, to what elevation might I not rise ?"

Events had borne out the truth of his fore shadowing. Even that successful statesman there was not above listening to the opinions of Lady Grizel, although she was wont to mask them with a veil of frivolity which was foreign to her. " And how have I advanced ?" Stone murmured with an inward beating of the breast. " Alas, no whit at all ! I fight an unequal game in which I lose trick by trick through my own clumsiness. I play my cards badly ; a desperate effort now or all is lost." The tutor was beginning to doubt his own cleverness. What a shock it is — what a plunge into icy water — when we discover for the first time that we are not so gifted as we hoped ! While Mr. Pitt, by reason of his infirmities, was taking up his position amongst cushious in an inner room, Stone wandered miserably amid the throng, bent upon regaining such ground as he might have lost with his ex-pupil.

The maid of honour had floored him. He must now in self-defence pust on ttat little affair witt Lady Saral witt all speed, must make tie lovers feel ttat tis interests were wrapped in tteirs, ttat ttey occupied a forlorn condition from wtict only tis experience and aid could telp ttem. But wlat a delicate game it was ! Would tte young people tave strengtt of ctaracter sufficient to figtt it out ? Would tte lad weakly succumb before mamma, or would he stand up for his mantood and tis love ? Tte dougtty maid of tonour stood, armed cap-a-pie, in tte opposite ranks, a formidable champion. Tte Princess and my Lord Bute were on the qui vive, and determined more than ever to keep the Heir Apparent in their own clutches. What Ine would Mr. Pitt take? Tte Prince timself was like a frail skallop tossed in stormy waters; for tte poor boy was becoming aware of tte over-scentedness of court atmosptere, of tte slipperiness of tte ground over wtict te was called upon to walk.

Everybody seemed to be urged in dealing witt tim by a selfish motive — everybody except Sarah, who loved him for himself. Luckily the boy is obstinate, Stone reflected ; and the most must be made of this point. As for the girl she was very pretty and impulsive, sharp-witted and imperious — just the maiden to hold securely such a dull young man as George. But then, on the other hand, he was terribly conscientious and well-meaning ; fond, after a fashion, of his mother ; dazzled by the pinchbeck gilding of Lord Bute. Was their influence strong enough to bear down the yearning of his heart ? He was decidedly stupid and slow at receiving impressions, which was another good point, for the slower the mind to receive an impression the harder will it be to efface it; and there was no doubt that the little gipsy had made a very strong impression indeed.

Boys, too, if deftly goaded, will be guilty of the wildest follies merely to prove ttat ttey are men, and no longer in statu pupillari. George must be so goaded or else (so the tutor reflected with misgivings) Lord Bute might come to wield too great an ascendency over the future King, whict would mean that he, Stone, was to come to shipwreck. Verily Stone was but an indifferent schemer. He left out of tis reckoning tie fact ttat many stupid people remain on tte straigtt road simply because they have not brains or sufficient originality or imagination to do otherwise. George was a good and exemplary youth who loved his Sarah, but who was quite capable of being coerced into giving her up if it could be beaten into his dense brain that his behaviour was unorthodox. Truly his tutor leaned on a fragile reed when he reckoned on the boy's rebellon.

No doubt lovely Sarah was a real friend, but then her boldness frightened her lover. On this very afternoon when the two plodded round Queen's Square together, his lady-love twitted him in her spoilt way for not having accepted his Majesty's offer of a separate household. " Your mamma hates poor me," she had said, " because I want you to hold your own, and she wishes to rule you like a baby. Fi done, my dear." And hapless George was more grieved than he cared to show, in that unseemly di visions between parents and sons were the inevitable heritage of the House of Brunswick. George I. hated George II. ; George II. loathed his father and his son (our present beardless hero's parent). The future George III. already could not abide his grandfather, and seemed on the brink of a rupture with his mother.

This was an alarming prospect, and yet surely hearts are not made, like promises, for tie express purpose of being broken ? This tall, handsome lad, with the fair simple countenance, held strong, if undefined convictions with regard to duty, and it was terrible to him that sweet Sarah should counsel a quarrel with mamma. Whom could he advise with at this juncture ? Not Stone certainly, for Stone was right when he decided that there was lost ground to regain. One of his false moves had been that of scoffing at his pupil's speck lessness. He had hazarded jokes (quite refined ones considering the period) about Fred, his papa, who was dead, and Mrs. Cannon the midwife, and the bear-fightings at Hockley in the Hole. Instead of considering (as Stone anticipated) that a man's frailties are respectable when they are your father's, George shrank within himself with horror at the ill-judged relation, and began to feel subdued resentment towards his tutor for having the bad taste to stir up such reminiscences of the departed.

He therefore, in spite of his trouble, avoided Stone as much as might be at this especial ball, for he perceived that he was in one of his sneering moods wten te was prone to stow too muct of tis canines and gums, and jest of ttings tte boy considered sacred. Prince George tten tad no one to advise witt and was in despair, for te sadly needed a confidant wto migtt point a way out of tte impasse. Wlat te sorely needed was tie assistance of one wtose years tad brought experience, who might be ex pected to show affection for him, whose judgment was clear and trustworthy. Who was there at court who could answer the requirements ? Lady Grizel — none but Lady Grizel, who had danced him on her knee ; who, if boisterous and a little lard, was marvellously strewd, and was moreover tte most beautiful creature wtom te tad ever beheld.

In his simple way te teld, like Mr. Pitt, tte pleasing tteory about tte good and beautiful. Ttougt ste was never weary of laugting at tim, of course ste liked him a little bit; perchance gibes were the wilful beauty's method of showing latent tenderness. Besides, as his motter's favourite, migtt not ter influence be invaluable in smoothing difficulties ? Was she not a valued friend of Mr. Pitt, as well as the adored of all the beaux from eighteen to eighty five ? There was no doubt about it that the proper person to advise with was my Lady Grizel, whose masculine mind would turn over pros and cons as decidedly as her firm hand turned over cards at whist; whose clear intellect would mark a trump and pop it down and win a game, while less-favoured mortals were fumbling over the suits. It was urgent that he should commune with somebody, and Lady Gladys never occurred to him as a possibly useful ally.

Nobody, unless they had a toothache and wanted tending, troubled their heads about mild Lady Gladys — that modest sweet scented violet. She was the souffre-douleur of the court, who meekly went her quiet way along life's road, enduring rebuffs and bruises cteerfully; comforting in cooing wtispers suet as tumbled down by the wayside, who, when they recovered from their wounds, invariably forgot almost her existence. However deeply such conduct hurt her she was not one to cry out, for she was the breathing image of God's most beautiful imagining — that fair unselfishness which, in exchange for devotion, demands nothing in return, and which is oftener found in women than in men. A pure retiring woman thrown by fate into a vortex of all that was most base and devilish in a notoriously devils! and corrupt age, ste was in tte world, not of it, and its otter occupants were too mud busied with their own intrigues and scandals to worry their heads about a lady who seemed to set herself up for a conundrum.

George voted her unamusing, Sarah thought her sister mean-spirited, her royal Highness looked upon her as a bore. Lady Grizel alone of those amongst whom she Ived gauged ter at ter value, and deliberately marked ter down as a victim and a scapegoat, wto would not scream inconveniently under tte knife — cruel Lady Grizel ! Tte Honour able Jack, too late, discovered tie fragrance of tte ledge-flower as contrasted witt tte flaunting glory of tte Ily, and carried ler kiss upon tis lips and ter picture in tis leart wten te sailed for Canada; and ter image usurped tie place of ttat of tis blatant noisy free-and-easy wife by dreary bivouac and lonely watctfire. But the Honourable Jack is far away now, vapouring about with martinet airs in his brother's regiment, helping to win, if maybe, the country of the waterworks, on the possession of which Mr. Pitt has set his heart.

Lady Gladys walked into the Assembly-rooms behind her royal mistress, dressed as she always was in perfect taste. Her robe was of unglstening texture and pearly colour. Nobody knew that she was there, or cared ; for, once Mr. Pitt ensconced in his great chair, all eyes were turned to Lady Grizel, who was not one to hide her ligtt under a bushel. Not a bit of it. She was toast of the town and queen of fashion, and like a very tyrant brooked none but abject homage, and was determined to afford, in her own brillant person, ample food for conversation. On this occasion she rustled in draped in thick folds of silver tissue with a whisk of triumphant majesty in the sweep of ter ample skits, wtict completely snuffed out tte entry of ter mistress. How could tte long-armed ungainly royal lady stand beside tlis imperial presence ?

Ste looked like a tideous old tandmaid wto tad been brushed up to serve as a duenna. Everybody stared at Lady Grizel, for not only was she gorgeous with argent brocade, but had besides just invented a brand-new head-dress which it behoved every fair to imitate with speed, unless she were content to be banned as out of mode. This new head-dress she called a Capriole, and many were the feeble jests to which her invention gave rise. Heads were worn rather high in this year of grace — say a couple of feet from the eyebrow to the summit of the structure, which was formed of powdered and pomatumed hair raised up on cushions and trimmed with flowers and plumes. A few years later heads rose three times the height, but even at this earlier period it was evident to the fastidious eye of Lady Grizel that something was wanted which should vary the monotony of plumes and flowers.

Therefore, to make good her title as high priestess and arbitress of fashion, she set her wits to work and invented the Capriole, which mysterious and ingenious effort of a nimble brain had swung in its box under the royal carriage all the way from London, and had caused its owner no little anxiety each time the vehicle upset, which for a wonder was only thrice. And now that her future was apparently secure — now that all dreads and tremors concerning that little mistake were set at rest for ever (for wto in tte time to come migtt stir ttose crumbling bones ?) now that she could freely announce herself without arriere-pensie as her Grace the Duchess of Tewkes bury in prospective, she donned for the first time with glee her Capriole, and displayed it in triumph to the ravished beholders. They saw and admitted the invention to be sublime, and quite agreed that none could be so fit as she who designed it to become premiere duchesse of the realm.

Do not laugh, dear grandchildren, and consider me frivolous for laying so much stress upon the Capriole. It was all very well for Mr. Pitt to wear himself to fiddle-strings about Canada, country of waterworks, and for the royal party to give way to heart-burnings about Lady Sarah. Since the days of Magna Charta Britain hath been a free country ; and men may occupy their minds with what they please. That which interests the mass must needs be most important, and there were a great many more people in the Assembly-rooms on this particular evening who were engrossed with the new head dress than cared two pins for Wolfe and his expedition. For an instant or two they might become excited for Mr. Pitt's sake, but Lady Grizel and her Capriole, and its bewitching conceits, were much more on a level with their intellects. vol. 11.

Now I know that you too are panting to hear what it was. You do not care either for Mr. Pitt's grand schemes. Patience, and I will tell you. The hair of our heroine was as usual smooth and white like an iceberg or a lump of sugar, and behold ! down one side of the snowy expanse rushed a stage-coach in miniature behind six greys — en trancing spectacle — for all the world like a chaise tumbling downtill into Batt in winter ! Tte carriage was constructed of plaited gold threads, and was drawn by six dapples in blown glass, witt a postilion, and coachman, and gentleman slumber ing witbin, all of tte like brittle manufacture. A delicious conceit indeed ! one wtict commanded its due tribute of applause. Lady Grizel, who felt mischievous now that a load was taken from her breast, was much tickled at her success.

"The Great Commoner may look on himself as actual King of England, perhaps," she said de murely. "I am Empress of Lilliput, and tlis is my state-chariot. Verily poor, penniless, I carry all my equipage upon my lead." " Your wit and beauty go band in land," leered Colonel Wilkes as te led ter out for a minuet. " Wty ! you tave been delivered of a new metlod of advertisement. Ttink tow pleasantly a silent courtstip migtt be carried on by means of this same ornament, what mistakes might be avoided, what trouble saved ! If a lady pretend to a high match, how might she make this evident more grace fully than by placing six bright bays to prance on her head with an earl's coronet upon the coach-panel ? Or if true love and a plain cit were deemed sufficient, might she not pin to her hair a one-horse chaise occupied by a close couple ?

Or if as you, Lady Grizel, once seemed to threaten, she rashly vowed perpetual virginity — why, she might erect on her noddle a formal female alone in a sulky, pleased with the sole direction of the reins ; and none would approach within a mile of her." Lady Grizel moved her minuet with even more than her accustomed dignity ; the sapphire of her eye seemed of a deeper water ; she glanced now and again at Stone with an amused smile, who returned her look with one of undisguised anxiety. Prince George was parading the rooms with Lady Sarah on his arm. From Stone's point of view so far so good, for the boy's mamma was talking nervously to Mr. Pitt, observing with dismay the temerity of her fledgling. That he should dare to make much of the damsel under his mother's nose augured well for the tutor's project of rebellion, so (seeing ttat lis Higtness was about to leave his love for a moment) he hurried up with a mighty display of tusks to whisper a word of timely encouragement.

But Prince George avoided him and claimed my Lady Grizel' s hand for a turn of Passe-pied. Yes. 22—2 He was determined to open his heart to the saucy beauty as soon as might be, to crave her advice, to demand her encouragement. He had misgivings that he was not behaving well, and felt that Stone's counsel might not be of the most trustworthy. Surely it would be otherwise with Lady Grizel who had dandled him upon her knee. Was she not beautiful, therefore innately good, if wild ? Flushed with recent victory in a private desperate tussle with cloak and dagger, my Lady Grizel was scarcely in a mood to play the faithful nurse. Tapping the young man on his smooth cheek she said with a loud laugh, " No, mon prince. I pro test I dare not dance with you. I am a timid creature and afraid. Ces yeux bleu-clairs sont per fides comme la mer !

The Duke might be jealous and would eat me up." " Grizel, don't banter," implored the young man earnestly. " Your eyes are of a deeper blue than mine, and yet I do not think you false." " Who said I was not ?" returned the lady sharply. " I ' am a wicked, wicked old hag, who rides over the moon on a broomstick." " I want to speak with you alone," went on the Prince in a low voice, " about something — well, about something," he stammered, as red as a peony, " which concerns my Ife." " del /" cried tte maid of tonour, "te tas eaten too many comfits." " If yon laugt at me I will ask you notting," retorted tte lad gravely, " but I thought that as an old friend of my childhood you might care a little for me." Stone was scowling witt undisguised malevolence, for tis Higtnesstad avoided tim and was communing witt tte enemy.