"She means to come, whether I
will or no. That girl always had enough impudence for a dozen."
Drawing a sheet of paper out of her desk, she wrote a few rapid lines.
"Dear Jane,
"For _mercy's_ sake keep those _poor_ children and yourself _away_! We
have had an _aweful infectious fever_ rageing in the place, which it
was thought to be _cured_, but it's on the break _out_ again-several
_deaths_, Hartledon and Maude (_married_ of course) have gone out of
its reach and I'm thinking of it if _Bob's_ leg which is _better_
permits. You'd not like I dare say to see the children in a _coffin
apiece_ and yourself in a _third_, as might be the end. _Small-pox_ is
raging at _Garchester_ a neighbouring town, that _will_ be awful if it
gets to _us_ and I _hear_ it's on the _road_ and with kind love
_believe_ me your affectionate_
"MOTHER.
"P.S. I am sorry for _what_ you tell me about _Ugo_ and the _state_
of affairs chey vous. But you know you _would marry_ him so there's
_nobody_ to blame. Ah! _Maude_ has gone by _my_ advice and done as _I_
said and the consequence is _she's_ a peeress for life and got a
handsome young husband _without_ a _will_ of his own."
The countess-dowager was not very adroit at spelling and composition,
whether French or English, as you observe. She made an end of her
correspondence, and sat down to a delicious little supper alone; as she
best liked to enjoy these treats.
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