Chapter XIII

           Inthespringoftheyear1861,Agneswasestablishedatthecountry-seatofhertwofriends—nowpromoted(onthedeathofthefirstlord,withoutoffspring)tobethenewLordandLadyMontbarry.Theoldnursewasnotseparatedfromhermistress.Aplace,suitedtohertimeoflife,hadbeenfoundforherinthepleasantIrishhousehold.Shewasperfectlyhappyinhernewsphere;andshespentherfirsthalf-year’sdividendfromtheVeniceHotelCompany,withcharacteristicprodigality,inpresentsforthechildren.

           Earlyintheyear,also,theDirectorsofthelifeinsuranceofficessubmittedtocircumstances,andpaidthetenthousandpounds.Immediatelyafterwards,thewidowofthefirstLordMontbarry(otherwise,thedowagerLadyMontbarry)leftEngland,withBaronRivar,fortheUnitedStates.TheBaron’sobjectwasannounced,inthescientificcolumnsofthenewspapers,tobeinvestigationintothepresentstateofexperimentalchemistryinthegreatAmericanrepublic.Hissisterinformedinquiringfriendsthatsheaccompaniedhim,inthehopeoffindingconsolationinchangeofsceneafterthebereavementthathadfallenonher.HearingthisnewsfromHenryWestwick(thenpayingavisitathisbrother’shouse),Agneswasconsciousofacertainsenseofrelief.’WiththeAtlanticbetweenus,’shesaid,’surelyIhavedonewiththatterriblewomannow!’

           Barelyaweekpassedafterthosewordshadbeenspoken,beforeaneventhappenedwhichremindedAgnesof’theterriblewoman’oncemore.

           Onthatday,Henry’sengagementshadobligedhimtoreturntoLondon.