It was now broad daylight, and Nanny told me that she would like to get up, and see about a padlock being put to her door before night; so I wished her good-by, and left her.

CHAPTER FORTY

     Showing the great Advantages to be derived from Patronage.

I left old Nanny, and arrived at my mother’s house in time for breakfast.  I did not, however, find her in a very good humor; something had evidently ruffled her.  Virginia also, who welcomed me most cordially, was taciturn and grave.  My mother made but one observation during our repast.

“Well, Tom,” said she, “you’ve found out what it is to wish to marry for love.  I only wish it may be a lesson to others.”

To this evident attack upon Virginia, at the expense of my feelings, I made no reply, and soon afterward my mother went to superintend her establishment, leaving me and my sister alone.

“Tom,” said she, “I hope by this time you are no longer suffering from your late cruel disappointment.  I have felt for you, I assure you, and, assuring you of that, will not again revert to the subject.  Let her be blotted from your memory as soon as possible.”

“Be it so, my dear Virginia; but you are grave, and my mother is evidently out of humor.  You must explain this.”

“That is easily done.  I have made a sad mistake.  I was so much annoyed at my mother’s system toward me that I ventured, without her knowledge, to write to Lady Hercules, requesting her protection and influence to procure me some situation as a companion to a lady, amanuensis, or reader.  It appears that her ladyship was not very sincere in her professions when we had an interview with her; at all events, her reply was anything but satisfactory, and, unfortunately, it was addressed to my mother and not to me.  You can have no idea of my mother’s indignation upon the receipt of it, and she has not been sparing in her reproaches to me for having written without her knowledge, and having, by so doing, subjected her to such a mortification.  I certainly am sorry to have done so.  As for her ladyship’s answer, it would have been to me more a subject of mirth than any other feeling.  It has, however, proved the cause of much annoyance from my mother’s continually harping upon it.”

“Have you the letter of Lady Hercules?”

“I have a copy of it, which I took, intending to have sent it to you the next time that I wrote.  I will bring it down if you will wait a minute.”

When Virginia returned she put the following epistle into my hand: