Part 14 (1/2)
Then my lady's face hardened and the earl knew what was to follow.
”It remains for us, then, Mr. Sewell,” she said, ”to take the needful steps.”
”Yes, you must make an appeal to the High Court, and the marriage will be at once set aside,” said Mr. Sewell. ”It is a terrible thing for the young wife, though.”
”She should have had more sense than to have married my son,” cried my lady. ”I have pity for my son--none for her.”
”I think it would be more fair to tell Lord Chandos what you intend doing,” said Mr. Sewell. ”Not that he could make either resistance or defense--the law is absolute.”
”What will the end be?” asked my lady.
”The marriage will be declared null and void; they will be compelled to separate now; but again he has the remedy in his own hand. If he chooses to remain true and constant to her, the very next day after he becomes of age he can remarry her, and then she becomes his lawful wife; if he forgets her the only remedy for her would be money compensation.”
”It shall be the business of my life to see that he does forget her,”
said my lady.
”You can commence proceedings at once,” said Mr. Sewell. ”You can file your pet.i.tion to-morrow.”
”It will make the whole matter public,” hesitated my lady.
”Yes, that is the one drawback. After all it does not matter,” said Mr.
Sewell, ”many young men make simpletons of themselves in the same way.
People do not pay much attention.”
Lord Lanswell looked at his wife's handsome, inflexible face.
”It is a desperate thing to do, Lucia,” he said, ”for Lance loves her very dearly.”
”It was a desperate action on his part to marry without consulting us,”
said my lady.
”He will be of age next June,” said the earl, ”do you think that he will be true to her?”
”No,” said the countess, proudly. ”I can safely pledge you my word that he will not.”
CHAPTER XII.
”THEY WILL NOT FORGIVE ME.”
”Thank Heaven,” said the countess, ”that the matter can be set straight.
If there had been no remedy I should have lost my reason over it. The boy must have been mad or blinded, or very probably drawn into it in some disgraceful fas.h.i.+on or other.”
My lady was triumphant, her handsome face lighted with satisfaction, but the earl looked grave. The lawyer had taken his leave, and they still remained to discuss matters. Lord Lanswell did not seem so well pleased; he went up to my lady where she was standing.
”Lucia,” he began, ”do you think that if we succeed in parting these two we shall do quite right?”
”Right,” cried my lady. ”I shall think it one of the most virtuous actions of my life.”