Read "Chetwynd Calverley" by William H. Ainsworth online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
On returning to her dressing-room, after the painful interview with Lord Courland, Mrs. Calverley sat down for a few minutes to collect herself; and then, taking a large sheet of paper from a drawer, began to write out a formal document.
She pursued her task, without intermission, for more than half an hour; and then, having completed it, rang the bell for Laura.
"Shall I bring your breakfast, ma'am? " asked the lady's-maid.
"No; I do not require any breakfast," replied Mrs. Calverley.
"Let me persuade you to take some, ma'am. You look very ill."
"I am too busy just now," rejoined Mrs. Calverley.
"Beg Mr. Carteret to come to me. You will find him in the library. I also wish to see Mr. Higgins. Request him to come up to me in about five minutes -- not before."
"I understand, ma'am."
"Stay! " cried Mrs. Calverley. "I have several letters to write, and shall not want you. If you like you can drive to Brackley in the pony-carriage."
"Oh! thank you, ma'am! May I take Monsieur Zephyrus with me?"
"Monsieur Zephyrus, and anybody else you like. You needn't take the groom."
Laura departed, full of glee.
Shortly afterwards, the attorney made his appearance.
"Pray sit down, sir," she said. "I wish you to read this document."
"Why, you have been making your will, I perceive! " he cried, as he took the paper.
"Will it suffice? " she asked, briefly.
"It seems to me, from a hasty glance, that it will answer perfectly," he replied. "But we will go through it. You divide your property equally, I find, between Chetwynd and Mildred, Quite right. But I do not approve of the bequest of five thousand pounds to Lord Courland. However, I suppose it must stand."
"It must," she observed in a peremptory tone.
Mr. Carteret then went on.
"I am much pleased that you have remembered your late husband's old servant, John Norris. The faithful fellow well deserves the thousand pounds you are good enough to leave him. I also observe that you have made several minor bequests, and have not forgotten your attendant, Laura Martin."