He then was
persuaded that the Meadowses had been harassing and frightening
Albinia into this startling measure. It was so contrary to his own
nature, that he hardly believed that it had actually taken place, and
that she must be in London by this time, but at any rate, he must
join her there, and know the worst. He would take the whole party to
an hotel, if it were too great a liberty to quarter themselves upon
Mrs. Annesley.
Winifred was as much surprised as if the chess-king had taken a
knight's move, but she encouraged his resolution, assured him of a
welcome at what the cousinhood were wont to call the Family Office,
and undertook the charge of Gilbert and Lucy. The sorrowful, almost
supplicating tone of his wife's letter, would have sufficed to bring
him to her, even without his disquietude for his child, whichever of
them it might be; and though Albinia's merry blue-eyed boy had
brought a renewed spring of hope and life, his crashed spirits
trembled at the least alarm.
Thus, though the cheerful Winifred had convinced his reason, his
gloomy anticipations revived before he reached London; and with the
stern composure of one accustomed to bend to the heaviest blows, he
knocked at Mrs. Annesley's door. He was told that Mrs. Kendal was
out; but on further inquiry, learnt that Sophy was in the drawing-room,
where he found her curled up in the corner of the sofa, reading
intently.
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