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LONDON:
F. SHOBERL, JUN., 51, RUPERT STREET, HAYMARKET,
PRINTER TO H. R. H. PRINCE ALBERT.
THE
MANŒUVRING MOTHER.
CHAPTER I.
Sir John and Lady Wetheral were blessedwith four fine little girls, who promised to beall the fond heart of a parent could wish; for,as her ladyship observed with pride, "theirforms were perfect, and their features werefaultless." There was no exuberance of shapeto rectify, there was no limb distorted, and,above all, there were no thick ankles, ordumpy-looking hands to shock a refined taste.The four girls were sprightly, lovely littlebeings, who would in due time create an immensesensation, and ultimately form connexionswith noblemen, or with "county[2]kings," which was even more desirable. SirWatkin Williams Wynn was considered"Prince of Wales," and there were one ortwo gentlemen who might claim the title ofKing of Shropshire, if immense property conferredthat title. The Miss Wetherals wereborn distinguished looking, and their careerwould be triumphant. Lady Wetheral lovedalso an even number; four daughters werenot too alarming: five or three would havebeen an indefinite half-vulgar fraction. Herladyship hated any thing vulgar.
But events are not in our own hands; andthe systems we prepare and digest with patientcalculation are overturned in one lucklessmoment by unforeseen circumstances.Lady Wetheral had scarcely decided in herown mind, that five daughters were an indefinitevulgarity, when another helpless innocentappeared to crush her hopes, and disturbher tranquillity. This was, indeed, a blow.All fear of increasing her family had passedfrom Lady Wetheral's mind so completely,that it was an overpowering disappointment.Five years had stolen away since the birth of[3]Clara, and now to recommence the troublesand miseries of nursing, with an uncertainvista before her! Suppose she had twelve?suppose she had fifteen? suppose she hadfive-and-twenty? where might all this end? Howvery provoking and vexatious!
Lady Wetheral felt it was vain to utterlamentations: she must lie up, and take careof herself, and avoid the children's noise, anddo exactly as she had done before under thesame affliction. It might prove an heir. Ifso, her ladyship would not complain: a sonwould secure the entailed property, and keepup the family name and honours. The nameof Wetheral would be extinguished, unless ason resumed the honourable title after poorSir John was gone, and a fine aristocratic-lookingboy ranging through the castle wouldbe a proud sight, certainly. He might marrya duke's heiress. Yes, a magnificent boywould be welcomed.
Nothi