Chapter XXVIII: Norah’s Dangerous Illness

Norah often wrote to us during the Winter, and contrived to keep us pretty much _au courant_ of all that happened to her; and these letters, and the more detailed account I afterwards received from her and others, enabled me to relate what occurred in the last few chapters. But after the letter which described the scene in the Bay of Sorrento, and Sir Alfred’s sudden appearance, no letters arrived, and we heard nothing from her or any of the family for more than three weeks.

We were beginning to be alarmed at her silence, when the Duchess of Dromoland happened to drive over to spend the day. She had received a letter from Lady Horatia Somerton the preceding evening, telling her that Norah was very ill.

The strange meeting with Sir Alfred in the Bay of Sorrento, and the subsequent scene with the poor Duke de Luna, seemed to have brought on a kind of nervous fever, which alarmed her father and all those who loved the dear girl.

The Duke was still suffering extremely--in fact, the disappointment of his hopes retarded his recovery, but he had left Sorrento the very day afterwards. He went first to Naples, and passed most of his mornings in the Villa Reale Gardens, or driving on the promenades, or the most frequented roads in the neighbourhood.

His health and spirits would not allow him to go into society, but he saw many old friends and acquaintances; and he informed several of the most intimate, who lamented to witness his sufferings, that his low spirits were caused by the refusal of Miss Chandos. They had all heard of his romantic attack on the banditti, and of his intimacy with the Chandos family in consequence; and great was the wonderment when the result of his proposal was made known. After remaining about a fortnight at Naples, he started for Pæstum, and made a _détour_ to visit Salvator Rosa’s country, and pass a few days with Miss Pockingden at her castle in the mountains.

He had known her at Naples two years before, and though no contrast could be greater than that of an ugly rough old Englishwoman and the handsome and refined-looking Spanish grandee, they had become great friends, and he had been much amused at her energetic attempts to make a rebel and a red republican of him.

Lady Horatia went on to say that she had some hope that the Duke would be able to ascertain what had become of Sir Alfred--in fact, he was resolved to do so; and as soon as he had recovered sufficiently to be able to mount his horse, he would search among the mountains, or follow him to any foreign country, if they could ascertain that he had left Italy. The Duke declared to Lady Horatia that he should never rest till he had seen Sir Alfred, and given an exact account of all that occurred since he first met Miss Chandos.

“I have given him authority to say more,” wrote Lady Horatia; “but do not let this come round to Norah’s ears, or she will be furious with me. Poor child! it is very sad to see her suffer so resignedly; but she always appears so cheerful when her father or sisters are by, that I believe no one but myself and little Brownie have any idea how much she suffers. I am going to write to Constance in a few days, for I saw that Norah is not in a fit state to write, and I have persuaded her not to try. So you may as well drive over to Castle Hall, and tell them some of the contents of this letter.”

She then expressed a wish to hear from the Duchess some news of us, and whether anything had been heard of Carlo since he left England.