642 Life of Count Rumford. 



from Sir Charles Blagden. It was fortunate for her 

 that she had so discreet and constant a friend. His 

 fidelity to her and his authority over her, by the proffer 

 of advice in the form of positive dictation, .prove that 

 he really intended to act, in place of her father, as her 

 guardian. He is very frank in telling her of her faults, 

 and on occasions which called for it he administered 

 severe rebukes, though he seemed always willing to allow 

 that her intentions were good. He tells her that she is 

 " quite a child in character, however well meaning." 

 This was free utterance to a woman forty-one years of age. 

 Sarah remained at Auteuil until May, 1815, when 

 she went to England to reside. By the Count's mar- 

 riage-contract, his house at Brompton was to be the 

 property of his wife if she survived him! It was built 

 on a leasehold, which was to expire in 1863, so that 

 neither party had an absolute ownership in it. Madame 

 de Rumford very generously gave the Count's daughter 

 all her rights in the lease. But the house proved to be 

 a most troublesome charge to the Countess, and her 

 vexations fill a large part of her correspondence with 

 Sir Charles. He was far from regarding the house as 

 the wonderful and convenient dwelling which Pictet had 

 represented it. Finding that the Countess was always 

 spending money on repairs, and was frequently cheated 

 by tenants whom she allowed to occupy it, he was con- 

 stantly urging her to dispose of the lease, and, with her 

 maid, to take lodgings. She was very unstable in her 

 plans, at times seeming to prefer England as her resi- 

 dence, and then longing to go to Paris, and informing 

 her friends there of a purpose of visiting them ; her 

 excuse, when she changed her mind, always being some 

 worrying difficulty about her house. 



