The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 139: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

«* you know what are the duties of a lady’s-maid? —are you prepared to perform all the offices that are menial in respect to the toilet ?” ‘“‘ Only suffer me to prove to your ladyship,” exclaimed Ethel, with fervour, ‘“‘ how anxious I am to show my appreciation of the advantages which I shall enjoy! Believe me, there is nothing I would not do for your ladyship !— nothing! nothing! I want a home—and you offer me one! I want to save up money for the benefit of my child—and your bounty will afford me the means! Good heavens! should I not be the THE YOUNG DUCHESS: OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. a fh SS 125 and cakes brought up for little Alfred, who was now awaking ; and she played with the child for a few minutes with a degree of kindness that still further won the heart of Ethel. The young mother took her temporary leave of Lady Langport, inwardly blessing heaven for having sent her so kind a friend. Indeed, when beyond view of the windows of Hendon Court, Ethel knelt down by the side of the lane; and de- positing her infant upon the grass, she joined her hands together, murmuring, ‘I thank thee, O God! that thou hast taken compassion upon me veriest ingrate if I did not strive day and night | for this dear babe’s sake !” to give you pleasure? And if you were ill, I would nurse you—I would never quit your bed- side——” “And even if pestilence assailed me,” inter- jected the lady, ‘“‘would you not fly from the in- fection ?” “No!” was Ethel’s emphatic response. would remain with you until the last !" ‘‘ Ah! this is indeed the very best case that I could possibly suppose, in order to put your sin- cerity to the test! What, then, if you found me attacked by plague or pestilence — stretched in my bed, an object loathsome to look upon and to touch - ‘“‘ Enough, enough, my lady !” exclaimed Ethel : ‘you are supposing a case to put me to the test —and I call heaven to witness that I should not shrink from my duty! I know not how I cy can convince you of my truthfulness beyond mere asseveration: but Oh! if I assure you that -unfamiliar to her. She then continued her way, with the child in her arms ; and on reaching the end of the lane, she waited a few minutes until the omnibus made its appearance on its way back from Chipping Barnet. There was plenty of room inside ; indeed there was only another passenger besides Ethel— and this was a middle-aged person, who imme-~ diately turned his back towards her in a some- what uncourteous fashion. Ethel did not how- ever notice his behaviour; for she was thinking of all that had taken place with Lady Langport. Presently, however, her fellow-traveller in the omnibus turned slowly round; and as Ethel glanced at his countenance, it instantaneously struck her that those demure features were not She looked again: she re- cognised the man:—he was Mr. Phipps, the stockbroker’s head clerk. ‘“‘You are Mrs. Trevor ?” he said, with the air of one who after having averted his face with the I possess a grateful heart, is not that a sufficient | hope of passing unnoticed, had suddenly made up guarantee——” “It is now my turn to say enough, enough ?” interrupted Lady Langport. ‘The bargain is concluded between us. When will you come to me? The young lady whom you are to succeed, is anxious to leave as soon as possible—for the , his mind to speak. ““ Yes—and you know me—I see that you do!” he continued. “It is for- tunate I[ have fallen in with you.” ‘* Indeed ?” ejaculated Ethel, wondering whether it were possible she could be about to hear that her five thousand pounds were to be restored to simple reason that the death of a very distant | her. relative, at whose hands she never expected any- thing, has suddenly put her in the possession of riches——” ‘¢‘T will come to your ladyship with the least possible delay,” said Ethel. ‘I need merely re- turn to my lodgings in Camden Town to make my final arrangements.” ‘Be itso,” said Lady Langport. ‘ You will “Yes,” continued Mr. Phipps, speaking empha- tically and rapidly, as if he wished to have done with what he had to say before there was a chance of any one else stepping into the omnibus: “ you have suffered enough !”—and it now struck Ethel that he surveyed her with a compassionate air. ‘Will you promise me that if I tell you a secret you will not betray me as the author of it—and come to me in the course of this day. Ah! by. ‘indeed that you will not suffer it to be seen that the bye, I should ask you, Mrs. Trevor, do you require funds? Pray take the proposal in the same kind and delicate spirit in which it is made.” While thus speaking, Lady Langport drew off the exquisitely fitting lemon-coloured glove from her right hand, in order to unlock a writing-desk that was on the table; and Ethel could not help noticing that the hand was thin and even lank, considering the buxom embonpoint and symmetri- cal richness of the lady’s figure. But the com- plexion of that hand was dazzlingly fair; and the nails, faultlessly formed in the shape of almonds, were of a healthful pinkness. She opened the desk and displayed a quantity of gold and bank-notes: but Ethel assured her, with many expressions of gratitude, that she was not without ready money and that she had no out- standing debts. Lady Langport then offered re- freshments : but Ethel did not require them. Her ladyship however insisted upon having some milk a ee ee nn you know it, otherwise than by the prudential course that you will adopt in consequence ?” “ If you mean me well, sir,” answered Ethel, almost in affright at this mysterious mode of ad- dress, ‘“‘ I shall thank you—TI shall be deeply grateful !” “Listen ! Put no faith in anything that Count de Mandeville tells you!—he is pursuing you only for the most infamous of purposes! His father never knew your’s—and the idea of the debt of two hundred pounds is only a pretext ! Take the money or not, as you like——Perhaps you had better, situated as you are : but——” At this instant the omnibus was hailed: Phipps put his finger upon his lip; and retreating to the further end of the vehicle, did not agai meet Ethel’s eye for the remainder of the journey. For some minutes the young lady sat in a. state of blank consternation on receiving that in- telligence. But when she regained sufficient com- posure to deliberate upon it, her good sense told oO COMO Colin