The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 143: what you’re looking at

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

Fr gy THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY, ae ae i Te YS nae SR yr Nh Wt D BI» = eee ee oe, tion. “You are so amiable and kind, my dear Ethel—for by this name you must permit me to call you—that I already feel as if I had known you for years, and as if I could do anything on the face of the earth to serve you! But now come and let us walk out into the grounds.” Ethel accompanied Lady Langport down the staircase into the grounds; and although there was naught but a gloomy shrubbery in front of the house, yet was there a beautiful fruit and flower garden at the side, consisting of about half an acre, enclosed within four walls, and contain- ing hot-houses and conservatories. At the back there was a spacious kitchen garden. The out- houses were extensive and well kept: there was a neat dairy ; and Ethel experienced considerable interest in the inspection of all these premises. Thence they passed into a pretty paddock, adjoin- ing which there was a-large orchard; and beyond lay the fields, where sheep and cows were pastur- No. 17.—THE Youne Doucuess. A re nrc tp, "stlh VoNG ‘ “ oa aM ele ly aa? : / de f / N fat 4 J fi N \v 0 ly wee ee mee ing,—the compact little estate comprising some ten or a dozen acres. _ While performing the part of chaperon, Lady Langport displayed the powers of a well-stored mind, and gave great variety to the conversation. She was affable and agreeable—slightly egotis- tical—but not dictatorial nor imperious. Neither did she play the part of a patroness or a supe- rior; but she maintained that species of well-bred familiarity which was calculated to place Ethel completely at her ease, and make her feel as if she were with one who only considered herself to be her equal. . There were however two things which were floating somewhat uneasily in Ethel’s mind. We will allude to them separately. In the first place she could not help thinking, from the nature of her discourse with Miss Crediton —from that young lady’s strange looks—and from other little circumstances—that there was some deeper mys- oO ——_ COMO Colin