The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 192: what you’re looking at

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ee. 178 I shall fix upon a sum four times as large as you would think of asking. You know who I am :— you will let me know who you are. Prove your- self a gentlewoman in fact, as you are in appear- ance—and the matter is settled.” Kthel listened in astonishment; while Count Olonetz looked on in mingled alarm and curiosity scene might end. ‘‘T thank your Imperial Highness,” said Ethel, at length recovering her self-possession : ‘“‘ I also desire to express my heartfelt gratitude for the favourable opinion entertained of me by the Princess; but I am so situated as to be beyond the necessity of accepting”—she hesitated, and then said, “at least for the present, the position which through so much good feeling has been offered me.” At this instant the door of the apartment again opened ; and a footman entered, presenting a card upon a silver salver, and saying, ‘I told the lady | that your Excellency was engaged: but her lady- ship says that she will either wait, or call again to-morrow, according as your lordship may ap- point.” The Russian Plenipotentiary took up the card: —glanced at it—and muttered audibly, “I do. not know the lady.” ‘' I daresay your Excellency wishes to see her,”’ said the Grand Duke, with a smile; ‘ for you are very gallant towards the fair SEX; and in the meantime Mrs. Trevor shall come and sit for half- an-hour with Roxana, who appears very anxious to see her again.’ “Indeed, your Imperial Highness,” said Olo- netz, who was most anxious to continue with Ethel that discourse which had arrived at so interesting a point, ‘I know that Mrs. Trevor is even now kept much to her inconvenience - ‘Let Mrs. Trevor answer for herself,” inter- rupted the Prince curtly. ‘‘Madam, I ask you as a favour to grant half-an-hour of your time to my pretty, whimsical, self-willed, and really amiable daughter ; and I am sure you will not refuse her ?” Ethel felt all the magnitude of the compliment conveyed her—her society being thus earnestly solicited by this Grand Duke on behalf of that youthful Princess, utterly unknown although she was to them both, and with no other guarantee for her character and social position than having been accidentally brought thither by the Count and | Countess Olonetz. With these considerations, therefore, she could not refuse; and there was an additional motive which induced her to give an | assent—namely, that she on her own side had. conceived no ordinary sentiment of interest and even of affection, if so strong a feeling could arise. in so short a space, for the beautiful Roxana. Count Olonetz—a thorough man of the world— comprehended what was passing in Ethel’s mind: ; he also perceived that the Grand Duke was bent ' upon having his daughter’s whim gratified; and therefore, making a merit of the necessity, he said with a low bow, as he glanced at the card which he held in his hand, ‘ Your Highness is right : I will see this lady who desires an inter- yiew with me; and perhaps you, Mrs. Trevor, will have the goodness to signify to me when you have concluded your present visit to the apart-~ ment of the Princess ?” a, A RS, gh er in respect to the manner in which this singular | THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF a LADY OF QUALITY. ‘‘ Good,” said the Grand Duke. “ In half-an- hour Mrs. Trevor shall return to you:” and he moved towards the door to open it. Then Olonetz, hastily placing his finger upon his lips, whispered in rapid utterance to Iithel, “Not a syllable with regard to the subject of our late discourse !”. Mrs. Trevor bent upon him a look which was as much as to imply that she should scarcely think of betraying communications that were confiden- tial ; and she followed the Grand Duke from the apartment. His Highness led her to a different room from that in which she had first seen Roxana: it was larger, and, if possible, more sumptuously furnished. The youthful Princess was alone there when the door opened; and flinging down her book, she bounced from the sofa with a joyous cry, ‘while her lovely counte- | nance lighted up with a kindred feeling at the appearance of Ethel. ‘ Now, my dear child,” said the Grand Duke, affectionately tapping his daughter’s cheek, “I have brought this néw friend of yours to see you for one short half-hour: but whether she will ulti- mately consent to the roposition which I have made her on your behalf, must depend upon your powers ‘of persuasion —for mine have totally failed to accomplish the purpose.” ‘Ah, we shall see!” exclaimed Roxana, clap- ping her little hands joyfully. “ At all events I have you here for half-an-hour, Mrs. Trevor!”— then as the Duke quitted the room, she added, ‘‘ But I shall call you Ethel. It ig such a sweet pretty name! You will not be offended—will you ?” ‘“‘ By no means,” answered the young lady, who was irresistibly attracted towards that fairy-like, sylphid, unsophisticated young creature, in whom so many natural graces blended with such venial | faults as self-will, Caprice, and petulance, as if she were a spoilt chil ‘‘ Now come and sit down with me,” continued Roxana, leading her new friend to the sofa. ‘I do not know how it is that I learnt to love you so dearly all inthe space of a few minutes: but so it was! Perhaps it is because there is such soft- ness in your looks—so much kindness—so much unmistakable goodness! But no matter! because the fact is as I tell you.” ‘““'You are very kind, my dear Princess,” Ethel ; ‘“‘ and I feel very much flattered said ‘‘No compliments, my dear friend!” inter- | rupted Roxana. ‘‘I am wearied—Oh, I am so wearied of those ceremonial expressions which make life one dreary cold formality !—yes, almost as cold as that horrible region in which I was born }”’ “Do you speak thus, dear Princess, of your native Russia ?” “Russia? Ah, true! Siberia is a part of the Russian Empire.” ‘Siberia ?” ejaculated Ethel. born in Siberia ?” ‘Oh, yes,” ejaculated Roxana, as if the ques- tion surprised her. ‘‘But, Ah! I forgot! You of course can know nothing of all that! You do “Were you | not know how many miles I have travelled, young as J am!—thousands and thousands of miles !” ‘‘Indeed ? you astonish me!” said Ethel. ‘‘ But perhaps your imperial father held some htgh command in Siberia at the time ?” COMO YN Wn) Colin