The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 21: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. 7 I made you some little time ago. Do you not recollect, my Ethe : “Oh, I can have no thought for anything now,” she cried, “except the enthusiastic joy which I experience at your return!” Alfred threw his arm round the beautiful form of his wife; and as he thus strolled with her through the garden, he went on to say, “You remember, dearest, I promised that we should enjoy equestrian exercise the moment the fine weather set in. Oh, it will be so pleasant to ride together amidst the shady lanes and through the wheat-fields in the cool summer evenings!” “Oh, delightful!” exclaimed Ethel, clapping her fair white hands with joy. “I now know what you mean, dear Alfred! You have been buying some horses at Maidstone?” “Yes—and I am convinced that you will be pleased with the one I have procured for you. It is the most beautiful creature that ever carried a lady; and you, dear Ethel, will look charming upon its back!” Alfred Trevor contemplated his lovely com- panion with the tenderest admiration as he thus spoke; and his eyes beamed with delight as he thought how elegant and graceful would be her appearance in a riding-habit setting off the con- tours of her symmetrical shape, and with a plumed, hat decorating the beautiful head. But all of a sudden some other thought of a very different nature appeared to intrude itself upon that deli- cious reverie, as if some demon had suddenly flitted athwart the heaven of his imagination; for an expression of indescribable anguish shot over his countenance, and he had only just time to avert it to prevent the gentle Ethel from being shocked and horrified by the view thereof. “ Ah,” he ejaculated, finding himself compelled to suatch up some excuse for thus abruptly turning away from her; “‘how beautifully some of these flowers have come out during my absence!” “And I have watched them with care and in- terest,” replied Ethel, whose voice was of silvery clearness, and pure as the rows of pearly teeth between which came the fragrant breath that wafted those dulcet sounds,— ‘I have watched them with care and interest, because I knew that you would admire them when you returned home. Ah! and now, my dear Alfred, I hope that you are going to make a long stay with me before you go away again though of course I know that your business must be attended to—and all the more so,” she added, with a sweet smile and a fond look, “‘if you indulge me in such extravagant whims as that which you have this day gratified.” “Nay, dear Ethel,” responded Alfred, ‘‘it was no whim of yours—it was an offer which I spon- taneously made, and which resolved itself into 4 promise that has now been kept. Ah! by the bye! reverting to these new purchases, I should *inform you that I heard of tlem quite by accident. I travelled a short distance in a coach with a person who turned out to be a horse-dealer—a ‘ Mr. Manning of Maidstone,—and he had to sell some horses for a military gentleman who it appéars has been a little extravagant of late: but Manning would not mention his name. However, I bought the best two animals of the stud ; and I gave them in charge to a person to bring them over.. They ought to be here by this time.” Scarcely had Alfred Trevor spoken these words, when the sounds of horses’ hoofs might be heard approaching; and again winding his arm about the waist of the beautiful Ethel, he hurried her towards the gate. In a very few moments the horses made their appearance, in the charge of the Maidstone groom to whom they had been en- trusted. Ethel was delighted by the appearance of the beautiful creature purchased for herself; and she also admired the one which Alfred was to ride in company with her. ‘And now, my man,” said Alfred, putting a guinea into the groom’s hand, “ this is in addition to what I have already given you for the care with which you have brought the horses over. Take them up to the Red Lion for me, and let them be put into the stables there until I can make other arrangements.” The man took the guinea and touched his hat. But he did not immediately ride off : he fidgetted with his whip, and looked as if he had something to say. ‘Well, what is it, my man?” demanded Alfred. “Are you not contented with what I have given you?” , “Oh, perfectly so, sir,” was the response. “ Only —” “Only what?” ejaculated Trevor, impatiently. “Perhaps you want to ask me whether I am suited with a groom ?” ‘No, sir—'twas not exactly that indeed nothing near like it. But I want to say summut to you, sir: only ”-—and he glanced at Ethel. “This lady is my wife,” cried Alfred; “ you may speak before her. If there is anything wrong about the horses—and if I have been at all de- ceived ——” ‘No, no, sir—it’s not that!” interjected the groom. ‘“ J’ll just take up the horses to the ‘Red Lion ; and if so be, sir, you'll be disengaged for a few minutes when I come back———” “Yes, yes! Away with you !”—and then, as the groom rode off, Alfred said to Ethel, ‘“ These fellows are never satisfied ; for although he says he is, yoy may depend upon it he has yet some- thing in his mind by which he hopes to extort another guinea or two out of me.” A neatly-attired and pretty-looking parlour- maid now appeared from the cottage porch, to an- nounce that dinner was served up; and Alfred conducted his wife into the dwelling. They sat down to table together; and half-an-hour passed, during which the groom was forgotten. At length the man was seen entering the gate; and Alfred exclaimed, ‘‘ By heaven, my tormentor! But I will soon go and get rid of him.” He hastened out into the garden; and stopping the groom, said, “‘ Come now, my good fellow, what is it that you want with me?” ‘ ‘““Beg pardon, sir,” was the response, accom- panied by a touch of the hat, ‘‘but you’ve be- haved so like a genelman to me that I should be sorry to see you get into any trouble——-” “Trouble 2?” echoed Alfred. ‘ What do you mean ?” ‘Why, sir, about that cheque-——” “The cheque? Ah!”— and for a moment Alfred changed colour. ‘ Come now, explain yourself —- and tell me exactly what you do mean.” ‘* Why, sir, just as I was coming out of Maid- stone with them horses,” continued the groom, oO COMO Colin