The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 223: what you’re looking at

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

= i TUR YOUNG DUCITESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. rm ee ee, 2.09 ren, ep es ZFS CAC Nae LE =" == = “Hush, Mildred!” said Lady Langport: “ that is a subject which perhaps it were not well to probe too deeply. You need not look at me thus inquiringly I declare to you that I know nothing of Ethel’s private affairs. She may be separated from her husband, and it may suit her to say that he is dead: or i ‘Or what is more probable,” interjected Mil- dred, ‘‘she may never have had any husband at alL.” “T will teH you frankly,” proceeded Lady . Langport, in a subdued tone, “that I suspected at the very outset that poor Ethel had been made the victim of some villanous treachery. I did not therefore ask her for any references—I took her on her own personal recommendations. I thought that if it were as I suspected, I should be at once establishing the strongest claims upon her grati- - tude, and—as—as—I felt that she would become necessary te—to--me, it was this sort of bond No. 27.—THE Younae Dvonszss, - - = => sof ay _— ee WS — st NV . <N a eT re \ Tt No ‘N RNR p] ig . tH , wy , i RN ee Wy wt 44 IS ATES N ae TINA , UNS LAAT WCNC ae : AN N\ \\ fi = which I strove to weave between us. Thus you understand, Mildred, she is under every possible obligation to me, and she will not abuse the con- fidence that is reposed in her.” ‘T daresay not,” said Mildred. “In fact, front all yeu have told me, there is no doubt ia my mind that she is so eompletely dependent upon her present position, she would not en any account endanger it.” Ethel now came into the drawing-room, and very soon afterwards a servant entered to an- nounce that dinner was ready. The three ladies descended: the repast was not served up in the principal dining-room, but in the parlour which was habitually used for the meals. Thus Mildred had not as yet seen the portraits which embel- lished the dining-room. Kthel felt herself in an uncomfortable position throughout dinner-time ; for Mildred was full of arrogance and pretension, comtinually calling her NL aC OLA nt ta ptr tf ret rghit stag Mma COMO SS Colin