The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 225: what you’re looking at

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

a -—- C$ = - ——— on =~ THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF Be eee OE ee sovereign panacea against crow’sfeet and wrinkles. {enough on the subject. Iam not spiteful—tI do Tell me therefore, Ethel.” “T beseech you,” interrupted the young lady, ‘not to address me on these topics. If there be anything to reveal or betray, rest assured that no traitorous word will go forth from my lips.” “Why, you are absurd, Ethel, with your scruples!” cried Mildred angrily. ‘““T am honest, at all events,” responded Ethel. ‘‘ What do you mean by that ?” demanded Mil- dred, turning savagely upon her. “Would you infer that I am not honest ?” ‘©] intended no inference of the kind,” said Ethel, mildly yet firmly. ‘Now I tell you what,” said Mildred, ‘I think that you and I had better come to an understand- ing together. You affect a goodness which humiliates me:—you pretend to an integrity which fills me with mortification. I don’t believe in it, Ethel. It is all nonsense. Therefore I beg that when I ask you questions, you will give me straightforward answers; and when I seek for vour confidence you will not refuse it. I will speak plainer if you like. I mean, therefore, that when I ask you for certain little secrets you will not immediately climb up on your stilts and pre- tend that you are prevented by a point of honour from revealing or betraying them. But that is not all I will thank you not to screw up that pretty mouth of your's when [ let out a jest in the course of conversation. Furthermore, I beg! that you will not look so horrified and shocked if I happen to explain any particular views about the rights and privileges of woman.” = Enough! !” said Ethel. “If this be what you call coming to an understanding, it has indeed brought us to one. Know me, therefore, for what I am.’ ““ Ah! what are you?” said Mildred jeeringly. For an instant a blush mantled vividly upon Ethel’s countenance, and she was seized with con- fusion: but the next moment regaining her self- possession, she lifted her head proudly, saying, “Tt is sufficient for you to know that I am not one who will betray whatsoever secrets may be en- trusted to me. Neither am I one who will laugh at broad unchaste jests, or accede to principles that shock and scandalize the mind.” “JT have no doubt we are mighty particular, Mrs. Trevor,” cried Mildred, with a toss of the head; “but I would wager my life that you could not display your marriage certificate.” A deadly pallor smote the unfortunate young lady,—a paleness which looked like that of death, when su ing so rapidly upon the vivid flush which ere now overspread her features. She staggered against a tree for support. That allu- sion to the marriage-certificate had conjured up, with overwhelming effect, the entire details of the wrongs and calamities she had sustained through the unfortunate love of the Duke of Ardleigh. BMildred saw that the blow had stricken home : she perceived that her conjecture in reference to Ethel was right, and that she had no husband to give a father’s name to her child. The bold bad woman's purpose was served, and for an mstant a smile of triumph wavered upon her lip. “Now my young friend,” she said, ‘‘ we perhaps understand each other better than we did at first —better far than you meant us todo. There is | 211 enough on the subject. Iam not spiteful—I do not want to be malicious. I have got at your secret—but I will not betray it if you only con- sent to alter the tenour of your conduct towards me. Put off those prudish airs which you have no right to assume; and abstain from affecting a punctiliousness which you do not in reality ex- perience. Pray attend to all I have been say= ing, and I have no doubt we shall be very good friends.” Ethel said not a word: she was gathering her. thoughts and composing her feelings, and she ac- quired strength and consolation from the evident fact that Mildred had not learnt aught concerning her from any particular source—but had merely formed the conjecture, and then acting upon it, had fired the random shot, which had however so completely hit the sensitive part in LEthel’s heart. ‘‘And now,” continued Mildred after a pause, “let us place ourselves upon a better footing te~ wards each other. Remember, there are two mistresses at Hendon Court. You have already secured the favour of one; and I now offer you that of the other. There is a proof of my good- will ;—-show that you deserve it by answering the little questions I put to you just now I mean in reference to the cosmetics which my sister uses.” Ethel bent her superb hazel eyes earnestly upon Mildred, as she said, ‘I will not answer a single question upon that subject: I will not suffer my-. self to be drawn into any discourse thereon. I will place the seal of silence upon my lips.” Mildred turned livid with rage; and then the next moment she laughed scornfully. Ethel was about to say something more: but vielding to a second thought, she abruptly turned away and entered the house. Her first impulse was to seek Lady Langport, tell her everything that had passed, and appeal to her whether it were possible that she could con- sent to remain any longer beneath the same roof with Mildred. But she suddenly recollected her resolve to do nothing rashly; and she therefore retired to her chamber, where she sat down to re- flect. She could bring herself to no satisfactory issue; for her thoughts, if shaped in words, may be thus represented :— ‘‘ How could I abandon poor Lady Langport to this veritable fiend of a daughter who has come back to her ?—and yet, by staying here, how can I help her ladyship to wrestle against the miseries which assuredly are in store for her? If I leave her, whither am I to go ?. what will become of me and little Alfred ? Ought I not to dare and en- dure everything for my child’s sake? May I not even succeed in shaming Mildred by means of my own forbearance and mevkness and Christian pa- tience? Who can tell? At all events every sentiment of gratitude and honour prevents me from leaving Lady Langport without due warn- ing. Aye—and what is more, I am bound to re- main with her until my place be filled up. I must therefore at al] events wait a favourable opportunity to open my mind to Lady Langport on the subject.” The reader will perceive that Ethel’s mind was full of indecision ; and thus the dinner-hour ar- rived without anything definite being resolved upon. She sat silent and reserved throughout the oO COMO a Fema ee A RAMEE MEEEEENNRNEETSETS sem rw eabret A—S Colin