The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 228: what you’re looking at

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6 a 214 port. Mrs. Trevor did not hesitate another moment ; but she hastened to make her way through the bath-room and the dressing-room into her own chamber. Mildred followed her; and as Ethel turned to close the door of her apartment, she was encountered by that unscrupulous woman who had almost openly as it were proclaimed herself the young lady’s enemy. It was a glance of malignant triumph which Mildred flung upon ber; and then, as Ethel closed the door of com- munication, she heard Mildred lock it on the other side. ‘Good heavens !” thought Ethel, flinging her- self on her knees by the side of her couch, ‘ to be suspected of the most unworthy motives! to be taunted with the basest and the most grovelling selfishness! No!—not even for thee, my little Alfred! not even for thee, my beloved boy! could I have practised such detestable arts as those which that bad woman would fain ascribe unto me !” But let us return to Mildred. Having locked the door of communication between Ethel’s chamber and the dressing-room, she made her way back to her mother; and falling upon her knees by the side of the couch, she said in a voice which she rendered wild and tremulous in its ac- cents, ‘‘ Forgive me! forgive me, I beseech !” “Yes, daughter—lI have already forgiven you,” replied Lady Langport. ‘“‘ And that curse ? that withering curse ?” ‘* T withdraw—I withdraw it! O God! rather let it redound upon my own head, than take effect against my daughter! I was mad when I gave utterance to it! my senses had temporarily left me !” ‘Oh, my dear mother,” continued Mildred, “ you know not how you have misjudged me !— you would be sorry to think how much you have wronged me!” ‘¢ Show me how I have done so, Mildred,” cried Lady Langport, ‘‘ and you know not how eager and willing I shall be to make every atonement ! How have I wronged you, my poor Mildred ?” ‘““By misinterpreting the motive which prompted me to discover your secret.” ‘Explain that motive!” said her ladyship eagerly. ‘‘T saw that there was a secret,” resumed Mil- dred : .“‘indeed you yourself half gave me to un- derstand that there was ; and the very nature of the circumstances themselves served to corro- borate the impression. I sawthat Ethel had ren-, dered herself necessary to you. Now, believe me, dear mother, I am not jealous of Ethel———” “No, no. But go on! go on!” ‘But without being jealous of her, I said to myself, ‘It was all very well that my mother should have such a young person as a confidante when her daughter was dead or lost to her. But now that I, this daughter, am returned to my mother it is incumbent upon me to perform every filial duty. Who ought to be near a mother to minister unto all her wants? The daughter! Whose place is it to perform everything. that a mother may want done? <A daughter’s place !’ —It was thus I reasoned with myself.” “Did you—did you really, Mildred? Is this true ?” asked the naturally kind-hearted, weak- “Yes, dear Ethel—I wish it,” said Lady Lang- } THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. minded, and credulous Lady Langport, her attenu- ated form quivering with emotion. “Tt is all trae—solemnly true,” replied Mildred. “And therefore you may comprehend, dear mother, how my spirit was chafed when I saw that I was thrust away from you as it were, while Ethel was retained as your favourite: I was dis- carded from my proper place, which was still occupied by an alien and a stranger! And thus I may have spoken rudely and sharply ” “Ah, Mildred, I begin to think that I was perhaps wrong But then that dear sweet Ethel——-” ‘‘Oh, I have no harm to say against Ethel,” interjected Mildred. “Only But no matter ! I will hasten to say that after all the explanations I have just been giving you, my dear mother, you cannot be surprised if I resolved to gain possession of a secret that was so studiously kept from me. Ah! and now for my motive. It was the best and the purest! It still continues the same. [Tor now, dear mother, it is I who henceforth will minister unto you in all respects!—it is I who will perform those duties which under existing circumstances are specially a daughter’s !—it is I who will serve as your nurse and your attendant —your handmaid and your abigail; and though I have no doubt of Ethel’s kindness and atten- tion, yet what can exceed the care which the ten- derest filial instincts will now cause to be be- stowed upon you ?” ‘Mildred ! dearest Mildred !” cried Lady Lang- port in a perfect ecstacy of delight: “it is in such a strain as this that I would all along have wished to hear you speak!—it is now that you are fulfilling all that I hoped and expected my restored daughter would prove! We are sisters before the world: but when alone together, we will never forget the nature of the ties that bind us!” ‘“‘No, never, my dear mother!” answered Mil- dred, who seemed to be overwhelmed with her emotions. ‘So everything is arranged, and to- morrow I will take Ethel’s place e ‘“‘That is not necessary, Mildred!” interrupted Lady Langport. ‘You have shown the good- will, and that is all which is required. I would not for the world wound poor Ethel’s feelings !” ‘Well, my dear mother,” said Mildred, “‘it is very kind of you to speak in this sense; but I must insist upon my right to perform a daughter's duties—I claim a preference over Ethel Trevor, who, as Ihave before described her, is a mere alien and a stranger.” “What would you have me do?” asked Lady Langport. ‘Get rid of Ethel? dismiss her?” ‘“‘Let her stay here if she likes—but not to re- tain her present position. That place is mine, and I insist upon occupying it. Perhaps it will be better to give Iithel a sum of money——” “Oh, we cannot deal with her in this man- ner,” said Lady Langport. ‘It would be most ungenerous! most unkind !” ‘Well, but something must be done,” said Mildred. leave the matter in my hands ?” ‘“T wish, my dear mother, you would. “Oh, you will not speak harshly to Ethel? | you will not act with cruelty ?” ‘*T will do nothing, my dear mother, that shal! in any way offend you. Rest assured of this: your happiness and comfort and peace of mind shall now be my constant care.” COMO YN Wn) COI: