The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 296: what you’re looking at

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282 4 THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. jects into the strongest light! Yes, the police- constables wilfully misrepresented the poor lad ; and this is generally their custom under such cir- cumstances; for they are anxious to establish a reputation for being very sharp and keen-witted, and for having an eye constantly on all bad cha- racters. But look, Henri! there are two glasses more in the bottle, and we will drink them. Come, we have had enough of the dismals: let us laugh and be gay!” “Your spirits are naturally good, then, Hes- ter?” said Ponchard inquiringly. ‘““Good? They are excellent!” cried the girl, now forcing herself to laugh with an appearance of heartiness. ‘Good, indeed? What a ques-. tion !’—and she continued laughing. “ Why, J’ve nothing to do but to amuse myself; and when I think of such poor wretches as seam- stresses and needlewomen, I bless my stars that I am not doomed to such a fate as their’s. Ha! ha! Henri, isn’t this thought alone enough to make one cheerful? And then too, when I look back to the period when I was in that dreadful workhouse, with its monotony and its imprison- ment—Oh! why, I ought to be as happy as a bird liberated from its cage! So you see my spirits are capital!”—and then, as she affected another laugh, it rapidly became hysterical ; she tried to recower herself,—hbut she could not—and she burst into tears. ‘““My poor girl,” said Ponchard, “why have you worked yourself up to this pitch of excite- ment?” ~ ‘Because I often endeavour to delude myself with the idea that I am happy; and if I could have succeeded in deluding you, I should have joyously hugged the resylt as a proof that I really felt as I pretended. But no, no!—the mask falls: from the face! Besides,” the girl abruptly ejaculated, “Ty remember that you just now asked me if I was happy, and then I treated the idea as a mockery—almost as an insult. No, no, Henri Ponchard! you would not believe that I was happy, or gay, or naturally cheerful, even if I were to go down upon my knees and affirm it with all the most solemn oaths. Yow know,” she added, in a low hoarse voice, ‘‘ that happiness with such a condition as mine is impossible!” Hester paused: Ponchard would have said something soothing—but the truth is that he knew not what to say: and he held his peace. “T tell you what it is,” continued the young female; ‘‘ you men are apt to fancy that when such creatures as I have bold looks and wear an expression of brazen hardihood, we are callous— indifferent—reckless. But we are not. We en- deavour with all our might and main to become so; but we never succeed further than acquiring the outward appearance thereof. Our looks may lose all their modesty—but our hearts’ cannot lose their feelings, nor our consciences their re- morse. And it is from these horrors that we seek refuge in drink and in ribald discourse, and in boisterous mirth, and in empty boastings of that gaiety and cheerfulness which we would give the very world to be enabled to experience in reality ! But now enough, Henri! I have torn the mask from my own face; and you see me as I am. You may judge all the other unfortunates of my elass by this example. But enough, Isay! I know not how the conversation arose, or how it LO LTC LL LIA CLD CA A IAI NTT, TO, OO A me took such a turn: but I am not sorry that I should have spent one evening thus. Never be- fore to any man have I betrayed myself in all my natural weakness to this extent; and perhaps never again shall I do so. So now it’s all over— and pray think no more of it !” «Will you have some morg wine?” asked Pon- chard. ‘* Yes—to be sure!” and the girl started up from her seat. The Frenchman gave her some more money: she sped forth—and returning in a few minutes, placed the bottle upon the table, saying, “This time I have brought brandy.” ‘* And so much the better,” cried Ponchard. “There, drink, Hester !” “But you—do you not mean to drink also?” The truth is, I must keep my head clear I have got some business on hand “What ! at this time of night 2” ejaculated the girl, ‘Ah! is the business which you have with Grills and his wife so very important ?” and she fixed her eyes upon the Frenchman with an air which showed that her curiosity was more or less excited on the point. ‘“No—I didn’t say. that my business with them is so important.—But good heavens, Hester! can you drink raw brandy like that? Well, if you wish me to keep you company, here goes! " . “That is only a mere sip,” cried the girl, laugh- ing; ‘“ whereas I took an entire glassful.” “Hark!” ejaculated Ponchard; ‘‘ there are people stopping at the front door :”——and then as a bell rang, he added, “I hope these are the Grills.” “You are very anxious to see them!” mut- tered Hester, as she proceeded to open the front door ; and she gave admittance to Mr. and Mrs. Grills, whom she at once informed that M. Pon- chard was waiting to speak to them. ~- Mr. Grills was an elderly man, of very sinister appearance, his grizzly hair standing out stiff all over his head, the natural magnitude of which it seemed considerably to increase. Mrs. Grills has been previously described as a woman of most un- wieldy size, and with no appearance of any neck to support the head, which, with its flabby over- lapping cheeks and its voluminous double chin, seemed to rest only upon the enormous and re- volting exuberance of the bust. Her voice was rough and hoarse: she had a look which proved her to be capable of any iniquity, no matter how: deep, how horrible: but she had also a smirking, leering air of familiarity, when welcoming any of the male visitors to her house of infamous re- pute. In this style was it that she greeted Ponchard as she turned into the parlour; while her hus- band, sitting down at the table, unceremoniously helped himself to a glass of the brandy that had so recently been fetched. ‘‘ I suppose,” said Hester, lingering upon the threshold, ‘‘ I must leave you three alone together, as you have some business to transact.” “Well, my dear girl,” answered Ponchard, “it is a little private matter-——” ‘““ Oh, I am sure I do not wish to pry into your secrets!” cried Hester, with a slight air of piqua and annoyance: and then hastily turning away, she disappeared, closing the door behind her. COMO Colin