The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 339: what you’re looking at

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THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. belong to the worst neighbourhoods of the me- tropolis. But we should observe that he now carried a pair of loaded pistols secreted about his person , for the horrible discovery of the muti- lated corpse had not failed to produce its impres- sion upon his mind. It was past two o'clock in the morning when he stole into his dwelling— jaded, worn out, and exhausted, and craving the rest of which he seemed to be so strangely and wilfully depriving himself. It was about two in the afternoon of the fol- lowing day when Edward Walpole again arrived at Highbury House, and experienced the most cordial welcome on the part of his aunt and cousins ; for his uncle was absent on account of business. An excursion into the country was proposed: Mrs. Seymour, with her two younger daughters, went in an elegant open carriage ; while the elder daughter and the two sons accompanied their cousin Edward Walpole on horseback. Thus the time was pleasantly whiled away until about five o’clock, when Mr. Seymour arrived from the City; and the family, as usual, dispersed to their respective chambers to dress for dinner. Edward Walpole’s toilet was hurriedly completed; for he was impelled by an irresistible feeling of curiosity to repeat his lounge in the direction of the orchard, in the hope of again seeing something of the young lady whose - beauty was so extraordinary and whose discourse was more or less tinged with eccentricity. Ina few minutes he quitted his dressing-room—he was soon threading the garden—he entered the paddock —and towards the boundary-fence he ‘baat his way. But the young lady was not there. Edward sauntered to and fro, wondering whether she would come aye, and also wishing that she might ! ‘“But why should she,” he presently asked himself, ‘“‘ even if she should happen to see that I am here? She may not live at the villa at all: she might merely be paying a visit which, now I think of it, was probable, from the way that she was dressed. Yet supposing her to be there, why should she think any more of me? Because her manner is peculiar and her conversa- tion exhibits a masculine strength of mind, it is no reason why she should forget the modesty of her sex and willingly lay herself out to court an in- terview with one who is almost a total stranger to her. And must she not think that I-am in- spired by no ordinary audacity and presumption in seeking this spot with the evident hope——” But here Edward Walpole suddenly stopped short in his musings, as he caught a glimpse of a female form amidst the trees of the orchard. His heart leapt within him. Was she coming after all? No!—it was not the young lady; it was the elder one. Walpole was uncertain how to act. He knew not whether to remain, or whether to make 4 prompt retreat. He was about to com- mence the latter operation, when on glancing towards the lady, he was surprised to observe that she made a sign for him to stop. The next moment he fancied that he must be mis- taken :—again therefore did he begin to move away from the place, and once more did he glance towards the orchard. Yes—the sign was re- peated: it was an unmistakable gesture for him to remain. The lady looked back two or three times, as if she were afraid of being watched by any 325 one or observed from the windows of her own re- sidence, which was half embowered im trees at a distance of about two hundred yards from the fence which separated the orchard from the paddock. On she came: she was attired in a dark silk dress, which was fashionably made, and displayed the slender symmetry of her form to the utmost advantage. There was now an expression of haste and excitement upon the countenance which on the previous day had worn only a look of melancholy pensiveness ;—and now indeed her entire mien indicated that she had something of more or less importance to say to the young man. But still this countenance produced a peculiar im- pression upon Edward’s mind, touching that chord which vibrated either in his memory or his heart, he knew not where nor why. Had he ever seen this lady before the previous day ?—was there in his brain some, vague recollection of that pale beautiful face? He could not tell :—but what- soever mystery might be involved in the doubt, now seemed to be enhanced by the conduct which she was pursuing towards him. She approached the fence; and fixing her hazel eyes with a strange and peculiar significancy upon the youth’s countenance, she said in a hurried anxious tone, and glancing behind her at the same time, ‘“ Be here at half-past ten precisely— and fail not !” : “Might I ask, madam ‘Ask nothing!” she interrupted him; “ and keep your own counsel! Be secret! Not a word to those yonder!”—-and she pointed in the direc- tion of Highbury House. “T will follow your injunctions, madam. But may I not know ” “Enough! enough! You will come !”—and with these words, she turned abruptly away from the fence, leaving young Walpole transfixed with astonishment at the singular and mysterious ap- pointment which was thus given him. 99 CHAPTER LXII. THE APPOINTMENT. As the young man presently retraced his way slowly. to the house, he bewildered himself with conjectures and surmises in reference to the sin- gular circumstance which had just occurred. He was about to enter the garden, when he met his eldest cousin, whose Christian name was Patrick. ‘* Whiling away the time till dinner, Edward ?” said Mr. Seymour’s eldest born. — ‘‘ Yes,” answered Walpole, colouring slightly. ‘'T have been lounging through the paddock. By the bye, that is a splendid orchard !—the cherry trees are laden with fruit—and there is every pro- mise of being an equally fine crop of apples and pears.” “Ah! but the orchard does not belong to our property, you know,” said Patrick Seymour. ‘I observed that there was a fence. I suppose that the orchard is attached to the picturesque villa ?” ‘Patrick replied in the affirmative, — adding, ‘‘ She seems to be a well-bred lady by the look of her—very quiet and reserved ——” ““Whom do you mean ?” asked Walpole. oO COMO Colin