The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 364: what you’re looking at

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

350 affectation if I were to tell you that I by no means understand the language in which you have ventured to address me; and therefore, to prove to you at once that Ido comprehend it, and that I wish it to cease, I will ask you seriously and gravely whether you have no duties to fulfil towards her who is now being strained to the bosom of a mother ?” ‘" Good heavens!” ejaculated Edward with ve- hemence, ‘‘how is it possible that I can discuss such a subject with you?” Azaline did not immediately reply: she re- flected—and then she said, “If you think it worth while to say anything upon the subject, Mr. Walpole, I shall listen—because it were need- less as well as useless to deny that circumstances have established a certain degree of friendship be- tween us.” The young man’s heart thrilled at this admis- sion; and it occurred to him that Miss Osborne was attaching something more than a casual in- terest to the explanations which she evidently sought ; nay, he even hoped that she regarded them as important. “You know,” he said—“ for you were present at all which last night took place between Lady Amesbury and myself, when I so unceremoniously broke in upon your discourse—and for which offence I thank heaven that I have received your forgiveness ai ‘* Keep to the main point, Mr. Walpole,” said Azaline. ‘ Proceed. You were about to tell me that I know something. What is it that I know ?” “You know,” pursued the young man, ‘ that relations of a certain intimate character took place two years ago between Hester and myself, when we were both boy and girl—and I was not then rich—indeed I was very poor—and poverty separated us—for I was compelled to go and take a situation, while she poor girl But really, Miss Osborne, this is a topic on which I ought not to dwell!” “ The long and short of it is, Mr. Walpole,” said Azaline, “that Hester somewhile ago was the same to you as your wife, and at that time you were so poor that you could not maintain her; and thus you separated. Well, now you meet again, and under circumstances that are completely altered. You are rich, and she will be rich! Will you not now make her your wife in reality? for I repeat that she was as good as your wife ere your separation.” ‘But, Oh, Miss Osborne!” exclaimed Walpole, * during that interval id “ Ah, well,” said Azaline; ‘I comprehend that poor Hester was not altogether virtuous: but her position was such that with all her might and main she could not resist the force of circum- stances. Yet you yourself assured her anxious and almost anguished mother, when she ques- tioned you last night,—you yourself assured her, I say, that Hester’s conduct must be held as venial, if not justifiable—that it was very far from having been downright profligate or de- praved.” ‘“True—I said all this, Miss Osborne,” inter- | jected Walpole. ‘ But, Ah! can you not sur- mise that I spoke mildly upon that subject—I glossed over the real truth—because I was fearful of planting the dagger too deeply in the bosom of ~ THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. a mother who was questioning me in referetice to a daughter !” “ T will take this for granted,” said Azéline ; ‘‘ it was generous and considerate on your part to spare that mother's feelings as much as possible. Well, but just now, when I said that I would be the very first to take the poor frail girl by the hand, did you not eulogize my conduct in terms so en- thusiastic that I was compelled to rebuke them and to beseech that you would not address me with such flattering words? Surely, Mr. Wal- pole, if you so well understand what constitutes the magnanimous and the generous, you must be prepared to give a practical illustration to your own views? In a word, you must marry Hester.” Edward rose from his seat — paced twice or thrice through the room—and then suddenly throwing himself at the young lady’s feet, he said, ‘Miss Osborne, I love you—and you only! Nay, do not repel me! I beseech you to hearme! I will give you a proof of this love of mine. Listen! I constitute you the arbitress of my destiny. Command me to wed Hester, and I will do so. Yes—lI swear that I will obey you, and then you will not doubt the sincerity of this self-sacrificing devotion on my part !” : | Azaline did not give any immediate answer: she even permitted the young man to continue kneeling for a few moments longer at her feet ere she bade him rise. “‘ Leave that position, Mr. Walpole,” she said: “it is not for you to kneel in my presence. The conversation has taken a turn but little foreseen by me in the outset; and the terms in which you have now addressed me, entitle you to attention and deliberate consideration on my part. You appoint me the arbitress of your destinies: it is a strange position for me to find myself in, seeing how short, how very short our acquaint- ance has been; and yet on the other hand it ap- pears as if the current of circumstances had flowed on naturally to this issue. Well, then, I accept the position. And now let me question you. Do you no longer love Hester ?” ‘1 never loved her!” was the answer emphati- cally given. ‘‘ What, sir?” exclaimed Azaline: ‘are you trifling with me? Do you mean to deceive me ?” ‘“‘T beseech you to- listen, Miss Osborne!” re- sumed Edward Walpole, with the mingled calmness and impressiveness of candour and sincerity. ‘I always thought that I loved Hester until I first beheld you. Then I experienced a sentiment that” was quite different from anything I had ever known before. I did not understand this at first : neither did I find it easy to analyse my feelings : —and perhaps it was not altogether until this very day—only a few hours ago—that I com- pletely understood them.” ‘“ And what brought you to this understand- ing ?” asked Azaline. ‘* Hester herself told me that we must henoes forth look upon each other only as brother and sister.” ‘‘Ah, she said that—did she ?” observed Miss Osborne, as if quite in a careless way, and as if the discourse were becoming tedious to her. ““T am telling you nothing but the truth. Not for worlds would I deceive you! Besides, Hester herself would corroborate all my assertions-——-” Oe en 5 ren ee tr tn 3 capers teen mmm et ee a Pu tee Nye ae ? is COMO oO SS a f 7 { : Colin