The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 54: what you’re looking at

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40 yan ttt pte cA etter tht EE SE THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. that the worst is yet to happen, and you in your kindness are concealing it from me?” | ‘ Believe me, Ethel—believe me, dearest! when I give you the solemn assurance that there will be no duel! No! I swear to you that there will not!” . Again were the beautiful arms wound about Trevor's neck; and Ethel exclaimed in a tone that was gushing with joy, ‘“ Oh, I believe you, Alfred !—and heaven be thanked that there is to be no serious issue to the case!” But then as she again saw how agitated he was, a sudden re- vulsion in her feelings took place; and she said in a lower and more deliberate tone, ‘‘ Tell me why. you still seem unhappy— troubled — dis- tress ” “Oh, Ethel dearest !” he cried, ‘is it possible that I could know how you have been insulted without experiencing a mingled indignation and grief? Would that I could be always with you to protect you, my Ethel !” ‘‘ Think no more of it, Alfred !” she exclaimed imploringly. “It is the first time such a thing has ever happened ; and let us hope it will be the last. Besides, you are with me now; and while you are present, I am always happy and think of naught beside !” | ‘“‘ But I must leave you again to-morrow, Ethel —I must leave you to-morrow !” ‘“‘ To-morrow, Alfred ? Oh, I thought you told me you had come back for several days ?” ‘‘T had forgotten—or else you must have mis- understood me. But I will be with you again the day after to-morrow ; and then I promise you I will make a long stay at the cottage ?” “With this assurance I must content myself,” answered the loving creature. ‘‘ But do tell me once more—just once more, as a last assurance— that you are not going away to-morrow on ac- count of anything connected with the unpleasant occurrence of this evening ?” ““T repeat, dearest Ethel,” emphatically re- sponded Trevor,—‘‘ I repeat the solemn assurance that there is to be no duel !—nothing hostile of any kind! By the love I bear you, I swear that this is the truth! I will just walk up as far as the Red Lion, to order my horse to come and fetch me at nine o’clock to-morrow morning, as I cannot wait for the coach, because I wish to be in London early ; and in that case I shall be all the more certain to be enabled to return to you the day after to-morrow.” Trevor imprinted a kiss upon Ethel’s cheek, and then again quitted the garden. She remained walking there alone ; but in a few moments she beheld some one stop at the gate, without however entering the premises. A second glance showed Ethel that it was the parish clerk, Mr. Hogben. She at once accosted the old man, and wished him ‘* Good evening.” “Good evening, ma’am,” he said. ‘The flowers in your garding smells so nice that I couldn’t help stopping to scent ’em !” ‘You fire quite welcome to walk in,” exclaimed the amiable I'thel, ‘‘and pick as many flowers as you like. It is early for them as yet: but still there are some very pretty ones.” | “ Thank’ee kindly, ma’am,” rejoined the clerk : “but my eyes is getting old, and I can’t see the flowers well by this light. Ah! by the bye, ma’am, did you observe that very nicely-dressed young genelman, with the mustashes ? You met him, you know, as you was taking your walk this evening: - “‘T saw the person you allude to,” answered Ethel, in 4 tone which immediately grew con-_ strained. “ Well now, I dessay you didn’t like the look of him,” ejaculated the old man, “’cause why he wore a quizzing-glass and looked like a fop. But I could tell you summut, which would make you laugh rayther than think so serious of it. How- - somever, I mustn’t do that I suppose !”—-and yet Mr. Hogben was burning with a desire to throw off the statement from the tip of his tongue. ‘““Ah! what a many questions he did ask me about Mr. Trevor and you !” ‘“‘ About us ?” ejaculated Ethel, in astonishment. ‘Surely you must be making a mistake ; for his conduct towards me was of a rudeness— ‘“‘ Questions!” ejaculated the old man. “I should rayther think he did put a power of ques- tions! He seemed to take a great interest iu you ” “Enough upon this point,” interrupted Ethel, with a certain degree of severity in her tone. “Did you not hear me say that he treated me with rudeness ?” ° The old man laughed outright; but it was in a very good-humoured way, so that Ethel was more bewildered than offended. She could not possibly conceive what was passing in Mr. Hogben’s mind to make him thus merry on such a subject. _ ‘* Well, I must tell you the secret,” he said, ‘although I oughtn’t to do it. But then, I des- say she will never come into these parts again-—” “She ?” ejaculated Ethel. ‘“ What mean you ?” ‘‘T mean just what I say, ma’am,” replied the old clerk, with another outburst of merriment ; ‘it was no young spark at all! It was a lady dressed up !” ‘““A lady ?” echoed Ethel; and her astonish- ment was immense. “Yes, ma’am—there’s no mistake about it,” pur- sued Mr. Hogben. ‘But did you ever see any one so neatly got up? Suppose it was a play- actress dressing for the stage, the thing couldn’t have been better done! But she was no play- actress, Pll be bound! She was as reg’lar a lady as you yourself are, ma’am. And pretty too ! Why, she must be beautiful without them whis- kers and mustashes! But what on earth she could have come into this neighbourhood for un- less it was to make inquiries about Mr. Trevor and yourself, I raly can’t tell !” At this moment a voite exclaimed, “ Well, if that isn’t Uncle Hogben speaking, I never was - more mistaken in my life !” ‘Why, Sam ?” cried the old man; “is it raly you? My nevvy, ma’am,” he added for the be- hoof of Mrs. Trevor. The new-arrival was a young man of about one-and-twenty, and dressed in a plain genteel suit of black, so that he had the air of a gentle- man’s valet. He was good-looking and well made ; and on perceiving a lady standing at the gate, he made her a most respectful bow. “Tve got a week’s holiday, uncle,” he said, ‘‘and I came down to father’s at the Wells this morning ; so I thought that this evening I would oO Connicloooks