The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 57: what you’re looking at

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

ws THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. 43 is an agreeable freshness in the air, Oh! you must indeed be unwell, dear Alfred, if you have these sensations ! Will you retire to rest ?” “© No—I think I shall mount my horse——” “ What! at this hour?” ejaculated Ethel. “Perhaps + would do megood. But no! I am better now! Sit down, dearest. You are very, very fond of me—are you not, dear Ethel ?” “Ah, you know it! you Know it!” she ex- claimed enthusiastically ; and she pressed his head to her bosom. ‘TI have no thought on earth but for you and our dear child!” ‘“‘ Dearest, dearest Ethel !”—and Trevor strained her to his heart. When they retired to rest, Trevor's sleep was troubled and uneasy; and Ethel, who was anxious on his account, and fancied that he was not very well, lay awake to watch if there were aught she could do for him. A light burnt in the chamber: she bent over him—she contemplated his countenance—and she saw that his features were ever and anon convulsed as if they were re- flecting the most troubled thoughts, or as if he were under the influence of a painful dream. Several times she was on the point of awaking him, when he turned, and then for an interval he slept more easily—until he gradually began to grow agitated again. The perspiration stood thick upon ‘his forehead: Ethel wiped it away— —she pressed her lips to that brow—and she let him slumber on, for she thought it a pity to dis- turb him. At length he slept tranquilly ; and when the affectionate young lady became posi- tively assured that he was no longer agitated, she resigned herself to repose. When they awoke in the morning, Ethel said naught in respect to the troubled night which Trevor had passed ; for as he made no complaint, she thought it was not worth while to allude to the circumstance. He partook of a hasty break- fast: he affectionately embraced Ethel and the child—and mounting his horse, which was ready at the door, he rode away. About an hour after his departure, a short, stout gentleman, of unmistakable clerical ap- pearance in respect to his apparel—with a very red face, and a self-sufficient important air—en- tered the garden of Dahlia Cottage. “Good morning, madam,” he said, in a cold and constrained tone to Ethel, whom he beheld seated at the window of the little parlour. ‘Ah, Dr. Pickstock?” ejaculated the good- tempered young lady, in 2 tone that implied a cordial welcome. ‘* Pray walk in and be seated. Did you happen to wish to see Mr. Trevor ?” “Well, madam,” replied the clergyman, as he took the seat that was offered him, ‘‘ I did wish to see the—the person who ” “You mean my husband?” said Ethel, sur- prised by the singularity of the vicar's look and manner, which she could no longer fail to notice. ‘He left at about nine o'clock; but he will return to-morrow. Is there any particular busi- ness b>) “ Madam,” interrupted Dr. Pickstock, who now thought it fit to assume the most awful air of in- dignation, ‘‘I had better perhaps come to the point at once, and tell you that everything is dis- covered.” Ethel looked confounded ;—and indeed she was so amazed and bewildered by such an ominous recovering the faculty of speech: declaration that she was utterly unable to give utterance to a word. ‘Yes, madam—I repeat, everything is disco- vered ; and I cannot help feeling that I have been made a dupe in a very unhandsome manner. Nevertheless, I have no desire to create a scandal and an exposure——” ‘“‘ Good heavens !” cried Ethel, now suddenly Cc what on earth do you mean ?” ““It is useless for you to affect excitement or ignorance,” rejoined the reverend gentleman. “You have been a party to a fraud I may even call it forgery—for such indeed it must have been ” “Dr. Pickstock !” exclaimed Ethel, starting up with indignation | from her seat. ‘¢ Come, come,” he said; ‘* these airs will not do with me. You must have supposed that the truth would be sooner or later discovered—and you cannot therefore have been altogether unpre- pared for it. The forgery of such a certificate is a very serious offence ; and his Grace, being a legislator, ought to know it.” ‘Good heavens! what do you mean?” ex- claimed Ethel, a vague terror seizing upon her. “What! do I not speak sufficiently plain ?” said Dr. Pickstock, now irritated at what he con- sidered to be the obstinate persistence of the young lady in a course of hypocrisy and dupli- city: “or do you wish me to tell you ontright that itis no longer a secret in the village that you are the mistress of the Duke of Ardleigh ?” © For a few moments Ethel stood like one who was suddenly smitten with idiocy: ‘she stared vacantly upon the clergyman as if she were still at a loss to comprehend the full meaning of his words. But all in an instant a light flamed up in her brain—a thousand circumstances swept like a hurricane through her memory—she saw it all in a moment—and with a hollow groan she sank down upon the carpet. CHAPTER X. THE DUKE AND DUCHESS. THE young Duke of Ardleigh had succeeded to the title in the year 1844: that is to say, about three years previous to the date whereof we are writing. His mother, the Dowager Duchess, was still alive; but she had lost the use of her intel- lects in consequence of an injury she had sus- tained by the upsetting of her carriage some four or five years previous to the time of which we are now speaking. She resided altogether at Thorn- bury Park, under the immediate care of a female keeper ; but the young Duchess, who had ever shown the most affectionate sympathy towards her afilicted mother-in-law, passed no inconsider~ able portion of her time at Thornbury in order that she might bestow her attentions where they were so much needed. The young Duke had several brothers and sisters; and they likewise dwelt for the most part at Thornbury, under the care of a tutor and governess. We may as well here add that there was no issue from the mar- riage of the young Duke and Duchess. oO COMO Colin