The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 62: what you’re looking at

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

a a ee ET en OT naan inmaatid 48 THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. eee Mr. and Mrs. Trevor, though she was ignorant of the precise circumstances. Ethel reached the parsonage; and she found Mr. and Mrs. Milner walking together in their garden. They were an elderly couple, with bene- volent countenances, which were correct indices to the reading of their hearts. They had no children ; their love for each other was proverbial ; and they were revered throughout the neighbourhood. ‘““Why! I do believe this is that dear Ethel Fraser !” ejaculated Mrs. Milner: “ or Mrs. Trevor, as I ought to call her !” ‘* And so it is,” added the worthy clergyman. In a few moments Ethel’s hands were warmly clasped by the friends whom she had thus come to visit; and when she shed tears, they naturally thought it was only through affectionate emotion at this meeting. “Welcome once more to Southdale!” said the |. -he walked forth from the vestry, worthy couple. “You look travel-worn, Ethel,” added Mrs. Milner. ‘ Pray walk in.” ‘“Oh! Iam not at all wearied,” she said. rested myself at the inn——” “What! you have put up,at the inn,” ejacu- mee Mr. Milner, “‘ instead of coming straight to us ” ' “Tt is a mere flying visit—and I am going away to-morrow. Besides, I have my servant and my little one with me——” “Well, Ethel, I suppose you must have your own way if you choose,” said Mrs. Milner. ‘‘ And now tell me, my dear young friend—are you quite happy with Mr. Trevor? Let me see, what was his Christian name? Alfred to be sure !” ‘“‘T am perfectly happy,” replied Ethel, with a smile that was apparently all cheerfulness, while the heart internally was almost ready to burst. “He is very much occupied at this moment indeed he is away from home; and so, as I was on a visit to some acquaintances at Southampton, I thought I would come on as far as Southdale to see my old friends.” “And you are truly welcome,” said the Mil- ners, again pressing her hands in their own. ‘‘And then too,” added Ethel, ‘I had lost my marriage certificate by some accident or another —TI only discovered it the other day ” ‘There is no harm done,” said Mr. Milner: “vou can easily have another copy. Iam glad to see you are so particular in the matter. Mar- ried people should always have a copy of the cer- tificate which in this sense proves their respec- tability.” ‘‘And moreover,” added Ethel, ‘‘ I thought I should like to take another peep into the village church. 7 ““You shall speedily be gratified, my dear girl,” rejoined the clergyman. ‘And while you are thus engaged,” said Mrs. Milner, “I will see that the tea-things are got in readiness; for we must entertain you, Ethel, as well as we can.” Mr. Milner procured the key of the chest in which the parish registers were kept; and he escorted Ethel to the church. They entered: and ‘the young lady made her way first of all to the spot where a mural tablet indicated the resting- places of her parents, Captain and Mrs. Fraser. It would be impossible to describe the perfect agony oy of feelings which ‘for a few moments took posses-. sion of the unfortunate Ethel as she contemplated the spot: but she was still armed with that for- titude which prevented her from displaying more than an ordinary amount of emotion. | She drew her kerchief across her eyes, and then followed Mr. Milner towards the vestry. There the massive chest was opéned; and Mr. Milner, seating himself at the table, proceeded to write out a copy of the marriage-certificate. . ; “Surely that is Mrs. Milner’s voice?” said Ethel, as the old géntleman laid down the pen and closed the massive register. “T did not hear anything,” he replied, looking at Ethel. “Qh! I heard a voice as distinctly as possible,” she answered, with an air of confidence; “ and it was calling you. I am certain it was Mrs. Mil- ner’s voice!” “We can soon see,” said the clergyman; and He went as far as the door leading into the churchyard; but perceiving no one, he returned, and found Ethel just replacing the last register in ‘the chest. “My dear young lady !” he exclaimed ; “ hand- ‘ling those dusty books! I am really quite. ashamed that you should have the trouble !” ‘Oh, no trouble!” she said, with an amiable . smile. ‘But where is Mrs. Milner ?” “Tt was a mistake on your part, Ethel. heard no voice——” ‘‘ Indeed ?” she exclaimed, looking surprised. “ No—it was fancy on your part perhaps some echo through the church. Have you got the certificate ?” “ Thank you, I have taken possession of it :” —and a strange expression of sinister triumph for a moment flitted across the young lady’s coun- tenance: but it passed completely unperceived by the worthy clergyman. They quitted the church, and retraced their way to the parsonage,—where in the meanwhile Mrs. Milner had made the most hospitable pre- parations for the entertainment of Ethel. They sat down to tea: but they had not been many minutes thus engaged, when a servant entered with an intimation that Farmer White from the neighbouring village of Cherry-tree requested to speak to Mr. Milner. The clergyman accordingly rose from his seat to go out and see Mr. White in the hall: but in a few moments he returned, saying, ‘“‘ You must excuse me for a few minutes : Farmer White wants a certificate of his son George’s marriage: for George expects to obtain the situation of bailiff to Squire Ponsford, and the testimonials must all be sent in to-morrow.” “Well, my dear,” said Mrs. Milner to her hus- You band, “you can easily spare five minutes to give the certificate—and Ethel will excuse you the while.” ‘Oh, I was not thinking of refusing—nor do I grudge the time,” exclaimed the kind-hearted Mr. Milner: “but I was going to observe how singular it was that the very next entry to your’s, Mrs. Trevor, in the register is the marriage of George White. I saw it just now as I was making the copy for you.” Having thus spoken, the clergyman again quitted the apartment ;' and he was soon seen from the window traversing the garden in company with Farmer White. So soon as the two had en- COMO YN Wn) Colin