The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 182: what you’re looking at

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

-_ 176 ing her husband, whose temperament was such aa experience showed was not to be shaken either by the reproaches or tears, or, what is more difficult to resist, the smiles of a beautiful and fascinating woman. The issue of this ill-assorted union was a son and daughter, both fondly beloved by the eari, but objects of their mother’s capricious dislike or cold regard, as vanity or maternal feelings ultimately prevailed ; for the countess felt that, upon their entrance into society, her hitherto undisputed supremacy in the world of fashion must cease ; no woman, whatever her claims to the admira- tion of the male sex, being able to stand against the formidable rivalry of a grown-up daughter, or the ridicule of the name of grandmother, which the mar- riage of either of her children would in all probability soon give heraclaim to. The daughter, Lady Mary, being of a mild temper and retiring habits, gave her little uneasiness; but her son, Lord Henry, frequently put her patience and politeness to the test. She was fond of treating him as a mere boy, which he resented by speaking of her as soon to be a grandmother. As he advanced in years, the contest became unequal, and her ladyship seldom ventured on the attack. Lady Heartley, surrounded by her own select circle, was seated in her boudoir—not the luxurious apart- ment of the present day, where splendour, directed by the hand of taste, produces an ensemble worthy of the retreat of beauty—but a small chamber, situated at the end of a suite of drawing-rooms, where the earl was receiving his guests; a task which she frequently left her lord to do, especially when they were political friends, in whom she took no interest. The little knot of beaux and belles were busily occu- pied in discussing the merits of an absent beauty, when Oscar, her ladyship’s favourite black page, entered with the evening paper, which by some means had been delayed. “Give the journal to Mr. Vavasour,” said Lady Heartley to the youth; “ we constitute him clerk of our council,” The gentleman—a delicate, bilious-looking person, habited in a silver-laced suit of ,pea-green satin— bowed profoundly at the mock royal mandate, and commenced histask. The first article which attracted the attention of the party was the announcement of the marriage of Miss Lacey with Lord Marston. A wedding i3 at all times an interesting subject, espe- cially with the ladies; nor was it less so on this occa- sion, as the parties were known to most present, “At last!” exclaimed Lady Margaret Bouchier, colouring with vexation through her rouge. “ Well, how extremely happy Iam! She deserved him, con~ sidering the patience with which she angled for him. I was rather friendly with his lordship while he was staying with my father last year,” she added, “and used frequently to recommend her to him,” The friends of the speaker all smiled at her dis- _interestedness, well knowing how much to believe of it. “ She will make him, at any rate, a handsome wife,” observed Lady Heartley, not unwilling to play off her guest ; “ her figure, too, is superb. She must have looked remarkably well in her bridal dress.”’ “My sweet creature,’ replied the lady to whom the observation was particularly addressed, ‘ Miss Lacey’s figure superb! my milliner assures me that she is quite crooked and wears pads on either side.” “Oh! Lady Margaret!” “ But her bust,” perseveringly added the mistress of the mansion, “that at least is perfect,” a TL St RE, THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. speakers ; “we can all vouch for that, after the liberality with which it was displayed. There wasne deception there,’ Her ladyship was silent; she had called forth a sneer against one who mignt by possibility contest her influence in the world of fashien, and was there- fore an object of dislike. She had exposed the weak- ness of a friend, whose less skilful malice she had played off in contrast. to her own assumed good nature, and she felt perfectly satisfied. Such was her policy. Vavasour recommenced. “A report has reached town that a certain northern duchess, whom we will not more particularly name, for fear of wounding the feelings of her noble rela- tives and fashionable friends.” Here the cerner of the paper was unfortunately torn off; the parties looked at each other; there was a pause. “Provoking!” exclaimed Lady Heartley, her curi- osity strongly excited; the duchess alluded to having been her most formidable rival in the fashionable world. “ What can have followed? —something strange.” Here the speaker’s eye glanced round the circle, as if to ask the confirmation of the opinion which abe hesitated to give. “Does not Sir Frederick Dudley’s estate join the duke’s?” demanded Miss Hunter with marked em- phasis; “I have heard that formerly he was a very warm admirer of her grace. {1 know,” she added, “that he has suddenly broken up his establishment, and retired to the continent.” “Oh, yes,” added Mrs. Rushton; “ and now I recol- lect his attentions to her at Ranelagh were bend marked,” The hint was readily taken, and every lady saabainl immediately remembered something disereditable to the iame of the duchess. “ For my part,” observed one, “I never altogether approved of her manners; she was much too free for my notions of propriety. I am rejoiced that she was not at my féte at Richmond.” “Or at my bal masque, or my petite souper, chorused several others, “Stay, my dear ladies,” exclaimed Mr. Vavasou with a malicious smile, “ here is snother paragraph. ! “ Oh, do read it,” cried the pi in every variety of tone. ‘We regret to announce to our mater” continued the gentleman, “ that the report alluded to in another part of our paper is unfortunately confirmed.” Here the reader paused, “J thought so,” said Lady Heartley, with a smile of satisfaction; “ lost, abandoned creature.” “‘Shocking—very sad affair,” responded the rest of the party; “ pray go on.” “Her grace ewpired suddenly at her noble husband’s seat, Glenthorn, in the Highlands, on the first of the present month. The duke and family remain incon- solable for their sad untimely loss.” There was a silence of some minutes; cold and heartless as the scandalmongers were, they could not receive the intelligence of the death of the lady whose reputation they were destroying without some com- punctious visitings of conscience. But as silence gives time for reflection, which Lady Heartley desired to prevent, she resumed the conversation. “ Poor dear duchess !” she exclaimed with a sigh—bnt whether of disappointment or grief it would be difficult to decide. “How sudden! So good a creature, tool “ Oh—yes—yes,” chimed several of the female | I wonder who will have her diamonds? I declare I canto mtr cerned teense onsen mom COMICIOOKS.CO