The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 115: what you’re looking at

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eee THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. 101 en “ Yes—I retain that name,” she observed, in a scarcely audible tone, ‘‘ because it is the one which my beloved child bears; and when he grows up, I must not be compelled to blush in his presence! I will tell him that his father is dead. But pardon me, Mr. Warren,” she added, suddenly recollecting herself; ‘“‘ I have no right to obtrude my secret griefs upon you ” ‘Rest assured, my dear madam, that I will befriend you if I can. What can I do for you?” ‘*T am so ignorant of all financial matters,” re- plied Ethel, ‘‘ that I know not upon what amount of income I may rely ” ‘““Ah, I understand!” interjected Warren. ‘“‘'You require detailed explanations? Your five thousand pounds will yield you in the three per cents, in round numbers, a hundred and fifty pounds a-year.” ‘““T can live well—Oh, weld upon that income!” she exclaimed, almost with joy. “It will be paid half-yearly ; and if you wish it, I can receive the amount for you and regularly transmit it to whatsoever address you may indi- cate. Jama man of honour, Mrs. Trevor,—I un- derstand your position—and I pledge you my word that the Duke of Ardleigh shall never know from me where you may choose to fix your abode.” The tears trickled down Ethel’s cheeks, as in the broken voice of gratitude’s emotion she mur- mured, ‘ You are indeed a kind friend to me! It is heaven who has sent you !” ‘Never hesitate, my dear madam, to make use of me in any way wherein I can serve you. Where do you think of establishing your resi- dence ?” “T do not know for the present—I will write to you in a few days ” ‘“‘ Ah, by the bye,” said Warren, ‘‘ as I am to receive your dividends for you, there will be cer- tain little authorities that you must give me. Let me see! I wonder whether I may happen to have any of the necessary forms at hand? Ah, to be sure!” he added, drawing forth some papers ‘from his pocket. ‘Do you chance to have the Bank receipt which I gave you the other day ?” ‘6 Yes—it is here:” and Ethel produced it. ‘¢ Well, I must keep this. See! we will pin it on to the corner of one of these documents. which you are going to sign.” Mr. Warren drew his chair to the table—hastily filled up a couple of printed forms—and handing Ethel the pen, said, ‘“ Be pleased to place your signature here.” There was so much fraternal kindness, mingled with the most courteous “respect, on the part.of the stockbroker, that the young lady was inspired with the fullest confidence in his good intentions. She therefore unhesitatingly signed both docu- ments without pausing to glance at their con- tents; and rising from her seat, she again ex- pressed her fervid gratitude for Mr. Warren’s attentions. He escorted her as far as the front door, where they shook hands and parted, the young lady mentally invoking blessings on the head of the friend whom heaven had sent her. Count Mandeville was in the stockbroker’s dining-room, watching at the window for Ethel’s departure. So soon as she had got fifty yards from the house, he issued forth—having pre- viously exchanged a few hasty words with Warren; and he followed upon the young lady’s track. In a few minutes she reached High- bury Place; and there she took her seat in a cab, giving some instructions to the driver. “Keep that cab in view!” said Mandeville, as he stepped into another vehicle, the driver of which he thus addressed: “do not on any ac- count lose sight of it—and when it stops, pull up at a little distance, so that it may not be thought we have been pursuing it.” “All right, sir!”—-and the cabman touched his hat, at the same giving a knowing leer. The cab which contained Ethel, continued its way for about half-an-hour—at the expiration of which interval it stopped at a house in one of the new neighbourhoods springing up in the vici- nage of Camden Town. There the young lady alighted ; and Count Mandeville also descended from his cab at a little distance where it had halted. : On reaching the lodging which she had tem- porarily taken, Ethel’s first care was to assure herself that her beloved boy was safe and well; for her mind had been so attenuated by recent occurrences that she was rendered nervous and mistrustful in reference to everything. Scarcely had she embraced the little Alfred and put off her bonnet and scarf, when a double knock at the front door resounded through the house; and in a few moments ‘Ethel was informed that a gentle- man desired to speak with her on very particular business. At this announcement a deadly pallor seized upon her, for she thought it must be the Duke of Ardleigh who had traced her thither : but she was soon relieved from this sudden ap- prehension, when the servant of the house pre- sented the gentleman’s card, and Ethel read on it a name which was utterly unknown to her. She fancied there must be some mistake; and she was about to send a message to this effect, when it occurred to her that such a proceeding might ap- pear rude and uncourteous and it would only occupy her a moment to see the gentleman in per- son. She descended to the parlour into which Count Mandeville had been shown ; and she began by saying, “I think sir there must be some error——” ‘‘ None, madam, I can assure you,” replied the Count, making the most polite bow. ‘ You are Mrs. Trevor—and it was for you that I in- quired.” The young lady looked astonished ; and Man- deville placed a chair for her, at the same time making a gesture that she should be seated, just if he were doing the honours of his own residence instead of her’s, and all with such a well-bred ease that it was impossible to deem him guilty of forwardness or presumption. “‘ May I ask,'sir,” inquired Ethel, ‘where you knew me? and how?”—but her voice faltered, for her own question seemed to her to be an allu- sion to past times and different circumstances. “No matter where nor how I have known you,” replied Mandeville. “If you had continued in prosperity I might probably have never come for- ward to make myself known to you: but now that misfortunes have overtaken you, I have lost no time in presenting myself as your friend.—I am here !” Ethel was naturally bewildered by this strange oO COMO