The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 118: what you’re looking at

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Ame Pa 104 Z THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LAPY OF QUALITY. a a entered upon his duties. Those with whom he was immediately brought in contact, were prepossessed in his favour on the spot, and subsequently pro- phesied amongst themselves that they should get on very well with the new bailiff. It was on the third day after Stephen Ash- borne’s introduction into his new office, that an in- cident occurred which we must proceed to relate. But we should preface it, by observing that the beautiful Pamela Ponsford was very fond of equestrian exercise; and when the weather was fine, she either rode out with het father amidst the most pleasant scenery of the neighbourhood, or else she would canter about the park by her- self. When indulging in this recreation, she was wont to dispense with the attendance of a groom, and as she was an excellent rider, she neither en- tertained any apprehension on her own account, nor was any fear felt by her father on her be- half. We have already said how exquisitely beau- tiful she was alike in face and in form; and we have described her figure as being short and slight, with an aerial fairy-like appearance. Inde- scribably captivating did she seem when mounted upon her favourite steed; and then when she was careering through the park, fancying herself to be unobserved, the bashfulness of the timid and retiring maiden was absorbed as it were in the exhilaration of spirits experienced by the eques- trian heroine. It was about noon on the third day after Stephen Ashborne’s engagement at the Firs, that as the bailiff was proceeding through a distant part of the grounds, he suddenly beheld Miss Ponsford borne along upon her steed at a pace which at once convinced him that she had not purposely urged the animal into it. In short, he saw enough at a single glance to convince him that the horse was running away with her, for it was speeding on with a frightful rapidity. Equally apparent was it that the young lady had not yet lost her presence of mind—and that she not merely retained her seat with an admirable steadfastness, but that she also studied to guide the animal in such a manner as to save herself from being hurt by the projecting branches of trees. The spectacle would really have been a beautiful if it were not a painful—almost frightful one; for there was something elegant and graceful to a degree in the posture of the lovely maiden ; and now, as her plumed hat flew away, her long light chesnut hair, becoming all disordered, floated upon the current of air which her wild careering progress made. ' It must not however be supposed that Stephen Ashborne lingered to regale himself with the spectacle of the charming creature’s peril. No sooner did he perceive it than he sprang forward : —with the keenness of a hawk’s eye he embraced at a glance all the features of the place; and he dashed amidst the trees at a point where he was enabled to make a short cut, for the animal itself was careering on in a half-circuit, Pameia being enabled to guide though not to stop him. But vain was the bailiff’s attempt to intercept the steed, which literally seemed to fly or to skim like a bird along the ground; and as Pamela was borne past him, like a leaf upon a hurricane, he saw that the expression of her countenance indi- cated the most heroic presence of mind. Alas, it A ay 6 terre I ee oN tert availed her not !—for in a few moments the horse stumbled over a broken bough of a tree; and in the twinkling of an eye Miss Ponsford was hurled over his head to a distance of several yards, where she remained senseless. Stephen Ashborne was immediately on the spot, ‘and in another moment Pamela was in his arms. She was not injured on the face :—this he per- ceived at a glance: but she was apparently in a lifeless condition. He approached his counte- nance to hers to ascertain if any breath came from her lips: but there was none. A flush sud- denly past over his cheeks; and the next instant he fastened his lips to those of the insensible girl. And insensible she still continued,—lying inani- mate in his arms, like a beautiful statue! Yes— Oh! how beautiful!—and having withdrawn his lips from the mouth whose sweets he had been drinking in, Stephen contemplated the fair crea- ture with a deep admiring earnestness. ‘“‘Oh! how beautiful!” was the thought which kept passing through his mind: and then he gave a profound sigh and shook his head strangely, as if to vanish some evil idea or design which had arisen in his imagination. expression gradually blended itself. All in a moment the flush again swept over his countenance, and there was an equally abrupt flaming: of the eyes—a fierce flashing of those ° handsome dark ‘orbs; and he muttered, “Oh! | what a vengeance! what a vengeance! No— "twere villany the most hideous! But—Ah! my oath!—-my mother’s last words !—her blessing or God help me!”—and he averted his | looks from the countenance of the inanimate girl © her curse! whose motionless form still reclined in his arms, “ Oh! how beauti- | ful!”—and again he contemplated’ that fair pale | face with an intentness wherein a melancholy | There was then a strong wrestling between the — good and the evil genii who presided over the © destinies of that young man. - And he felt all the influences of the struggle,—for his chest was heaving with a deep agitation—he was breathing quickly—the colour was coming and going in rapid transitions upon his countenance. Pamela . now moved slightly; and a sound—very faint— — scarcely audible—not quite 4 moan, but re- sembling a sigh—wavered upon her lips. The next moment Stephen Ashborne’s lips were again - pressed to that mouth to which the vermilion hue was slowly returning; and with an almost frantic violence he strained her to his breast. ‘*'Vengeance!—-my mother !”—and with these . words hurriedly and fiercely muttered, he lifted the maiden in his arms, and ran with her towards his own cottage. Careful to keep amongst the trees, and ever and anon sweeping his looks around to assure himself that no one beheld what was passing, Stephen Ashborne pursued his rapid way. Pamela still showed some slight indications of returning con- sciousness,—but these were very faint, though there was not the least reason for any serious ap- prehension on her account. In the looks of him who bore her there was a sinister gleaming. The cottage was reached. Stephen: had not as yet hired any servant or housekeeper to conduct his domestic affairs; and thus there was no one to observe his present proceedings. He opened the door, and carried his fair burden into the neat little habitation. NO Aare meee ee tre, a enmeanaeel oO Connicloooks Colin