The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 137: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. distance she skirted a close fence which enclosed | severe dame, with looks as cold and features as the grounds pertaining to Hendon Court. The | rigid as if she were a portrait of other times just building itself did not break suddenly upon the , descended out ofits frame. But now, as she view, but gradually revealed itself from amidst ; glanced around this elegant drawing-room — so the trees wherein it was more than half embow- | gay, so cheerful, so indicative of a refined and ered. It was an old gloomy-looking pile of dingy | exquisite taste on the part of its presiding genius red brick, with small windows; and as there was |—she began to conjecture that Lady Langport no flower-garden in front, but only a shrubbery of | would turn out to be a very different being from evergreens, there was nothing to relieve the sombre | what she had at first conceived. She was not aspect of the scene. It was a large edifice, with left long in suspense; for in about five minutes a carriage-drive forming a semicircular avenue to the door opened, and a lady came forward with a the entrance; but there was not a soul to be seen smiling countenance, a light elastic step, and with about the premises as Ethel entered the gate—and altogether a demeanour which at the very first in- 123 a chill sensation like that of a superstitious awe struck through her as she advanced towards the front door. stant made a most favourable impression upon Ethel. oe This was Lady Langport. Her age appeared ' She knocked—and the sound seemed to be to be midway between thirty and forty. Her hollow and sepulchral within. It was however a hair was perfectly black, and was worn in plain matter of as much surprise as relief to her mind, bands; while an elegant French cap with gay- when a footman in a handsome and even gay | coloured ribbons set off the well-shaped head. livery quickly answered the summons; and when | The profile of her countenance was very good; Ethel inquired if Lady Langport could be seen ' the brows, though somewhat thickly pencilled, were at that hour, he at once requested her to walk in. ‘ well arched: the eyes, of a darkness correspond- The hall was spacious, but low-pitched; and it | ing with the hair, were clear and bright—though was a step lower than the level of the ground out- | a person disposed to be critical would have sug- side. It was wainscoted, and was hung with old ' gested that they were the least thing sunken. In- pictures, some of which were so black that it was | deed, the lady’s cheeks were not so plump as they almost impossible to discern the subjects. There | might have been, considering that her figure was were several doors opening from this hall; and aj of buxom proportions, its embonpoint however massive wooden staircase with immense balusters | being perfectly consistent with an admirable sym- led up to the first floor. Thither Ethel followed | metry. She wasa little above the middle height; 4 the footman,—who, throwing open the door of an apartment, requested her to wait a few minutes, and she was dressed in « morning-gown, which modestly ascended to the very throat, and the sleeves of which were fastened at the wrist. This at the same time asking what name he should | take to her ladyship? toilet set off her fine shape to the fullest advan- ‘““'You may give the name of Mrs. Trevor,” re. | tage, defining the contours of the bust withont plied Ethel. ‘‘although Lady Langport is not | permitting the slightest glimpse of them. We acquainted with it.” , should add that her complexion was singularly The footman, who was very respectful in his | beautiful: indeed it was of a wondrous fairness ; demeanour, bowed and quitted the apartment, the | and inasmuch as there was a carnation tint of appearance of which had already struck Ethel as | health upon the cheeks, it was only the eye of a being im singular contrast with all that she had close and critical observer which would have no- previously seen of the place. She now examined ticed that those cheeks were at all hollow; while it more attentively; and she was astonished at ‘inasmuch as there was a total absence of any the elegance with which it was furnished: the ap- , blueish tint around the eyes, it was only a similar pointments were all complete in the most modern degree of hypercriticism that would have found style: chairs, tables, sofas, lounges, draperies, and them to be sunken. As for her lips, they were of ornaments,—all had been selected with the most ; vivid scarlet ; while the teeth which they revealed, exquisite taste. The only fault in reference to | were white as ivory, faultlessly even, and perfect, that beautiful drawing-room was its want of! without loss, spot, or blemish. height; but this was in a measure compensated. It was not ata glance that Ethel obtained a for by the paper of a light panel-pattern chosen ' full idea of this portraiture; but it was during the for the walls, and by the colour of the curtains : first few minutes of the conversation which fol- which were purple streaked with amber. Upon | lowed, that she was enabled thus to scan the per- the tables were numetous little nick-nacks and ‘ sonal characteristics and attributes of Lady Lang- curiosities, remarkable for their elegance: an open , port. portfolio showed that it contained a number of; ‘“‘ Pray be seated, Mrs. Trevor,” were the words choice and expensive prints: there was a piano in which her ladyship uttered as she came gliding the room—and we should not forget to add that ‘into the room. |“ I’suppose I may conjecture what there were porcelain vases filled with flowers. A | has brought you hither? Ah! that charming door at the extremity standing half-open, afforded a glimpse of an inner room, which seemed to be furnished with a corresponding lightness and ele- gance; so that Ethel marvelled to find so much cheerfulness enclosed within such gloomy walls, child! I need not ask if it is your's? Do not awake the dear boy—lay him down upon that sofa while you and I converse together.” Nothing ‘could be more encouraging to Ethel than such language as this, uttered in a pleasing and such pleasant places approached by means of | voice, accompanied by the sweetest smiles, and by such an antiquated staircase and sombre hall. She wondered what sort of a person Lady Langport might prove to be. When first knocking at the door she had fancied that the mistress of the man- sion must be an elderly, haughty, old-fashioned a manner utterly devoid of pride or pretension. Indeed, the kindness with which the lady. alluded to the child, at once convinced Ethel that she must possess 2 good heart. — “T hope your ladyship will excuse me,” said conniclooolk Colin