The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 149: what you’re looking at

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THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. originally a bad one—I have been compelled to steel it against the influence of the most harrow- ing and remorseful reflections——and thus my entire being was changed !” While Casey was thus speaking, Stephen Ash- borne had thrown himself at his feet—and he was weeping and sobbing, not so much on account of what he was hearing from his father’s lips, as because everything connected with his departed mother was now vividly recalled to his memory. The usurer stooped down, and raising him up, embraced him. “Here, father—here,” said Stephen, ‘are the documents which I promised to place in your hands. God grant that under another name you are atoning for whatsoever you may have done in your earlier days!—though heaven knows it is not for me as 4 son to speak thus to a father !”* ‘‘T am rich and prosperous, Stephen,” replied Casey. ‘Tell me what I can do for you? Fear not to make your demand. I take heaven to witness that I shall not hold it to be too ange a one!” ‘““T require nothing, father,” replied Stephen. “ Keep your wealth for your legitimate children. I understand that you have two I made some little inquiries in theneighbourhood before I called here ” “ And is there nothing that T can do for you ?” asked Casey. ‘Nothing, I repeat. Accept my thanks—but I desire naught at your hands, father—except the blessing which you have given me.” “ And tell me, Stephen—tell me,” continued Casey, in a tremulous tone, “did she—your mother — speak bitterly of me on her death- bed ?” “ No,” replied Stephen. “On the contrary, she hoped that you were well and prosperous—and she wished that she might have heard of you be- fore she died. And now, father, having acquitted myself of the principal business which brought me hither—and having told you as much as you need know in reference to my poor departed mother—I will leave you.” “‘ Promise me this, Stephen,” exclaimed Casey, —‘‘ that if matters should go wrong with you in the world—or if you should require assistance of any kind, you will not hesitate to apply to me. I will hasten to meet your wishes—believe me, I will! —and if during my lifetime you will not afford me an opportunity of doing anything for you, rest assured that you will not be forgotten at my death !” “ Farewell, father !—farewell!” said Stephen, his own voice now quivering witk emotion, for he saw that he was very far from being an object of indifference to his sire. “ Farewell, dear father !”—-and then wringing his parent’s hand, he rushed from the room and at once quitted the house. When the door closed behind him, Casey sat dewn and fell into a deep reverie. " At’ length slowly arousing himself, he exclaimed, “ Would that he were my recognised first-born !— would that he were my known and cherished son instead of Sylvester !” 135 CHAPTER XXIX. THE BALL. Ir was the evening appointed for Lady Todmor- den’s ball. Her ladyship was a widow, tolerably well off, holding a distinguished position in the fashionable world, and famed for the excellence of her entertainments. She had been a patroness of Almack’s in its palmy times: she had on several occasions filled posts about the person of Queen Victoria when the Tories were in power ; and her deceased husband had been an eminent diplomatist. Thus Lady Todmorden was one of the most elite of fashionable society. Not to visit at Todmorden House in Piccadilly was almost a stigma, and certainly a humiliation, for any one pretending to frequent the highest circles; whereas on the con- trary, to be seen in Lady Todmorden’s saloons was to make sure of the entrée to all the other mansions of the most exclusive aristocracy.’ It is well known there are certain personages in the upper sphere “who exercise a species’ of autocratic power in respect to aspirants for en- trance into the fashionable world. Lady Tod- morden was one. [Hf she introduced a person no questions were asked: her approval was sufficient —and the fortune of the individual was made ‘s0 far as entrance into the highest circles was con- cerned. On the other hand, if if were hinted that such-and-such a personage, male or female, ought to be called upon and courted, a shrug of the shoulders or a slight toss of the head on Lady Todmorden’s part was sufficient to destroy all the hopes of the aspirant. The reader may thence comprehend of what importance it was for the novitiate in the fashionable sphere to win the smile of her ladyship ; ; because it is one thing to get into what is called “ good society,” but quite an- other thing to soar into the sphere which i is called the “higher circles.” From all that we have been saying the reader may perhaps be surprised to find that a mere City-man, such as Mr. Warren the stockbroker, should have the entrée of Todmorden House. But Warren’s father had been useful to the late Lord Todmorden ; young Warren was very gentlemanly in manners—he was reputed to be immensely rich—he lived in excellent style—and Lady Tod- morden therefore ventured to introduce him. No one asked any questions; all who met him were satisfied ; and her ladyship was pleased with the exploit. She thought that she had conferred a favour of stupendous magnitude upon Warren, and that the very least he could do to testify his gratitude would be to marry one of her daughters. Of these interesting creatures she possessed three specimens,—the eldest being two-and-twenty; the youngest eighteen. They were not handsome, nor even pretty: but they were fine grown young women, of very distinguished appearance, highly accomplished, and though imbued with no small degree of aristocratic pride, yet perfectly ready and willing to accept husbands from whatever quarter they might come, so Jong as they were presentable in person and rich in purse. For the fact is that the three young ladies were portionless, Lady Todmorden’s income being composed partly of an annuity and partly of a pension on account oO COMO Colin