The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 162: what you’re looking at

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

tee nat era Sr Ss SSS Ss Sr gS SE en r/c ts 148 THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. embrace of the bear, her natural love of gaiety prevailed over every consideration of policy, and she once more burst forth into a merry peal of laughter. “Well, after this,” cried Sylvester, springing up from his seat, “‘I’m done! It’s all up, Alice ! I was a fool to think of forgiving you. I ought to have recollected how you and Blundell chuckled at the idea of my not knowing of your intimacy And then too there was a sound—a smacking sound, Alice!” he vehemently exclaimed ; ‘“ and it was just like when lips are meeting. So, as I don’t pay you two and a half guineas a week, besides whitebait and champagne dinners, to be- stow your favours on a coarse vulgar fellow like Blundell, I'll cut it at once.” “Then if this be your resolve, sir,’’ replied Alice, “ you had better separate from me in a gentlemanly manner, instead of indulging in this abuse. Mr. Blundell would be incapable of such conduct !” “Oh, I dare say you think him a very fine fel- low,” exclaimed Sylvester spitefully : “ but de- pend upon it Tl punch his head yet before I’ve done with him !” Thus speaking, Mr. Sylvester Casey flung open the door and rushed out of the dressing-room— Alice Denton not thinking it worth while to make another effort to conciliate or retain him. He caught a glimpse of the ominous countenance of Mr. Blundell peering round a piece of stage- machinery at a little distance ; and not feeling pugnacious on the present occasion, he dashed down the stairs and made his exit from the rear- ward premises of the theatre. Full of spite and vexation at the incidents which had just occurred, he did not think of rejoining Launcelot Osborne : but recrossing Westminster Bridge, he wandered about the streets smoking cigars for a couple of hours, and on his return to Hatton Garden as- sured his mother that he had passed a most de- lightful evening in company with some dozen young aristocratic friends of his acquaintance. As for Launcelot Osborne himself, he soon for- got that Sylvester had promised to meet him in the boxes ; for until the performances commenced, the young patrician was profoundly occupied with his own reflections : but when the object of his devoted love, the beanteous Imogen, appeared in the circus, all his attention became at once con- centrated in that cynosure. How well she looked in the chivalrous attire which she now wore !— how adinirably it fitted her symmetrical form !— and with what mingled grace and skill did she sit upon the steed that bore her! Yet, Oh! to be enabled to take her away from this atmosphere ——to bear her off from that arena—and to retire with her into some seclusion where they might dwell in love and happiness together,—Oh, this was the acme of all the young man’s hopes and desires ! Launcelot waited until the conclusion of the piece in which Imogen had to bear a part; and then he quitted the theatre. On issuing forth he stopped and hesitated: then he walked on again: once more he paused to reflect—and again he continued his way. Passing round to the rear of the theatre, he waited at a short distance for the appearance of his beloved one. This was the first time that he had ever attempted to see her after the performances,—the first time that he had lounged in that neighbourhood to meet her,— the first time, in a word, that he had done aught which was at all calcuated to compromise her reputation, apart from visiting her regularly every day at her own dwelling and there passing hours in her company. ——— CHAPTER XXXII. ALONE TOGETHER. Ir was Imogen’s general custom to dress in her theatrical costume at her own abode, and thence pass to the theatre enveloped in a cloak, and further protected by the shades of evening ina neighbourhood which was not too plentifully sup.. plied with gaslights. But on the present occasion she lad been compelled to dress at the theatre itself, as she could not very well go walking through the street in a suit of armour, althcugh it was made of tin plates instead of steel, and was thus of the lightest material. After the perform- ance of the grand equestrian spectacle in which she achieved a fresh triumph, she put off her armour in a private dressing-room allotted to her own use, and resumed her ordinary apparel. Launcelot was thus kept waiting nearly half an hour until he beheld Imogen approaching; and it was now verging towards eleven o'clock. ‘* Dearest Imogen!” he said; ‘forgive me for thus waylaying you ” ‘‘ Heavens, Launcelot ! is anything the matter ?” inquired the actress, at once smitten with the idea that there must be something amiss. | | | ‘“‘T want to speak to you particularly,” replied © Osborne: ‘there is something on my mind—I feel that I cannot go to rest until I have told you everything 7 ‘“Launcelot,” interrupted Imogen, laying her hand upon his arm, and fixing her beautiful blue eyes upon his countenance, while the expression of her own features indicated a deep anxiety,— ‘“‘you are not going to tell me that you have ceased to love me ? nor that something has occurred which must compel us to separate? I could endure almost anything but such tidings as these !” ‘Oh, Imogen!” exclaimed Osborne in an im- passioned tone, ‘it were impossible that I should ever cease to love you!—and heaven forbid that circumstances should ever separate us!” ‘‘Now my mind is relieved,” said Miss Hart- land, with a sigh that showed how the weight of suspense was indeed lifted from off her bosom: and she added, ‘‘A thousand thanks, dear Laun- celot, for those assurances! But still it must be something important ” ‘‘Imogen,” he said, in a hesitating tone, ‘‘ may I accompany you ?—or is it too late—and do you fear that I shall compromise you ?” ‘What care I for all the world in comparison with you, Launcelot ?” interrupted Imogen. ‘ So long as I possess your good opinion, it is sufficient for me. Come.” She took his arm with that air of confidence, so bewitchingly ingenuous, which the woman who loves for the first time is ever wont to display to- wards the object of her attachment. A sense of indescribable rapture thrilled through the heart of the young patrician, as he felt the arm leaning . a COMO Colin