The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 169: what you’re looking at

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

Pare We - ee — ee po that my terrible secret,” added her ladysbip, in a voice that became subdued and hollowed as she spoke, ‘‘ may be entombed with me !” There was something so horrible, or at least so awful in the terms of the speech thus addressed to Ethel, that she recoiled with a ghastly counte- nance from her patroness: and then she was smitten .with a sensation that resembled a re- morse, as she caught the look of indescribable anguish that settled itself upon the features of that lady. ‘“Pardon me, dearest madam! pardon me!” cried Ethel, grasping Lady Langport’s hand: “pardon me if even for a single instant I seemed to hesitate! But now, when I assure you after a few moments of deliberation that your injunc- tions shall be complied with, you may place all the greater reliance thereon than if I had inconsi- derately and precipitately rushed forward to give my ahswer !” ‘“‘ Dear Ethel,” murmured Lady Langport, “I felt convinced that I possessed a sincere friend in you! You have spoken with so much genuine fervour that I will not ask you to ratify your promise with an oath.” ‘‘ And yet if needful to ensure your peace of mind,” said Ethel, ‘‘ I will do so ;—and therefore without any further hesitation, I swear that if I should be with you at the time when your Maker summons you into his presence, I will to the best of my ability superintend your obsequies accord- ing to your instructions ” Lady Langport made no answer : but she bent upon her fair companion a look of indescribable gratitude. They then passed forth from the room containing the coffin ; and they descended to one of the sitting-apartments, where the curtains were now drawn and the lamp was lighted, for the dusk of evening had by this time closed in. ‘“‘T promised to tell you my history, Ethel,” said Lady Langport, after an interval of silence and meditation both on her side and on that of her companion ; ‘and J will fulfil my word. It is an extraordinary narrative and contains one incident so remarkable But let me not antici- pate !” “Tf the narration of this history will cause your ladyship the slightest pain,” said Ethel, in her kind, gentle voice and with her sweet looks of a ministering angel, ‘I would not for the world that any little sentiment of curiosity on my part should be gratified at such a price.” ‘It is impossible, Ethel, that situated as I am —living under such circumstances,” replied Lady Langport, ‘‘my former existence can be looked back upon with the utmost complacency. No !— this is impossible! Besides, methinks that when we were just now in the dining-room, contemplat- ing the portraits, I let slip a few syllables which startled you at the moment: I spoke of decep- tion on my side—deception also on that of my late husband !—and for my own sake I must now explain to you in what that deception consisted. I will therefore tell you my history, Ethel.” Her ladyship paused and reflected for a few moments: then she drew forth a little bunch of keys which she invariably carried about her own person ; and indicating one of the keys, she pointed to a piece of furniture at the-extremity of the apartment—a species of console richly inlaid and ornamented. THE YOUNG DUCHESS ; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. 155 “Open the drawer in that cheffonier, Ethel,” she said; ‘‘ and bring me the book which you will find there.” The young lady did as she was directed. The book, which was very handsomely bound, had the word Albwm upon it ; and it was one of the large quarto size usually characterizing lady’s scrap- books. She handed it to her patroness, who opened it upon the table; and first of all she turned over some beautiful drawings in water- colours and some pages containing pieces of poetry. At length a portrait was displayed, which instantaneously made Ethel exclaim with a start, ‘‘ Ah, your ladyship ?” “No,” said Lady Langport. well.” Ethel took the volume and contemplated the portrait with attention. It was in water-colours, and beautifully executed. It represented a young lady whose age might be about eighteen or twenty, and who was half reclining in a large easy chair in a morning deshabillée. The coun- tenance was exceedingly beautiful, yet with a certain expression which Ethel could not quite understand, but which a more experienced eye would have perceived to be a soft voluptuousness bordering even upon sensuousness. And now, as Ethel surveyed it with attention, she remarked that though the profile bore a striking resem- blance to that of Lady Langport—and although there was a certain look about the face of this portrait which reminded her of the large picture in the dining-room—yet it became evident that they did mot represent the same person. For in Lady Langport’s portrait the hair was black, and the eyebrows, though thickly pencilled, were well arched : whereas in this little water-colour por- trait in the Album, the hair was brown, and the brows, also strongly marked, were nevertheless by no means highly raised ; and this perhaps was the only defect in a face which otherwise would have been of faultless beauty. And as Ethel still-dwelt upon that beautifully executed portrait, she remarked that the hair was drawn to represent the most redundant luxu- riance and that it undulated in rich glossy waves. The brows were many shades darker than the hair, and the eyes were darker still. The nose was beautifully formed ; the mouth was of cor- responding perfection ; and the configuration of the countenance was oval. In respect to figure, the drawing conveyed the impression of a some- what voluptuous fulness ; for the draperies were so disposed as to afford a glimpse of a luxuriantly developed bust. At the bottom of the portrait some turtle-doves were represented as billing and cooing amongst roses, as if illustrating the beau- tiful oriental legend of the Loves of the Bulbul and the Gul ;—and below the doves, at the foot of the page, appeared the name of Mi_pREpD. “What think you of that portrait?” asked Lady Langport, after she had afforded Ethel a sufficient opportunity for contemplating it with attention. ““ At the first glance I thought it was intended for your ladyship : but now I perceive that this could scarcely havebeen. And yet there is a cer- tain expression—a certain air—something that one would be apt to regard as a family like- ness " ‘‘ Ah!” interjected her ladyship ; and then after “Examine it Connicloooks oO Colin