The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 217: what you’re looking at

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

i et Oe re ee elt TUE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. dows, and those sombre trees in front,— is it to that place I am going ?” “That is Hendon Court, I repeat,” said Ethel ; ‘and it is there that you are about to be received in the arms of a mother.” ‘“‘Tt looks more like a lunatic asylum,” said Mildred, “than a cheerful dwelling-place :” — and her eyes were now riveted with the keenest scrutiny upon her beautiful companion. “Qh! I entreat you to believe,” cried Ethel, in a tone that was full of feeling, “that within those walls a mother’s arms are ready to opeu—a mother’s bosom yearns to receive you!” ‘By heaven, I believe it to be all false!” ejacu- lated Mildred fiercely, as the carriage rolled into the gloomy avenue. “ Beware! ~ ’tis now too late to repent of your treachery !”’ — and Mildred looked as if she were on the very point of spring- ing like a tiger-cat—as she herself had ere now expressed it—at Ethel. “ Look! your mother!” cried the young lady in a joyous tone: and as Mildred looked forth from the window, she beheld Lady Langport standing on the threshold of the front door, wait- ing to receive her. ‘‘ Good heavens !” ejaculated Mildred; ‘' that my mother? Yes, yes—it must be!—And yet Why, it appears like a dream !—it seems as if I only parted from her yesterday! She looks no older !” ; ‘“ Hush, hush!” hastily whispered Ethel : ‘“‘ speak not before the servants! You have many strange secrets to learn—and I know not yet upon what course of action, in a certain respect, your mother may have resolved |” Mildred sprang out of the vehicle, and the next moment she was folded in her mother’s arms. Ethel instantaneously followed into the hail, closing the front door behind her, so as to shut out that scene from the domestics belonging to the carriage. Not a word was spoken by Lady Langport: her heart was too full to permit the utterance of a syl- lable from the lips. She was embracing a daughter whom for two-and-twenty years she had deemed to be numbered with the dead!—embracing that daughter whom for two-and-twenty years she had not seen! And Mildred also for a few minutes yielded to the strength of the emotions that were naturally conjured up by such peculiar circum- stances; while Ethel withdrew, discreetly thinking that it was a scene on which a third person ought not to gaze, but that the mother and daughter being thus reunited ought to be left alone to- gether. At length Mildred disengaged herself somewhat abruptly from Lady Langport’s arms, exclaiming, as she stared very hard at her, ‘ Good heavens, mother! how young you look! Is it a dream ? is it enchantment ? or how have you managed ? You look as young as I—and yet you must be sixty !” Lady Langport was not offended—how could she possibly be offended with the daughter whom she had long deemed dead and who was only just restored to her? Besides, she was prepared for such questions as those at such a meeting. She could not however prevent herself feeling deeply humiliated, as she said in a low tone, “ I have strange things to tell you, Mildred. I have con- Pa fessions to make, which will constitute a well- ce ae a a Re A A Ay I a ane a bee 203 merited though terrible chastisement for all the wickedness of that wretched pride and miserable vanity which are personified in me !” “T do not understand you, mother,” said Mil- dred, who was surveying her parent with the most earnest and scrutinising attention. ‘Come, my love,” said Lady Langport ; ‘‘ come up-stairs to the drawing-room—and there we shall be alone together.” “Tt is a sad gloomy-looking house outside, mother,” remarked Mildred, ‘‘ and unless the in- terior is somewhat more cheerful - ““ Good heavens !” cried Lady Langport, now suddenly becoming distressed at the callousness of her daughter’s manner, ‘‘ ought not even the veriest dungeon to seem cheerful to us at this moment when we are reunited? Come to my arms once more, dearest Mildred !” Mildred now suffered herself to be embraced, rather than shared the pleasure with her parent: she did not meet the affectionate demonstration half-way. The first emotions had subsided ; and she even grew impatient of so much kissing, and fondling, and hugging. Besides, her mother’s youthful appearance was still making its impres- sion of wonderment upon her mind; and she longed for the explanation that might relieve her curiosity. They ascended to the drawing-room ; and then Mildred exclaimed, ‘‘ Ah! this is indeed an im- provement! I admire your taste, mother. I shall feel comfortable and happy enough here. Well, after all, I am glad I came.” ‘““ What?” cried Lady Langport, with a rending affliction in her accents. ‘Could you possibly have hesitated? Did you not speed to embrace your mother ?” ‘‘ Hesitate, indeed!” answered Mildred. ‘I hesi- tated so much that I was very nearly not coming at all:”—then throwing off her faded shawl and old bonnet, she flung herself upon the cushions of a large arm-chair, lolling in precisely the posture in which Ethel had found her at her lodgings. Be it recollected that this waa the same posture in which she was represented in the Album; and Lady Langport was at once struck by it. She thought she saw her daughter before her just as she was two-and-twenty years ago, and just as that portrait had maintained the impression of Mildred’s image on the mother’s mind. Overcome by her emotions, Lady Langport sank into a seat opposite to Mildred; and long and earnestly did she contemplate her—that restored daughter! As for Mildred herself, she looked just for all the world asif she had been years instead of moments in the place,—with such an air of complacency and comfort had she settled herself down in the great arm-chair. The only thing which seemed to. be inappropriate and out of keeping with all surrounding circumstances, was the shabbiness of her attire. ‘And so you have hesitated to come, my dear child ?” said Lady. Langport. ‘Of course I did, mother. What could I sup- pose except that it was a snare ?” “A snare! What! and did not the sweet looks of my young friend Ethel at once convince you 90 ' Mildred gave vent to aloud mocking laugh; and then she contemptuously said, ‘‘ Sweet looks, ymdeed! Catch me being such a fool as to ba oO COMO -— —-—— eee SS i rs ee ee Colin