The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 218: what you’re looking at

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

204 taken by anybody’s looks! However, as it is not a trick, after all, your Ethel has saved her eyes and her teeth—for I would have torn out the former and dashed out the latter.” Lady Langport was frightened at this language; but recollecting her daughter’s history, she said, ‘‘Ah, my poor child! you have indeed suffered very much—and it has produced an impression upon you ” “Never mind pitying me at present, mother,” interrupted Mildred ; ‘* but let us speak of your- self. How on earth do you contrive to make yourself look like forty when you are sixty ?” ‘¢ Mildred, do not humiliate me! I thought I should have strength enough to tell the tale from my own lips—but I find that I cannot " ‘“‘ Humiliate you, indeed ?” ejaculated Mildred. “That is a strange thing to say! Why, I was complimenting you ” “‘ Mildred! Mildred !” ‘“ What nonsense is this, mother? I wish you would tell me your secret. When I grow old I shall like to make use of it. Your hair is black —and yet it does not look as if it were dyed——” “Mildred!” ““No—the gloss is too natural. And then your teeth are as white and as perfect as my own; --and I rather pride myself on mine,” continued Mildred, smiling to show the whiteness of those teeth, and then clashing the two rows together to prove their strength and firmness. ‘ As for your complexion, it is brilliant !” ““ Mildred !” “Then your figure, it is symmetry itself. On my word, dear mother, you have the well-rounded proportions and embonpoint of a buxom widow of forty !” ‘Mildred, you are killing me !” “ What !—with compliments?” cried the daughter, laughing. ‘‘ Oh, my dear mother, if you take so much pains with yourself as all this, and if nature has likewise been so bountiful to- wards you and preserved your charms so well, you must expect to be flattered !” ‘* Mildred !”—and it was now a scream which burst from the lips of Lady Langport: then for a moment a sensation of faintness came over her— but the next instant exercising that power of self-control which from circumstances she had attained, she arose from her seat, patted her daughter’s cheek gently with her gloved hand, and said, ‘I will send Ethel to you, who shall explain everything.” She then quitted the room— while Mildred, throwing herself back in her chair, mentally ex- claimed, “It is as yet all incomprehensible ! What on earth can it mean? The only thing that seems certain and intelligible is that I am comfortably housed here———that is to say, if my Russian enemies will leave me in peace.” Fee iaeeemiaieaail CHAPTER XLI. MILDRED AT HOME Ir was in order to banish the disagreeable reflec tion which had just arisen in her mind, and ab- stract her thoughts from unpleasant topics, that Mildred now rose from her seat and began to Py examine the handsome suite of drawing-rooms, with their appointment, alike so luxurious and so elegant. She beheld beautiful statuettes— superb vases—mantel ornaments of the most at- tractive description— costly nick-nacks —curio- sities—and interesting objects of vertu. On the tables there were several books, superbly bound ; and as Mildred casually glanced at them, she perceived that one was a Peerage bearing the date of some years back. She looked for the name of Langport; and she found that the noble- man who then bore the name, was represented as having married Miss Mildred Malcolm, daughter of Edward Malcolm, Esquire, merchant of St. Petersburgh and London. “ Daughter of Edward Malcolm?” repeated Mildred to herself: ‘(that would mean me/ It was the widow whom his lordship married! How this error? or why this misrepresentation? Ah, and how was it that my mother was described as having perished in the waters of the Neva ?” Mildred felt that she was growing bewildered by these reflections, when the door opened and Ethel entered the room. “Well, Mrs. Trevor,” said Mildred ; “1 pro- mised you that if everything turned out right and straightforward, I would give you my best thanks. God knows that at present I have no- thing better to offer you though I dare say my mother will now improve my condition for me.” “In giving me your thanks,” responded Ethel, ‘““you have done all I can possibly require. I was incapable of deceiving you - ‘‘ How could I tell that at the time ?” ejacu- lated Mildred almost sharply. ‘I had every- thing to apprehend at the hands of the accursed Russians. And even now that I have found a mother when I so little expected it, and that I have been transported as if by magic into the midst of this fairy scene ” and she glanced around the apartments—‘‘I cannot calculate upon enjoying my good fortune from one hour to the next.” ‘““You need labour under no apprehension,” said Ethel, ‘in reference to Count Olonetz. Your mother has just now emphatically re- peated to me the assurance that I myself had previously given you, to the effect that Count Olonetz entertains the hope that you will settle down in this comfortable home—in which case he would rather do anything he could to serve you, than renew the annoyances and persecutions you may have sustained.” ‘‘ Well, it may be so,” said Mildred, after a little reflection; ‘‘and I dare say that itis. At all events I will risk it. This place °"——and she again glanced around her—-"is not to be abandoned in a hurry.” ‘Let me assure you,” said Ethel, “ that your mother, entertaining the most affectionate regard for you, will do everything she possibly can to ensure your happiness. This is her house—and henceforth it is your home. She is rich—and you shall share her wealth. At her death she will leave you rich alao. But in return for se much kindness-——” “ Ah, well,” interjected Mildred; ‘ now for the conditions! I never saw such a world as this is: Noone in it does anything without a motive more or less selfish: no heart is disin- YN Wn) COMO a) AEA A I tT eT ALLO, CDS Silty) THE YOUNG DUCHESS; CR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY CF QUALITY. Colin