The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 220: what you’re looking at

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—_—————— ee eee a a a ES ' a 206 bhe blushed slightly as she felt that she was giving utterance to an untruth. ‘* Nay, but I insist upon knowing,” said Mil- dred imperiously. ‘' Let there be nothing but candour here.” ‘‘Oh,” said Ethel, proudly, and almost indig- nantly, “if you put my frankness to such a test &s this, I will not shrink from it.” ‘That ja just what 1 require,” said Mildred coolly. ‘sou looked pleased and then displeased all in the same moment. Perhaps you will tell me what this meant ?” “T looked pleased,” explained Ethel, ‘“ because I observed that the course which you had. just suggested would in no way compromise the secret of your poor mother. But on the other hand, I was suddenly smitten with sorrow to think that your presence here, instead of putting an end to a deception, only tended to multiply and widen its ramifications.” ‘* Nevertheless,” said Mildred, “you will keep the secret, Ethel—and if there be any sincerity at all on the part of Olonetz, he will likewise keep it. But, Ah! there is another , ‘‘And that other?” said Ethel, instantaneously smitten with a suspicion. ‘ You mean—you mean Count Mandeville ?” “Yes. But all things considered, I need not fear him,” said Mildred, in a musing tone. ‘It can do him no good to tell anything he knows concerning me: but on the other hand, such hos- tility on his part would only provoke a terrib’: vengeance on mine. To me he is formidable only when backed by the violence or the intrigues of the Russian power: but if it be true that the Russians mean me no mischief for the future, then may I look upon Mandeville as a serpent dis- possessed of its sting. Well, then,” added Mil- dred, ‘‘ there is nothing to prevent the easy and the successful adoption of the course which I have suggested. Let me recapitulate. My mother has just found a sister or let us rather say Lady Langport has found a sister, whom she had for years deemed to be dead. I am therefore Miss Malcolm. Do not interrupt me! If any queries be put, let it be said that the deceased Mr. Ed- ward Malcolm, merchant of St. Petersburgh, who died in that city in the year 1824, left two daugh- ters behind him. So many years have elapsed since then that it is not likely any one will be found to stand officiously forward and contradict the statement. So now go and tell my mother that the matter is arranged—the requisite state- ments can be made to the domestics—and all will go on well.” Ethel quitted the room slowly; but before she ascended to Lady Langport’s chamber, she sought an apartment where she might be alone for a few minutes ; and throwing herself upon a seat, she covered her face with her hands, murmuring amidst sigh and sobs, ‘ Good heavens! what a web of duplicities !—and to be an accomplice in this tissue of deceits! And, Oh! how unnatural too! The mother compelled to disown the daugh- ter! The daughter to call the mother sister! Yet how can it be arranged otherwise? Oh, this is not the point which ought to engage my atten- tion! There is only one thing for me to reflect upon! Can I—can I remain here any longer? can consent to repeat day by day, hour by hour, the etupendous falsehood that they are sisters ?” THE YOUNG DUCHESS ; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. ee ere And Ethel groaned in spirit as she felt that her position beneath that roof, which was at first loath- some, had now become revolting, and that-she was plunging down deeper and deeper into a vortex of duplicities from which her soul shrank. Yet on the other hand she thought of the emoluments she enjoyed—the promises which Lady Langport had held out for the future ; and she felt that for her child’s sake she was bound to submit to much self-martyrdom and to many personal sacrifices. She wiped away her tears—she composed her feelings—and she resolved that at all events she would do nothing rashly, but that whatever step she decided on taking should be the result of the calmest deliberation. As she was ascending in this altered frame of mind to Lady Langport’s chamber, she met her little boy, in the care of his nurse, upon the stairs : she snatched him up, and pressing him to her heart, felt that her resolves were strengthened and that she must do nothing inconsiderately or hastily. On rejoining Lady Langport, Ethel communi- cated the plan which Mildred had pointed out, and which indeed had already suggested itself to her ladyship’s mind as the only one that under existing circumstances could possibly be adopted. It was all very well that in the presence of the Russian Ambassador, on the preceding day,. Lady Langport had proclaimed her resolve that there should be an end of all duplicities and hypocrisies : —it was under the influence of extraordinary feelings that she had thus spoken. But in calmer moments and on maturer deliberation, she could not so readily resign her darling vanity. To do her justice however—for she had many excellent points about her character—she was prepared to make any sacrifice rather than give up the daugh- ter whom she had so suddenly discovered to be still numbered with the living: but on the other hand, she had entertained the hope that the worst might not happen and that the whole matter could be arranged without the exposure and utter humi- liation of herself. Thus, when Ethel came and announced that the affair was to be so contrived, Lady Langport felt like a criminal to whom a re- prieve had been granted. She might retain her daughter without making the sacrifice of her own vanity !—her maternal feelings might be gratified without the necessity of tearing the mask away from her own countenance ! ‘“‘ Ethel,” she said, in a low voice, ‘‘ you must despise me very much: for you can fathom what is passing in my mind. You think, perhaps, that now that circumstances have taken such a sudden and wondrous turn, I ought to deal frankly and boldly with the world “Madam,” interrupted Ethel, “this is a subject which only concerns yourself.” “You speak coldly to me?” cried Lady Lang- port. ‘‘Oh, good heavens, Ethel! if I am to lose your friendship! But, Ah!” she exclaimed, as an idea suddenly ‘struck her,—‘if you think that because I have recovered a daughter, I shall be the less anxious for your welfare 2 “Oh, madam!” cried Ethel, bursting into tears ; “how is it that you understand me so little, and that you consider me to be so selfish ?” And then Ethel stopped short, while a blush glowed upon her cheeks,—the blush of shame; for she felt that she was selfish, and that all the re- solves- which a few minutes back she had been YN Wn) COMO Om es eee ee ee ee ee Se eee Colin