The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 224: what you’re looking at

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210 mother sister, and accentuating the word—giving her orders to the servants with the same air as if she had been for years, instead of hours, one of the mistresses of that house—and indulging in a discourse which by its transition from flippancy to bold license indicated not merely the callousness and heartlessness of the woman, but likewise the absence of all moral principles. Ethel was some- times shocked, sometimes disgusted: but what annoyed her most, was that Mildred plainly hinted at a prudish hypocrisy on the young lady’s part when she did not laugh at the broad jest that was thrown out or subscribe to the loose doctrines that were enunciated. As for Lady Langport, she en- deavoured with all her might and power to per- suade herself that it was a mere innocent raillery on Mildred’s part, or else that whatsoever sinister there might be in her behaviour or her discourse was to be extenuated on the ground of the ter- rible misfortunes through which she had been dragged. The evening passed away, and the ladies retired for the night. When Ethel attended, as usual, upon Lady Langport in the dressing-room, she noticed that her ladyship wag dispirited and de- sponding, that she vainly endeayoured to rally, and with equal fruitlessness essayed to conceal the causes of her vexation. “TI sincerely hope, my dear Ethel,” she pre- sently said, “that you will agree well with Mildred,” ‘Tt is impossible I can offer her any proyoca- tion,” answered the young lady. . ‘““What do you mean, my dear girl?” inquired Lady Langport, quickly.. ‘‘ You think the provo- cation will emanate from her? No, no—it must not! Besides, your's is so sweet a disposition that you do not take offence very readily; and for my sake, Iithel—for my sake, my dear girl, I know that you will now be more forbearing than ever.” ‘“‘Rest assured that I will,” answered the amiable Ethel, affected by the poor old lady’s manner, ‘““I must confess,” proceeded Lady Langport, after a pause, “that there is a peculiarity about Mildred which I as a mother may readily excuse, or even blind myself unto the failing—but which to you may prove galling and vexatious. And therefore, dear Ethel, I rely upon the sweetness of your disposition and the excellence of your temper for a lenient forbearance towards one who has suffered so much.” Ethel renewed her promises; and presently, on retiring to her own couch, she shed burning tears over her little Alfred as she strained him to her bosom, murmuring in low but passionate accents, “Ah, dear child! dear child! how much am I bound to suffer for your sake !” Mildred rose early on the following morning : she ordered the carriage, and without waiting for breakfast she set out for London. She had on the previous evening ascertained at which shops Lady Langport was accustomed to deal; and to those establishments she proceeded. It was about one o'clock in the afternoon when she returned to Hendon Court, bringing with her a vast number of band-boxes and packages of all descriptions. She had largely bestowed her patronage upon milliners, linen-drapers, mercers, jewellers, per- fumers, and other tradesmen. Lady Langport ct THE YOUNG DUCHESS! GR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. | ‘welcomed her with smiles; and Mildred, sitting down to table, made a substantial luncheon, washing it down with several glasses of wine. Having changed her toilet, and embellished herself with some of the jewellery which she had purchased, Mildred went out to ramble in the garden. She took with her a volume of a novel, and for half-an-hour or so whiled away the time by suffering her looks to wander listlesssly over the pages as she strolled along the gravel-walks and amidst the parterres of flowers. Then she flung down her book, and began to gather herself a nosegay—in the midst of which occupation she heard the rustling of a dress and the tread of light footsteps in an adjoining avenue. In wu few moments she perceived Ethel, who had retired to the garden that she might be alone with her reflec- tions, and who had no idea of the chance of there encountering the very person who now occupied so large a share of her thoughts. Indeed, at the instant so unfavourably were the young lady’s meditations fixing themselves upon Mildred, that on suddenly beholding her she stepped back a pace or two, and was on the very point of retiring again behind the screen of verdure which sepa- rated the avenues. “Ah, Mrs. Trevor—Ethel ?” cried Mildred. ‘“‘T beg your pardon,” said Ethel, whose good- breeding instantaneously got the better of her re- pugnance: “isit you? We have not met before to-day. You went out early this morning ?”- ‘“T went to make some purchases,” answered Mildred; ‘‘and I think you will soon find that my toilet rivals my sister’s ”— again emphasizing that word which sounded so horrible and un- natural to. the ears of Ethel. ‘Ah, by the bye, I have been thinking,” continued Mildred, “ that it will be mere waste of time and money to de- corate the chamber I am now occupying. It has no dressing-room—and a dressing-room I must have. I wanta bath fitted up: it is good for the complexion. Once more I must beg of you to change rooms with me.” “Pray, Mildred,” interrupted Ethel, “do not renew that topic. It is not that I have any un- willingness on my own account ” ‘‘ I should think not indeed!” interjected Mil- dred contemptuously. ‘But my chamber is situated next to Lady Langport’s,” continued Ethel, affecting not to heed Mildred’s impertinence; “and as her lady- ship likes me to be near her, I hope that this ex- planation will prove sufficient.” ‘Ab, ha!” said Mildred: ‘then I suppose the two chambers communicate ?” Ethel hesitated for a moment; and then she said with frankness, “Yes, they do.” ‘‘And perhaps the dressing-room,” continued Mildred, ‘is the scene of all the mysteries of my venerable mother’s I mean, I mean,” she hastily and flippantly cried, “of my dear sister's toilet !” ‘‘T did not say so,” exclaimed Ethel with some degree of vehemence. ‘““No—but I guessed it,” rejoined Mildred coolly. ‘‘Come, tell me, Ethel—and I will not ask her any questions on the point—but do tell me how she manages. Her complexion is far better than mine! What cosmetic does she use ? I have brought a quantity home from the per- fumer’s; but I should like to know what is the COMO YN Wn) Colin