The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 227: what you’re looking at

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eee Se a te A A CL Lay AS A A al A er Ce cy a ST rt DT or THE YOUNG DUCHESS 5-OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITYe “Tt was all your fault,” retorted Mildred bavagely “My fault ?” cried Ethel, with mingled indig- nation and surprise. “ Yes—your's! If you had answered my questions about the cosmetics, my curiosity would not hive been excited to the pitch that made me resolve to gratify it by hiding myself in the cup- board of the bed-room.” ‘“Tor heaven’s sake let us not bandy angry words now!” exclaimed Ethel. ‘ Go—leave the room, I entreat and implore you! To-morrow, if you wish to renew your upbraidings and your accusations i. “Was ita dream? Tell me, Ethel, was it a dream?” the voice of Lady Langport was now faintly murmuring. “Compose yourself, dear lady,” said Ethel; and she made an impatient gesture for Mildred to withdraw. “Ah, it was not a dream!” cried Lady Lang- port, suddenly regaining the fullest and completest vitality. “Do not go, Mildred! do not go, daughter! . Stop, I entreat—I command you!” * Command?” echoed Mildred, with mingled fierceness and contemptuousness. “That is a strong word.” “But not stronger than the occasion requires,” rejoined her mother quickly. ‘‘ Now listen, Mil- dred! You have done a thing for which you shall repent to the end of your days! It isa deed which can never be pardoned! You have brought down a eurse upon your head!” ‘Let me conjure your ladyship,” interposed Ethel, frightened at the fearful energy with which her patroness was speaking, and appalled at the language which was flowing from her lips,—“ let me beseech and implore——” “Tt is useless, my good Ethel!” cried Lady Langport. ‘‘A deed has been done which has changed every feeling and sentiment within me! —a deed that was as bad as sacrilege, or desecra- tion, or even matricide ! Yes !—and it is a deed, Mildred, that merits a curse!—a mother’s bitter withering curse!—and that malediction do I be- stow upon you !” “Come, mother, be sensible—be reasonable,” said Mildred, who was looking somewhat fright- ened, or who at least had an air as if she would be very glad to recall, were it possible, the deed she had done. “I am sorry ” “Silence !” cried her mother : hear me !” It was a horrible scene. The old woman was sitting up in the bed—her night-dress, open in front, revealed the emaciated breast, every _bone of which might be counted—and in the fury of her gesticulations it seemed as if they were skele- ton arms which were thrust forth from the loose unbuttoned sleeves, and which she was waving about. ‘Listen to me!” she cried; and though her false teeth were out, yet there was u frightful clearness in the articulation of the voice that was now shrill and screeching. ‘You were received ‘6 silence—and home by your mother with open arms, Mildred— and you have rewarded her kindness with the vilest ingratitude! You knew that she had a secret which she cherished—and you have basely violated it! There are deeds which not even the nearest of kindred may do towards each other.— —— decds which no love, no friendship, no intimacy can warrant !—and such a deed is this which you have done! Oh, I wish you joy of it! Is your curiosity gratified? You now know what your mother is! You behold her in all her ghastliest terrors—in all her most cadaverous horrors! Ak! would that the days of magic and enchantment were not passed away, and that the spectacle might have blinded you,—scathing your eyeballs and searing your vision !” ‘For God's sake, Lady Langport,” said Ethel, ‘compose yourself! Be calm—be tranquil!” “Tf my mother wishes the whole houschold to learn the secret, as well as myself,” said Mildred, who was now completely self-possessed again, “she will go on in this strain.”, “Instead of sinking on your knees,” cried her ladyship, ‘‘and imploring my pardon in the humblest and most contrite manner, you even now appear to set me at defiance !” “Tf you play the part of a madwoman,” re- torted Mildred contemptuously, “you must ex- pect———’’ “Oh, my God!”—and the wretched Lady Langport burst into tears. ‘“ My own daughter treating me thus !—she who has only just been re~ stored to me! She whom I have ever loved, and was prepared to love so fondly on until the end!” ‘“‘Retire—withdraw, I beseech you!” hastily whispered Ethel. “‘ And leave you to do all you can to prejudice my mother against me!” replied Mildred, with a look of reptile-like malignity—but still she spoke in so low a tone that Lady Langport did not catch what she said. Ethel recoiled from the accusation that was . thus flung at her,—recoiled as if it were a ser- pent that was darting at her ! “Ah! I have hit the right mark—have I?” were the next words that hissed forth from be- tween the lips of Mildred. ‘‘ You are not so deep but that I understand you! Go. It is for you to retire ;—-my place is here.” Ethel was transfixed with consternation and dismay; and she gazed in vacancy upon Mildred as if unable to satisfy herself that she had heard aright. Lady Langport was continuing to weep bitterly; and the sounds of her own agonizing sobs had drowned the malignant hissing of the whisper in which Mildred had spoken to Ethel. “Mother,” said Mildred, bending over her, “‘ you complain that I have not asked your pardon: ——but remember that you cursed me outright.’ “Cursed you, Mildred ?— cursed you, my child ?” and Lady Langport, starting as if with some horrible galvanic pang, bent her wild frightened looks upon Mildred. ‘ What! curse you, my daughter? Oh, yes! I remember! My God, I was mad! mad!” “Mother,” said Mildred, in a low voice, “ for heaven’s sake let me be alone with you for a few moments. It is a boon,” she added, in a still more subdued whisper, “which I supplicate and implore.” ‘“‘And it is granted, Mildred,” replied Lady Langport. ‘‘Ethel—my sweet Ethel, leave us for a little while.” “You wish it, dear madam? you wish it ?” asked Ethel, who was almost frightened at the idea of leaving the poor mother helplessly alone with that unprincipled virago of a daughter. oO COMO i ne i a a SS a Ps a a EE Colin