The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 250: what you’re looking at

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

ad eo i eer a cE Nr 236 THE YOUNG DUCHESS 5; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. Count then sought an interview with the Imperial Prince, which he quickly obtained—and they were now alone together. ‘“‘T have seen this Mrs. Trevor, may it please your Imperial Highness,” said Count Olonetz; ‘and I trust that everything is arranged to your satisfaction.” “Arranged already?” ejaculated the Grand Duke, with some little degree of surprise. ‘Yes, my lord,” responded the Count. ‘I be- lieve that I am not in the habit of allowing any delay to interfere with the execution of your Highness’s good will and pleasure.” ‘Tam glad for my daughter’s sake,” said the Grand Duke, “for she has set her mind upon this arrangement. Besides, I myself should be glad for her to have some one to keen up her know- ledge of the English language, and instruct her in the history and literature of the nations of Western Europe. All these tasks Mrs. Trevor is doubtless well able to fulfil ?” “TI have no doubt of it, your Imperial High- ness,” answered Count Olonetz: ‘Then I presume you have made inquiries con- cerning her ?” ‘““T have,” responded Olonetz; ‘and the results are completely satisfactory.” ‘“‘ Good,” said the Grand Duke: and then, after a pause, he inquired with a sort of half listless indifferent air, ‘‘And of whom may you have made these inquiries ?” ‘Mrs. Trevor is now dwelling with a certain Lady Langport,” replied Count Olonetz, ‘the widow of a diplomatist of high rank—a very re- spectable woman al ‘“* And you have seen Lady Langport >” ‘Yes, your Imperial Highness! I have seen her Certainly.” ‘Ah, well,” said the Grand Duke: “I am glad that the business is settled. When is Mrs. Trevor coming ?” ‘Now that I have received the assent of your Imperial Highness to the arrangement which I have made,” replied Olonetz, ‘I shall write to Mrs. Trevor and tell her that she may enter upon her duties to-morrow.” ‘'Yes—let it be so,” remarked the Imperial Prince: and as he sauntered out of the room where this interview took place, he had the air of one who was perfectly satisfied with a particular ar- rangement, and neither craved farther explanation nor scrutiny with regard to its details. But a few minutes after he separated from Count Olonetz, the Grand Duke proceeded to the drawing-room, and for a few seconds turned over the leaves of a Court Guide which lay upon the table. - But let us now follow in the footsteps of Ethel, who, on taking her departure from the mansion of Count Olonetz in Grosvenor Square, entered a cab and at once drove back to Hendon Court. It was now past four o'clock in the afternoon ; and Kithel at once ascended to her chamber, to change her toilet as well as to devote a little while to her beloved boy Alfred, and also to make up her mind in respect to the answer she should give when questioned by Lady Langport in reference to her prospects. Her services were not called into re- quisition by her ladyship : the door between the chamber and the dressing-room remained locked ; and there were no sounds on tho other sido to ine IE ET TEP LINE ITI WY SIR ty St mary er Re te Re eee er re eer ‘dicate that Lady Langport was there to make the wonted evening change in her own toilet. A few minutes before the usual dinner-hour, Ethel descended to the drawing-room ; and there she found Lady Langport reclining upon a sofa, and in the same dress—a morning costume— which she had worn on leaving her chamber. Her ladyship at once observed the expression of sur- prise which swept over Ethel’s features ; and comprehending its meaning, she hastened to say, “Tt is all my own doing, Ethel! to assist me in my evening toilet, as you have been wont to do—but I did not feel equal to the task. The truth is, I am not in good spirits— and I preferred remaining here quiet until dinner- time. Besides,” added her ladyship slowly, and as if she were rather musing with herself than intending the observation for IEthel’s ears, “I must not take up too much of my dear Mildred’s time.” “Ah!” thought Ethel to herself, as she gave a compassionating sigh, “this last reason is the truth—and the poor lady is afraid of trying the patience of her daughter !” At this moment Mildred made her appearance ; and Ethel could not repress a start of surprise on beholding her. She was dressed as if for a ball or some brilliant assemblage: her costume was alike of the most elegant and costly description, evidencing the taste and artistic skill of some fashionable French modiste at the West End. A beautiful wreath of artificial flowers circled Mil- dred’s head; and her hair was arranged with the most scrupulous attention. Bracelets embellished her bare arms: she carried a fan in her hand— and she entered the drawing-room with a certain affected coquettish air, as if she was striving to produce an impression upon a numerous assem~- blage of people. Lady Langport’s first feeling, on thus beholding her daughter in her evening toilet, was one of admiration ; for she forgot at the instant how in- consistent and likewise how extravagant it was for her to don such expensive finery when there was no company present to be entertained. To Ethel’s mind there was something exceedingly ludicrous in this display on Mildred’s part; and the young lady could not help thinking to herself that the toilet of the mother must now be assu- redly sacrificed to that of the daughter. ‘Well, what think you of this dress?” asked Mildred, glancing at herself in the mirror. ‘Tt becomes you admirably,” responded Lady Langport. ‘But I presume you have only put it on just to try it, and to ask our opinion how it fits ?” ‘Oh, indeed, I am dressed for the evening !” ejaculated Mildred. ‘‘ You have numbers of fashionable acquaintances,—and therefore no one can tell whd may happen to drop in. I intend to make it a rule to dress in a manner that shall be creditable to the house—and—and afford you pleasure,” she added, lowering her voice to a whisper and assuming a conciliatory look of affec- tion as she bent down towards her mother. Lady Langport smiled. She felt that she did indeed require the solace of all the loving atten- tion which her daughter could possibly bestow upon her ! “Ah, I told you, Ethel,” said Mildred, now turning gaily and triumphantly towards the [NOC oO Connic Mildred offered . a PR I SPE A LC EEA Colin