The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 365: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. 851 ‘““Mr. Walpole, can you think for a single mo- ment that I should appeal to Hester for a corro- boration ?” “Pardon me, Miss Osborne,” said the young man, meekly, and looking as if the rebuff had deeply humiliated him. “I flattered myself that the topic might have a little more interest for you than I sée that it has.” “Weill, at all events,” rejoined Azaline, “ you may as well tell me what Hester did say, since you are upon the topic: for after all, I do take a friendly interest in the matter.” “‘ And just now,” Edward hastened to exclaim, ‘you admitted that I had a right to demand your attention and your deliberate consideration !” “Trae—I think I did say something of the sort :” and Azaline seemed to be playing carelessly with her parasol. “Said something of the sort ?” cried the young man, astonished and bewildered at this humour of seeming indifference which Azaline was displaying. “Why, you even accepted the position of arbi- tress of my destinies!” ‘“‘ That is likewise true,” she said. ‘‘ But pro- ceed. I think you were going to tell me ‘That Hester assured me this day,” resumed Walpole, still feeling rebuked, hurt, and humiliated by what he naturally took to be «a capricious change of manner on Azaline’s part, so that it was in the midst of deep discouragement he thus pursued the theme,—“ Hester assured me that she never could become my wife, and that as for re- ceiving me on terms equivocal—or—or—immoral —it was impossible. She in every sense appre- ciates the delicacy of her position ; and I feel convinced that if I were to fall down at her feet and implore her to marry me, she would re- fuse.” ‘* And you yourself, Mr. Walpole,” said Azaline, “experience sentiments so changed in reference to Hester that you are by no means sorry she has come to this determination ?” ‘“‘T should have been prepared to do my duty to | the very utmost towards that poor girl, Miss | heartless ! Osborne: but I should indeed be speaking falsely ‘ and should be endeavouring to mislead you, if I . were for a single moment to pretend that Iam not rejoiced at the decision to which she herself first arrived. Oh! and it was when sbe was speaking to me this day in those terms, that I attained the full and complete appreciation of my own senti- ments. Pray grant me your attention while I speak with candour—perhaps with boldness—for a few minutes only! Inever loved Hester Ser- geant. Circumstances originally threw us together in a way which engendered feelings that had to me the semblance of love. But love, in its purity, its holiness, and in the sanctity of its devotion, it was not! You wii ask, then, why after a separation which might have deadened and de- stroyed a feeling so feebly grounded, I songht for her so anxiously when I became rich? It was a mixture of impulses—a variety of motives, Com- passion—sympathy—curiosity—a friendly feeling on behalf of the poor girl whom I had known under other ‘circumstances—with perhaps more or less a sense of something resembling a duty to seek after one whom I had known in my poverty and whom { might at length provide for in the period of my wealth—these were the causes that instigated me in that search: but if they be all a |S he i A ah 1 assembled together, they do not constitute the sentiment of love }” _ Azaline was still playing with her a when Walpole had done speaking, she said with a half-smile, the meaning of which he could not understand, ‘‘ And so this is your pleading in the presence of one whom you have made the arbitress of your destinies? Well, I must admit that if you do not love Hester it would be very hard to order you to marry her. But that is not all: for inasmuch as she has declared that she cannot marry you, even if you were to propose such an alliance, you are in no sense wronging her and you leave no duty unfulfilled. Therefore, Mr. Walpole,” added Azaline, while a slight flush seemed for an instant to flit over her cheeks, ‘you are undoubtedly free to—to—I mean, you are at liberty to consider everything at an end between Hester and yourself.” ‘“‘ And may I not hope—may I not flatter my- self,” faltered the young man,— “‘or shall I be esteemed too daring, if under existing circum- stances ” ‘*f do really think, Mr Walpole,” Azaline in- terrupted him, with a smile, ‘that I shall now venture up-stairs and introduce myself to Hester. Perhaps it would be better that you should not follow me just at present—and therefore you can remain here until I come back to tell you how it fares with the mother and daughter, and whether there are any further services you can render them.” Having thus spoken, Azaline glided from the room ; and as the door closed behind her, Walpole struck himself violently upon the breast with his clenched fists. ‘“‘ By heaven, I understand her now!” he men- tally ejaculated. ‘She is a whimsical, heartless coquetté—pretending all kinds of eccentricities— affecting all sorts of peculiarities! Ah, that smile which was upon her lips as she turned to leave the room! it was full of mockery! I do believe that she is malignant and mischievous as well as She has led me on to make a perfeet fool of myself! Oh, that I should have been so blind as to think that she took the slightest in- terest in aught that concerned Hester or myself! Infatuated madman that I was! The idea, that she, the high-born daughter of a peer, should con- descend to notice with favour one so obscure and humble as I! Ah, I have played the silliest game that ever was!—TI have rendered myself a laugh- ingstock to that capricious beauty! How She drew me out! How she led me on into the mi- nutest explanations ! vow that I will be revenged ! unworthy of me!” The young man paced to and fro in the apart- ment, a prey to all the varied feelings which found expression in the train of thoughts we have just been describing. ‘And yet she is so beautiful!” he suddenly ejaculated, in a tone that was loud enough ‘to have been heard if any one had been present, “ Must I renounce her altogether? must I resign myself to the hideous conviction that I have been trifled with by a finished coquette whose pride exists in the pretence of humility, and whose vanity seeks to gratify itself by means of the com- pliments that are paid to an affected liberalism? But, Ah! what said Lady Amesbury the other But no! this were oO COMO Iam almost inclined to | Colin