The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 61: what you’re looking at

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e a cy vO EE THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. 47 ““T can tell you where to find them,” said the Duchess, coldly but confidently. “You?” cried her husband, with a look of mingled amazement and joy. “Yes!” responded the Duchess. ‘““Then tell me—tell me—Oh! tell me, I be- seech you !” ‘Give me the document,” she said, pointing to the writing materials that were upon the table. The Duke sat down, and hastily penned a few lines upon a sheet of paper. “There! will that do?” he demanded with feverish impatience. “‘' Yes—that will do,” said the Duchess. ‘“ Here, take your Ethel’s letter and the certificate.” “And now for heaven’s sake tell me where I shail find Ethel and my boy ?” demanded Herbert, thrusting into his pocket the papers which his wife had just handed him. ‘Oh, tell me where I shall find them!” “At Southdale, to be sure,” rejoined the Duchess. The Duke flung a look of earnest inquiry upon _her for a moment; and then, as a light suddenly flashed in unto bis mind, he ejacufated, “ Yes, yes! it must be so!” and he darted from the room. Almost immediately afterwards Lavinia entered, saying, “If you please, my lady, a Miss Hartland wishes to speak to your Grace. ‘*Y will receive her here,” responded the Duchess, with that air of seeming carelessness and languid indifference which she was wont to adopt when labouring to conceal w sudden pa- roxysm of emotion. Imogen was apparelled with that mingled plainness and neatness which we have on 4 former occasion associated with her walking- dress; and her countenance was concealed by a veil. When she was conducted into the boudoir she waited until the maid had retired ere she raised her veil; and then it was with a frank easy courtesy that she saluted the Duchess,—at the same time saying, ‘It is precisely twelve days since your Grace was at my humble abode; and you promised to communicate with me.” “Sit down, Miss Hartland,” said the Duchess. * You bade me use my own discretion and leisure —and therefore I was not in any haste-——” “Oh! I should have thought,” exclaimed Imogen, reproachfully, “‘that long, long ere this you would have been in haste to embrace your own offspring !” “‘ Hush, Miss Hartland! hush! The very walls have ears!” interjected the Duchess, with affright depicted on her features. “J will not speak to your Grace another syl- lable here on the subject, unless you give me per- mission,” answered Imogen, in alow tone. “On the contrary, perhaps it would be much better that the conversation should take place else- where mw “‘ Yes—for heaven's sake let it be so!” cried the Duchess, but likewise in a subdued voice. “I am terrified to death—surrounded by domestics as I am And then, too, if any one should re- cognise you Not that I mean to give you any offence—for I do not forget that I myself was once upon the stage ” yet a quick flush crossed her Grace’s features as she alluded to the fact: “but it would seem so strange that you should call upon me py “Tam not ill-natured,” said Imogen quietly, ‘and I would not wilfully do anything that shall compromise your Grace: but there are reasons why I wish to be honoured with a little conversa- tion on a certain subject.” The Duchess opened a writing desk, and thence drew forth a number of bank-notes: but Miss Hartland shook her head impatiently, and said, ‘No! my motives are not pecuniary ones. I told your Grace the other day that I am not selfish nor covetous. Name the time when you will again honour me with your presence at my abode—and I shall be satisfied.” The Duchess reflected for a few moments: and then? she said, ‘If I come to you the day after to-morrow in the evening, will you be at leisure to receive me ?” “The day after to-morrow in the evening I shall expect your Grace,” rejoined Imogen: and again drawing down her veil, she took her leave of the Duchess. CHAPTER XL SOUTHDALE. Great was the sensation which was excited in the picturesque little village of Southdale, when it was rumoured that the beautiful Mrs. Trevor, who had gone away a bride from the place nearly two years back, had suddenly returned to pay, as it seemed, a flying visit to a spot which was sup- posed to be endeared to her by so many associa- tions. There she had passed the greater portion of her existence: there she had first fallen in with him whom she had accompanied to the altar: her father and mother lay entombed in the church. For all these reasons, therefore, it was considered natural enough that she should find an oppor- tunity fo revisit, if only for a few hours, the vil- lage of Southdale. Mrs. Trevor arrived in a postchaise; and she alighted at the only inn the village could boast of. She was attended by the nursemaid, who carried her infant boy. The landlord and landlady of the little hostelry, who had known Ethel from her childhood, were delighted to see her; and they lost not a moment in putting the kindest inquiries in reference to Mr. Trevor. Ethel possessed the most perfect control over her feelings; for there are certain circumstances in which the most deli-. cate natures are enabled to arm themselves with a panoply which but a short time back they might have fancied that they were but little able to bear. She replied with a smiling countenance to all the questions that were thus put to her: she gave her querists to understand that Mr. Trevor was perfectly well, but that press of business had prevented him from accompanying her into Dor- setshire. It was yet early in the evening when the young lady arrived at Southdale; and after partaking of some little refreshment, she set off to call upon her kind friends Mr. and Mrs. Milner. Little Alfred was asleep, and was accordingly left in the care of the nursemaid, who was faithfully devoted to Ethel and by no means prone to gossiping: she was not thereivre likely to state at the inn that she knew there was something wrong in respect to oO COMO Colin