The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 78: what you’re looking at

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

64 Annie’s account, than he launched out into fresh ventures. These, alas! turned out to be as unfortunate as the former ones; and all that money was lost. Then came pestilence, ravaging this neighbourhood. You recollect perhaps that two years ago a virulent fever broke out through the district of Lambeth ? My father and mother died within the same week; and then poverty entered the house. My brother went to sea—I obtained an engagement at Astley’s— and now you know everything.” ‘Oh, if the conviction were only established in my mind,” exclaimed Launcelot,— you know to what I allude, Imogen !—then, Oh! then how deeply should I sympathize with you !” ‘Perhaps I may be enabled to establish this conviction,” murmured Imogen, trembling almost like a guilty person at an idea which she ‘had previously conceived, and which was now rapidly expanding in her mind. “For God’s sake do so! Oh, do so, Imogen ! I conjure you!” exclaimed Osborne: and seizing her hands, he pressed them both in hisown. “ Yes . by everything sacred I adjure you to prove to me your complete innocence! _I already believe you, Imogen—dear Imogen !—but Oh! for your own sake you will satisfy me so fully that never here- after shall there be a moment when even the slightest misgiving may enter my mind—no cloud to flit across the heaven of that happiness which we may perhaps enjoy together !” “Oh,” murmured Miss Hartland, reclining her head upon the shoulder of that handsome young patrician, as he held her hands clasped in his own; ‘I would make any sacrifice to prove my- self worthy of your love! Yes —I would be guilty of any treachery—any perfidy, no matter how vile!” “Good heavens! what mean you, Imogen ?” eried Osborne, starting back and gazing upon her with consternation. ‘Tt means,” she replied, “that I have a right to vindicate my own character, even though by so doing I may ruin that of another !” “Ah! then your parents, when they agreed to adopt that child, and received a sum of money as a reward, were acquainted with the infant’s pa- rentage ?” | ‘ “No,” replied Imogen: “they died in ignorance of the truth. The whole affair at the outset was negotiated with my parents so warily, and the child was delivered into my mother’s arms under such circumstances of extreme precaution, that no clue was left for the slightest scintillation of a discovery.” “ Ah!” said Launcelot: and a shade of doubt once more crossed his features. “ Again mistrustful!” said Imogen, in a tone of gentle reproach; “and you judge me even before I have well finished speaking! Exactly a fort- night has elapsed since I discovered the parentage of that child, at least so far as the mother is con- cerned; for she called here——doubtless her heart yearned to see the offspring whom for upwards of four years she had ignored and abandoned—and so she came ii “Therefore you know her?” said Launcelot eagerly. “Oh! think not that I am inspired by any ungenerous or impertinent curiosity ; but it is for your sake, Imogen—yes, and for the sake of my own happiness——” VHE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. ee ee ee “T believe you, Launcelot! I believe you! Yes —I know who the mother is.” ‘Oh! then you can satisfy me——” “ Hush!” said Imogen, as her ear caught a low double knock at the front door, “You expect a visitor ?” said Launcelot in- quiringly. : “Yes,” quickly responded Miss Hartland in a whisper; ‘‘and you shall overhear every syllable that takes place between that visitor and myself. But I charge you not to let it be known that you are a listener! This way! this way !” She hurried him into an adjoining room: she placed the door ajar; and then she glided back into the front parlour, where she awaited the visi- tress whom she had been expecting.’ Fanny ushered in a lady dressed with the utmost plain~ ness, and with a black veil so folded over her countenance that it was impossible to catch the slightest glimpse of her features. Fanny withdrew: and the young Duchess sank down upon a seat, overpowered by her emotions. “JT have kept the appointment, Miss Hart- land,” she at length said: ‘‘but,Oh! it is so very difficult for me to take such a step as this and escape observation !” ‘“No doubt, my lady,” observed Imogen. ‘‘ Hush! for heaven’s sake give me no titles!” interjected the Duchess. ‘‘I tremble from head to foot—and if I were not sure that I could thoroughly trust to you - ‘‘ Shall I go and fetch your child, madam, that you may press the innocent to your bosom ?” “No, no, Miss Hartland !—not. now! not now! I am not equal to such a task ” “A task.?” echoed Imogen. brace your own offspring ?” “Ah! you cannot comprehend the dreadful feelings which I now experience,’ said the Duchess, with a concentrated emphasis that cor- responded well with the sense of the words them- selves. ‘The other day my heart yearned to- wards my child—it was an irresistible impulse that I obeyed when I came hither—and yet the step was taken with fear and trembling, and with a strong shuddering. Do you not know the sensation of looking from a dizzy height and longing to plunge down into the abysm? Well then, it was that fearful sort of feeling which im- pelled me to come hither ?” “And you expected not,” said Imogen, ‘to meet an actress in her fantastic garb—and you were shocked and you repented the step you had taken—and you would have retreated— you would have fled—yes, without embracing your child! But I was alike indignant and shocked at the heartlessness of your conduct—TI tore the veil from your countenance—and behold, it was the Duchess of Ardleigh who stood before me!” ‘Hush! hush!” exclaimed the brilliant lady, convulsed from head to foot with fear. “ Why do you thus breathe my name? why do you thus endanger me? Is it that you seek to compromise me ?” ‘* No,” replied Imogen: ‘but I am endeavour- ing to move your heart by some means, if I can. Shall I fetch down the child ?” . ‘No, no!” almost shrieked forth the Duchess, with a convulsing anguish. ‘I loathe and hate the infant, to me the cause of so much unhap@iness ! It was not in the weakness of love that I surrea- “ What! to em- he COMO YN Wn) ne i ee = Colin