The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

82 THE YOUNG DUCHESS ; upon them—it makes them take all sorts of ad- vantage of one. Ilike to go in and conquer at once. So having made up my mind in the present case, I went to those Grills—I’ve known them for some time—very useful people they are - ‘“No doubt. Proceed.” » “Well, I gave them their instructions. I have learnt, you see, Imogen’s habits of Alice Denton, who is her intimate friend : I therefore knew that when she had dressed for the theatre in the evening — which she always does at her Own lodgings—she wraps herself up in a great long mantle, puts on a boritiet with a thick veil——” ‘*Ah, ha! I begin to comprehend,” said the Baronet. ‘ What a daring fellow you are, Syl- vester !”—and Sir Abel pretended to chuckle with the most good-natured familiarity, because he saw it was only by such iiieans he could extract the real truth from thé self-sufficient jackanapes. “You had her carried off by force—éh ?” “Well, that’s the history of the whole proceed- ing,” said young Casey. ‘But, I suppose, from what you tell me, that they must by some means or another have got hold of the wrong person ?” “That they assutedly did,” answered the Baronet, ‘And now what do you think of your- self for having erideavoured to persuade me that it was an assignation made by Imogen herself?” “Oh, well! people do draw the long bow a little in matters of love,” laughed Sylvester. © “Ah! but the bet that you sought to win of me under such circumstances ?” interjected Sir Abel. “All fair likewise :” — but young Casey’s wonted assurance now forsook him somewhat, for he could not conceal from himself that Kingston thoroughly saw through his mean, ditty, pitiful behaviour. “JT do not think it was all fiir,” said the Baronet coldly; “and the business, if made public, would redound, Mr. Casey, but little to your credit.. Indeed you would be regularly cut by everybody; aid instead of becoming a regular fashionable gentleman abotit town—as I know you wish to be thought e “Oh, but my dear fellow,” said Sylvester, thoroughly frightened and bitterly humiliated, “T thought the business was entirely between you and me?” “So it is for the presetit, Ah! by the bye, you will just send me your acceptance, to-iorrow morning, to that little bill for a thousand pounds which I asked you for; and then we need not talk any more, you know, of the adventures of this evening.” Sylvester made a horrid grimace: but he fal- tered out an affirmative; and in a few minutes the door of Astley’s theatre was reached. The two gentlemen entered; but while they were as- cending the staircase to the boxes, their ears caught the tremendous‘ applause which they knew full well could only be elicited by the Star of the Circus, And sure enough, in a few moments, they beheld her performing in her favourite cha- racter—more radiant in beauty and more spirited in her achievements than ever !” ‘‘Well, it is as you told me,” whispered Syl- vester ‘to the Baronet, ‘and it wasn’t Imogen who was carried off. But, Ah! what the deuce floes this mean ?” His looks were attracted towards a particular ap OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. box, in the front row of which were seated a stout vulgar-looking lady of about five-and-forty, and avery pretty girl of eighteen or twenty, whose mien was altogether as pleasing as that of her elderly companion might be said to be the reverse. The dame was fanning herself—for she was very hot; arid she thoroughly answered to that de- scription which is summed up in the somewhat vulgar but éxpressive word, ‘“ blowzy.” dressed in flaming colours, her toilet displaying the worst possible taste; while that of the young lady was simple, plain, and yet elegant. “Who are they ?” inquired the Baronet, follow- ing the direction of Sylvester's looks. “Why, my mother and sister, to be sure! Who would have thought they were coming to Astley’s to-night? You don’t know them, I think? Come along, and 'll introduce you.” For a moment Sir Abel Kingston recoiled from the bare idea of being seen in a public place of entertainment in the company of the blowzy dame with the red perspiring cheeks, the huge fan, and the dress that was so trumpery and ridiculous with its pretence of flaming gorgeousness. Was it not sufficient that he ventured to appear at a theatre with the vulgar gentish-looking son? He was therefore on the point of declining the honour of af introduction to Mrs. Casey, when on taking a second look at her daiightet, he all in a moment changed his third; and he said with a bland smile, “Thank you, my dear friend—nothing will give me greater pledsure.” . Sylvester was hugely delighted at the thought of being enabled to introduce a real living Baronet, who was algo a Captain in the Guards, into the ~ same box where his mother and sister were seated ; and he already looked about him with the mien of a person who was fully prepared to give himself all sorts of airs. He ard Sir Abel made their way to the box where the ladies were placed; and it happened that the benches immediately behind had just been vacated by a party on account of one of its female members faintirig through the heat of the place. There was consequently ample room to enable Sylvester and Sir Abel to approach Mrs. Casey and Selita. The introductioi was effected in a style most eminently charactetistic of the gentleman who pertorniéd that duty. ‘Why, mother, who would have thought of sesiig yotl here this evening ? This is my friend Sir Abe Kingston—a regular brick. I think you've heard the governor speak of him? My mother, Sir Abel. And this is my sister Selina— a deuced nice girl, though I say it which shouldn’t say it.” The elderly lady bowed and simpered: the young lady gracefully inclined her head and blushed ; while the Baronet thought to himself, ‘Good heavens ! is it possible that this sweet and beautiful bird can belong to such a brood ?” “Very ’appy to make Sir Habel’s acquaint- ance,” said Mrs. Casey. ‘‘ You'll pardon Sylwester, Sir Habel, for throwin’ in a flatterin’ word about his sister-———” ‘Qh, certainly, madam. But I have no doubt that Miss Casey deserves everything amiable and complimentary that can be said of her.” _ The object of this piece of adulation blushed slightly, and with a reserved air she took up her playbill. COMO YN Wn) She was - Colin