The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 97: what you’re looking at

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

—— ad a a ey pp a A to Rl Se dr THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OB, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. “Yes, Selina,” continued Mrs. Casey, pronounc- ing the 4 quite broad, instead of calling her daughter Seleena,—“ Selina is a very good gal— plays the ’arp and the peeanner—and can make a tart or pudden ag well as the best cook in all Hingland.” Sir Abel coughed very loud, ang he likewise coloured very much ; for there were some ladies in the next box who were infinitely amused by these displays of vulgarism on Mrs. Casey’s “Betwixt you and me and the post, Sir Habel,” continued Mrs. Casey, who not perceiving the effect her discourse was thus producing, talked louder and louder for the behoof of those persons who were seated in her immediate neighbourhood, “Selina is as good as disposed of, so to speak. . nobleman’s son is a-keepin’ company with er. +r] ‘‘Mamma, do look at Mademoiselle Imogene !” hastily said the young lady in a whisper, while a crimson glow suffused her countenance, descend- ing even to her neck, which an instant before was of ivory fairness, . “I see Himogin!” replied the dame; “and I should enjoy myself much better if there wasn’t such a heat that makes one all perspiry. But where are you going, Sir Habel ?” “ Hem! hah! ma’am:”’—-and the Baronet coughed and looked very much confused. “I thought I saw a friend across yonder:” and he pointed at random at some visionary aequaintance on the opposite side of the house. ‘What, that gentleman with the ’ook nose and the yaller waistcoat? Why that’s’ Mr. Shiney- brass, the pawnbroker up in ’Oborn! He wisits sometimes at our ’ouse in ’Atton Garding——” Fortunately the rest of Mrs. Casey’s observa- tion was drowned in the perfect furor of applayse which accompanied the exit of Madempojselle Imo- gene from the circle, “ But let me see,” resumed the dame, as Made- moiselle Rose, « beautiful French girl, now took her place in the ring, where she rode with an ele- gance and skill inferior only to the proficiency of Miss Hartland,—‘‘let me see, what was I a-sayin’?—Oh! I was tellin’ you, Sir Habel, that my Selina is almost as good as engaged to the Honourable Launcelot Hosborne; and when the weddin’ takes place, we'll send you a billy :” —by which word the worthy dame meant to express the French term biljet. here was an uniyersal titter in the adjoining ; box; and the Baronet, unable to endure the or- deal any longer, suddenly pleaded a violent head- ache as an excuse for his Hepastata Mrs. Casey was one of those persons who al- ways shake hands with everybedy, even though heg acquaintance with them be of no longer du- ' ration than two or three minutes. If she madea morning call at a house where she foynd twenty , other visitors in the drawing-room at the same _ time, and all strangers to her on her entrance, she would shake hands with them every one on taking her leave. Was it therefore to be supposed that she would let Sir Abel Kingston depart without conferring upon him the usual testimony of her friendship? She extended a hand that was large enough to fell an ox, and which felt very hot even through the kid glove,—at the same time saying, “I know you've been to’Atton Garding ——_—— 83 on business; but the next time you find yourself there, you must come up into the drawing-room and just ’ear Selina play one of her hairs. We always lunches at one; but if you like some day to drop in and take pot-luck with us at five, we shall be very,’appy to see you and you'll have a corgial velcyum.” The Baronet was suffering excruciations ; but with an appearance of the most gentlemanly ease, he turned towards Selina, saying, “I shall not fail, Miss Casey, to avail myself some day of your mamma’s kind invitation.” He then shook hands with the daughter— though she was very far from offering her own hand; and he bowed himself out of the box, thinking to himself, “Good heavens; what an old vulgarian! But one might do worse than marry the daughter ;—and, by Jove! if she weren't .engaged- though” perhaps even that need not be an impediment ; for Launcelot; Os- borne is a sentimental milksop——” Here the Baronet’s reyerie was rudely inter- rupted by Sylvester Casey, who slapping him familiarly on the shoulder, said, “Let’s go up into the Strand and play billiards. It’s slow work here.” Sir Abel was about to decline, when on a second thought he accepted the proposal; for it occurred to him that he might just as well avail himself of the opportunity to obtain from Sylvester all the information he could in reference to the engage- ment between Launcelot Osborne and Selina. CHAPTER XIX. ARDLEIGH HOUSE. THE reader is doubtless anxious to learn how it was that the Duchess of Ardleigh contrived to escape so suddenly from the house belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Grills, It will be borne in mind that she had been prepared to expect the visit of some one who would give her explanations in re- ference to the outrage which had been perpetrated towards her. She had thrown back her veil be- cause the atmosphere of the room appeared to stifle her; and there she sat revolving in her mind the circumstances of her position, and the mode in which she should act when the individual, who- ever he might be, should appear in her presence. She was more than half-inclined to fancy that she had been carried off in mistake for Imogen: in- deed she coyld scarcely see any other possible solu~ tion to the mystery. Being therefore under this impression more than under any other, it was by no meaus in accordance with her intention to let her face be seen when the door opened. But that door had opened so suddenly—the Duchess was in so profound a reverie at the instant—and she was thus taken so completely by surprise, that she started up, forgetting her veil had been thrown back; and thus was it that Sir Abel Kingston had obtained that glimpse of her features which was sufficient to show him who she was. Mrs. Grills had instantaneously closed the door again, and it was an ejaculation of astonishment which burst from her lips. The Duchess com- prebended it; and she said in hasty tones, “J am not the right person whom you expected ?” YN Wn) COMO Colin