The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 210: what you’re looking at

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197 shire was at least certain, even if the Countess of Desborough was not likewise sure, to recognis® Miss Plantagenet: but the emergency of the case armed her with 2 sudden presence of mind the strength of which astonished even herself ;— and springing forward, as if in the exuberance of a joyous gratitude to welcome her friends, she en- deavoured to cover Mies Piantagenet’s retreat into the adjacent room. But the move was too late. For, quick as the giance only can pierce the air, did the Duchess of Devonshire instantaneously recognise Mies Planta- genet’s features: and, darting forward, she caught the flying young lady by the arm, exclaiming, “ Cousin ! what masquerade mummery is this 7” “ Hush, for God's sake !” whispered Miss Planta- genet, in a low but rapid tone, and accompanying the words with an imploring look. At the same moment Mrs. Fitzherbert sprang forward to meet the Countess of Desborough ; and that presence of mind on her part, by instantane- ously engrossing Eleanor’s attention, prevented her from observing the singular little bye-play whick was taking place between the Duchess of Devonshire and Miss Plaatagenet. Meantime Wasp had withdrawn from the room —and the Amazon was only waiting until she could obtain an opportunity to wish Mrs. Fitzherbert farewell. “Hush, for God's sake!” were the words which Miss Plantagenet had whispered in the ears of the Duchess of Devonshire, as we have above stated. “What mummery is this, I demand?” inquired Georgiana, still preventing the young lady from beating a retreat, but dropping her own voice to that same tone of caution the infection of which she in- stantaneously caught. “] will explain it al) another time—do not betray me—but let me go ere the Countess recognises me,” urged Miss Plantagenet, with accents and looks of fervid entreaty, as she strove to break away from the Duchess. At that moment Eleanor, having exchanged greetings with Mrs. Fitsherbert, cast her eyes upon Miss Plan ; and the young lady could not therefore possibly beat the retreat which she was on the point of accomplishing, because such a pro- ceeding would have been a flagrant rudeneas and in itself calculated to excite the strangest suspicions. ‘Introduce me as Miss Plantagenet,” was the hasty whisper which she breathed in the ears of the Duchess of Devonshire, as she perceived Eleanor’s eyes fixed upon her. “My dear Countess,” said Georgiana, with a stnile so good-humouredly arch and a manner 80 softly frolicksome that it was evident she was en- joying the very good jokewhich she did not however mean to betray,—-‘‘my dear Countess, permit me to introduce you to my fair cousin, Mies Planta- genet—a young lady of whom you have doubtless | never heard before, inasmuch ss she has only re- eently arrived in London——” | “Indeed, I am almost certain that I have had the honour of meeting Miss Plantagenet on some turmer occasion,” observed the Countess of Des- borough, fixing her eyes upon the young lady with that expression of uncertainty aud inquiry which showed that she was vainly taxing her memory to discover where she had seen those features before. “It is possible that we may have met,” said Miss Plantagenet, with her softest voice and most agree- able manner: “ for this is not the first time that I © have visited London——Indeed f”’ she exclaimed, as if struck by a sudden reminiscence, but really catch- ing at the idea to which she was about to give utter- ance, because she thought that she perceived the earnestness of Eleanor’s looks deepaning into sus- picion,—“ indeed, it was at our mutual friend Mrs. Fitzherbert’s apartments in Carlton House that we met.” “TI do not recollect it,” observed the Countess of Desborough—as indeed it would have been very singular if she had. “ But it may be as you say, Miss Plantagenet. At all events, I am very cer- tain that we have met before somewhere: for your features—pardon the personality of the remark— are as familiar to me as possible.” “ And now, wherever it may be that we met be- fore,” said Miss Plantagenet, “on the present oc- casion we encounter each other under circumstances of a somewhat gloomy nature. Our dear friend here,” and she looked towards Mre. Fitsherbert, “has been the victim of cruel persecution——” “Let us not touch upon the past, in any way,” exclaimed Mrs. Fitzherbert emphatically: then, having suffered the most excruciating terror throughout the little dialogue which had just taken place between Miss Plantagenet and the Countess of Desborough on their introduction to each other, and anxious to turn the general attention as well as the discourse into other channels, she said, “ But I had really forgotten to present you to Lady Lade, who has behaved towards me with the most signal, marked, and sister-like conduct— at a time, too, when all my friends appeared to have forsaken me.” “J was out of town, my dear Mrs. Fitzsherbert, when your letter was delivered three or four days ago,” said the Duchess of Devonshire, as she be- stowed a slight and haughty inclination of the head upon the Amazon. “And I was down at Stamford Manor until last night,” added the Countess of Desborough, with an equally cold and reserved acknowledgment of Lady Lade. A curl of sovereign contempt appeared for an instant upon the lips of the beautiful huntress, as she observed how unwelcome her presence was and how unpalatable this introduction appeared to be to the two patrician ladies. “ And now, my dear friend,” exclaimed the Duchess of Devonshire, turning hastily towards Mrs. Fitzherbert, “do let us take you away from ' this horrid placeat once. Eleanor and myself have united the contents of our purses for your use—— But pray do get rid of that notorious character, Lady Lade,” she added, suddenly interrupting her- self and sinking her voice to the lowest possible whisper. “I was much afflicted to hear of your embarrass- ments, when I came up to town last evening,” said the Countess of Desborough: “and at daybreak | this morning I arose—started off to Devonshire House—and was pleased to find that our friend Georgiana was meditating an immediate visit to you. So we forthwith came together——But what on earth is Lady Lade doing here ” suddenly de- manded Eleanor, dropping her voice to a whispor in the same way am the Duchess had done a moment before. 4 (C DOO SS COM