Rosa Lambert — page 205: what you’re looking at

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

ie “still speaking in the lowest whispering tone: 194, oo — -———_ -—__ — ee ee ee ee —— = eee —__ ee It heen Frances, that I do know the mother | of that child. She is a lady of rank——” “Good heavens, what a coincidence! how wonderful!” cried the naturally amazed young woman. *< Yes—it is as I tell you,” I rejoined: that unnatural mother shall henceforth be com- pelled to support her own offspring. On this head we will speak no more at present: we must first of all get rid of that Mrs. Stirling, and silence her calumnious tongue, so that henceforth she may not assail your reputation.” [t would be scarcely possible to describe the joy which poor I'rances experienced at the unexpected result which had attended upon her revelations. She, who had feared that I should not believe her | ale, had to her wonderment found that there were | circumstances within. my own knowledge tending | She piece my hand warmly—_ to corroborate it. while the tears of renewed } trickled down her cheeks. We returned to the drawing-room,—where we found Mrs. Stirling seated on one side, and Captain Beaumont oceu- picd with a book on the other. happiness and hope an outline of the tale which I had just heard from the lips of Frances, and to which he listened with ROSA LAMBERT, ond | I drew the latter | into a corner; and in a hurried whisper gave him | —_— ee —— -_—_— statement to my dictation ,—which was to the effect that circumstances had come to her knowledge that the child bearing the name of Jemima Miller, was not the ille witimate offspring of Frances, and that all the reports which had been circulated in the country-village to the young woman’s prejudice, were false and scandalous... This statement Mrs. Stirling signed; and I gave it to Frances,—saying, “You can transmit it to any person in the village who you think will give it due publicity ; and thus your reputation will be cleared up. As for you,” I continued, again addressing myself to Mrs. Stir- ling, “the child will be taken from you in a few days; and ten guineas will be placed in your hand as ameans of enabling you to do something to- wards your future livelihood. You can now take your departure.” Mrs. Stirling, though naturally a morose and unprincipled woman, could not help expressing her gratitude for the lenient treatment thus shown her ; and having again begged Frances’ forgiveness, she went away,— Beaumont slipping in ‘her hand a small sum for her immediate wants. | When Frances had left the room, I related to Beaumont minutely and cixcumstantially all that I knew and all that I had done in respect to Lady Lucia Calthorpe. He admired my unselfish and visible admiration at the generous conduct of the | friendly conduct towards her ip the time of her young woman towards the child so unnaturally | trouble, as much as he felt disgusted at the base abandoned. “ But this is not all,” I said, in conclusion, and I happen to know whose child it really is. secrets from you—you saw that mother a few days back at the artist’s studio—she is Lady Lucia Cal- thorpe!” The reader may conceive how great was Beau- mont’s surprise when I made him this announce- ment: but there was no time for comment—and -in afew hurried words we decided how to shape our proceedings. “Mrs. Stirling,’ I said, now advancing towards, the woman, and addressing her in a somewhat cold ancd severe manner, “ your conduct has been bad to a degree towards a young woman whose own excel- Jent example should have taught you to act very differently. There is however an extenuating cir- cumstance—or at least a circumstance which pleads in your favour: it is that you have not been unkind to the child of whom you have had the care. But you must know that your continuous extortions, under a threat to make certain accusa- tions, have amounted to an offence for which the Jaw would punish you. ‘Those accusations would have been altogether false: Frances is not the mo- ther of that child. A. singular combination of circumstances has made me acquainted with the poor innocent’s desired The mother is a lady moving in the highest sphere; and Captain Beau- mont and myself are re solved. that henceforth she shall do justice to her offspring.” “IT am sure, mvam,’ said Mrs. Stirling, ex- ceedingly frightened at the position in which she was placed, “I did not mean any harm-—JL hope you will forgive me—IL beg I’rances’ pardon nm “Can you write?” 1 asked, somewhat abruptly, as a thought struck me. Mrs. Stirling replied in the aflirmative. her take her seat at the I bade ‘able, and draw up a fi i : j sive) elt! oy ingratitude which she had since displayed towards me. I directed his attention to the artful cunning “for | with which Lucia had sought to destroy all clue Its | towards establishing the parentage of the child. I mother is a lady of rank—indeed I can haye no— told him that the infant was originally called Janet Milward—that another name had been given it when consigned to the care of Frances and her mother,—and that as the child’s clothes bore cer- tain initials, the name had been altered from Janet Milward to Jemima Miller. The Captain reite- 'xated the expression of his indignation and disgust at Lady Lucia’s conduct; and we proceeded to deliberate on the course to be pursued to ensure an adequate provision thenceforth for the main- tenance of the disowned offspring. On the following morning, when Frances was attending me at my toilet, she alluded with joyous delight to the written statement which I had ob- tained for her from Mrs. Stirling; and with modest blushes she gradually revealed a little secret which she had not considered it necessary to embody in her narrative of the previous evening. This was to the effect that while at home with her mother in the country-village, she had won the affections of a small tradesman, of about her own age (Frances was now twenty-six). But it ap- peared that though Mr. Evans was deeply attached to Frances, yet the reports which were spread con- cerning her had not failed to make an impression upon his mind. Inthe midst of her tribulations arising from other causes, which are already ex-— plained, she had to endure*the additional one of finding herself looked upon with suspicion by the man whom she loved. He did not however in direct terms break off their engagement :—but she herself, with woman’s natural pride—though with tears in the eyes and anguish at the heart—had sought an opportunity of assuring him that she + | released him trom all his pledges, as she name would accompany to the altar any man who lt ia not the fullest confidence in her propria ya oy ba Go nic i