Rosa Lambert — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

a me | ee nee 200 a ym ee ee ee ee was wrong; “your conduct has been very bad. 1 have done everything to save you from exposure, while you are doing everything to provoke it.” “Ts my reputation in Captain Beaumont’s hands?” asked Lucia, half-shudderingly and half with the hardihood of defiance; as if she would fain have taken refuge beneath the latter aspect, but could not altogether avoid the influence of her troubled conscience,” “Tt is indeed,’ answered Lady Sudbury: “ but Captain Beaumont is a man of honour—generous- hearted too—and he will spare you. What has become of the money that I have from time to time given you r “Oh, my dear aunt, pardon me—TI beseech you to pardon me!” cried Lucia, suddenly throwing herself upon her knees at the feet of the Mar- chioness. ‘My God! you know not how wretched Tam!” “You make yourself so,” said Lady Sudbury, with a severe look; “and you will end by being exposed to the world.” “How is it possible, Lady Lucia,” inquired Beaumont, “ that you could have manifested such cold-blooded callousness towards your own off- spring? Ihave heard many tales in my life but little to the credit of humanity: yet solemnly do I swear that I never heard of conduct so truly unprincipled and unfeeling as your’s has been. Insensate too! for by the very course you have pursued, you incurred the risk of having all pos- sible inquiries set on foot—all possible researches made—to find out the ruthless, remorseless, un- natural mother who abandons her innocent off- spring to the charity of poor persons. Lady Lucia Calthorpe, I shall spare you from exposure—for I am sure that your aunt will henceforth take care that an adequate provision is made for your child : but if all the rest of your life is passed in con- trition, it will scarcely atone for the abominable inhumanity which you have evinced. I hate to be compelled to speak harshly to women: but in the present case I cannot possibly control my feelings !” All the time that Captain Beaumont was thus speaking, Lady Lucia continued to kneel at her aunt’s feet,—her head bent down upon the old lady’s lap; and she was sobbing and weeping with a bitterness that was most unfeigned. The cir- cumstances were indeed sufficient to overwhelm her with humiliation and shame, even if her soul were not susceptible of the twinges of remorse. “You will spare her, Captain Beaumont P” said the Marchioness. ‘Rise, Lucia, and retire to yourchamber. Leave me to settle this business with a gentleman whose generous heart prompts him to act in a manner that is nobly forbear- ing.” Lucia rose from her knees; and without daring to bend a single look upon Captain Beaumont, she hurried forth from the room. George then proceeded to give certain explanations to the Marchioness in respect to the manner in which it had been discovered how Lady Lucia’s child was disposed of. Ile went on to say that Frances was about to be married to a good and steady man—and that it was arranged that they should thenceforth take charge of the little girl (who was still to be called Jemima Miller) on a suitable maintenance being guaranteed, Lady Sudbury at OO es eee ae ' _——. - * . \ 4 ROSA LAMBERT. — ——-— — - Oe ——— once consented to give such guarantee; and Beau- mont required a settlement of sixty pounds a year upon Jemima,—thus leaving it to the future good feeling and generosity of those concerned to do more for her as she grew up. ‘The Marchioness besought him that he would not suffer Mr. Evans and I’'rances to know whose child it was; and to this he readily gave his assent. Her ladyship also prayed him to use his influence with me to spare Lady Lucia’s honour for the future: where- upon he somewhat haughtily replied that I was not a person to make her misfortunes a subject of idle gossip and scandal. He then took his leave, well satisfied with the lesson which he had given Lady Lucia Calthorpe, and the arrange- ment which had been effected in regard to her child, Such was the narrative which George Beaumont gave me of his visit to the Marchioness of Sud. bury’s; and shortly afterwards I had a long con- versation with Frances, describing to her the plans which had been formed and which had thus far progressed. She had no objection to urge against them: on the contrary, she was delighted at the idea of being entrusted with the care of the child. It appeared that Myr. Evans had writ- ten a most affectionate letter; and her blushes, as well as her joyous smiles, told me that he would not have to plead in vain for a renewal of their engagement and their speedy marriage. I now suggested that Frances should at once return to the country-village, taking the child with her; and I told her that Captain Beaumont would write to Mr. Evans, to intimate that the settlement upon the little girl would be duly made, and that the marriage had better take place as soon as circum- stances would permit. All these things were duly carried out. Frances bade me a most affectionate farewell; and in heartfelt terms she expressed her gratitude to Cap- tain Beaumont for all his kindness. She received the child from Mrs. Stirling, to whom the pro- mised ten guineas were presented; and George’s own solicitor arranged the business in respect to the settlement, which was effected in the shape of an annuity, Lady Sudbury privately furnishing the requisite sum for the purpose. Within the month we received a letter from Frances, stating that she had become Mrs. Evans—and that those who had formerly been most prominent in the village in propagating scandalous reports with regard to her, were now the foremost to flock round and offer their felicitations. Before concluding this chapter, I must observe that through the bounty of Captain Beaumont, the remains of the unfortunate Mr. Rockingham re- ceived decent burial. An inquest was holden upon the corpse; and the two labouring men were the witnesses who were examined. My name did not in any way transpire in connexion with the pro- ceeding,—which was indeed brief enough, it being a clear case of suicide. The five sovereigns which I had given the unfortunate man, were found in his pocket; and, as I have already stated, Beau- mont’s purse supplied the remainder of the sum requisite for his interment. His heartless son was neither present at the inquest nor at the funeral ; and & man who had once rolled in riches, and had been surrounded by hosts of friends in the days of his prosperity, was followed to the grave by the mer-