Rosa Lambert — page 225: what you’re looking at

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ee i rmrmmmeam auction, almost against their own will, so to speak ; and it is considered as a matter of course that they will transfer themselves like bales of merchan- dize from one buyer to another.” “‘ Good heavens, what does she mean ?” exclaimed the Marquis, still uncertain how all this would end, and whether it would be turned into a com- pliment towards himself, or whether it was really a bitter satire, as his growing uneasiness proved that his fears suggested, “It means, Lord Belmore,” I continued, now gradually changing my tone from one of sedate seriousness into that of irony and sarcasm,—“ it means that though Tam a female placed in an equivocal position, I do not consider myself an object for the licentious thoughts and deprayed overtures of every worn-out debauchee, though his age be not more than a few years past twenty. I am not dazzled by a titled suitor. The veriest puppy may bear a fine name: the grovelling spaniel that suffers itself to be whipped, may be called Caesar, Pompey, or even Nelson. Neither does a moustache upon the lip -proye an index of genuine manliness of the heart. Do you begin to comprehend meP If not, learn in plainer language still, that from the first moment your attentions towards me became marked, I have scorned and despised you. Were I a man, I would inflict personal chastisement upon you with a horsewhip. Language has no power to conyey the utter contempt which I entertain for so paltry a coxcomb. Aristocracy, though already sufli- ciently degraded by its numerous misdeeds, is yet brought down into a still lower depth of abase- ment when it hangs about such a being as you are. And now, my lord, go and tempt others with your beautiful country-seat—its grass plats, its conservatories, and its ornamental water !—go and find others to accept your settlements of a thousand a year! I despise them all.” While I was thus speaking—my voice increasing in bitterness of sarcasm, and my looks gathering a still greater power of blighting contempt and withering scorn—the Marquis of Belmore grew white as a sheet: the colour forsook his very lips —he bit them—they quivered with concentrated rage,—until at last his whole form trembled—he clenched his fists visibly with a strong involuntary spasm: he could have flown at me like a tiger. “ By heaven!” he ejaculated, “ I will be avenged for all this!’—and turning abruptly upon his heel, he walked away. “Myr. Alvanly,” I said, “I am sorry that you should have been dragged into such a scene as this: but inasmuch as you undertook to become a witness of whatsoever was to occur, I hope that you will faithfully fulfil your promise—and that if the time should come when your testimony may be requisite, you will give it frankly and linpartially.” “Jt will be assuredly my duty so to do,” re- sponded Alvanly, though assuming the air of one who relished as little as might be the whole pro- ceeding into which he was thus drawn, ‘“ And now, Mrs. Beaumont, L beg to wish you good day. I haye no doubt you have similar injunctions to give to your cousin as those which L have just re- ceived,” Thus speaking, Alvanly raised his hat, and walked off in the direction contrary to that one ROSA LAMBERT. which the Marquis of taken. “ By heaven, my dear Rosa, you did that eapi- tally!” exclaimed Haverstock, now bursting out into a joyous laugh: for it was quite evident he had not taken unto himself a single syllable of all those bitter denunciations of puppies and cox. combs which had flowed from my lips, and which he had fancied in his own conceit to be directed entirely against his friend the Marquis of Bel- more. “I am glad, my dear cousin,” I answered, with an air of frankness and sincerity, “that you ap- prove of my conduct,” “Of course I do!” he ejaculated. “I under- stand it well enough. You do not set up for a prude and a moralist: but you gave that fellow Belmore to understand you would not accept a new protector unless your heart went in the game diree- tion. Natural enough, my sweet cousin !—and I am glad to find you possess such a spirit. I ad- mire you more than ever. Indeed, I—I love you for it, my dear Rose.” “Your enfhusiasm is perfectly amusing,” I ex- claimed, laughing: though I saw very well that he was about to profit, as he hoped, by his friend’s discomfiture—and that in his own oyerweening conceit he flattered himself that he was not alto- gether apart from the motives which had actuated me in thus repudiating, exposing, and ridiculing the overtures of the Marquis, “Amusing do you call my enthusiasm?” he said. “On my soul, it was admirable. No laugh- ing matter for Belmore though, at all events! I tell you what, my dear Rosa, you have provoked a very tiger of revenge—a hyena of vindictiye- ness Y ‘* A boa constrictor of mischief, I have no doubt,” T added, again laughing with an air of genuine merriment. “But remember, my dear cousin, that you were one of the witnesses of the scene; and if circumstances ever render it necessary for you to state what occurred, I calculate upon you as a man of honour to give the fullest and completest testi- mony.” “Oh, as a matter of course!” exclaimed Sir John Haverstock. ‘“ Youmay rely upon me. But do let us speak seriously for a moment: J tell you, my sweet cousin, that you have raised the very devil against you. I know Belmore’s disposition well: he will study to be revenged—and it is really most unfortunate that you should be without a protector at this moment 4 ‘Do you not think, Sir John,” I asked, with an arch smile, “ that L can protect myself ?” “Pray drop the Six. I never can get you to call me plain and simple John. I wish you would !” “ Well then, plain and simple John,” I said, laughing, “do you not think from the specimen you have seen of my spirit, that [ can protect my- self P” “Your spirit is fine enough, no doubt, Rose,” rejoined the Baronet: “but it will avail little, I can tell you, against that terribly vindictive Bel- more. You really ought to think seriously of if. Beaumont, you see, is absent, and will remain away for some years. It is nonsense to suppose that you are going to load a life of widowhood all this time. Besides, men are so changeable——” oe Belmore had already biblis'®s comicboo | | | | | | | | | LT, a eee a