Rosa Lambert — page 265: what you’re looking at

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

OE Tr AT 254 ridiculous by persisting in stopping with me. He accordingly hastened to the forepart of the vessel ; and T and Belmore were now, so to speak, alone together—that is to say, so far alone that any conversation which took place between us, could not be overheard by the rest amidst the noises of the vessel, the wind, and the ocean. « AmI forgiven P” asked Belmore, bending upon me a significant look. * Does your lordship think you do well to refer to the past P” I inquired, in a cold voice, but dart- ing upon him a glance that was full of hatred. “If you yourself, dearest Rose ‘ “T beg, my lord, that you will not address me with a familiarity which is insulting. We are en- joying the hospitality of a mutual friend; and any outrage of word or of look which you may per- petrate towards one of his guests, willbe a flagrant breach of all courtesy and decency.” “Then I will say Mrs. Wellesley,” responded the Marquis, with a transient superciliousness of look and of tone. “I was about to ask,” he con- tinued, resuming an air of politeness, “ whether in questioning me as to-the prudence of alluding to by-gone matters, you yourself wished that they should be altogether forgotten ?” “A wrong, my lord, so deep as that which I sustained from you, can never be forgotten,” I re- sponded, in a deep firm voice: “but it were per- haps in better taste that you should abstain from alluding to it.” * Am I to understand, then,” he said, “ that my crime is past all forgiveness ?” “Look deep down into your own heart, my lord,” I replied : “and if you possess the feelings of a human being, ask yourself if it be possible that such a fearful wrong can receive pardon from her who suffered itP You at least did wisely to meet me as a stranger; and during the few hours that we shall be together in this vessel, you will of course conduct yourself towards me as if I were one whom you thus met for the first time.” “You are terribly vindictive against me,” said the Marquis. ‘Do vou know that you left me in a strange manner that time ty “Ah! you persist in alluding thereto?” I eja- culated. ‘“ Well, my lord, if it be a pleasurable topic for you to dwell upon, I would have you reflect again and again upon the words which I addressed to you on that occasion. Do you re- member the tale I told you in respect to the wretched man who was flung from Highgate Arch- way P—do you bear in mind the prophetic warning which I gave youP—have you since bethought yourself that it is impossible for such a crime as yours to go unpunished P” “TI told you that you were vindictive against me,” exclaimed Belmore uneasily: “and your words prove it. Doubtiess you wish that some such horrible catastrophe should overtake me, and that you should be by to witness it P” “Tam not altogether so wicked,” was my re- sponse, “as to invoke the most terrible vengeance which heaven can inflict: though, on my soul! Lord Belmore, there is a presentiment in my mind that what I shadowed out in that den of infamy at Woolwich to which I was so infamously in- veizled, will sooner or later happen.” “If you talk to me in this strain,” said the Marquis, evidently suffering under a vague sensas wes + ROSA LAMBERT, + Le ee a tion of uneasiness and experiencing also a feeling | of spite against myself,—“ what is to prevent me — “g from taking my revenge ? what if I were to pros — claim to Felix Wellesley all that you doubtless have left untold ?—what if I were to denounce you as the veriest profligate, wanton, and demirep, in the presence of Williams and his other friends ? Men are not over particular, [ know: but still [ could tell enough concerning you to conyinge them that they have not a man’s mere mis. tress amongst them, but one who has passed from the arms of a succession of men ‘ ‘Lord Belmore, your threat is infamous!” I interrupted him: “but I reck not for it, You dare not pursue so diabolical a course: you would be stamping yourseif as a cowardly villain and a res vengefal calumniator. No—you dare not! Those gentlemen would take my part; and every hand would be raised to strike you down, This you know full well. Your words therefore, when cons veying such a menace, are as empty as the wind which is sweeping by us.” Belmore bit his lip with mingled rage and vexation; and after a few moments’ silence, he said, “ A pretty turn ovr conversation has taken! I dare swear that the others fancy we afe talking on ordinary topics—that I am bidding you observe the aspect of the town as it is fading from our view and seeming only a dark shapeless line at the bottom of the white cliffs—or that perhaps I am holding forth poetically upon the swelling waves over which our bark is so gallantly gliding—or again, that I may be discussing with you the merits of the last new novel—or perhaps reciting some piece of poetry consistent with the present scene. But if Wellesley, and Williams, and the other two fancy this, they are marvellously mis« taken—are they not ?” “ Marvellously,’ was my cold response: and then as I recollected the impression which my warning had made upon the young nobleman at the time it was uttered, and which had not evi- dently worn off, I could not help observing, “Our friends little think that I have been recalling to your memory the terrible tale of Highgate Arch. way, and the motives for which I told it on a pars ticular occasion. You seem to have marked me out for persecution. At this very moment your mind, instead of being full of contrition for your past conduct, is harbouring spiteful and revenge- ful thoughts—and all because I would not will- ingly listen to your overtures and consent to live with you as a mistress! Your crime was great towards me, Lord Belmore ; and again I declare that my soul harbours an invincible presentiment that you will sooner or later be overtaken with condign chastisement, and that I shall be near at hand to behold it! If my words be fulfilled, I charge you, my lord, to remember in the moments of your perishing agony, the foul wrong which you inflicted upon an unfortunate female who never injured you a “Enough of this!” ejaculated Belmore: “let us talk of something else—since for appearance’ sake I must keep by your side . * What better can we talk of,’ I immediatel said, “than a subject fraught with such infinite importance to us both? Yes, Lord Belmore,” I continued, fecling that in thus pertinaciously riveting his attention upon such a point, I was G ee)