Rosa Lambert — page 345: what you’re looking at

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

334, ROSA LAMBERT. —_ “You are mistaken, Edwin,” I responded: “ it was not done by me at all. A broker came and seized them for the rent.” “(ood heavens! then we are indeed blown throughout the neighbourhood! How much ready money have you, Rose P” “ Barely two pounds,” I answered, taking out my purse. “Perdition!” he ejaculated: “ this is annoying to a degree!” Thus speaking, he rose and began to pace the room in an agitated manner—but still with more steadiness of gait than he had at first exhibited : for he was comparatively sobered by the intel- ligence he had received. I felt somewhat angry with him for having so wantonly and recklessly gambled away the little money he had been to receive: but L was in one of those moods in which a person does not exactly wish to aggravate matters by a display of ill-humour, and yet on the other hand does not very well know how to con- ceal it. I affected to be counting the contents of my purse; and in the course of a few moments I became aware that Edwin had stopped short in his agitated walk. Raising my eyes, I perceived that he was just opening a letter and was begin- ning to read it. Instinctively I thrust my hand into my pocket: Sir James Thornley’s note was not there; and springing forward, I said; ‘‘ Edwin, that letter is mine!” “So I see,” he answered, flinging upon me a look of mingled rage and astonishment. ‘Ah! you have promised to accept the protection F “ Now listen to me, Edwin,” I said, perceiving that he had already obtained a sufficient insight into the contents of the communication to be aware of its nature. ‘“Itis true that Sir James Thornley addressed himself to me: indeed the first time was as far back as the day of my visit to Newport but you as well as I can tell whether in spite of our difficulties I have clung to you 39 “My dear Rose, never mind explanations!” exclaimed Lushington, throwing his arms round my neck and embracing me; so that giving him eredit for the utmost generosity of feeling, I lost all my little ill-humour that instant. Making me sit down by his side upon the sofa, he went on to say, “I have heard something of this Sir James Thornley—he is an Kast Indian nabob, and rolling in riches. I tell you what we can do, Rose “And what is that?’ I asked; surveying him with astonishment, “YT see by this letter that he awaits your in- structions. Ah! the idea is capital! We will pay off all our debts No, we won't!” he sud- denly interrupted himself: “but we will get the money and hasten off to London.” “What do you mean, Edwin?” I asked im- patiently: for a suspicion of what he did mean bad flashed into my mind. “The course to be adopted is as clear as day- light,” he exclaimed, with joy upon his counte- nance. “The very first thing to-morrow morning you must write a note to Sir James, telling him that ib is perfectly true I have left you—that you are ready to accept his protection—that he may send his carriage for you—and at the same time five or six hundred pounds, that you may leave the money with the servants to pay off the debts. Then, when the carriage comes, you ean order it back on some excuse; and we will be off to Lon- don at once,” “And you are in earnest, Hdwin ?” T asked. “ Perfectly so!” he exclaimed. “But what ig the matter with you, Rose P—why do you look at mé in that strange manner ?” “ Because,” I answered, rising from my seat by his side, and bending upon him an indignant look, “bad though I may be, l am nevertheless inca- pable of committing so scandalous a robbery.’ “ Robbery, Rose ?” eried Edwin, likewise spring- ing up from the sofa. “Yes—it would be robbery, and nothing else,” I coldly rejoined. “Sorry indeed am I that the good opinion I had entertained of you, should be thus cruelly shocked. I took you to be merely extravagant, reckless, and improvident: but I be- lieved you incapable of proving a villain.” “If you were a man, Rose,’ exclaimed Edwin, in a towering passion, “I would knock you down,” ‘You will be sorry in your calmer moments,” I said; ‘‘ to reflect that you have thus addressed me, You have been drinking—you are excited with your losses at play—I am prepared to make allow- ances on your behalf s “Ah, LT see what it is!” he ejaculated, with mingled rage and bitterness: “you wish for an excuse to leave me? Oh, yes—it is natural enough!” he added, tauntingly. “I am penniless —and there is a rich nabop ready to surround you with luxuries.” “I scarcely deserve these reproaches,” I said, my bosom swelling with mingled grief and indig- nation. “Why, here is the very letter which proves that you have been listening to the overtures of that old fellow—and even making him promises !” “Tt is true,’ [ answered: “but I declare most solemnly that so long as you had the means to support me, however humbly—or that I had the power of raising money—lI should never have thought of abandoning you.” Edwin reflected for a few moments; and then once more embracing me, he besought my pardon for whatsoever he might have said. I suffered his earesses—but did not return them. All my esteem for that young man was suddenly annihilated when he proved, by his proposal in respect to the Baronet, that he was capable of a deed of villanous dis- honesty. He saw that I was cool towards him; and he implored my eforgiveness in such piteous terms that I began to relent somewhat. Indeed I could not help remembering that it was on my account he had become separated from his wife, and that he had all in a moment lost the po- sition of affluence in which her wealth had placed him. I recollected too that he had really loved me—that for some time he had been contented with my society alone—and that allowances were certainly to be made for a young man in his pain- ful position. I therefore assumed a kinder air towards him; and we retired to rest, as if by mu- tual consent postponing until the morrow any fur- ther discourse upon the plans to be adopted. A ; , a ©