Rosa Lambert — page 346: what you’re looking at

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ROSA LAMBERT. CHAPTER XLV. CHANGE OF SCENE. NoTrwiTHSTANDING that I had been thus moved towards Edwin Lushington at the conclusion of the proceedings just related, my mind was still made up to accept the overtures of Sir James Thornley. I could not possibly continue to lead a life of turmoil and trouble with an extravagant reckless spendthrift,—to be persecuted by duns— denounced as a swindler—exposed before the do- mestics—and startled by every ring at the bell or knock at the front-door. Besides, from present difficulties there was no other mode of extrication —or at least none that I chose to practise. Yes— I should part from Edwin; but the debts would all be paid—and thus the same proceeding which gave me a new position, would extricate him from his embarrassments and leave him unshackled to commence the world anew. Besides, it was my purpose to ask Sir James Thornley for something more than was necessary to liquidate the debts ; so that I might present Edwin with a couple of hundred pounds to carry him on until his next half-year’s income should be due—or at least as far as such a sum would go with one of his ex- travagant habits. All this was settled in my mind ere sleep fell upon my eyes; and when I awoke in the morning, I found that Edwin had already risen. I looked at my watch, and saw that it was past nine o’clock : but yet it was not so early that he should have as yet quitted the couch—for he was wont to he later still. I rose, and commenced my toilet,—in the midst of which he entered,—laughinegly ob- serving that he had got up earlier than usual to walk off the effects of the previous day’s potations,. Then he sate down, and conversed gaily with me until I was dressed. We descended to the break- fast parlour; and scarcely had we commenced our meal, when a knock at the front-door heralded the application of a dun, who proved to be Mr. Sim- mons, the wine-merchant. Edwin sent out a mes- sage to the effect that he had returned home and should be in Cowes in the course of the day, when he would call and settle Mr. Simmons’s demand. This assurance appeared to satisfy the tradesman —or at least it served to put him off; for he at once took his departure without another word. I conceived that this incident furnished a suit- | ble opportunity for me to reason calmly and de- liberately with Edwin—explain my views—and induce him to assent to a separation, which indeed was not merely resolved upon, but was absolutely necessary. “TI knew last mght, Rose,” he responded, when he had listened to me, “that you would tell me all this to-day. I cannot under existing circum- stances offer a word of remonstrance.” I was pleased, though somewhat astonished, to find that he took my resolve so rationally and philosophically ; and we lingered at the breakfast- table for upwards of an hour, discoursing upon that and other matters. “And now, Edwin,” I said, at length rising from my seat, “I shall go and pen a letter to Sir James Thornley. The footman or groom can walk across with it to Newport; and he can return ew ee re — i 33D a ee Oe", with the Baronet’s carriage—which [ shall ap- point to be here by three o’clock or later,” I added, “if you wish us to be as long together as possible ?” ‘Arrange matters as you think fit, my dear Rose,” he replied: and then he turned towards the window —methought to conceal his emo- tion. I ascended to the drawing-room, and wrote a letter to Sir James Thornley. When it was finished, I rang the bell to desire that one of the men-servants (for, be it recollected, there were two in the establishment) should take the note across to Newport: but I was informed that the footman had been absent since a very early hour in the morning, and that Mr. Lushington had just. sent off the groom to Cowes on some message or another. I was annoyed at this intelligence, which struck me as strangely suspicious—and yet I scarcely knew in what manner. I did not how- ever choose to betray what I felt to the maid- servant: but I inquired, as if in a casual way at what hour the footman had been sent off, and whither he was gone? The maid replied that it could not have been much later than seven when Mr. Lushington hurried him away—but the man had not mentioned to his fellow-servants where he was proceeding. I ordered the maid to retire; and with my suspicions painfully strengthened, I was about to descend to the breakfast-parlour, where I had left Edwin, and demand explanations, —when my ear caught the sounds of some equi- page stopping at the garden-gate. I hastened to the window—and beheld a handsome carriage and pair, driven by a coachman in a superb livery; and our own footman was descending from the box. At that same instant Edwin hurried forth from the front-door; and meeting the footman, received from him a letter, with which he sped back into the house. I comprehended it all in a moment; and rushing down into the dining-room, found Edwin in the act of opening the letter, which contained a number of bank-notes. He burst out into a half-mocking, half-triumphant laugh. on beholding me; and exclaimed, “I have done it in grand style, Rose! The old fellow has come down with a thousand pounds. JI have spared your squeamishness, my dear girl !”—but there was sardonism in his mirth and in his affected endearments. | ““ Good heavens, Edwin!’’ I cried, “how could you think of taking such a step as this? It is far too much to have written for!” “ Not a whit!” he ejaculated. “And now we have the means of leading a glorious life together for a long time to come !” “Edwin, you are a villain!” I ejaculated: for there was not the slightest doubt that he had all along determined to put his base project into exe- cution, notwithstanding my indignayt rejection of it on, the previous night. “Villain. or not, Rose,” he triumphantly re- sponded, “I was not going to let such a golden opportunity slip through my hands. You meant to fling me overboard for the nabob: but I did not choose to part from you on such easy terms. As for those rascals of creditors, not one single six- pence of this good money shall they see !” “Edwin, your conduct is abominable!” I ex- claimed, darting forward to snatch the letter and —_-——---- . ©) NOOKS € (CO)