Rosa Lambert — page 352: what you’re looking at

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

EE A NT Ol iy NE A AS I TC | FC fe Ot OD ROSA LAMBERT “Ts he-a married man Pe I ey, Pmamied, thinking! tor thinking that if he were to be accompanied by a wife, that lady would not be very well pleased to be intro- duced to myself as the nabob’s mistress. “ No—he is an old bachelor,” replied Sir James: *‘and bachelors, you know, are never particular. You therefore ‘need not entertain the slightest scruple in meeting my friend.” I was about to ask for further particulars, when the entrance of two or three male visitors put an end to the discourse ; and there was no oppor- tunity of renewing it before the hour arrived when I had to retire to my dressing-room to perform my dinner-toilet. In addition to the expected visitor, we were to have three or four gentlemen to dine ; and it was one of the nabob’s whims that I should always be dressed on such occasions in the most sumptuous manner. If without any regard for taste, [arranged the entire contents of a jeweller’s shop about my person, Sir James Thornley would be all the better pleased : whereas, on the other hand, if I happened to dress plainly, it would be sure to lead to angry words when the guests were gone. ‘Therefore, on the occasion of which I am writing, I arrayed myself in the handsomest manner, my dress being of purple velvet trimmed with the costliest lace, and my person being radiant with gems and jewels. On descending to the drawing-room to await the arrival of the guests, I foc that Sir James was not there, he not having as yet completed his own evening toilet. The gentlemen who were expected to meet the nabob’s old friend, arrived before the lattey: Sir James joined us in the drawing-room ; and almost immediately afterwards, the footman threw open the door, announcing, *¢ Mr. Morris !”’ The instant that name smote my ear, I felt as if an ice-wind had suddenly blown upon me: I felt too that the colour had fled from my cheeks and that [ was pale as marble. I was petrified and could not rise from my seat. But this paraly- zation of the energies lasted only for a few instants; and quickly regaining my self-possession, I became keenly alive to the imperious necessity of performing my part in such a manner as to avoid “ a scene.” “Welcome, my old friend, to Albion House!” said the nabob, warmly grasping the hand of Mr. Morris. “Let me present you to my very dear Miss Lambert, who presides over my establish- ment. tosa, my friend Mr. Morris!” At the very moment that Sir James Thornley thus mentioned my name, he turned his looks towards me; and thus he did not observe the expression of amazement which swept over the countenance of Mr. Morris. But I noticed it: for it was precisely at this instant that my looks were turned upon him, I advanced and made a suitable salutation, but keeping such a control over my features that they should not betray the slightest recognition in respect to Mr. Morris. I felt that thus far I was performing the only part which I could possibly adopt under such circum- btances—and that it now remained for Mr. Morris himself to pursue his own course. ‘To this he ap- peared to have made up his mind with as much promptitude as I had already: exercised on my own behalf: the look of amazement vanished from his features—he gave no further sign of recogni« ca a NL ts et ln 341 tion—but bowed to me with that polite courtesy which he would have shown if we had actually been total strangers to each other. Dinner was almost immediately afterwards an. nounced, and Mr. Morris, as the principal guest of the evening, had to escort me to the dining-room. I felt the colour coming and going upon my cheeks as I took his arm; and he must have felt my hand tremble as it lightly rested upon the arm which he thus proffered. But he did not meet my looks; and as we descended the superb marble staircase, he spoke on indifferent subjects: yet I could perceive that there was a certain under- current of mingled agitation and sadness in his tone. He had to sit at my right hand at the superbly covered banqueting-table ; and I said to myself, “How in heaven’s name are we to bear ourselves towards each other during the two mortal hours that the dinner will last, ere I can possibly escape to the drawing-room P” And no wonder that I should have felt awkward and embarrassed in reality, though with that ready ease of manner which I possessed, I was enabled to assume an outward freedom from restraint and dispense the courtesies of the dinner-table with @ well-bred facility. Once only throughout the banquet did Mr. Morris and I look each other in the face at the same moment: once only were our glances exchanged:—and that was when he took wine with me. Then [ felt the crimson deepenirg upon my cheeks; and the expression of his coun- tenance was that of mournful reproach. But no wonder, I repeat, that I felt ill at ease: for there I was, gorgeously apparelled as a pensioned harlot in the presence of him who had done his best to redeem me from the path of evil,—in the presence of him whose nephew Arthur Brydges had never ceased to love me with such devoted tenderness ! Yes, there I was, occuping the head of a table belonging to a man to whom I was not married: there I was in the known capacity of his mistress, —my charms set off to even a meretricious extent —the low-bodied dress revealing the grandeur of my bust—and diamonds, purchased by my dis- honour, glittering upon that half-exposed bosom, —gems and jewels too on my arms bare to the shoulders—equally costly ornaments above that brow whence the coronal of chastity had long since fallen, never to be restored! Yes—there I was, thus decked out in the presence of the uncle of the puve-minded and well-principled Arthur Brydges. Perhaps, too, the old man might fancy that it was with the hardihood of bravado that I had thus accumulated ithe richest ornaments about my person—and that I sought to conceal the darke ness of my shame by the flashing light of brilliant gems and the false glory of resplendent jewels. For was it likely, I asked myself, that Mr. Morris could for an instant conjecture that I had remained until the last moment ignorant of the name of him who was coming as a guest for an entire week at Albion House P At length the dessert had progressed up to that point at which I might quit the table and retreat to the drawing-room,—the gentlemen remaining behind to pass the bottle until they should think fit to join me and take coffee. When alone in the drawing-room I could scarcely keep back my tears. “There was one being in the world from whom I wished my profligacy to remain concealed Com G ‘S (FO) 6)(6)(0)