Rosa Lambert — page 359: what you’re looking at

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

— 348 — A os —_——— _-— — now—or else I should be forced to explain to Sir James Thornley under what circumstances we had met—in which case he would inexorably insist. that I should never ride out again.” “For heaven’s sake,” cried the young noble- man, his looks full of apprehension, “keep the adventure from his knowledge, if such would be the issue! And now that I must bid you farewell, may I hope that the interval will not be long ere we meet again?” I gave him tc understand that if the weather continued fine on the morrow, I should certainly take my usual ride: and we separated. “Thomas,” I said to the groom, as we drew near the mansion, ‘I do not mean to speak of this adventure to Sir James: for if he were made acquainted with it, he would put an end to my riding, because his own health prevents him from accompanying me. See, therefore, that you keep silent on the subject towards your fellow- servants; and this will enable you to pay the sur- geon’s bill for attending to your hurt. You must pretend you were thrown from your horse.” I gave the man five guineas; and he promised to fulfil my instructions,—I caring but little what interpretation he might put upon them. On alighting at the house, I hastened up-stairs to my dressing-room, so that the Baronet might not have an opportunity of observing my dusty and still somewhat disordered riding-dress ; and while thus engaged I could not help thinking the whole time of that exceedingly handsome young man on whose heart my charms had evidently kindled a fervid passion. There was something so musical in the tone of his voice—something so sweet in his smile, and so fondly tender in his looks—some- thing so fascinating in his manner, that it was totally impossible to avoid experiencing a feeling of interest in his behalf. And yet in all these attributes there was nothing effeminate: on the contrary, he was a fine manly young fellow, and evidently possessed of a high and magnanimous spirit. The reader will be by no means surprised to learn that on the following day I kept the ap- pointment which had been virtually given; and for-each successive day during an entire week I and Henry Ilderton met. I liked him more and more: but yet I loved him not in the same*sense that I had loved—and perhaps still loved—Arthur Brydges. Still I was always pleased to be with him; and when he gave me to understand in explicit language that from the very first he had been deeply enamoured of me—and that it was not my friendship alone which he had longed to possess, but that it was my love—the avowal caused me more satisfaction than I had ever ex- perienced under similar circumstances since the day that Arthur Brydges had revealed his own affection. But on this particular occasion when Lord Ilderton thus avowed his love, nothing more passed between us: he made me no specific over- ture—he seemed to have said as much as for one time he dared give utterance to:—and it was evidently enough to fill his heart with a rapturous happiness: for I accepted that avowal as if my own feelings reciprocated to the fullest extent those which inspired himself. On the following day he came unattended by his groom; and after some little hesitation he in- ROSA LAMBERT, -———<— eee ae a a EE Ee eee. quired whether [I should have any objection to let my own servant take charge of the horses while we two walked together? I did not refuse: T cared nothing for what the groom thought; for even if i continued under the protection of Sir James Thornley, I knew perfectly well that the man would be discreet so long as I recompensed him liberally, I and the young nobleman ac. cordingly dismounted,*and we walked along the lane together. The groom kept at a distance: a bend in the road presently concealed him from our view; and then Ilderton, throwing his arms around my waist, strained me to his breast cover- ing my cheeks with kisses, “Confess the truth, Henry,” I said, smiling archly upon him when after a fow moments I dis- engaged myself from his embrace, “it is not the first time that your lips have touched my cheek ?” “No, dearest Rose,’ he answered: “I could not resist the temptation the other day when I sup- ported you in my arms I kissed you !” And you really love me very much?” I said. “T never knew what love was until I encountered you, Rose,’ was his rejoinder. “ And when you learnt that I was a mistress,” I said, “ did not your feelings receive some shock ? —did you not think ill of me?” “TI thought of nothing but your exceeding beauty,” he replied fervidly ; “and I said to myself that if it were ever given to me toclasp you in my arms, I should esteem myself supremely blest. + After we separated yesterday—after I had avowed my love and you were not angry—it appeared to me as if it were all a dream too delightful to last. When I came to the usual place of meeting ere now, I feared that I should not see you—that you might in the mean time have thought better of it : and you know not how I tortured myself with these apprehensions. Love renders me so foolish that I mistrust my own happiness !” “ But do you at this moment ?” I softly asked ; for his words afforded me pleasure, so that I spoke in order to keep the conversation in the same channel. “Oh, no!” he cried: and again seizing me in his arms, he embraced me with fervour. We walked along the lane; and he said to me, “Am I to hope that you will leave Sir James Thornley so as to be altogether mine—after a little while P” “Yes; Lanswered. “But wherefore did you add ‘after a little while?” “‘T must explain to you, dearest Rose, precisely how I am situated,’ rejoined Ilderton. “In a month’s time my eldest sister is to be married; and the wedding is to take place at my aunt’s. I cannot possibly help being’ present; and as my sister is now staying there—her intended husband being in London engaged in superintending the fitting-up of a mansion for her reception—she has no male companion but myself.” “And for hours you have left her every day upon my account?” I exclaimed. “ Yes—and I would even leave her altogether at once if you desired it,” answered the young nobleman. “No—I am not so unreasonable,” I replied : T am incapable of making you act with so much unkindness and injustice towards your sister.” “A thousand thanks, dearest Rose, for that as- es comicbooks. =" .