Rosa Lambert — page 373: what you’re looking at

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

PEALE ete PEEP emmy tae 362 seen with me, with the chance of recognition on the part of any of Sir James Thornley’s domestics. But as I afterwards learnt, they had not encoun- tered the valet in the town. While returning to- wards the hotel, I chuckled infinitely at the suc- cess of my proceeding; and I really liked my male apparel so much that I regretted the necessity of having to dispense with if so soon. On again threading the streets, l overheard several compli- mentary expressions uttered by the lips of fair ones: I was careful to maintain all the propricties of etiquette consistent with my assumed sex, in giving females the wall, and so forth; and I reached the hotel without a misadventure of any kind. “Whom do you want, sir ?” said a waiter in the passage, as I was endeavouring to pass him, “Mr. Jameson,” I responded. “Oh! very good, sir. He is just this moment come in,” “All right, sir—walk up—master’s in his sitting-room!” exclaimed Thomas, now coming | w forward: and thus I succeeded in regaining my own quarters without the domestics of the hotel suspecting who it was that thus entered. While Ilderton was assisting me in disapparel- ling myself of my masculine garb, I detailed all that had taken place with the old nabob ; and he laughed so heartily I thought he would go into a fit. I resumed the raiment which became my sex ; and while we were partaking of luncheon in the sitting apartment, a waiter entered to an- nounce that a number of packages had just ar- rived, addressed to Mr. Jameson. Ilderton said that “it was all right ;’? and when the boxes were brought up, we examined their contents. IJ found that the Baronet had followed my injunctions to the letter : for he had not merely forwarded every article of jewellery and raiment which he had with- holden from me, but likewise my purse and all the money I had in it at the time when I was de- spoiled at Albion House. He had also senta letter, humbly craving pardon for his treatment. towards Miss Lambert—and declaring that of his own free will, and as the only atonement which he could make, he now forwarded all her property. Ilder- ton and I were greatly rejoiced at the success of an enterprise which enabled us to chuckle over the utter discomfiture of the malignant old nabob. We left Newport that very evening, and re- turned to Southampton on the following day. From thence I wrote the ensuing letter to Sir James Thornley :— “‘ May 24th, 1849. ‘Mr, Frederick Lambert presents his compliments to Sir James Thornley, and begs to inform him that he is pow once again identical with his sister fiosa, and that the phantom which was conjured up in the shape of a Lieutenant of Dragoons, for the special purpose of bringing Sir James Thornley to his senses—(though the result was nearly to frighten him out of them)—has ceased to exist. Sir James Thornley will do well in futuro to waste his malignity upon some one less capable of resenting it than Miss Lambert.” This letter being despatched to the post-office, Ilderton and I began to discuss our plans, as neither of us had any particular desire to remain at Southampton, I have already said that my new lover was anxious, from motives of delicacy, that our connexion should be concealed, if possible, from the members of his family,—altbough he did not 5 A I ea RT E.R OEP et Bian, ea eee a ee ee ROSA LAMBERT. apprehend any molestation on their part, even should it become known to them. Ife assured me that he cared nothing about society—and that in my company, together with such recreations as carriages and horses would afford us, he should be perfectly happy. I spoke in a similar sense; and it was finally agreed that we should look out for some agreeable residence in the neighbourhood of the metropolis, and pass ourselves off as Mr. and Mrs. Lambert. To London we accordingly re- paired,—attended by the | Thomas, and likewise by a lady’s-maid I procured at Southampton. Taking up our temporary quarters at an hotel, we applied to a house and estate «| agent; and from the information which he gave — us, we were led to inspect a very nice hao, aa standing ; in the midst of a large garden, with a — j paddock and two or three fields attached,—there being altogether about a dozen aeres of land, Lhe house was ready furnished ; and the furniture itself was to be cither hired or purchased at option. The place was called Marlow , Manor; ; and it was situate in the neighbourhood of Edmonton, about five miles from the northern outskiré of London, or eight from Charimg Cross. We were so much pleased with it, that we at once agreed to take it : Ilderton purchased the furniture; and. we were speedily installed in our new home. Equi ayes and saddle-horses were next bought ; and we bobes to enter on the enjoyments of countr y life in the fine season of the year. Of all the individuals who figure in these memoirs in familiar connexion with m yself—or i * other words, of all those under whose protecti lived,—Henry Ilderton was perhaps the ye w B disposition most nearly assorted with my He loved me without the impassioned which had characterized Reginald ai oe and without the maudlin sentimentalism which had marked the attachment of Felix"Wellesley. His temper was excellent—his disposition gay: he had no variable humours, but WAS, always the same. He was distinguished by a manly frankness, and a generosity which showed itself without parade or affectation: he was liberal without being ex- travagant,—inclined to spend all his income, but not to live beyond it. He was intelligent, and highly educated: so that without the slightest effort or study his conversation was invariably agreeable ;.and as a companion he was certainly one of the most pleasant that I ever met with. Thus, altogether, I had every reason to be satisfied. with my new protector, and to be py in a change of position which had relieved me from the tyranny of the old Indian nabob. %, CHAPTER XLIX. A FEARFUL MYSTERY. We had not been installed ten days at Marlow Manor, when an incident occurred which 1 must place upon record. It happened that one evening we sate up later than usual; and it was past mid. night when we ascended to our chamber. should observe that the house was situate in a somewhat — loncly spot, and in a bye-road, or rather lane, leads “ 00K € ‘y ) » ——