Rosa Lambert — page 387: what you’re looking at

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

a sudden gust of wind—amounting almost to a squall during the swift brief space it lasted—upset the cutter. I was instantaneously immersed in the water; and, no doubt with the sudden shock of terror, my senses abandoned me. When I came back to consciousness—which must have been very speedily—I found Ilderton sustaining me in one arm, while with the other he clung to the ropes. The boy, who was in the fore part of the vessel when the accident happened, was holding on fast there: and Ilderton said in a hurried, anxious voice, “ Courage, dearest Rose—courage! every- thing depends upon our self-possession !”’ At that moment the boy, who was about four- teen years of age, was seized either with the cramp or else with a renewed access of terror: for he let go of the rope and was immersed in the water. “For heaven’s sake hold fast, dearest Rose !” erled Ilderton: “hold fast, say! Here, here! in this way! I must save the boy.” All this was the work of a moment. I was now possessed of all that presence of mind which des- peration alone could conjure up in such circum- stances: I clung to the ropes in the way that Henry showed me: yet there was about to burst from my lips an entreaty that he would not peril his own life—but the words remained unspoken, as the agonizing cry for help which thrilled from the boy’s throat swept piercingly over the water. The next moment Ilderton was striking out in the direction where the poor boy had just sunk a second time: the young nobleman was an excel- lent swimmer—but yet it was with a fearful and awful interest that I watched the exciting scene. Jt was about a mile anda half from the headland where the yacht had thus capsized: there were several vessels at greater or lesser dis- tances; and some of these small craft were coming towards us as rapidly as their sails could bear them. The boy rose again—but much farther off than where he had last sunk: and Ilderton was gliding towards him. This was indeed an exciting mo- ment. The lad sank again—the young nobleman dived down—and during the few instants that he thus totally vanished from my view, I felt such a sickness at the heart I could scarcely cling to the ropes. He re-appeared ; and with grief upon his countenance, he cried out, “He is gone, the poor boy! For heaven’s sake hold fast, Rose hold fast !” Scarcely were these words spoken, when Ilder- ton disappeared from my view; and with such magical suddenness did he thus vanish, that 1t gave me a shock so powerful that my fingers actually for a single instant quitted their hold of the cordage: and J shudder now as I write, when I think of the fearful terror that galvanized me ag I just man- aged to clutch the ropes again. But Ilderton— where was he? He rose at a distance Good heavens, he was drowning! Full well—Oh! too well did this knowledge flash in unto my mind, ghastly as was the countenance itself which for a second was turned towards me. For, Oh! vivid in my recollection was the face of the unfortunate Belmore when I had seen him similarly perishing off Dover. My wild screams rang forth across the placid waters—Ilderton waved his hand in token of eternal farewell—it lingers in my fancy that he spoke something, but what it was [ caught not— ROSA LAMBERT. | pronounced convalescent. }upon my soul: I had lost one of the kindest pro- or if I did catch it, it instantaneously flitted away from my momar i so frightful was the con- fusion of my thoughts—so horrible was the state of my mind. A faintness was speedily coming over me; and I do verily believe that in another instant I should have quitted my hold of the cor- dage altogether and sunk down into the engulf. ing depth, had not loud cries of encouragement smitten my ear. I looked back; and a skiff with its white sails swelling to the breeze, was gliding towards me. I scarcely remember how IL was taken on board the succouring vessel: for the instant I found myself safe—the very moment that the conviction of security struck my mind— all consciousness abandoned me. It was not until the skiff was entering Rams- gate harbour, that I began to regain my senses; and even then I was in such a condition that I could only just murmur a few words to indicate where I lived. Those who had rescued me, bore me thither: medical attendance was procured ; and for ten days so severe was my illness, with frequent fits of delirium during that period, I could scarcely be said to have been in possession of my senses at all. In the meantime the un- fortunate young nobleman’s family had been come municated with: for though we had passed as Mr. and Mrs. Lambert at Ramsgate, it was of course at once mentioned by Thomas who my pro- tector really was. His father and a younger brother came down to take possession of the corpse, which was washed on shore three or four days after the fatal accident; and the remains of that generous-hearted young nobleman were con- veyed to London for interment in the family vault. His father behaved handsomely towards me: for he left a sealed packet at the house for me to open on my recovery—and I found that it contained bank-notes to the amount of two hundred | pounds, My recovery was slow; and a month elapsed after the catastrophe before I could be A deep sadness hung tectors—one of the best friends that I had ever as yet found—and lost him too in so shocking a manner! Oh, how bitterly did I regret that I had not suffered myself to be completely swayed by the presentiment of evil which had seized upon me when he persisted in proceeding on that un- fortunate excursion! But, alas! all such repinings were vain: they could not recall the lost one— and my tears were all equally unavailing ! When I began to reflect upon the course which I should next pursue, I did not for an instant think of speedily looking out for a new protector: for if I could not put on sable garments for the deceased, I at all events resolved that the heart’s mourning should continue unchecked until it yielded, as all strong feelings do, to the effect of time. I was in possession of about three hundred pounds in ready money, and a large quantity of valuable jewels: I did not like to remain at Rams- gate,—where, if I walked out, I knew that I should be pointed at as the mistress of the young Lord Ilderton who met his death in so tragica manner; and I resolved to return for a while to that same little secluded town of Broadstairs, where, as the reader will recollect, I first met George Beaumont. I did not think it proper to keep possession of the horses which we had li seta cmsatpenasesmamaccapapttan inietaslinreinlasarggmeentastaradaneaieinama Eomicbooks