Rosa Lambert — page 85: what you’re looking at

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

7A ‘ Reginald was present, I forgot all those sources of trouble, and surrendered myself up entirely to the love which I experienced for him, Sometimes, however, his military duties kept him away from me a whole day at a time: and then was it that I needed the society of acquaintances to rescue me from despondency. During these six weeks I saw nothing of my brother, though I had written to him to say whi- ther I had removed; for he had mentioned his ad- dress when he called on me in Jermyn Street. I fancied he must have left London—and I hoped that it was so, inasmuch as he would perhaps thereby escape the mysterious workings of the malignant vengeance which Horace Rockingham had threatenea to wreak upon him. As for Horace himself, I beheld him on two or three occasions | riding a beautiful horse in the Park: but I inva- riably averted my looks as he swept past my equi- page—so that I remained ignorant in what manner he regarded me. I heard nothing from any quar- ter, cither by the public prmts or by whispered rumour, to justify the tale which he had told Lady Lucia of his father’s impendimg rain; and I began to imagine that it must after all have been a sheer wicked invention on his part. Six weeks, as I have said, passed from the date on which I removed to Sloane Street. My love for Reginald grew into a perfect infatuation: I worshipped—I adored him. ‘It appeared to me as if all my life’s happiness were centred in him; and I shuddered at the bare idea that this present mode of existence was only a dream too beautiful and delicious to last. Sometimes, when he was seated by my side, I would suddenly throw my arms round his neck, strain him to my bosom, and hold him with convulsive tightness there, as if I feared lest some hand were being stretched forth to snatch him away from me forever. On his side, he was fond and loving—far more endearing even than Alvanly. Now that I was enabled to compare the conduct of the two towards me, I comprehended that Gustavus had always treated me more or less as a mistress whose favours he purchased: whereas Reginald bore himself towards me with a far more refined delicacy. Gustavus had been somewhat ostentatious in making me presents: Reginald, on the other hand, proffered them not as mere embel- lishments for my person, but as tributes of love. I likewise now understood that Alvanly had been proud of parading me as his mistress to his ac- quaintances: whereas Reginald always wished us to be alone during the time he was enabled to pass with me. In a word, my former protector never put off the habits and discourse of the thorough man-of-the-world : whereas my present one ap- peared to become a sentimentally altered being when in my society. The contrast I thus drew was therefore most favourable for the latter; and despite the occasional moods of despondency, these pix weeks of which I have been speaking, consti- tuted the happiest period I had yet known since I fled from the paternal dwelling. Loving Reginald Fortescue as I did, my anguish and dismay may be conceived when I one after- noon received the following letter, written in a beautiful female hand :~- * August lst, 1841. Without being personally known to you, I have seen you frequently, and feel much interest on your behalf, ROSA LAMBERT. The sweet beauty of your countenance, the modesty of your demeanour, and the general correctness of your conduct, apart from your actual position—have inspired me with that feeling. I am aware of your connexion with Reginald Fortescue: and being myself the victim of his perfidy, I seek to gave you from a similar fate, by giving you this timely warning ere your heart becomes too deeply enmeshed in the web of infatuation. To me was he as he now is to you—all gentleness, all seeming kindness, all apparent affection ; and I believed him to be sincere, as you believe him, One day I was awakened from this blissful dream with the same suddenness as if a thunderbolt had fallen at my feet. In a moment was I cast off—put away from him, as if by a magic process my beauty had beeome turned into loathsomeness, A. similar fate isin store for you: the storm is even now above your head : it will burst soon. While you imagine that your lover is engaged in his military duties, he en- tertains your rival at his lodgings in Pall Mall. This very day will that rival be with him! I know every- thing,—though he suspects not that I watch his actions, I conjure you to destroy this note as soon as it is read; and breathe not in his ears a syllable of its contents. Let him not know that you have received it. You shall hear more from me in due time, “YOUR UNKNOWN FRIEND.” This letter filled me with despair. I had no power to reason in respect to the intelligence it contained : the demon of jealousy seized upon my soul—I felt half mad. When parting from me at a somewhat early hour in the morning, Reginald had told me he should not be enabled to see me again until the morrow, as he had to do duty at the Horse Guards in Whitehall; and this note convinced me all in a moment that his tale as a mere subterfuge. It was about three o’clock in the afternoon when it came: the weather was un- favourable—the rain was descending fast—and purposing to remain indoors, I had countermanded the carriage for that day. But I was resolved to go at once and ascertain the truth. No—this was scarcely my motive: it was rather to unmask the perfidious Reginald, and overwhelm my rival with upbraidings and reproaches. Im this frenzied state of mind I ordered a hackney-coach to be sent for—dressed myself hastily—entered the vehicle—and directed the driver to take me to Pall Mall. During the ride thither my mind was a prey to the most anguished, torturing reflections. Oh! I thought to myself, that so much love had been thrown away upon so worthless a being! I had no power to reason calmly nor to deliberate seriously: my soul was a volcano of conflicting feelings and lava-like passions, craving a vent. I could not weep: tears would have afforded that vent—but they flowed not from my eyes. As for the letter, so far from having destroyed it, I had retained it as an additional evidence of Reginald’s perfidy; and so far from intending to remain silent as to the receipt of it, L purposed to display it before his eyes. In this almost infuriate state of mind I reached. Pall Mall, and alighted at the house where my ~ protector lived. The knock and the ring that I gave wore more than imperious—they were violent : and the door was speedily opened by a valet, dressed in plain clothes. He was a smart good-looking man, between thirty and forty years of age; and he appeared somewhat astonished at the loudness of the summons which had brought him to tho door. | “Ts Captain Fortescue at home?” I asked, en- ( comicbook: } « _