Rosa Lambert — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

| | | “S 4 BS TE ee oe ee deayouring as well as I could to assume an air of composure. “ No, ma’am,” responded the valet: for he did not know who I was—or if he did, chose to have the appearance of a discreet ignorance on the point. ‘ “ Are you sure?” I demanded, feeling convinced that he was uttering an untruth. “T am certain, ma’am,” he rejoined. “ My master is on guard to-day, and will not come off until to-morrow morning.” T did not believe a syllable of this assertion: the | conviction was deep in my mind that the valet was only obeying the instructions he had received to deny his master to all visitors in order that he might without restraint enjoy the society of my rival. But Iwas resolved not to be bafiled: the blood was boiling in my veins—it tingled to my very extremities: I felt assured that I was per- fidiously betrayed for the sake of a rival. “Tf your master is not at home,” I said, still maintaining an air of outward composure as well as I was able, “I will walk up and write him a note.” “ But, ma’am,” observed the valet, with a look which struck me to be one of confusion, “ there is no lady to receive you—the apartments are those of a bachelor a “No matter!’ Iinterrupted him, believing that this remonstrance was merely a part of a studied system of duplicity and subterfuge. “I will leave a few lines for Captain Fortescue.” I should observe that the house where my pro- tector lived, belonged to a jeweller, who of course had his shop and parlour on the ground floor. It ROSA LAMBERT. was at the private door that I had knocked; and : —— 73 mitted an almost unpardonable outrage against Captain Fortescue. But what was I to do? It was absolutely necessary to maintain appearances in the presence of the valet: perhaps my emotions had already led him to suspect too much, and to suppose that jealousy was animating me in my exe traordinary conduct. “T will write a few lines to Captain Fortescue,” I murmured: and I passed hurriedly into that third room which I have already glanced at as a regular bachelor’s apartment. “Perhaps you will step into the drawing-room, ma’am—and I will bring you writing materials,’ said the valet, whose tone and demeanour were perfectly respectful. “ No—I thank you,” was my response, hurriedly given: for I scarcely knew what I said, so ashamed and confused was I. “There are writing materials here—I shall not be a minute—I am sorry for the trouble I am giving “ The valet bowed and retired. As he was de- scending the stairs,a knock at the front door reached my ears; and he immediately proceeded to answer the summons. “Captain Fortescue,” said a voice, speaking quite loud enough to be heard up in the room which I had entered, and the door of which had remained open, “has sent me up from the Horse Guards to fetch the novel that came last from the circulating library.” “You shall have it,”? immediately returned the valet: and he again ascended the stairs. Here was proof positive, if any had been want- ing, that my jealousy was utterly unfounded. Reginald was indeed at the guard-room, occupied with his military duties at the very time that I I knew, from what Reginald had told me, that he | was mentally upbraiding him most bitterly! I occupied the first floor. I therefore passed hastily | literally shuddered and shivered with anguish and by the valet—and, determined not to be held back | shame at the conduct of which I had been guilty, any longer, began ascending the stairs. followed me without speaking another word. My blood. boiled to a fever-heat, as I thought that now Iwas about to burst nm upon my perfidious pro- tector and surprise him in the arms of a rival. On reaching the landing I perceived that the three doors which were there, all stood open. My glances plunged into each of the three rooms in rapid succession :—indeed, the survey was made with lightning celerity. One was a bedchamber, which a female servant was putting in order at the moment: a second was a drawing-room, and I saw that not a soul was there. The third was a regular bachelor’s sitting-room: and this also was unoccupied. I began to be astounded: a revulsion of feeling was rapidly taking place within me. Could I have been deceived ? was my jealousy most groundlessly excited? Oh! a thought flashed to my mind with the speed of lightning. Idiot that I was not to have been smitten by it before! The same mis- chievous head which dictated anonymous leiters to Gustavus Alvanly, might be now playing a similar game in the farther pursuit of the most fiendishly vindictive purposes. Was it not easy for such a deep designer to procure a female hand to pen a letter to me? But, alas! how had I been deceived by it. Yes—there was no longer a doubt: this was one of the detestable stratagems of Horace Rocking- ham. I was ready to sink with mingled confusion | The man! and for which I could not even find an extenuation in the contents of that letter; because from the very first I ought to have suspected its source. The valet proceeded to the drawing-room adjoining the apartment where I found myself; and imme- diately afterwards he descended the stairs again, no doubt having fetched the books which were required. I closed the door of the apartment where I was—I threw myself upon a chair—and gave vent to a flood of tears. or several minutes Pwept bitterly : but those tears relieved me; and then I experienced a feeling of pleasure to think that the letter was untrue—that Reginald was not faithless to me—and that instead of devoting his time to a rival, he was indeed engaged with the duties of his profession. I wiped my eyes—and now began to examine the room in which I found myself. Never was seen such a miscellaneous assortment of articles. There were foils and fishing-rods suspended to the walls—clothes tossed hither and thither—some on chairs, some on the carpet, some lying in an open portmanteau. There were several beautiful statues —gsome of alabaster, and some of marble; andif I had been in a humour to laugh, I could have done so heartily at the grotesque appearance of a hunting- cap on the head of an exquisite bust of a popular actress, as a name at the base indicated. There were hunting-whips and boxing-gloves—powder- flasks and shooting-jackets—top boots and slippers and shame: it appeared to me that I had com-|—an elegant flowered silk dressing-gown lying Gomicdoo (El)