Rosa Lambert — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

ROSA LAMBERT. eH ~ she expected her confinement to take place: | namely, at the close of September. She shook me warmly by the hand—poured forth the most fervid expressions of gratitude—and altogether displayed so much feeling that I thought I must have judged her erroneously to some extent, when, after the previous interview, I had come to the conclusion that she was naturally cold, callous, and apathetic. “The time approaches, my dear Mrs. Wilton,” she said, “when I must avail myself of your senerously promised succour. It will be impossible for me to conceal my position many days longer : I need hardly inform you that it is to the danger of my very life I have hitherto succeeded in veiling it.” “And your maid,” I asked: made her your confidante ?” “ Yes—Maria is in my confidence,” responded Lucia. “She is a woman of about eight-and- twenty—discreet and reserved—faithful too, I am convinced. Ah! you may conceive how deep was my humiliation when I had to confess my secret to her !—but she told me that for some weeks pre- viously she had suspected it, and yet had scarcely dared harbour the thought which nevertheless amounted almost to a conviction in her own mind. T told her of the frightful outrage to which I had been subjected: she was shocked and painfully affected: she embraced me, declaring that she would go through fire and water to serve me. I told her that heaven had sent me a friend in you, my dear Mrs. Wilton; and she was infinitely re- joiced at this announcement. At present I am staying with my aunt the Marchioness of Sudbury. My father and mother, brothers and sisters, are all upon the Continent; and this is indeed most for- tunate. I managed to induce my aunt to give me a pressing invitation to remain with her for a few weeks; and thus my family did not think it at all strange that I should remain in England. Ina word, my secret is unsuspected where suspicion was to be so much dreaded ;—and now it remains for me to pass through the final ordeal.” The unhappy young lady’s voice sank into the profoundest melancholy as she gave utterance to these last words: a half stifled sob too fell upon my ear; and even through the veil, which she kept down, I could see the tears glistening in her eyes. “Keep up your spirits, dear Lady Lucia,” I said; “and everything shall be done for the best. I have a plan settled in my head; and this absence of your family from England is most fortunate— “has your ladyship inasmuch as there is but one person now to de- ceive, instead of half-a-dozen to be similarly dealt with.” “And that one person is my aunt, the Mar- chioness ?” observed Lady Lucia inguiringly.- “Exactly so,” I rejomed. “Is her ladyship very particular P does she keep a close watch over you? Think you that it will be easy or difficult for you to leave her for six weeks or so, if a very excellent pretext be devised for such absence ?” _ “My aunt has a great idea of the strictest pro- -priety, reserve, and bashfulness being maintained ‘by young ladies,” answered Lucia: “ but having not the slightest reason to suspect me of duplicity or double-dealing, she would no doubt be blinded by any sufficient potent, if it be possible to invent one.” ———— ee SSFSFSFSSSSSSSSSSSFMSSSMmmmmMsFeFeFFsssFFFFSSFSSSSSeseseh i —— - > ~ oman = ~~ 83 “Oh! the pretext,” I exclaimed, “is readily planned. Indeed, I have thought over it—I ‘have pondered it well—I have considered it in all its bearings during the two months which have elapsed since last we met. Tell me, Lady Lucia, at what boarding-school were you,educated ?” “At Mrs. Arlington’s at Bath,” was the young lady’s response. “Very good,” I went on to observe. “Then at Mrs. Arlington’s your most intimate school com- panion was a certain Catherine Rivers—or any other name that may suit your purpose better. But be it Catherine Rivers. Well, this Catherine Rivers has grown up, like yourself-—and has married a gentleman high in the service of the East India Company. She is now Mrs. Wilton. Her husband is in India—she remains in England on account of her health—and she has a beautiful little place some thirty or forty miles from Lon- don; or at least so far that the Marchioness of Sudbury shall not be inclined to take it into her head some fine morning to drive over there to see her niece. Now, do you begin to comprehend me? I write you a letter from this beautiful place of mine—which, be it understood, has yet to be taken :, I remind you of our former friendship—TI recall to your recollection the intimacy which sub- sisted between us at school—I recapitulate the vows and promises we exchanged, to the effect that this friendship should last for hfe: I throw ina few good-humouredly satirical allusions to Mrs. Arlington and the teachers—with perhaps a harder rap at the French governess or the drawing-master, Insshort, I make my letter as natural as_ possible, and give it such a semblance of truth that when you hand it to the Marchioness to read, she shall not for an instant suspect it 1s otherwise than com- pletely genuine. Of course I give you a most press- ing invitation to come and pass a few weeks with me at my beautiful place; and thus, you see, dear Lady Lucia, all that remains for you to do is to persuade your aunt the Marchioness of Sudbury to permit you to pay the visit to your old school- fellow.” “Oh, my dear Mrs. Wilton!” exclaimed Lady Lucia, “how can I sufficiently thank you for all your kindness? So much forethought and in- genuity added toso much generosity ! and you a stranger too, to have taken such compassion upon me! Oh, I have no doubt that my aunt the Marchioness will be completely deceived by such a letter as that which you propose to write. But you have yet the country-house to take—and all this will occupy time !” “Not a moment shall be lost, dear Lady Lucia,” I answered. “I waited but your summons to bring us together; and pardon me for observing that it 1s4your own fault if the matter is driven off to the last instant.. However, now that you consent to my plan, I will see about the requisite arrange- ments af once. There are house-agents in London who have upon their books such a country- residence as will suit—small but comfortable, and ready furnished. Then I will go and see it; and while at the place, will write you the promised letter—so that it may bear the local postmark, and thus have the most genuine appearance in every detail.” “My dear friend,” said Lady Lucia,-in a voice that was mournful as well as hesitating and in- Go 0)(6)(6) ss (E(©)