Rosa Lambert — page 96: what you’re looking at

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

ROSA LAMBERT. 85 ec LS “Sao 7 "PARR ER SE RE town, containing about a couple of thousand inha- I was sitting in the parlour between nine and bitants, lies upon the high road from London to | ten o’clock in the evening, endeavouring to be- Dover: indeed the road itself constitutes the prin- | guile my loneliness—and I may even add, the eipal street. Alighting at the inn, and having | melancholy which it inspired—when the sounds of partaken of some refreshment, I inquired my way | an equipage stopping at the garden-gate, voachan to Jasmine Cottage: and speedily reached it. Its|my ears. It was a beautiful evening; and I hur- outward appearance, being neat and picturesque, | ried forth to welcome Lady Lucia—tor she I felt fully justified the description given by the house- assured it must be. And Lady Lucia it was,— agent. It was situate on that outskirt of the town | who, attended by her maid, had arrived in a post- which is nearest to Canterbury; and stood back | chaise. She wore a thick veil, which she kept about thirty yards from the road,—having a large | over her countenance as I assisted her to alight garden attached. An old man, whom I found to | from the vehicle: nor did she raise that veil as be exceedingly deaf, was working in this garden ;| she threw herself into my arms. Her maid lin- and when I displayed the card, he conducted me gered behind to pay the postilion; while I con- into the cottage, where I found his wife—a re- | ducted Lucia into the parlour,—Mrs. Bunting fol- spectable, cleanly female, whose age bordered | lowing, to receive any instructions which the upon sixty. Her manners were respectful and | presence of my expected friend might render agreeable; and I judged her to be obliging, as | necessary. well as discreet and devoid of impertinent curiosity. “Get supper ready,” I said, “with the least She showed me over the house, the interior of | possible delay: for Mrs. Richards,’ I added, which was in all respects as the agent had de-| emphasizing the name, so as at once to make scribed it. I accordingly informed the old couple | Lucia aware of the denomination I had selected —whose name was Bunting—that I should take, for her, “doubtless needs refreshment after her the cottage, and that by the same day’s post I | journey.” would write to Mr. Perkins to remit the money| “No, my dear friend,’ she said hastily, and and close the bargain. The Buntings themselves | trembling all over with nervous excitement as she had the power of letting it, as well as the London | literally clung to my arm; “nothing but some agent ; and there was consequently no difficulty in | tea—and that I will take in my bed-room. Pray my taking immediate possession. I lost no time | conduct me up to it at once!” in writing two letters,—one to Perkins, enclosing | Mrs. Bunting hurried off to the kitchen to the sum due for the three months’ tenure—and | make the tea; and Lucia, without offering to lift the other to Lucia. This latter was a very long | her veil, followed me up to the best bed-chamber, one, and was couched in precisely the terms which | which I had caused to be prepared for her recep- I had explained to her at our last interview. I| tion. Then, having closed and locked the door, took the letters to the post myself; as of course I | she lifted her veil—again embraced me, pouring did not wish the Buntings to read the address on | forth her gratitude in the most fervid strain. the one written to Lady Lucia Calthorpe. She next proceeded to take off her bonnet and On the following day I informed the woman | shawl; and in a hurried and excited manner, that I had taken the cottage for a Mrs. Richards | asked, “ How many domestics are there in the —a friend of mine—who was coming thither to | place?” 2 pass through her confinement. I devised some| ‘Only the elderly woman whom you have seen tale about her husband being abroad, and the | —and her husband, who acts as gardener. I knew London physicians having ordered seclusion as| that you purposed to bring your maid; and I well as change of air; and I was pleased to dis-| thought that no other servant would be neces- cover that my first estimate of Mrs. Bunting’s | sary.” character was a correct one: for she exhibited no} “Excellent!” ejaculated Lucia, with an air of impertinent curiosity—while, at the same time, | considerable relief. “ But that woman % she evidently put implicit faith nm whatsoever I| “ Discreet — trustworthy—- and without the told her. I allowed her to make all requisite pur- | slightest impertinent curiosity,” I responded. chases—was lavish with the money I placed in| ‘“ Nothing can be better!” said Lucia, still far- her hands—and not over rigid im examining her | ther relieved. “I have given Maria the fullest account; and though I found her scrupulously | instructions how to act: and I must trust to you, honest, yet the confidence I appeared to be so | my dear friend, to tell some tale to that old couple, ingenuously reposing in her, evidently flattered | so that they will not think my conduct extraordi- and pleased the old woman. nary—or at all events, whatever they may think, The return of post brought no letter from Lady | they will not go gossiping about it.” Lucia—a circumstance at which I was both aston-| “But, my dear Lady Lucia No! I must ished and alarmed. I thought that in any case— j call you Mrs. Richards, even when we are alone even supposing her aunt would not permit her to together, for fear of an inadvertent mention of accept my invitation—she would have been sure your real name in the presence of the Buntings.” to write. Indeed, I knew not what to think—/{ “Oh, but I never mean to have them in my but encouraged myself with the idea that the presence!’ at once exclaimed Lady Lucia. “I following morning’s post could not fail to bring | have told Maria that she is to bring me up all my me an answer. During the day I caused every- | meals re thing to be purchased which I believed calculated; ‘‘That of course she can do,” I answered, “ if to administer to the comforts of Lady Lucia: I , you do not choose to be served in the parlour.” still acted as if there were no doubt as to her “Not for worlds!’ cried Lucia. ‘ You do not making her appearance—for I did not wish her | think, my dear Mrs. Wilton, that I would let the | to come and find the place unprepared for her | people of the house see my face. Good heavens, reception. no!” EORMIEIOOKS (E(0)