The Seamstress; or, The White Slave of England — page 20: what you’re looking at

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

——— an i eens a - THE SEAMSTRESS. _—— too, which she kept fixed upon the fire—where penetrated with feeling and pathos, | “She died three years ago, my lady,” responded the young seamstress, the tears raining down her eheeks. ‘ Her death was sudden—very sudden: and therefore the blow fell all the more heavily. Indeed, I had retired to rest happy and joyous in the possession of a mother who loved me dearly— tenderly—devotedly: and I awoke in the morning to find myself a bereaved and friendless orphan! Oh! it was too much—too much——” And the poor girl became convulsed with grief. The Duchess rose abruptly from her seat—threw a strange look of mingled compassion and ineffable woe upon Virginia—and hurried into a dressing- room adjoining. She closed the door behind her ;— and the seamstress thus remained alone in the splendidly-furnished bed-chamber. The suddenness of her Grace’s departure recalled the young girl in a moment to a sense of the awk- wardness of her own position, remaining there as she was to receive the payment of a bill,—not know- ing for what purpose the French lady’s-maid had been so abruptly sent away,—and equally unable to comprehend the precipitate flight of the Duchess. A panic terror seized upon the maiden. Had she done any harm?—could any mischief be intended her? Poverty and friendlessness of position were not well calculated to inspire with confidence a young creature of her natural timidity, inexperience, and tender age;—and, hastily drying her eyes and cheeks, she was about to retire, when the Duchess emerged from the toilette-chamber adjoining. Her absence had not lasted more than a minute: but if its object had been to enable her to recover any amount of mental composure which she had lost during the preceding dialogue, she had certainly eucceeded, at least so far as external appearances were concerned. Once more wearing a demeanour that was calm, dignified, and imposing, she resumed her seat by the fire ;—observing, in a voice so steady that it sounded as if it had never been ruffled, “I am sorry to keep you waiting, young woman—sorry also that I should in the first instance have spoken or acted in a way calculated to wound your feelings or convey a suspicion relative to your character. My maid will return in a few moments———” The opening of the chamber door and the re- appearance of the Frenchwoman interrupted the speech of the Duchess. The money had been pro- cured: the amount of the bill was forthwith handed over to the seamstress; and to the young maiden’s respectful acknowledgment of thanks on behalf of Madame Duplessy, a cold and distant inclination of the head was the only return vouchsafed by the great lady. The Duchess took up a book, in the contents of which all her interest seemed to be suddenly con- centrated ;—and Virginia Mordaunt withdrew, won- dering why her Grace should have appeared so kind and compassionate towards her a few minutes tetas ae and so reserved and chillingly formal at ast. I ee 13 —_—i CiTAPTER V. MR. LAVENHAM. On descending the steps of the ducal mansion, with the now empty box in her hand, Virginia suddenly became aware that she was the object of earnest attention on the part of a tall, and elegantly-dressed young gentleman who was standing at a little dis- tance. His eyes were fixed upon her with an ad- miration wherein enthusiasm and respect were so far blended that it was impossible to feel that in- tentness of gaze in the common light of a libertine insolence, Virginia met his look as she slowly descended the steps—and her eyes were instanta- neously cast down: then, as the thought simultane- ously flashed to her mind that she must be mistaken and that it could not possibly be herself who was the object of such an earnest contemplation on the part of the young gentleman, she raised her eyes once more. Again their glances met,— hers so timid, : so furtive, and so promptly withdrawn—and his so full of a glowing admiration mingled with re- spect! A deep blush spread rapidly over the countenance of Virginia,—the blush of maiden confusion, as she thus acquired the certainty that the elegant stranger was indeed gazing upon herself. With quickening step she turned to the opposite direction from that which she ought to pursue: but the handsome youth was almost instantaneously by her side. “Pardon me, Miss—a thousand times do I im- plore you to pardon me,” he exclaimed, in a tone so supplicating that, in the suddenness of the surprise thus occasioned her, the maiden turned her fine blue eyes full upon him—and in his looks she read the same earnest entreaty, the same deprecating and respectfully fervid meaning, which were expressed in his voice. Pardon me, Miss—but do, I beseech you, grant me a few moments’ attention. I would not anger you—much less insult you: and yet I have been so struck by your beauty—your mo- cesty——” “Sir, you are a stranger to me—and I request— I command you to leave me,” interrupted Virginia, now at length recovering the power of speech which amazement had temporarily suspended. “ As heaven is my witness,” exclaimed the young man, with passionate vehemence, “I only meant to accost you with becoming respect. Beautiful crea- ture that you are, do not prove as cruel as you are lovely.” The blush which was already glowing upon Vir- ginia’s cheeks, deepened into the most vivid crimson ; and stopping suddenly short, she threw upon the young man a look which seemed to say, as eloquently as such charming eyes could possibly speak, “ What have I done that you should insult me?’ Then, turning abruptly round, she sped along in the pro- per direction which she should have taken when issuing from the ducal mansion. But the young stranger was once more by her side ere she had accomplished a dozen paces ;—and, with fervid ejaculations of passionate sincerity, he disavowed the slightest intention of insulting or annoying her. He besought her to listen to him for a few moments; and so earnest were his gestures, so vehement his language, that Virginia TT TT TTT te Sette Go JOO — .S (C©@)