The Seamstress; or, The White Slave of England — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

54 THE SEAMSTRESS. — Marquis. “If you eas to strug gle with me, he | and ieee ) ‘clock without having suceeeded in his it so—but yo ¢ | object. * Yes—’tis too true!” cried Charles, in atone of Vexed and dispirited, the Marquis of Arden re- bitter vexation, as he saw the correctness of Julia’s remark. ‘ But henceforth everything is at an end | primed with champagne, hastened home to Tavistock between you and me,” he exclaimed, as he led pet Street, burning to vent her wrath against poor abruptly into a diverging path, so as to escape tha Virginia. observation of the persons who were now approach- But if the young nobleman had fis disappoint- ing near. ment on this occasion, Miss Barnet was likewise “What have I done to offend you?” demanded ; doomed to experience hers: for, on reaching the Julia, now bursting into tears, but still clinging | house where she dwelt, the first tidings which met firmly tc the young nobleman’s arm. “ Because I | her ears were to the effect that Miss Mordaunt had discover you in company with that deceiiful chit | returned home some hours previously in a state of whom I have befriended, and whom I fancied such | considerable agitation—that she had sent for a a& paragon of virtue—such a perfect example of | broker to whom she disposed of the few miserable chastity and innocence that she could not look a | articles of furniture which she possessed—and that, 2? man in the face——” having paid her rent, she had taken her departure, “Ah! she is all that I believed, then!” cried the | no one knew whither! young Marquis, whose bitter annoyance was some- “On bidding me good bye,” said Jane, the what mitigated by this tribute so spontaneously paid servant-girl, “she eried very much, poor thing! I to the virtue of the seamstress. “ 1 suppose that| I asked her if anything unpleasant had occurred: she lives somewhere near you—perlaps in the same | but she sobbed so, that I thought her heart would” house ——” break. She could not find words to give me any “I am sure I do not know where she lives,” in- | explanation, even if she had intended: but she terrupted Miss Barnet, pettishly: “and if I did, I pressed my hand warmly, and hurried away, carry- should not be tool enough to tell you. Come, | ing her few necessaris in a little bundle. Ah! Cuarles,” she added coaxingly, “say that you are | poor girl—she quite made my heart bleed for sorry fur what has happened— promise that you | her!’ added the servant, with tears running down will see Virginia no more—and let us be friends.” her cheeks. The young nobleman was about fo givea stern} “And did she leave behind the work that I refusal to this entreaty, and follow it up by dissolv- | procured for her?” inquired Miss Barnet, whose ing his connexion with Miss Barnet then and there, | feelings as a jealous woman of narrow mind pre- —when the thought flashed to his mind that it was | vented her from sharing in thessympathy that the only through her means he could possibly hope to | servant-girl experienced for the unhappy seams- discover the place of Virginia’s abode: for that } tress. ? Julia was acquainted with it, he was well able to “Yes,” replied Jane: “she gave the parcel to julge from her words and manner when so petu- | me; and I placedit in your room. Ah! she is a lantly asserting the contrary. He accordingly re- | thoroughly honest and good girl,” added the servant, solved te adopt a scheme of cajolery with his mis- | with a profound sigh. ‘ But——” tress, and by assenting to reconciliation, worm And shaking her head in ominous expression of out of her in the course of a few days the infor- | doubt whether the maiden’s virtue would survive mation which he despaired of gleaning in any oiher | temptation and poverty, the govd-natured Jane way. slowly descended to the kitchen. Having thus accomplished a triumph, as_ she On the other hand, Julia hurried up to her own flattered herself, over her rival, and having gra- | chamber, where she found all the materials which ciously vouchsafed her pardon to her lover for his | she had procured from her friend Mrs. Robinson infidelity, Julia now insisted that he should escort ; for Virginia Mordaunt to make up. In the middle her to some placeof amusement. But the Marquis, | of the packet was a small note, sealed, and ad- fearful of being recognised by any of his numervus | dressed to “ Miss Barnet.” The contents ran as acquaintances, and unwilling to endanger the con- | follow :— vemren th Terre cere eb x sis Osmontt,; ‘would | nab | ‘© As TI would not for worlds lie under the imputation concede to the pees lady's demand. On the other of ingratitude towards yourself, and stillless be suspected hand, she was in no humour to take a refusal; and | 6¢ impropriety of conduct, I beseech you to demand from there was every prospect of another “scene” in the | Mr. Osmond a full explanation of all the circumstances park, when Charles fortunately suggested a com- | which concern myself, Perhaps he may already have promise in the form of a fete-a-tefe dinner at some | been generous enough to volunteer such an explanation : hotel where such accommodation might be readily | but if not, re you to hog his ial those details ‘ned wi x : He — which, if truly given, must fully exculpate me In your Severed ges i le see Re aetint eyes. I do not leave Tavistock Street {rom any dread of er Specrat HOLiee: ec tee ee eee encountering you: but for motives of a far different proposition; and away they sped together, through | oparacter. the now deepening gloom of the winter’s evening. “Your afflicted but grateful friend, The nobleman expected that his mistress, when “VIRGINIA MORDAUNT.” duly plied with good things and flattery, and under “Well, perhaps she is not so much to blame as I the influence of champagne and Ca} orery} would thought at first,” said Miss Barnet, tossing the seas seed ane a ee Especial note into the fire: and she then began to prepare information which he was anxious to acquire at] pos ; . for retiring to rest. her hands. But in this hope he was completely disappvuinted ; and, having passed several hours a in her company, he separated from her between ten turned to Belmont House—while Miss Barnet, well | OmMmiGdooks (E(o)