Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

appearance

ed nothing at present but green fringes, Miss Kennedy now took leave, much to the joy of the prisoner. As soon as he thought them out of hearing, Charles rushed from his concealment, exclaiming, "What the devil brings that prying, inquisitive, old wretch here to torment us?" when his burst of indignation was cut short by the re-entrance of the identical person who had raised his wrath. An apparition could not have surprised him more than did the of Miss Kennedy; nor did the lady look much less petrified, as the thought struck her that he might perhaps have overheard their conversation, and for a few moments she actually forgot to say what had occasioned her return. As she could gather nothing, however, from Charles's countenance, she resolved to put a bold face on the matter, and addressing herself to Lady Lennox, asked, in a most insinuating tone, at what hour she drank tea; and being answered, at half past seven o'clock, she once more made her obeisance, and retired, leaving

Charles at full liberty to vent his indignation, which he did as follows:

"I really wish, Lady Lennox, that you would shut your door against that odious viper. I wish she were drummed out of the village, and whipped into the bargain; but even that punishment is too merciful for such a mischief-making reptile."

"Charles," interrupted Lady Lennox, in the greatest amazement, "how are you so severe against Miss Kennedy this morning? I am sure she cannot have offended you, for you were not in the drawing-room all the time she was here-And now I think of it-What made you go into that room ?—I hope Miss Kennedy did not observe that you came from it, as she might imagine you went there to avoid her. I should not wish you to offend the good lady."

"I suspect that your good lady, as you call her, was more surprised than pleased. on finding me here, and I sincerely hope she did see me issue from that apartment, as it may have the effect of quieting that

scandalous tongue of hers for a while. I fervently wish that she had lived in the days of Heliogabalus, who, in his rage for tongues, might have rid us of that unruly memberhe would have found it bitter enough."

"Charles," again repeated Lady Lennox, "I really do not understand you. I think Miss Kennedy a very pleasant woman, who has something agreeable to say of every one --she was just telling me how much my management was admired, and that the regularity of my family was quite proverbial. -I am sure you have no cause to dislike her, for I know she thinks you extremely handsome, and very agreeable."

"Luckily I cannot be duped on that point," answered Charles, "I have just heard her telling a thousand lies of the whole family."

"Indeed!" said her ladyship, now thoroughly roused, "what did she say ?" "That my father was a perfect tyrant, and as proud as Lucifer"

"Well, my dear Charles, we must all

acknowledge that your father is hasty in his temper, and meddles with things he has nothing to do with."

"That I was a mere puppy, and that Ellinor did nothing but flirt with officers-"

"Indeed, I must allow that Ellinor does spend too much time in that way, in place of attending to more important duties; for instance, there is"

"All this I might have borne," interrupted Charles, "but when I heard her tell Miss Stevens that you were a complete dawdle; that you knew nothing of the management of a house; in short, that you were a woman whom nobody minded-I could no longer restrain my displeasure."

"Oh, the ungrateful perfidious wretch!A dawdle! me a dawdle! A woman whom nobody minds!-You may depend upon it, Charles, that she shall never enter this house again-I am afraid we must receive her to-night, but it shall be the last time she will ever be received here.-I shall tell Sir Thomas the whole affair."

"I would not advise that; it would only vex him. Let us be civil to her to-night, but gradually drop the acquaintance."

Charles, having succeeded in reconciling Lady Lennox to moderate measures, walked out to the terrace, to investigate, in silence, the state of his own feelings, and to ponder over all that the malignant woman had said. It has not been recorded what was the result of his cogitations, but we have strong grounds of suspicion, that his indignation suffered no diminution by the action of the fresh air, and the lapse of an hour or two. We have, indeed, heard it insinuated, (with all due deference to his filial and fraternal feelings do we allude to it,) that the aspersions cast on Sir Thomas, Lady Lennox, and Ellinor, might have been forgotten; but the discovery and assertion of Catherine's indifference was an unpardonable offence, and he determined to take every possible means of resenting it.

« AnteriorContinuar »