A Fair Mystery: The Story of a CoquetteBrame, Charlotte M.
General
A Fair Mystery: The Story of a Coquette
Brame, Charlotte M.
Fiction
"It is the price of celebrity," said the earl. "A man who wishes to
advance with the public must always keep himself before the public eye.
You would be surprised how famous these little paragraphs, as you call
them, have made you already. People often ask me about Earle Moray. You
will have a greater name than this some day, and you will wonder how you
have acquired it."
In the meantime he was wonderfully happy. He was not to commence his
engagement until the middle of April, and the earl insisted upon it that
he should continue at Linleigh Court.
"Lessons in social life are as needful as any others," said Lord
Linleigh. "You cannot do better for the next few weeks than spend as
much time as possible with Lady Estelle. I will introduce you to the
chief magnates of the county; and so you will be acquiring knowledge of
one kind, if not of another."
The next great event was a visit from the Duke and Duchess of Downsbury
to Linleigh Court. The duke had long desired to go, but the duchess,
prouder than himself, constantly refused. At last curiosity prevailed.
Lord Linleigh wrote such glowing accounts of his happiness, and such
descriptions of the beauty of his daughter and the happiness of his
wife, that it was not in human nature to keep away any longer.
Then, indeed, was Lady Doris puzzled. The countess seemed to have but
one anxiety: it was not for herself at all, but for Lord Linleigh's
daughter--that she should look beautiful, that they should admire her,
that she should make the most favorable impression on them, seemed to be
her sole desire. The young beauty was highly amused at it. They were
talking one morning, and Lady Estelle held a long, shining tress of
Doris' hair in her hand.
"I hope," she said, suddenly, "the duchess will admire your hair,
Doris."
"Do you, Lady Linleigh?" was the reply, with a little raising of the
eyebrows. "I am not very anxious about it myself."
"My darling," said the countess, impulsively, "do not say that. I want
my mother to admire and to like, even to love you."
"It is very kind of you, Lady Linleigh, but it is very improbable. I
fancy that I remember her grace. She is very tall and stately, is she
not? with a proud, high-bred face--not handsome at all, but very
aristocratic?"
"Yes," said Lady Estelle, faintly, "that is she."
"Then I am quite sure, dear Lady Linleigh, she will not like me. I must
have been quite a child when you paid that memorable visit to
Brackenside, but I remember her much better than I remember you, and I
am quite sure that she looked as though she would like to shake me."
"But, Doris," said the countess, earnestly, "you must try to make the
duchess like you. You will try, will you not, my dear?"
"Will you tell me why, Lady Linleigh?" asked the young girl.
The countess grew pale and agitated.
"Do it to please me, my darling, because I want her to like you--do it
for my sake. Will you, Doris?"
The girl laughed--a low, rippling laugh, that had no music in it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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