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Updated: May 22, 2025
About a year ago my sister Eleanor who had reached an age when single women begin to despair of marriage formed the acquaintance of a disreputable scoundrel, one Captain Dugald, a younger brother, I hear, of the present Earl of Hurstmonceux " "Captain Dugald! I have heard of him!" exclaimed Ishmael. "No doubt, most people have. He is rather a notorious character.
That afternoon the whole party, including the Countess of Hurstmonceux, who declared her intention of supporting Claudia through the approaching ordeal, left Cameron Court for Edinboro', where they took the six o'clock train for Banff, where they arrived at ten the same evening. They went to the "Highlander," where they engaged comfortable apartments and settled themselves for a few days.
Two important facts she had gained by descending from her dignity to gossip with an upper servant, namely: That La Faustina was really the widow of Kenneth Dugald, and that the Earl of Hurstmonceux was well pleased with his son's marriage to herself, and would therefore be likely to be her partisan in any trouble she might have on account of Mrs. Dugald.
"You were right-entirely right, Lady Hurstmonceux, in thus vindicating the dignity of womanhood. And I do not believe that any lasting blame, growing out of a misunderstanding of the circumstances, could have attached to you," said Ishmael earnestly. "No, indeed, there was not.
One paragraph said: "Among the distinguished guests present was the young Viscount Vincent, eldest son and heir of the earl of Hurstmonceux and Banff. He was presented by the British minister." Another paragraph alluded to Claudia in these terms: "The belle of the evening, beyond all competition, was the beautiful Miss M n, only daughter and heiress of Judge M n, of the Supreme Court.
"The 'privilege' was yours without assumption, my dear. You did exactly right," said the countess. "I see that my daughter is quite at home with you, madam," observed the judge. "Oh, I adopted her. I told her that I should be her mother until the arrival of her father," replied Lady Hurstmonceux, smiling.
Bruce," said the viscount reproachfully. "I am very sorry that you should have been obliged to do so, my lord! But the truth is, I have been to the telegraph office, to send a message of inquiry at the last moment to your lordship's London bankers, to ask if the Earl of Hurstmonceux had yet been heard from. I waited for the answer, which has but just arrived, and which has proved unsatisfactory."
The judge, in his good opinion of the earl, would have trusted to a simple, informal rendition of his daughter's fortune; but Ishmael, the ever-watchful guardian of her interests, warned her father that every legal form must be scrupulously observed in the restoration of the property, lest in the event of the death of the Earl of Hurstmonceux his brother and successor, the disreputable Captain Dugald, should attempt to disturb her in its possession.
"If you please, yes; I should like to do so." Lady Hurstmonceux rang the bell and ordered the carriage. And then the friends arose from the breakfast table and retired to prepare for church. They enjoyed a beautiful drive of seven miles through a wildly picturesque country, and entered the town and reached the church in time for the opening of the services.
"Do, my dear young friend," said the judge, wringing his hand as he left him. Amid the great crises of life its small proprieties must still be observed. This the Countess of Hurstmonceux knew.
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