The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

ey re THE MYSTIRJES OF LONDON. four long months, 1 have not been unmindful of your welfare. I have, as it were, watched over you from a distance; and I have learnt wit supreme satisfaction, that your conduct has con- tinued most exemplary. Miss Murray, I am per- haps singular and eccentric in my notions; and, though highly placed in the social sphere, yet I have determined to consult only my own happi- ness, at least for the future, in the most im- portant step which a man can adopt im Hife. IT allude to marriage.’—Julia started, blushed, and cast down her eyes; and this confusion on her part seomed te encourage her visitor to pro- ceed.—* I must candidly iuform you,’ lie resumed, that I have been a husband already, and that thie alliance which I formed almost in my boyhood, and in obedience to the dictates of an imperious mother, was an unhappy one. My wife was a heartless co- quette—vain—frivolous—and possessing no mind, I sought by gentleness and kindness to render her attached to her home, although I never really loved ber: but all was useless. At last she caught a severe oold when returning from a rout, early on 2 winter’s morning; and a rapid decline soon car- sied her to the tomb. This occurred two years ago. I then vowed that if I should ever contract a second union, it must be where the heart alone was inte- rested. This resolve I declared to my mother; and it has jn a measure, I regret to sayit, incensed her against me. The very first time I ever saw you, J felt myself suddenly and mysteriously attracted to- wards you. All that I have since heard or seen of you has tended to confirm that favourable impres- sion ; and Iam come this morning to offer you my hand, as you already possess my heart.’ “A faintness—an indescribable sensation of min gled joy and apprehension came over Julia, as these ‘ast words met her ears,—joy in the hope that she nad heard aright, apprehension lest she wero tho trey of a delightful vision which was too soon to be dissipated. But when she felt her hand pressed to the lips of that handsome suitor who now knolt at her feet, and listened to tho tender assurances of an uonourable and lasting affection which he breathed with manly sincerity in her oars, sho exclaimed, under the sudden impulse of her heart’s emotions, Is it possible that so much happiness can be in store for mo? ’—Ler suitor received those words as an assent to his proposal ; and, pressing the young maidon to his bosom, he said, ‘Then without kuow- ing my name you have loved me, dearest Julia?’— She murmured ah affirmative; and a rapid inter. change of questions and replies convinced him that the young maiden had ail along remembered him not with gratitude, but with affections Thereupon, sext- ing himself by her side, and retaining her pretty band in his he’said, ‘ Then henceforth, Julia, there nece exist no mystery on my part. I am the pre- tended debtor to your deceased father; and Mr, Richardson, my own attorney, followed my secret instructions in providing for yourself and your brother. My object was to place you incomfort, yet still leave you in a condition that rendered you toa certain degree dependant on your own honest in- dustry; and I have been overjoyed to find that pros perity has not induced you to relax your energies, nor led you into extravagances, nor in any way proved injurious to your fair fame, your amiable disposition, and your steady perseveranco. With éelichi, then, shall I accompany so worthy 2 woman to the altar; and with pride shall I present you to 135 the world as the Marchioness of Wilmington !'— ‘Oh! my lord,’ murmured Julia, a greater faint. h | ness than before now coming over her, as the lofty rank of her suitor was thus announced to her, ‘is it possible that you can be the brother of that young lady to whom I owe so much ?’—and then she blushed deeply, and a cold shudder passed over her frame as she remembered what «a tremendous secret she had retained in her bosom, and must retain inviolably concerning the sister of him who offered to make her tho partner of his rank and fortune.‘ Yes,’ said the marquis, attributing her emotions to tho happiness as well as the maidenly confusion which It was natural for her to expericncee under eristing circumstances; ‘that Lady Caroline whom you know, is my sister. You may judge my surprise when, on the night that I first encountered you in Hanover Square, you informed me that the spoilt dress was my mother’s. The very next morning I called at her residence and privately acquainted Caroline with the little adventure, casually saying that I had been a witness of the accidont which was occasioned through no neglect nor carclessness on your part, and desiring her when you presented yourself to mitigate as much as possible 1ny mother’s certain resentment against you. Since that period my sister has frequently spoken to me concerning you, and has recommended you extensively to her numecrous fashionable acquaintances, But, muchas I love and would trust Lady Caroline, I have never informed her of the attachment I experienced for you, nor of the fact that I was your fathor’s pro- tended debtor. This reserve originated merely in the determination to watch your conduct,—I may tell you all this now, dear girl,—from a distance. so that time might decide whether I should lay my coronet at your feet, or renounce all farther idea of an allianco with you. hank heavon! the former is the happy destiny; and now I have explained all thet may havo seemed strange or mysterious tn your estimation.’ “Julia could scarcely fimd words to express hier gratitude for all the delicate attentious and gencrous acts of which the nobleman had thus been the hitherto.unknown author: but he sealed her lips wifh a fond kiss, and then proceeded to address her in the following manner :—‘ I propose, dearest girl, that our union shall take place in six months from the present time. The reason that I suggest so long a delay is that [ inay visit you occasionally, in come pany with my sister, be it understood, so that you may learn to know me better than you now do; ana as I shall at once make a confidant of Caroline, and am well acquainted with the generosity of lier dis- position, you need not appreliend ary coolness ox hostility on her part. Quite the contrary: she wil. love you asasister. Ah! I observe that you sigh and experience an apitation of feeling, my Jutia; but you have no cause to dread any exhibition of foolish pride with Caroline. Relative to my mother, I say nothing—promise nothing: at the same time I can- not perinit her will torule my happiness. Aud now I shall take my leave of you for tho present, Juha, and ] shall at once hasten to Hanover Square, to confide all that has occurred botween us to my sister, who, I regret to state, has been confined for some days past to her ownchambcr. Alas? she, poor girl, has suffered in her best and holiest affec- tions through her mother’s pride; but I rejoice to say that happiness awaits her yet. By the sudden death of a young cousin, Licutenant Quentin has become —_— (C(O) (C DOO SS (SO)