The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 215: what you’re looking at

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

~ ey, eee eee ee ae ree ret ee ee ee 208 THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. “You can—you may,” said the old woman, im- ! explanation I hare given you, must at Ieast havo pressively. “Tf Iwere assured of that, I would reward you | most serious misgivings in your breast.” well,” was his noxt remark. How can I prove that Iam trustworthy?” de- mauded Mrs, Mortimer, ‘By telling me all you know concerning the beauteous creature who resides in that strange seclusion,” responded the young gentleman. “hen you yourself know nothing of hor or of her axrairs 2” said the old woman, interrogatively. ‘© Nothiug—absolutely nothing—save and except that she is the most lovely being that mortal eyes ever boheld 1” “ You are not even awaro that she has resided there for these three years past ?” obsorved Mrs. Mortimer, assuming a mysterious tone as if about to become more communicative. “© Yes—that fact I have learnt,” replied the young eentlieman; “and also that her name is Agnes Vernon. J havo moreover ascertained that an elderly gentleman visits her occasionally ;—and I have sometimes harboured the worst fears-—— But, no—no,” he exclaimed, suddenly interrupting him- self and speaking in an impassioned tone: “ such suspicions are no donbt foully injurious to that charming creature! I have contemplated her, myself being unseen, for hours together when shio has been walking in her garden,—and purity, inno- cenco, articssness aro written upon her spotless brow—traced in every linecament of her bewitch- ing countenance, On! if I could ouly obtain the assurance that the old man who thus visits her were 3 relation—a guardian—or a valued friend,— that he is nothing more to hor than ——” “TI can relieve yon of this suspense, sir,’ said Mrs. Mortimer, “and theroby give you a proof of iy readiness to assist you. The elderly gentloman whom you have seen visiting at that cottage, and who indeed is there at this moment ——” “ Yes—yes—I saw him enter,” exclaimed tho young man, impatiently. “ But who is he?” “ Tier father !” answered Mrs. Mortimer. “ Her father!’ repeated the stranger. “ Oh! that is scarcely probablo! You are deceiving mo :—you are pretending to give mo explanations rolative to mysterics which are likewise enigmas to you,—or you are purposely deluding me! Her father !— impossible! What—would a parent leavo his daughter—and that daughter so transcendently lovely—to dwoll in such utter seclusion -——” “Such is indeed the case, sir,” interrupted Mrs. Mortimer; “and I have little causo to thank you for thus boldly and oven insolently accusing me of wilfully decciving you.” And, as she thus spoke, the old woman mored rapidly away, well knowing that the young gentle- man would not part with her in this manner. “Stop one minute—stay—I beseech you—and pardon me!” he exclaimed, hastening after her. “I was wrong to address you in suchastyle: I insulted you grossly—and I crave your forgiveness. But I was bewildered with the intelligence you gave me: mingled joy and surprise deprived me, as it were, of my reason. J imagined tho information to be too welcome and too extraordinary to bo true !” “ And yet you ero now sought to persuade your- self that Agnes Vernon was chaste and pure, though vou were then ignorant of the connexion subsisting between herself and the clderly gentleman who visits her—a connexion which, previously to the “J admit that my condnct is most inconsistent,* exclaimed the young gentleman, in ansvrer to these reproachful words: “but I love Agnes Vernon—I adore her—I worship the very ground upon which she treads ——” “ And you have never yet spoken to hor?” asked the old woman. “J. have never dared to intrude myself so far upon her notice,’’? was the reply: “and yet she has seen mo frequently in the neighbourhood —~” ‘But she never gave you the least encourage- ment, sir,” interrupted Mrs, Mortimer, as if making an assertion, instead of throwing out a remark for the sake of gleaning information. « Never—never !”’ exclaimed the young man; “and thorefore did I think s0 well of her character, in spite of the suspicious circumstances attending hor seclusion.” “You have, then, the vanity to suppose that if the beautiful Agnos could have smiled upon any man, you were destined to bo that happy one ;”— and, as Mrs. Mortimer made this remark, licr voice assumed a somewhat caustic tone. “Oh! you havo misunderstood my words,” cried the stranger. “I intended to have you infer that IT had never seen any thing in the demeanour and deportment of Agnes Vernon save what is becoming to a young lady of good birth, genteel breeding, and taintless soul, At the samo time,” hoe added, proudly, “J flatter myself that there is nothing particularly disagreeable in my personal appearance, a9 there is assuredly everything favourable in my social position. But of this Agnesis ignorant; and I am desirous to obtain an interview with her—or to write to her in a respectful manner ——” ¢ And what has hitherto prevented you from doing cither 2?” asked Mrs, Mortimer, ‘ “T have already told you that I dared not accost her. Often and often have I longed to burst through the green hedgo which has concealed me from her view, and throw myself at her feet: but an invisible hand has restrained me—and I have oxperienced a species of awe for which I could not account, and which has made me feel as if I were in tho vicinity of a goddess. Thon, as to writing to her,” con- tinued the impassioned young man, “I was once bold enough to commit a few words to paper—and I endearoured to persuade the young servant-girl to give the note to lier mistress.” And she treated you with contempt,” said Mrs. Mortimer, anticipating the fate of the Orllet from the fact that Jane, the pretty domestic, had so in- dignantly rejected her own profer of five shillings. “You havo guessed rightly—and now I am more than ever convinced that you are well acquainted with the honest, upright, disinterested character of the dwellers in that cottage,” said the young gen- tleman. @ Mrs. Mortimer remained silent for a few minutes. v She was absorbed in thought. Should sho enter ° into this new affair which seemed almost to force itself upon her? or had she not enongh already upon her hands? She had promised to rejoin her daughter Laura by a, particular day in Paris; and there was not much time to lose. Nevorthelesy, she had a good weck, or even more, at her disposal —providing that she was specdily successful in | appeared suspicious, and calculated to raise the | ! | | EConnicloooks (CO)