The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 291: what you’re looking at

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286 wife. If my suit be refused, you are rained; and will it in that case be prudent to permit her to espouse that young Mitchell, who will likewise be reduced to penury? It is clear that if sno do not accept my offer, circumstances will offectually in- torpose a barrier between herself and Leonard; and thus, happen what will, she must renounce all hope of becoming his bride.” —“ And with the convictioa that she does love Leonard Mitchell, would you accompany her to the altar?” inquired Mr. Pomfret. —“ Assuredly,” replicd Mr. Gamble. “I have set my mind upon it, and will risk everything. She is young, and a first love is seldom moro than a blaze of straw, ardent while it lasts, but speedily ex- lausted. When she comes to know me well, and to reflect that I have saved her father from ruin and dishonour,—when, too, she perceives all the de- licate attentions with which I shall surround her, and the constancy of my endeavour to ensure her happiness,—she will yield te the new influences to which she will be thus subjected; and she will learn to look upon the old man with respect and voneration, with gratitude and kindly feelings, if not with love. The trial may bo for the first fow weeks severo; and thero may be deep regrets fol- lowing upon the disappointment of the vivid hopes now cherished in her bosom. But, beliove me, sho will at length succumb to the conviction that her happiness has boon better consulted by tho course chalked out for her by us, than by that into which the presont state of her affections might impol her.” —Pomfret was man of the world enough to know that all this was mere sophistry; though Gamblo himself bolieved that ho was arguing on the truest principles: but the merchant was bottor acquainted than the old bachelor with the female hoart. Never- theless, the temptation was irresistible to tho man who hovered upon the vergeof ruin: the feolings of the father wero sacrificed to tho anxicties of tho merchant, who saw destruction staring him in the faco;—and, grasping Gamble’s hand, ho said ina deep, impressive tone, “ She is yours !” In the meantime Ellen Pomfret, little suspecting how her destinies wero being disposed of clsowhore, Was passing a couple of hours with Mr. Mitchell and Leonard. The young man had noticed, the moment she entered their parlour, that her coun- tenance was palo; and, with the eagle glanco of a lover, he likewise discovered that she had been woeping. Burning with impatienco to ascertain the cause of her grief, and not choosing to elicit an esplanation in the presence of his fathor, for foar anything might transpire to give the old gentleman pain, as he was much attached to the young maiden, whom he looked upon as his intended daughter-in- law,—-Leonard exclaimed, as soon as she had paid her respects to his parent, “ You are just in time, Ellen, to help me to tic up a few new plants which I have purchased :’—and, taking her hand, he led her into the little garden at the back of tho house. A very little gardon it was, too: but Leonard had made the most of tho circumscribed space; and he had in reality bought some choice flowers in the morning. Jt was not however to them that he now directed the lovely girl’s attention; but the moment they stood in tho enclosure, he took her hand, say- ing, “ Ellon, dearest, you are unhappy this cvening: pray tell mo what has annoyed you?”—Miss Pom- fret, who was ingenuousness itself, instantly related the scone that had taken place between herself and her father; and the toars again started from her ~~ a we THE MYSTERIZS OF LONDON. eyes, as she remembered the harsh—elmost brutal manner in which ho had spoken to her. Leonard hastened to kiss those diamond drops away from the damask cheeks adown which they trickled; and he consoled her by observing that persous in busi- ness were liable to those annoyances that occasion- ally soured the temper and rendered them severo or hasty even to the very beings whom they tored the most. Jeonard’s powers of persuasion were omnipotent with Ellen; and she speedily smiled through her tears. “And now,” continued the young man, “I will give you a pieco of intelligenco that will, I hope, indemnify you, dearest, for tho little vexation you havo just expericnced. My father has this day received a letter from an infiu ential friend, stating that I may rely upon being nominated to a clerkship in a Government Office in the course of a month or six weeks.’—EHllen ex~ pressed her delight at theso news; and after the interchango of a few tendor sentiments, the nature of which our readers can well divine, the youthful lovers returned to tho parlour. Thero,they sate and conversed with the’old gentleman until tho time-pieco on the mantel indicated that it was twenty-five minutes past nine, when Ellen roso and took her departure, Leonard escorting her to tho door of the adjoining house, whore sho dwelt. Her father had returned about ten minutes pre- viously. Tho curtains were drawn in the parlour— the lamp was lighted—and,tho supper was in readi- ness. The moment she entered tho room, the beautiful girl cast an anxious look towards her siro, to gathor from his countenance, if possible, whether his mind had bocome more composed : but sho was shocked to perceive that his cheeks were ashy palo, and that a strange, ominous light gleamed in his restless, anxious cyes. Sho with. drew hor gaze instantly, fearful lest ho might ob- serve that she noticed his peculiarity of mannor and altored appearance; and, making some casual remark, she turned to lay aside her bonnet and also to conceal the tears that again started into her oycs. For Ellon was of an affectionate disposition, and loved her fathor tenderly, and it touched her heart to the very core to behold the traces of deep, deo care upon his countenance. “You have secon Leonard this cvoning, Ellen ?” said Mr. Pomfret, in a tone so hollow that it startled her: and she could scarcely compose herself suff- ciently to murmur an affirmative.—“ And do you love him very, very much?” asked tho merchant, after a long pause.—" Oh! my doarest father,” she exclaimed, ‘you knowthat Ido! Havo we not as it wero boon brought up together from childhood ?” — Yos, yes: it is natural,” said Mr. Pomfret, bitterly: and ho walked to the mantel-pieco, turn- ing his back towards his daughter, to hide the emotions that swelled his heart almost to bursting. But Elien caught sight of his agonising coun tenance in tho mirror; and, terribly excited, she sprang towards him and threw hor arms around his neck, crying, “ Oh! my dearest parent, some dreadyy ful griof oppresses you! May I notshare it? Can T not console you? Is there anything that I, poor weak girl that I am, can do to case you of this load of sorrow ?”—“ Yes, Ellen,” hastily responded hor father, dotermined to jcome at onco to an explana- tion with his daughter; for suspense and delay wore intolerable. “ You can do all, overything for me: my honour is in your hands! ‘Tis for you also to decide whother we shall be re~ EConnicloooks (CO)