The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 385: what you’re looking at

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

B20 THE MYSTEPIFS OF LONDON. “Oh! name not the horrible deed!” he groaned forth, writhing in anguish, “But it is not known—save to three or four per- sons,” hastily observed his wife, well aware that this assurance would prove consolatory. “ Feaven be thanked !”? murmured the old noble- man, clasping his hands fervently. ‘And now tell me, my dear Sophia, how you camo to learn the shocking intelligence ¢” “Tf you will compose yoursolfas much as you can, and speak but little, I will explain overy thing to you,” she answered, assuming, with captivating ten- derness of tono and manner, the position of wife and nurse. “Ono word first!” exclaimed the Marquis. “Agnos—” “Ts horo—beneath your roof,” was tho reply, “My daughter again near me!” ho murmured, joy animatiog his countenance: but in another moment a cloud overspread his features, as he said hesitat- ingly, “ Docs sho know of tho dreadful attompt that I made upon my life?” “Heaven forbid!” cjaculated the Marchioness, shocked at the bare idea. ‘ That circumstance has beon religiously withheld from her, She is howoever now aware that sho is the daughter of the Marquis of Delmour, and not of plain Mr. Vernon; and she believes you to be dangerously ill. She has indeed been my companion for hours together by your bed-side is “Dearest Agnes!” exclaimed tho nobleman, with an effusion of tenderness in his tone. “I will seo her presontly—when I am more composed,” lie added, ‘And now give me tho promised explana- tions relative to all I have asked you.” é “Listen, then, my dear husband—and do not interrupt me. You have already spoken too much, considering your depressed and enfcebled state; and Sir John Lascelles, when he calls again, will be angry with mo for permitting you to uso such exertions, Oh! you know not how kind—how attentive ho has been! But you will shortly have an opportunity of thanking him with your own lips—for he will bo here in an hour. Though the room be darkened, it is now abont cleven o'clock in the morning; and he willcall at noou, Compose yourself, thoreforc; and I will give you all tho details you require.” Thu Marchioness arranged her busband’s pillows —kissed his forehead once more—and then, ecating herself by his bod-side, proceeded as follows :— “ Thatexcellent young nobloman, Lord William Trevelyan, called upon me ao few days ago, in con- sequence of an interviow which he had had with you. It was relative to Agnes. I assured him that Sir Gilbort Heathcote and myself had come to an understanding that we should see cach other no more; and I likewise informed Lord William that it was my intention to repair with Agnes to the Continent. But after ho had taken his departure, I reflected profoundly upon the plans I had some- what too hastily determined to adopt;—and another project suggosted itsclf, For you may belisve me whos 1 solemnly avow that all my solicitude was relative to Agnes. IJler present happiness and her futuro welfare in the world alono occupied my at- tention. Thus was it that the thought stolo into my mind, of how unfortunate it was for ner to be separated from tho father whom sho jored s0 well, and how prejudicial to her interests the equivocal position of her mothor was likely to become. Thon ¢ I resolved to see you—to throw myself upon your 4 mercy—to imploro forgiveness for tlic past—and to beseech you that we might all dwell once again beueath tho same roof! For I reflected that as you had shown so much forbearance in never ap- pealing to the courts of justice to divorce mo legally—and as you had rather manifested evory inclination to envelope in secrecy the causes of our unfortunate differences, —tho conriction gained upon my mind that vou were generous cnough to be capable of still farther sacrifices for tho sako of Agnes. Oh! you can comprehend a mother's solicitudo, ny dear husband ss “Yes—yes: procecd!” exclaimed the Marquis, powerfully affected. “Well — animated with the hopes inspired by all these considerations,” resumed tho Mar- chioness, “TI passed the night in meditating upon the best course to adopt in order to procure an interview with you,—an interview after so long a separation! At length I determined to pen a brief note, stating that family affairs of the utmost importance to us both had induced me to take this step; and a letter to that effect did I accordingly write on the following morning. But when I had completed this much of my task, another idea struck mo,—which was to become the personal bearer of my own note. I will now candidly admit that I shrank from undertaking a task which might appear to you to evince a matchless audacity and presumption; but when I thought of Agnes, I re- solved to risk any mortification or shamo which could possibly be inflicted upon me.” “Oh! no mortification—nso shame!” cried the nobleman, ‘ Would to heaven that you had only come in timo to to “Wush!” oxelaimed the Marchioness, placing her finger upon her lip: “you promised that you would listen, without exerting yourself to speak.” “Proceed, dearest,” said the Marquis, who all this whilo had one of his wife’s hands locked in his own. «Summoning all my courage to my aid,” sho re- sumed, “TI resolved on presenting myself ‘at your abode. I arrived—I sent up the letter by your valet: but in a fow minutes ho came rushing down the stairs with a countenanco that had horror depicted in overy lincament. I shall not however dwell upon this portion of my adventure, You may pro- bably conjecture how dreadful was my alarm—how great my grief, when I learnt from tho broken sen- tences in which tho man spoke, tho frightful in- telligence of the condition in which he had found you. Then TI rovealed to him who I was; and, re- covering my presence of mind, bade him placo a seal on his lips with regard to every ono saro tho doctor, whom I dispatched him to fetch. Ina fow moments { was with you: I stanched tho blood— I did oll that on unassisted and inexperienced woman could do in such a case. Sir John Lass celles arrived—and tho information he gavo m-/ after inspecting the wound, was reassuring. I then resolved to remain with you; and I sent the yalot to fetch Agnes. This is all the explanation that I have to givo;—unless indeed I sbonld add that I communicated with Lord William Trevelyan, who, | ° as a generous friond and as the intended husband of Agnes i ‘Has ho visited this chambor?” asked the old nobleman, hastily. “Yes,” was the reply. “ Considering that ho wag eee tt EConnicloooks (CO)