The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 207: what you’re looking at

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

e ee ee ~— SEAS me EE = p Cs WP Cee oe ger eer rete CET EE See | oe @ 194 THE MYSTRRIFS ———— eae: OF THE COURT. CT a a hundred pounds—it was totully uscless to ask her | to greater advantage. The ovening costume which to furnish from her own purse the much larger amount that he needed. Iic dared not explain to his brother-in-law the preci truth of the adven- ture with the false Luscar; because ho knew per- fectly well that not for u singie minute would Sir Frederick Lajpam put faith in such a tale — but that on the cobrary he would bo gure to regard it as the moat shal.ow and impudent pretext for ob- taining an additional supply of monvy. What course was the Viscount to adopt? Hoe knew not: ho was cruelly bewildered—ho was miserably per- plexed: he had no heart for the enjoyment of the festivitics to which he had come; but he had made lis @ppggrance at Tudor Lodge in tho hopo that the chapter of nccidents might evelve sume cir- cumstance which he could possibly turn to ins ad- vantage. Thus, if, for instance, he should find his brother-in-law in a better »nood towards him than usual --if the gratified vanity of beholding a grand entertainment prove wost brilliantly aucccessful, shoul open tho heart of the City merchant,—or again, if it were possible to induco Anastatia to plead on his behalf, devising some pretaxt fur the plea iteclf,— Lord Rushbrook was, deterinined to be ready to tako advantuge of any such fayuurable Incident. Amougat the equipayes which rolled up to the entrance of Tudur Ilouse, was the earriago of Queen Indora; and tliy contained Christian and Christina. Tho moment they entered the bril- liantly-lighted saluon, Sie Wrederick Latham led his wite furward to greet the twins with u fitting welcome ; anil the amiable Anastatia, already pre- disposed’ to like them, way at onep sinitten with the conviction that her syuipathics had flowed in a ehanacl which would yield no futuro causo for regrot. There was suinothing su exceedingly inter- esting, eve pathetically tauclung, in the appear- ance of tiis brether andestister—sguch a stiiking similitude between them—and their porsonal beauty wag of eo high and intellectual an order, — that 16 wds ywpossbie for any one who had a heart suscuptible of right aud proper fecling, tn be uthe-- wise than moved tuwards this yeung pair. Thaugh their miuners were naturally rotired and unubtru- sive, yot had they gentility’s periect glosy: every gesture denoted good breeding ; and tleero wag an clegance as well as a refinement abgut them which would havo Jed a stranger to believo that they were the offspring of ono of the highest families in tho land. Christina leant upon her brother's arm,—ber beautiful shapo set off by a costume which was charactcrized by tasteful elegance ; and though she had received costly gifts trom Queen Indora and from Mr. Redcliffe, yet did she now wear little jewellery,—not because she heraelt egotistically appreciated tho poetical aphorism which soys that “beauty when unadorned 18 adorned the inost,”—but because her taste in this respect was naturally simple.® Her raven hair flowed in heuvy tresses upon her polishdd, stain- less shouldcre; and as this was the firet (iow she had ever mado her appearance in so large and brilliant an assemblage, there was a certain flutter in her heart, which gave a carnation hue to her cheeks; and this animation rendered her beauty not mercly intcresting, but hkewise brillant at the moment. he wore—the black dress cuat and pantaloons, with the snowy white waistcoat—set off the slender | symmetry of his shape: aud his dark hair, parted in nufural curls above his high open forehead, ene framed as it were that seat of the loftiest thoughts, No wonder therefore that thie beautiful young couple—fur tha word beautiful is not misused even in reference to the magculine jrood looks of" our young lero himaelf—shauld have created a con- sidvrable sansation wnen they entered the saloon. Sic Brederick Latham perceived the effect thus produced: ha saw that the young pair had in a moment become the qynosure of attraction; and though he outwardly betrayed not what he felt, yet did he inwardly congratulate himself on the policy which had induced hjm to invite Christian and Obristina to hig entertainment. After Sir Frederick and Lady Anastatia Latham had eynversed for a little while with Mr. and Mies Ashtyn, to dancing cummenged. Sir Frederick requested Ohristian tu open the ball with her lady- alip,—thus doing everything he could to put our herp forgvard as his principal male guest. Le hitugelf nevor danced: byt Visoount Rushbrook bee pare Christina’s partner for the first quadrille. This first quadrille was just drawing to a close, when Christina, on glanctuyg towards tho extreinity of the room, caught a glaupse of a countenuney which brought the warm blood up to hor cheeks, but the next instant that colour vauished—and for wu few momenta sho was oxceodingly palo. ‘This transitory display of emotion on her part however passed uanotyeod; and the dance being over, the Viscount candycted her to a seat. Ho remained converaing with her fur a fow minutes longer; and then, aa her brother rejoined hor, the nobleman retired ta gnother part of tho ruvom. Sir Frederiok Latham almost immediately catno up to discourse with the twins; apd soon did tho splendid band givo notice thag the noxt dance was about to’ come ruenca. Oliristian was introduced tu sume, young lady of rank fur this second quadrillo ; and searcely had ha quitted, Christina’s side, when a weli- known vuice, epeaking low and tremulously, s iid, © May | buvo the pleasure of Miss Ashton’s hind on the presont occasion P” All the proper pride, modesty, and sulf-possession of the young lady immediately camo to her nid, us she roso from her scat and gave her hand to Lora Octavian Meredith: fur he i¢ was of whose coun- tenance sho had caught a glimpse, as ere now stated, amidst the lovkers-on at the farther ex- tremity uf the brilliantly lighted saloon. <A sense of duty, having several phases—-duty towards her- solf—duty towards this young nobleman who was the lasband of another—duty towards that other, the amiable Zoe, who was Christina’s friend—1n- apiyad the young maiden with a dogrce of firmnece which made her heart glow with satisfaction at the thought that she should be enabled to command it, ° No change took place iu her countenance: her hand troubled not as it rested in that of Lord Oota- vian ;—yot hee hand trembled—and she felt that is did sv. For a momont her looks had encountered his own when she rose from her seat to give him that hand: but ashe led her to tho place winch they were to take in the dance, she laoked straigh§- forward, yet without huving any visible air of em- Ber broth-r Christian certuiuly never appeared | barrussment or restraint. Nevertheless, although ¢ SS a OTS LTT ee | COMIC OOS Lo) SS (CO)