The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 212: what you’re looking at

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

wha. . eet Fe @ athena nw <-aies Ste eee! Gp eee | e a Te Ee ey eS ee, Re a OO, gE EE ES ee 9 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ee Te ‘‘Christina,” he saig, “I havo profited by your own noble example. [ will not tell you how much I love you—because—bocause—I have promised that nothing now shall flow from my lips to which you may not listen. Just now I felt as if thore were despair in my heart! I came hither—I re- fected by myself—I comprehended you—I knew why you seemed cold to me! It was your duty which you were yerformjng. Ah! und you have awakened me to a sense of minc! Yes, tiny ro- ae. a 3 aw mip Gresewyeeus wePw-e a ag a i99 in ity own sacrifices. They returned to the ball. room; and there Octavian immediately quitted Christina’s side. Hncountering her brother he shuok the youth warmly by the hand, and held him in discopree for a few minutes,—he himself now conversing with a manly calmnees and self. possession. Christina subsequontly explained to her brother everything that had pressed. Meanwhile Lady Anastatia Latham, bethinking herself of the key of the safe, deterrained to place solve is taken: every sacrifice shall be made for | it in somo drawer or secure nook until she should her who kas made, and is still making, such im- | have an opportunity of restoring it to her husband. mense sucrifices for me! I will not be outdone in | Sho felt for it in hor dress: but it was gone. For generosity—in magnanimity. Christina,” he added, | a few moments sho was frightened: she thought in a voice which was tremulous, and so low as to be scarcely audible, “ I leave England to-morrow -——~I act out to rejoin Zoe {" “Lord Octavian,” replied Ghristinu, scarcely able tu keep back the tears which ineffublo emo- tious sont up to the very brims of her eyclids— * you are now performing the noblest part—you are taking the most generous course which you could possibly adopt——avud heaven will bless rou}? ° © Alas! Christina,” snid Meredith, in a low decp voice, as before, “happiness and duty do not always go hand in hand !”’ “'Yes—you will be hayfy, Lord Octavian !” ro. plied Christina, impressevely ; “ beenuso your con- scicnee will tell you thaf you are acting rightly— aud because heaven, wluch ever succours good ine tuntions, will give you atrength to perform your duties thus! Youu vill go to the amiable Zoe - vou will rejoin her—you know bow deeply and fondly she loves you ” ‘“ Knough, Christina!” interrupted Octavian, now with a ust of vehemence; “speak not thus, or you will deter me from nv purpose !” “ WHeaven forbid!" ered the young maiden, em- phatieally. “ My lord, in Zve’s nawe I thank you fur this noble resolvo that you have adopted. And now loj us retire hence.” “What! not another word vefuic wo separate, Christina P” said Octavian, again spexhing pas- aionataly : “ no word of hope--nu word of pro- Thine 7 “ My lord,” she interrupted him— and it was now with a certain friendliness of manner, blending with true maidenly diguity,—“ you have resolved upon a good deed: you are at longth duing an act of justico: fur heaven’s sake mar it not by any weakness or folly now! Let us at once retire, my lord —— And if you need one word— yes, just onu word—let me bid you rest assured that you shall have my prayers for the welfare and the happiness of yoursclf and your amiable wife !” Christina, you are an angel !” exclaimed Mcro- dith: “you inspire me with courage to do wy duty! And bcliove me it shall be performed !” Without another word, Lord Octavian gave his arm to Christina, and led her forth from the con- servatory. She glanced furtively at hw counte- nance, and porceived that 1t now had fh certain flush upon it--a cortain animation, as if arising from tho heart’s satisfaction at a strongly adopted resolve to perform a sacred, solemn duty. Chiris- tina horself was not unhappy: no, she was happy: for perbaps stronger atill in ker mind was the sense of duty; and the self wartyrising heart, when truly pure and virtuous, experiences a bliss 5 she must have left it in the lock of thegafe: then she remembered that she felt it in her bosom whon about to give it back to Sir Frederick; and noxt she recalled to mind the circumstance that she had arranged tho lace upon the corsage of her dress when seated at the extremity of the room. Thither she repaired: and she fuund it lying upon the guaintly-chalked floor, close by that ohair in which she had sat. She now placed the key in one of the mante]-ornaments,—little suspecting huwover for what purpoge it had servod duriog tho iuterval that 1t was lust from her possession. At one o’cluck in go mourning the supper-rooms were thrown open; and a splendid banqyet was given. Wo however pass cover all details of the festive scene, inasinuch as therewith no incident is connected requiring special mention in the pages of our tale. Daneing was resumed after suppers but several of the guests began to take their depare ture = Foreinost amongst them were Christian and Christina. We should observe that Lord Octavian Meredith did not make his appearance at ull in the supper room; and amidst such a number of guests lis absence was not noticed by Sir Frederick and Lady Annstatia Latham. Yet he had not quilted the mansion: he@had no heart for the fese tivity—but he still lingered at Tudor House in order to breatho ono last faroWell in Christina’s ear. Je seized this opportunity just before her dwparturo with her brother. “God bless you, Christina!” he said, taking her band and for a moment prossing it fervidly. Tho look that he flung was full of unutterable omotions; and for an instant—but only for an in- stant—her ownscourage seewed to be giving way within her. But the nex6 moment it was ree ignincd; ang sho hastily whispered, ‘ Remember, ‘my Jord, it is in your power to achiove Zoe's happi- ness for the remainder of the timo that Gud may permit her to dwell upon this earth.” Christina then quickly turned away; and taking her brother’a arm, proceeded with him to the car- riage; for their adicux had already been paid to Sir Frederick and Lady Anastatia. We have said that several of the guests took thoir departure about the same time, immediately after supper. Aimbngat these was Viscount Rush- brook: for, contrary to his usual habit, he re- insined not to take hia fill of tho delicious wines which were placed upod the board. In spite of his mingled flippancy and reckleasnesy, he felt unersy: that countenance haunted him — yet diunly, vaguely, and impalpably; for, as wo have already said, he had not the slightest idea of the individual’s features—no definite notion of the lincamente of that face. ; Se a> aS aS Sas alii eee: COMIC OOS Lo) SS (CO)