The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 304: what you’re looking at

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

oO WRG en pe nearer agentes eye ene THB MYSTERINS OF THE COURT. i ee eee tion he learnt that Amy had become a mother a ae oo Gee eee whole proceeding was conducted with as much se credy as pdisible. CHAPTER CXLI. 4 Visit TO BWs*adconn. it was now @ period of renewed bustle and exolte- mont for Christian Ashton: but all the duties he had undtktakén—and which either arose from his own senes of what was expedient in existing civ cumetances, or from the suggestion of the friehds w.ch whors he was co-operating-—were most cheer: fully performed. Cheerfully—yes! because it was in behalf uf bis generous benefactor that ho was thus deeply, deeply interesting hitmsclf,— that benefactor who had given him a home, who had bidden him entertain no care fur the future, and who had assured him that a fortune should be his own. All these things had Lord Cland@n done for Christian Ashton; and gratitude was amongst thg most omiuent qualities of bur youthful hero, The reader has seen how he first ®ecame ac- quaeinted with the tragio histury whioh so memo- rably attached itself to Oaklands—how bo had read the newspaper-yecount in the library of Marchmont House in Belgrave Square—and how he had subsequently learnt many minuter particu- lars from the old steward Purvis, He had all wlong belioved in the guilt of Bertram Vivian, alias Lord Clandon; circumstantial evidence bad svomed go forcibly to substantiato that guilt. But he bad believed in it only so long as he was in utter ignorance of the identity of Lord Glandun with Mr. Redcliffe; and then, the inetant the {n- telligence of this ideulity was conveyed to him, the speediest revulsion took place in his mind, and he becamo as firmly conviaced of Lord Clandon's innoctncs. Away went all circumetantial evi- denco!w-scattered to the winds were all the facte whieh had hitherto cumbined to tstablish that in- dividual’s guilt: for Oh! it was impossible that Christian could assoviate such eformous turpitude with one whose life seemed so pure, whose heart was 60 generous, and whose philanthropy was so noble. And then too, Queen Indora herself had eotered into certain particulars which tendod to strengthen the conviction that Christian had now formed s and thue it was with no reiuctance —with eno fear of labouring ia a worthicrs cause—thak our young hero was at presente devoting himself to such duties as the position of circumstances suggested. In pursaance of one of these taske, wo find him taking his seat in & railway carriage at the South- Kastern Terminus, a few days after the incidents we have detailed in the preceding chapters. He was bound for Headdorn —that little village in the neighbourhood of Ashfogi, to which the unfortn- nate Amy Sutton had retired in order to conveal her shame from the world. Ina couple of hours he readbed his destination; and on proceddilig to the neat little cottage where he had last seen Amy, he learht that she was still residing there. She was not however at home at the instant he ealicd: but Mie. Willis, thd farmer's widow who kept the eottage, at once repognived Christian and invited him to sater. In the coame of conversa 201 fow weeks previously—but that the offepring of her dishonour perished at ite birth. I¢ farther a that Amy had since been very ill; and that only o fow days had elapsed siuce she laft. the Couch of sidknehé to breathe the fresh sir. She had now gone to ramble for a short distance in the adjacent fields; and her retutn might bo soon expected. Mia, ‘Willis informed Christian that the tinhappy young womes had suffered even more from shentel atiguish than from physical malady— that af times sheehad beed edined with fits of vio- moods of bv Uewped depuutaney. All shi th moods aney, this the farmer's widow reldted in'n ipleit of benercient compassion, and hot with the wiiispering tongue of ecandal; dor did she exhibit the slightest curiosity in respect tothe motive of dur hero's visit. Amy sooh afterwiirds made her appearance; and Christian was shookéd by the alteration that had taken place in her. She was not more than tweuty- five —but she looked u dosen years oldor:s het countenance was thin, haggard, antl careworn. He had known ber as exceedingly handsome: he vow beheld all her beauty faded 4 while her totlet —ones so exquisitely neat — indicated, if not an actual elovenlingss, at least & disregard for all personal ombellishment. . The animation of joy however appeared upon the unfortunate young women’s features, as sho welcomed Christian Ashtun, She entertained both respect aud friendship for our young hero; and shé was deeply grateful for the present visit. “J have often and often wondered, Mr, Ashton,” she said, “whether you bed forgotten mo alto- gether. It would have been uatural if you had; for the unfortunate and disgraced ones of the earth are seldom berne in the memory—uniesa it is to be thought of with contumely and scorn———although of these feslings I at least’ knew gow to be inca- pable !” e “J hawe frequently thought of you, Amy,” an- ewored Obristian } “und it has been witb pity, sur- row, and compadsion. You judce mf rightly: I ain ey or of regarding the cunsequencus of an- other’s black fiffumy aa the results of your own willing sinfulness. Yes—1 have pitied you; and oven if IT had noc this day cume to converse with you on wmatgers of business, I should not have suffered a much longer interval to elapse ere mek- img an inqgsiry after your welfare.” Tearewere trickling down the young womants countenance; and with a criiunson glow upon her cheeks, she said, “You have duubtless heard frum Mra. Wiltis——” “I have heard all that concerns you, Amy; and I have boen distressed to learn that you have suf- fered so severely from illness. But on your part, have you received any tidings of the important events which have recently occurred in London ?” “You,” answered Mise Sutton: “my sister Marion has sent me letters and newepapore—<—” “Thek you know that Lord Glanion is alive,” interjected Ohristian,— “that he has been ar- rested =.=” ° ' “ Yes—and hkewiwe that the villain Marchmon himeelf is dangerously ill. Ohl’ cxolaimed Amy, her ayes, hitlierte lustreless, now flashing fire, “ he enust not die until I have wreaked some terrible vengeance upon him! It was byt a fow days ago | ad i ae hoe em gh Glan Sai cP? cp : » shee Bes eee O_O TE TESA ent ara se cepa gee eeteien ee ow Oe Ow wes ig ee ae eek me oe oe Co tie ees EP pi cae onions mee G eae =. eee eee ae w= COLUM LOAO© SS (CO)