The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 331: what you’re looking at

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a eee a 318 ¢ C THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. at tho same time they learnt that they had an- other of whose crimes they could only think with blended dietr‘ss and horror. Yes—bitterness was mingled with the sweetness of the twins’ refiec- tions: but still there was happiness for them,— happiness fur that beautifully handsome young man who now bore a ducal .title—happiness for Queen communisated to them the happy intelli- genco that Mr. Coleman had set off té London to report the issue ofall these proceedings at Oak- lands to him whom they eo nearly concerned ; 80 that our hero aud heroinc know that not many hours would elapse ere Bertram Vivian would bo relieved from all suspense, and would have tho CEES BURR rrr epee IG TEEPE TL that maiden of transconding loveliness whose name joyous consciousness that hig innocence would be a patrician dignity graced! And at one time this triumphantly made apparont to tho whole world. young man had served in a humblo capacity the’ The discourse of Queen Indurn and the twins very kinsman who bore that usurped title,—the was interrupted by the entrance of Purvis, the very kinsman who cnjoyed the wealth that was faithful old steward, who came as the bearer of a now to be ull Christian’s own! But, Ah! if there special request to him whom he now for the first were one reason moro than another for which our time saluted as Duke of Marchmont. ; young hero rejoiced in the wondrous change that ‘“ My lord,” he said, in a voice tremulous with had taken placo in hie circumstances, i¢ was that ' omotion, “permit an old man who liked and loved h« could placo the coronet of a Duchess upon the : you when little dredming who you roally were, to brow of that charming Isabella who had loved so offer his felicitations on your attainmont of your faithfully, se devotedly, so unselfiebly. | just rights. And in you, lady,” continued Purvis, The twins embraced each other over and over , turning towards Christina, “1 recognise a rosem- again when they were left alone together by Queen | blance to your poor mother.” Indora: they wingled their tears as they spvke of | ho steward, the Queen, and tho twins were all their perished parents—and they smiled upon edth | much affected ; and the two luttor grasped the old other in mutual congratulations for the bounties | man by the hand. which all in a moment soemed to be showering upon | “I come,” said Purvis, after a pause, during their heads Then they exchauged sulemn looks; and | which he to a certain extent regained his sclf- they phuddered simultancouals, and Christian drow ; possession, “with a message from that dying his sister closer to him, as they spoke in half-hushed : man ” and awe-inspired whispers of the wretched man! “If he wish to see me,” sald Christian, “I will whom they had ere now seen knceling, crushed goto him! If he be penitent—truly ani sincerely and overwhelmed, at their feet: but again they penitent—I will not refuse him my forgivencss, smiled as they exultingly exclaimed, “ ‘Thank although he tuok my father’s lifg!” heaven, iée innocence is made manifest |” “And your ladyship,” said the old steward, And though neither at the moment mentioned . again addressing himself to Christina—“ wll you the nawe, yet in the sympathy and unison of their accompany my lord your brother ?—for tho dying hearts did they mutually comprehend to whom the | man ::nplores the pardon of you both !'"* allusion pointed—that benefactor whom they hhnd; “ Yes—I will go,” replied our generous-hearted known as Mr. Redcliffe, and whom they had sub- heroine. sequently learnt to be Lord Clandon or Bertram , Queen Indora glanced approvingly on tho twins ; Vivian, and who was now the inmate of a felon’s und they issued from the room, fullowed by Purvis. gaol—but a geol from which he would shortly bo , They ascended the staircase: they pause? for a released! And Oh! what a deep debt of grati- | moment at the deor of the chamber in which lay tude did thé ‘twins feel that they owed to thet | tho «dying nobleman; and in the sympathetic unison high-minded, noble-hearted Queen who had toiled® of their hearts they*exchanged louks which were as on 80 laboriously, so perseveringly, antl so arduously, | much ag to imply that they both felt the necessity to bring all matters to that crisis which should at | of conquering all repugnances as much as possible, the same instant afford the opportunity fur proving in order that they might sinooth the pillow of the Bertram Vivian’s innocence, and for proglaiming dying penitent. that they themselves wero scivus of the ducal| Purvis gently opened the door; and the twins house of Marchmont. But vn the other fe how? entered.” By tho couch kuelé Lavinia, her faco ynmense was the compassion which Chrisjian and | resting upon her hands; and by her sidd knelt the Christina experienced for the unfurtunato Lavinia! ! village clergyman The physician was standing —that lady whom they knew to be so innocent. close by the head of the bed, with a solemn ex- and so amiable, and who had proved a ministering : pression of countenance: for though accustomed angel to the busband at whose hands she had sus- to look upon death-scenos, yet this one was at- taiped so much wrong in so many different ways! : tended with circumstances cxtraordinarily calou- The twius had been left alone together for nearly | lated to strike the heart with awe. But the dying an hour ere Queen Indora returned to them as, nobleman himself—»-Oh! what pen can describe morning was advancing. But duriug that hour tho ghastliness of his countenance — the utter how much had they to think of—how much to talk misery of his looks? Hia hair which had only re- of—what subjects of wonder and horror to con- cently begua to turn grey, had actually grown template— what contraste to draw between the past ' many shades whiter during the last few hours. and the present—what fears of sweetness and sad- ' Instead of having the appearance of a man in tho ness to shed in alternate ehowers ! ' prime of fife, he looked as if at least sixty winters And. oop the Queen came back to them; and had passed over his head. Chri threw hereclf into the arms of that: Lavinia and the clergyman, upon bearing tho Soversiga ledy who had never treated her as an door gently close, quitted their kneeling pustures; inferige, but always as a friend: and Obristiau,¢ arid tears gushed forth from the eyes of both taking her Majesty's hand, presecd it to his lips. Christian and Obristina on oatohing the first They sat down to converse together; and the| glimpse of the countenance of her who had so ' ‘ € LOAO© COLUM SS (CO)