The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 345: what you’re looking at

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

+ for instance, Sir Edgar and Lady Beverley, Sir Frederick and Lady Latham, and Oaptain Stanley were frequent visitors at Marohmont House: nor must we omit to observe that Sir William Stanley himself, when passing any time in the metropolis, was a welcome guest in Belgrave Square. Lord Octavian Meredith and atill remained abroad : but srequently did Christina correspond with her friend, Armytage’s daughter, who indeed had proved one of the very first to send written con- gratulations to both herself ani her brother on their elevation to a brilliant position. The nup- tials of Christian with Isabella Vinoent were to take place when six months should have elapsed from the date of the events at Oaklands; and in the meantime the young ldvers frequently saw each other. ‘ One day a cab drove up to the door of March- mont House: but the occupant of it would not immediately get out. She—for this ocoupant was of the feminine gendor—was attired in her Sun- day apparel: she appeared in all the Slogy of a new silk gown, a very fashiorable bonnet, her gold watch and chain, and a pair of lemon-coloured kid gloves: She delivered a message to one of the domestics,—which the man forthwith took up to the youug Duke and Ledy Christina Vifian. It was ta the effeot¢hat Mrs. Macaulay requested permission to pay her most dutiful re- specte to bis Grace and to Lady Christina. The twine at once desired that she should be shown up; and the domestic accordingly proceeded to hend Mrs. Macaulay out of the cab with every demonstration of respect. As abe followed the footman through the marble hall and up the superb staircase, she could not belp giving half audible utterance to the thoughts which were passing in her mind. “Well,” said the worthy woman, “tkis is in- deed a palace !—and only think ¢hat I should have what's culled the entrée of it, and be treatéd by this powdered and lace-bedisened gentleman ”— thus alluding*to the lacquey—“ ‘ust for all the world as if I myself was a real iady! Ab, whit a splendid palace !—and what « lodging-house it would make! Why, there must be at least a dosen sets of apartments on the firet floors alone! They'd let each at four guineas a ve :—four times twelve are forty-eight—that’s forty-eight guineas a week!—and one might add anothtr twenty guineas for the letting of the uppex roome! Only conceive such a lodging-house | it would bea fortune in a single year! And the quantities of cold victuals that would be left and never asked for! Why, if every lodger only left the leg of a fowl, and a single glase of wine in hie decanter, it would keep a regiment! And then too, people living in such a house would never think of lock- ing their tea-caddies, and marking the cheese and the bread to see that the: seryants didn’t touch them! Oh, what a lodging-house |” Mrs. Macaulay was lost in mingled awe and wonderment at the vast field which she bad thus opened for her own contemplation ; and the proba- bil? - ie that she would have gone on wondering at ny.es there were any more stairs to ascend, if elnbdi had been conducting her to the top of the house. But us he halted on the first land« ing, and threw upen « door to announce in @ very ‘oud vuwe “ Mra. Micaulay,”-—tne worthy woman 4 HE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. suddenly regained her self-poesession, and gathered herself together as it were for her appearance be- fore the twins, ' Although she had mustered the courage to pay this visit, she felt by no means certain with regard to the nature of the reception she should expe- rience. She knew that she might reckon upon being received with civility: but judging the world according to her own somewhatciroumecribed no- tions, she fanciel that the young Duke would prove coldly dignified and Lady Christina politely distant. Gseat was her surprise, therefore—and infinite her joy—when the young Duke and his sister, hastening forward, caught each aehand, and gave her the kindest welcome. They had not seon her since their change of circumstances : for immediately after the events at Oaklands Christian had taken up his abode at Marchmont House— end Lord Clandon, after his release from Newgate. had repaired to the same destination ; so that there had sbeen no occasion for our young hero to all at the lodging-housee in Mortimer Street. hen she found that‘she thus experienced so friendly a reception, Mre. Macaulay could not keep back her tears; and she whimpered out her thanks, as well as her congratulations on the change of circumstances which had overtaken the twins. “ Dear me!” sho said, sinking down upon a sofa, “to think that I should live to see you, Master Christian, a Duke—and you, Miss Christina, a Jady! But I always thought there was something distinguished about you both; and I said so to Mre. Wanklin, and to Mra. Chowley, which keeps the baby linen warehouse in the Tottenham Ovurt Road. Well, dear me! what strange things do happen in this life! You remember Captain Bluff, my lord? Well, he got promoted from a Graves- end steamer to a Margate one; and then he was ao high and mighty that he refused to marry Mies Chowley; and so she went into hysterics,’ while ber mother went off to her lawyer. Amd then there was an action for breach of promise; and I was summoned as a witness to appear before the bigwigs at Westnfnster Hall. I’m sure I never should have passed through the ordeal if it hadn’¥ been that I had proviously taken a little drop of rum which my new lodger had left in his bottle the night before.” “ And pray how did it all end?” asked Chris. tiap, with a smile. “ Why, Captain Bluff proved that he had neve? promised, but had only thrown sheep’s-eyes at the young lady. So he left the court triumphant, with alot of Margate and Ramegate steam-boat Cap- tains; and they had a grand dinner at Blackwall —while Mrs. Chowley had to pay all the costa. Ah! it toade a hule into the profits of the baby- linen, I can tell you¢ But dear me, to think that Mr. Redcliffe should have been a lord after all— and that since he should have married a Queen ! So I’ve had a real Dake and a real Lord living et my house; and all the neighbours look up to me as something very superior indeed.” “ And what of your friend Mrs. Sifkin ?” asked Christian, still speaking with a smile at Mes. Macaulay's garrulity. “Oh! she and me are more at loggetheads than ever,” responded the worthy woman: “she’s so jealous and envious, you know !—and when she hears from the asighboure how I’ve had the 4 COLUM LOAO© SS (CO)