The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 352: what you’re looking at

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

en een are ee a THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 3 $30 down her cheeks. She hastily brushed them away; and with a suile of the most amiable ingenuous- ness, she proffered her hand, saying, “ Let us con- tinue friends, You are the friend of my brother —you must be my friend likewise; and 1 shall never fail to entertain a grateful aense of the ser- Vices which you bave rendered me.” “Vos,” said Captain Stanley, “we will be feionds :”’—and with au expression of manly frank- ness upon his countenance, blending hkewise with joy, he accepted and warmly pressed the hand which was tendered bim. ® A conjecture—raised up in his mind by the talismanig touch of hope’s creative wand—diffused that joy over his featurte. He fancied that he hid suddenly read the mystery of Christina's con- duct, She felt that she did not as yet love him sufficiently to accopt his suit; but she alroady re- garded him as a friend; and when she came to know him better, this feeling of friendship might expand isto a more tender 6 ntiment.e Such was the construction which Robert Stanley put upop her behaviour? and it wats natural enough. His pride coased to be wounded—his senee of morfifi- cation was set at rest—his astunishment vanished ; and he was enabled at once to begin conversing on general topics with the easy well-bred famuliarity of friendship. On the other hend, Christina thought thet her coufpanion was only pursuing the course which wes proper, manly, and delicate after the refusal ho had just experienced; and though she felt deeply for him, yet she was well pleused at the idea that he had made up his mind tu exudure his disappointment plilosophicully and @vurageously. They returned tc the mansion—whero the other guests were already assombled, with the young Duke, in the breaktast-parlour ; aud the adventure with Barbara Smedley was related to them. Chris- tian wartoly thanked Stanley for the service he had rendered hia sister; and the impression left upun the minde of those to whom ého indent had just been related, was to the effect that accident had taken Stanley in hie morniag ramble to the eput where his prosence wae so tauch needed at the instant. But the reader has doubtless compre- hended that the young «flicer had seen Christine proceed in that particular direction; and he hud purposely directed his stops in the same path that he might avail himself of the opportunity to plead kas suit. ° In the middle of breakfast the letters were brought in hy a footman and laid upon the table. There wae one for Captain Stanley. He recog- uised his father’s handwriting, and immediately opened it. Joy overspread his cquatenance: for that epistle conveyed a piece of intelligence which seemed to furnish bim with agtronger claim to tho hand of Christina than tha$ which, acvording to hig own 1 68, he could have previously asserted. Sir William Stanley bad been raised to the Peorage: he was now Lord Vandeleur; and his con wae the Hon. Captain Stanley. On communicating this intells genée, the young oBioer received the congratulations of all presant ; and after breakfest he sought an oppurtunity of speaking alone with the yourg Duke of March- mont. They retired togetber to the library; end the Hon. Captain Stanley then said, “ I have taken tho carliest opportunity to make you acquatuted 8 ‘ that something has occurred this morning, aad which must not be kept secret from your ears.” Christian looked astonished; and this surprise on his part was indeed most unofeigaed. “To dee your sister,” continued Stanley, “was to admire her: to know her was to learn to love her. May I hope, my doar friend, that yon will not consider me too boldly presumptuous in aspir- iug to the hand uf Lady Obristina Vivian ?” “Then you have spoken tp my sister on the subject M’ asked Ghristian quickly. “T have,” replied Stanley. “ And her answer?” said the young Duke, with suspense weibly depreted on his gountenance. “Lady Christina bas refused swe,'? rejoined the Hon, Oaptain Stanley; “but act im such terme that forbid «ne from entertaining a hope. Me- thinks that I can read Lady Obristiaa’s sentiments aright. She will net wed where she dods not feel ber heart to be thoroughly engaged; and as yes she oxperiences for me ne sentiment fonder than friendship. Have I, ey deas friend, your pormis- sion to aeek tu render myself acesptable to your sister? Asa man of honour, I considered it expe- dient ta oopsult you upon ‘bie gubject with the least possible delay”’ Christian neflected deeply and seriously for some moments; and es Re thus appeared to hemtate what avewer he should gige, Stanley's astanish- ment began to revive, as well aa his sense of mor- tification, After all, wae i¢ possible thet the character of the swine wes different from the estimation be had formed of it?—were they in- deed so proud of their nowly acquired rank that Lady Christina would only accept the suit of some personage bearing a lofty title? Such was the suspicion which began stealing inta Bohert Stau- ley’s mind; and his feelings were growing more = more hurt, when Christian suddenly addressed im. “ Before we say another word upon the subject,” he exolaimed, “guffer ma to have a few minutes’ discourse with my sister.” * 6 *Stanley bowed with a slight degree of coldnes, and was about¢to retire, when the young Duke, scizing him by the baud, exclaimed with an air of much conceyo, and even of distross, “ Yau must not fur go @nstent suppose that I am hesitating what duewer to give you ao far as the subject per- svhally regarda yourself. Buliove mo, my dear Stanley,enuthing would afford me greater pleasure —Ohb, yes! a real joy,” cried the young Duke enthusiastically,—" avthing, I repeat, would more delight me than that the ties of friendship which already unite us should be strengthened by euch an alliance. But~——” “Nat another word of explanation, my dege Marohmont!” ejxculated Stanley, infinitely relieved by Christian’s frankness. “There may be family secrete———~And bgsides, it is natural —it ig prapey that you abould be desirous to conegult your sister.’ Having thue epvken, Stanley hurried from the room. Obristian immediately afterwards sought hie sister in her boudoir, to which she had retired. He found Christind seated in a pensive moods inp deod her thoughts were 90 profaundly absorbed ia their topic, that sha did not hear the duor apen. I¢ wee not watil her brother was elgse by her side, that she was aware of bis presence. Then, instan- COMIC OOO© SS (CO)