The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 7 — page 66: what you’re looking at

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without seeming te do so, as he thus spoke; and she was shrewd and penetrating enough to discover that beneath his parade of magnanimity there was a real cowardice, In truth the Hon. Augustus Goftly was as chicken-hearted a young gentleman as ever by sub paltriness of disposition disgraced the British uniform. Let the recollect that weare by np means drawing him as a type of British officers generally—nor of those of the Guards especially. In his foppery, his conceit, his extravagance, and his dissipated habits, he might certainly be taken as the representative of a large elass of military men bearing commissions: but in the cowardice of his nature he constituted an ex- esption. " “ Come,” said Armantine, suddénly assuming a moat lively air, “ we will not talk any more about this odious captain. The champagne ought to put asin good spirit’. Come, sing me a song !” “I never sang in my life, my dear girl,” replied Softly. “The Guards, you know, don’t sing.” “Well, but we must do something to amuse |, ourselves,” exclaimed Armantine, now exhibiting all the gaiety and sprightliness that characterize the women of the country to which she belonged. “Ah! there is your uniform! I have a very great mind to try it on and see how it fite me.” . “Do!” exolaimed Softly. ‘“Oapital idea f— Gelicious, ‘pon my honour !”” , Armantine sprang from her seat, laughing merrily; and first qf all she put on the Hon. Augustus Softly’s cap with the gold band round it. She looked at herself in the glaes ; and as the cap reated above the long flowing glossy hair, and the countenance wore an expression of mis- chievous archness, Mademoiselle Armantine looked quite charming. Softly was enraptured: he con- sidered the whole proceeding exquisite ; and any one might indeed have envied him the facility with which he was amused. “ Now for the coat !” exclaimed Armantine: and she was about to put it on. “What! over your dress ?” said Augustus. *'You wicked fellow, what would you have me do P" and she tapped him playfully on the cheek. “Surely it will fit me as it is? You are not so very stout—neither am I.” Thas speaking, and leughing merrily all the while, Armantine put on the red coat: but she could not faster? it across her bosom. Mr. Softly volunteered his aid; and as he availed himeelf of the opportunity to enatoh divers little licences with his beautiful mistress, the playful tapping of the eheck was renewed, accompanied by laughter more hilarious than ever. But all of e sudden Armantine’s countenance underwent « siriking change; a faint shriek burst from her lips; and on the Hon. Augustus turning hastily round in the direction to which her eyes the middle age—perhaps « trifle pest it ; grey whiskers and moustaches,—-the latter anew ee mrs a teenie | SE Shee 3: 6 ee Ewe of | seem good were looking, he started on boholding the cause of ight. derably enhancing the fierceness of his look. His brows, 'y thiek and overhan were now much corrugated, as if with the infuriate which were peat up in his soul, but seeking to have e vent, and determined to flad one too. He. wore a sort of semi-military apparel, of a somewhat Catiquated and well-nigh exploded fashion. A surtout coat, all frogged and braided over the breast, and with hooks and eyes, fitted tight to his strongly built person, and was closed. up to the throat. He had grey trousers, with red stripes; and on his head was a species of foraging-cap. He wore buckskin gloves; and had altogether the air of a military man of the old school. | » Mr. Softly’s fears at, once suggested that Armantine’s terror could have been created by nothing bud the appearance of Captain Oartwright —and that therefore the formidable Captain Cart- wright this fierce-looking individual must assuredly “Save me from him, my dear Augustus!” said Armantine, flinging her arms about the neck of her lover, and clinging to him as if in the very frensy we Ohe ! Tu dear,” ‘Oh—yea—yes —T['ll save my dear, stammered the young Gusrdeman. with very pale countenance. “ But perhaps the gentleman —the Oaptain, I mean—for I auppose it fe Captain Cartwright to whom I have the honour of speaking --will be 60 good as to explain-—~—” “Explain, sir?” ejaculated the flerce-looking individual, now seeming ten thousand times more fierce than at first: “I never explain !—~—unless it is with such things as these:” and he pointed towards a sword and a pistol-case which lay upon a side table. “ Perhaps, sir,” said Mr. Softly, plucking up all the courage he could possibly call to his aid in order to meet the ¢ crisis, “if you were to do me the honour to—to sit down—and—and a glass Of wine——~—” “My demeanour here, sir,” interrupted the Captain, closing the door violently behind him, “depends entirely on the answers I receive té a few questions I am going to put. In that young lady, sir, I entertain a very deep interest———” “Don't for heaven’s sake, irritate him, my dearest Augustus!” whispered Armantine, as with bountenance averted from Oaptain Oartwright she tremblingly clung to her lover's arm. “A very deep interest,” continned the flerce- looking intruder; “and moreover I have her father’s authority for taking any step that may to me according to circumstances.” “Ab, my poor father!” murmured Armantine. “But pray, my dear Augustus, do not—do not anger this dreadful man-~or he will kill us both one ” “T may at one time have entertained a tender sentiment for that young lady,” continaed Captain Cartwright; “but circumstances have ocourred to alter that feeling—and now it is a fraternal or for Her. I have take OOO) COMMUC SS (CO)