The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

ws = quae the task of meeting all difoulties and accomplishing all ends,” seme 4 eee =e Oe Ladf Saxzondale’s musings wore suddenly inter- | rupted by the bursting open of tho door nearogs to whero she sat,—for there were two Goors to that spacious apartment ;—and tho housekeeper Mabel bounced into the room. By thoeggility of her movements she certainly appeared to have got woll rid of her rheumatism; and-if she had been éating the most peppery viands for digner she could not possibly have*been fired up with a greater degree of irritability than sho displayed at present. We may éven go so far as to state that she was in‘a boiling raze; and her red face, inflamed as it was with passion, looked like @ perfect conflagration in oon- trast with the white cap with large’ frills that bor- dered this rubicund physidgnomy. “Mabel,” oxclaimed Lady Sdxondale, starting from hor sest in anticipation of a scene with der irate housekeeper; “ what is the meaning - abrupt injgusion p” “Intrusion indeed!” screamed forth the woman whom this unfortunate woed now appeared to excite almost to a positive frenzy: “everybody is bent on insulting mo! But I will put up evith if no longer. There 1 is that jackanapes of a fellow who calls himself{—— Mabel !”” wried her ladyship, “take care whal you say !”—and it was a strange look that she threw upon her housckeeper. “Tell moe, what has my son been doing 2” - ‘Doing? ho is always doing something to vex and annoy mo,” was the response. “I never saw such a sneaking, cowardly fellow in all my life. He lus been and told his valet that he will have me bundled out neck-and-crop. just becausg I, didn’t stand aside and curtsoy to him as he. came down stairs this afternoon. But you know verg well that n’t put his threat into execution—don't you, Lady Ssxondale ?” “Mother,” said Juliana, now rising from the sofa and advancing towards that part of the roum where this scene was taking place, “I hope You will not belicvo everything ¢hat Mabel says against Ed- inund: for I must declare thet s more insolent woman than this never had existence. She is con- stantly showing her airs to me and Constance ; and all the servants of the household hate her” — . "Oh! they do, do they?” shrieked forth ‘Mabel, the sharp tones. of her querulous voice ringing through the room: “then F will make them have something more to hate me for—end. as for you, Miss, I snap my fingers ab you.” | . “Mabel, Mabel!”: cried Lady Baxondale, who appeared cruelly tortured by this cane; “T must Insist —— .” interposed Juliana, a things have come “ Mot to titis pass in respect to Mabel that. either you or "Fos iny part, she must show who is mistress here. T am resolved not to put up with i ivsdlénce any .longer:"—and with these words Splisas walked | out of the room, closing the door sdmewhat vholesitly behind her. ; or “There! you soe how I az vb i” erléd the woman the instant she was alonegwith Lady Saxon- . dale. “Everybod in fhe house Shink they have right to insult me | ¢ “Compose yourself, id Lady Saxon- dale, with @ look and accents of earnest entreaty. : , = Se gene . = a ——_ — — OOO) THE MYSTERIES OF THE court. yOu had bettor tell them to do go; or e | wot eb a lady 8a; 159 “Tt ist useless for ‘you to fi givo wa way to y these fits of TEIH an"? “ Bago ‘indeed !” she echoed. “Then why do oy et mie—veh P Answer te that—answer me “gil must say. thaf. you eithor imagino insuits where hone are int or else draw, them down upon you? own head, « No one, Mabel, would travel out of their way to put a ) wanton and unmerited insult upon you.” “Ah! I suppose you, are ‘going to turn round: upon me now.. But. you shan’t thopgh,” cried Mabel, with threatening looks and gestures. “ Re- colloct, Lady Saxondale, that with a .single breath I could blow to the winds all tRis fabric of — Hush, Mabel—husb, for God’s sake! talk not so.wildly—so rashly |” exclaimed Lady Saxondale, as she flung a quick glance of apprehension around. “The yory walls may have eare-——But stay—lct us come to some understanding. You are not happy beneath this root seand over and over egain I have offered to provide for youelsowhere. Why will you not retire to some comfortable little retreat, where, with a handsome allowance, you can he your own, mistress and do exactly what you like?” “Why don’t I?” ejaculated Matnl: a? many s. In the first: place, because*I don’t choose to be kicked off like an old shoe: in the second place because I am fond of authority, and therefore mean to keep my post of housekeeper here; and i in the third placo bapause [ hate certain porsons be- neath this roof, and therefore enjoy the opportunity of showing my dislike.” Baar last words the woman spoko with a fiendish ity which testified to the abhorrent nature of isposition ; and Lady Saxondale became deadly oe and trembled in every chord and fibre of = whole being as shé listened. “But, Mabel,” she said, subduing hor emotions as well as she could, “this is most unreasonable on your part. Do, for heaven’msake, have some con- sideration for me! What have I ever done to offend you? Have I not treated you with confidence— dane all I could to make you happy-——— “Come, none of this stuff and nonsense, ’ Lady Saxondale!” interrupted Mabel, who looked as if she were determined not to be appeased in any way. “I just tell you once for all that I mean my autho- | rity in this house to be Second only to your’e—that I will have. that jackanapes of a fellow and that minx Juliana treat me with becoming r t. So have my ‘revenge, no matter what are the conse- quences.” Tho woinan had gras a akput to fing out of the made a motion for her rogm, when | toremsin; = a Well—what is ae ‘deraanded ‘Mabel ingo- lently,@ 0" 7 7 You myat pot-—you really must not give way to these’ hu - “Humours indeed ”—and Mabel burt forth into another. ‘rade,’ pretty well in the same strain as before. While she was thus giving voluble vent to her perverse and malignant feelings, Lady Saxondale gradually grew grave and thoughtful. Some idea seemed to be expandiig in her mind, and 1 wae ctl »> the handle of the door COMMUC SS (CO)