The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 173: what you’re looking at

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

160 rE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. f evident this new thought was tending towards a| “Nonsense!” ejaculated Juliana. “ ‘We are get- desperate resolve. Mabel was still too much a prey | ting too old for such mawkish sentimentalism; and to her irritated foelings to notice the ominous ex- ; I for one mean in future té be my own mivtress. pression which Lady Saxondale's countenance hed Bat this woman—=T mt go and asoerthin if it bo gradually assumed ; and after giving vent to some more of her ill-humour, she abruptly withdrew. . “ This matteris also coming to a crisis!” mutte Lady Saxondale to herself as the door closed behind the housekeeper. ‘“ Mabel is now the most danger- ous of all those with whom I have to contend. But-——" And she stopped suddenly short, while the sinis- ter lowering of her brows, the firm compression of her lips, and the decided air with which she turned towards the window, cuficiently indicated the adop- fion of some energetic resolve. , Soon afterwards « footman entered to announce that dinner was served up. Lady Saxondale accord- ingly descended to the dining-room, where Juliana and Constance had already met. ‘The thréé ladies dined alone together that day: {here‘was no com- pany invited—and such a dinner was alwayi held as the dullest thing in the world amoiigst people in high life. For the families: of. the have Veldom | any resourecs of their own—while the frivo- latituslet of fashionable life beoome weari- r stale and flat d meas tedious. and insipid ‘to a degree but little conversa. tion passed, and that.was of a Inaguid deserip tion, Nevertheless Lady Saxondale was the wholo time watching Juligna’s ooantenance, without ; appearing to take any unusual notice of her. She looked, with the keen eye of a: miuther, to probe the young lady's sccret to the very uttermost, and ascertain, if there were any indications to confirm her worst.suspicion: but on this head she could gather nothing certain. The cloth was removed and the dessert was upon the table, when Frandje Paton. entered ‘the room’. and accosting Ledy Saxondale, bent down and whis- | pered something in a low voice. Her ladyship gere an involuntary start, and even turned pale for a mo- ment—all of which was observed by though she appeared to be deeply. occupied .at: the moment in cutting off the rind froth a slice of ping. apple. said Lady Saxondale aloud... minutes. ret end. niet the oon ixitimat tho 0 -reosived was from the sage: narty, Ten oortalo le What ould I give, to discover here business ! Bat I do not teh Now § it. is possible to go and listen at the parlour-door,” - “No—do not risk it, dear Juliana,” stance. QtebEC1s 1D one” sown mother!” =n ES a ed amongst themselves. “Thus it is thas they as seldom ding ‘without guests at their table. On: parted with so easily —— the present qecasion,' therefore, the dinner-scene-was | give you nore money- “Tell the person I will acy hn fi” | moment fhe ight wid hr te, tat | te pee “To tell you the truth, T almoee wish we “ Constas had not listened to-day when Mr. Gunthorpe called.. ‘seriouseind gra It is so shocking a thing to have one’s confidence , “I like this oi she.” With these words Julians” tripped forth from the dining-room which opened into the hall. On the opposite side was the parlour into which persons calling ox any private businces Were usually shown; and it was in that parlour the young lady knew her mother to be now. oldsetted with the woman whose arrival had been announced by Francis. No one was in the hall at the moment; and Juliana, unable to resist the opportunity and the temptation, ap- proached the parlour-door. She heard a female voioe speaking at the moment. “But I insist upon it,” said this voice, in a por- emptory manner aad with loud acconts. “I insist upqn it, I repeat.” | ® Hush! do not be eo violent,” immediately an- swered Lady Saxondale in an imploring tone, which sounded singular indeed when coming “from her haughty lips. “How can I possibly do it? The police have got fhe matter in hand-—— Yes: Rey have, and you have put them too much on right scent,” at once retorted the { woman. “ Chiffin~—for that’s the name of the prin- opal one—is a-man too useful to me at times to bo “But consider, my good woman,” urged Lady Saxondale, “how extraordinary it will seom if I send for the officer who has this matter in hand, and tell him that I would rather. put up with the loss of my property than have him proceod farther in the matter, I cannot do its. it would compromise me seriously. Atk what you will for. yourself—I will saaecaialaal « No—1 am bent of this, and will have it done,” rejpined the woman, in a still more yraremptoryt*« -* than before. “ Don’t thwart me, Lady Saxondale: or Clemo” “AD this moment J uliens's ear caught thesounds of . ¢ the stairs from the servants’ offices below; and she was compelled to make a Juliana, | precipitate tetreat, into the difling-room. Terribly annoyed. ‘fg :was ‘at being: thus disturbed in the ‘middle of Netex to @ discourse bo fraught with « Heogth deat interest, and of which she had just dd af the: circumstance of & ‘Ally one possessing ed te in sush @ ‘way to her mother. ) | Sadlod boas the sisters'wore well nigh confiunded at what hed teken: ; The object of the woman, | Soegue oenebe’ which had been said, was apparent es poate sated by jane: 008 ‘wes vuted by dag ath Whe bed Teoken into the ian} - a mast be. intimately cone ‘Heevest hers oe "etre -dpeumniionse had such ‘Wows brief re “ wer or influence dver the Saat , ” ” , le? vee and bewildering eR SS <p e Se See ee ee | has ever clans ‘The revelations our ears ree ¢ a COMIC OOOKS. COR