The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

ee ee ee 2 ee ee see ee Glee Sem: “SRR NN t ed mer: Ries ee ey a eS a eee tad —e ees Oe Se oe eS 0 em een eee - i _ ees, Sie a Seine = was © Re ee Ee ee ee oe ‘the first glance that Florine was unhappy and do. ' and as her future daeghter-in-law. For it was a THE MYSTEEIES OF THE COURT. 299 deen grr ce SSS They were welcomed with every pearance of cor- | imagine that they are not sufficient to subdue any diality by Lady Saxondale, and wit. a real sincerity | rancour which I may have experienced in respect by Tuliana,-who was excecdingly glad havPcum-} tu what is past. I have been vindictive —terribly pany at the Castle, which to her was dull. enough, | vindictive; and perhaps [ even went too far in re- although Mr. Hawkshaw had called on each o. the/vealiag everything to Edmucd. But you must two’ mornings since the bull, * | _ - " ! make allowances for the state of raind into whick The quick eye of Lady Sazondale discovered 4t/ I ~as thrown. Conwider what [ had done for you, I had s‘«ked my own life—and I had nearly taken the Hf of anutber”” sponding in reality, and thag the gaiety she assumed 2 was only forced. Her -ladyship therefore saw that { ..* Would that you “ed effectually done so!” vjacn- Florina still pined on Devoril’s docount; and the | lated Lady Sazondale bitterly. pain of her fair young rival was a joy and atriumph| ‘ Have you still cause to be so vindictive ngainst to the heart of that vindictive and jealous womaa..QDeveril?” inquired Staunton. “Of course I have Whilo alone with Lady Macdonald for # few mo< | been at no loss to comprehend how he merited your ments before dinner, Lady Saxondale tovuk the op- | anger. For a woman of suchegrand and magni- portunity of inquiring, apparently in a casual and | ficent beauty as you possess, and who condescendcd indifferent manner, if Mr. Deveril, had made any | to fix her thoughts upon a misorable obscure artist, further attempts to renew his acquaintance at |—for such a woman, [ say, to experience a rebuff, Cavendish Square since the duel? ahd she was ine | was provoking indeed.” formed that he had not. ° “Do not allude’to it any more,” interrupted As a matter of course Lady Saxondale didqgnot | Lady Sexondale, impatiently: for she of course openly testify the spite which she cherished against | knew that it was usoless to contradict the story to Florina, but treated hor with her wonted affability, | one who had avery reason to undoretand it 20 tho. ‘ roughly. . " source of infinite satisfaction to the vindictive lady «Pardon me, dear Lady Saxondale,” he replied, to think that Florina, though attached to Deveril, | “if I dwell apon that topic for a moment; because should be sacrificed to hor own profligate and worth- | I wish you to understand me well. I am not sv less son Edmund. insensate nor so vain as to believe that you arc in * But how hud Lady Saxondalo and Harold Staun- Jove with me. I know very woll that after having ton met? With the well-bred ease of persons in . so recently set your mind upon Doveril, you car their station of lifo, and to all outward appearance sefrecly, even in the mere caprico of woman, snatct. as if nothing unpleasant had ever occurred between me up to supply, his place. Therefore you hare them. But as Lady Saxondalg had given him her some motive in effdeting a reconciliation with me. hand on his arrival, thé quick glances of deep Do be*candid, and explain what ghat motive is,” meaning which they exchanged, showed that they: “You will not, thon, give me credit for any kind thoroughly understood each other. On the ong or generous feelings towards you?” said Lady Sax- hand Harold Staunton comprehended that the ondale: “but. you think that even in this recon- circumstance of his being includ:d in tht Mvitation ‘tiliation T am solfieh P” sent to his aunt and sister, wa a proof that Rady‘ ‘2 cannot think that you entertain the slightest Sasondale purposed to sock a recunciliation with tenderness towards me—particularly after the dread- him: and upon what terr4s could euch reconciliation ful scone which took place between us at your be effocted, save and oxcept on his own conditions? house. I can therefore ouly attribute your present On the other hand, her ladyship parceived that he conduct to one of two alternatives; and if it were was quite willing to accept such reccaciliation; and only for euriosity’s sake, I should like to kuov, - she had therefore no doubt of securing him entirely which it is.” to her own interest. | And those alternatives?” said Lady Saxonda!. The dinner was served up at about seven o'clock; inquiringly. : and when the dessert was over a little after eight, “The first is, that you seek a paramour, anid have | the party descended into the gurgens to walk—for perhaps thought that you might as well take me the evening was serenely beautiful. Lady Mac- into your favour in that and the second is, donald, fatigued with the, day's travelling, soon re- that you again wish to avail yourself of my services turned into the Castle. Fiorina and Juliana kept and do not regdrd the sacrifice you must, mabe fo torether—while Lady Saxondale and Harold were obtain them.”’ thus left to thomeelves. ‘|- * Now tell me, Lord Harold Staunton,” said Lady Have I rightly understood your ladyship’s*kind- Saxondale,; stopping short and lovking hin full in ness?” asked Staunton, gently placing hor arm the face,—“do you tako me for a woman who ie in his own, and leading her into a secluded avenue. — privately profligate, though bofure the world pose “Te}]l mo avhat you understand by the term sessing an untarnished reputation?” =, oo kindness,” responded her ladysbip, but with a. “I candidly confess that until quite recently 1 amile which gave him every exouragement to pro- . believed you to be a woman of the strictest prudence eced. ‘and propriety: but you yourself will allow that I “TI ean only conclude that,you would not have have no great reason to flatter vnyself now that I invited me hither,” returned Harold, ‘unless you shall be the first on whom you 4 ve bertowed your had medo up your mind to atone for your past favours since your husbands ¢eath.” cruelty.” “On my soul, I swoar to you, Harold,” replicd “Then it is not too late to offer such aténe- ! Lady Saxondale, “that you wrong me! It was a ment?” ghid Lady Saxondale in a subdued voice. : moment of weakness that led me tu make overturés “You must indeed have but a poor opinion of to Deveril and place mysclf in his power. Now, your own charms,” rejoined Staunton, “if you | will you not believe mc’ 1 have no object in de- ee ee -D eeeeeee ee e oe e "=e oe —=-= _—_ — cnn o one ane ecomniclacclks (CO)