The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 322: what you’re looking at

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i . : TIE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. . 309 “Heavens! whan I think of all you have gone will suffer law-provecdings tu be instituted against through,” rosianed Florina~and she still spoke in | her on my account: but if' she be obstinate, Mr. a murmuring tremulous voice, while the tears Gunthorpe will do his best to spare your brother again streamed down ber cheeks,—“ it i#*enough to | from as much share in tho infamy as possible.” drive mo mad. Stretched upon what was deemed | “Ob! William, I can no longor think of bim as your death-bed—believing that I no longer loved | # brother!” exclaimed Florina, weeping. “And you—smarting under ¢he valumnies which an infa- | yet it is bard to be compelled to speak thus !” mous woman had spread concerning yu——~Oh!{; “Ifl forgive him, my well-beloved,” responded it was too much—it was too much, William—dear | Devaril, “you cannot refuse to do so. But is it William! All the love I bear you, immense as it. ‘flot strange that Lady Saxondalo should have in- is, can scarcely prove an atonement—e recom cluded him in this invitation to Lady Macdonald pense!” , and: yourself?” “Again I beseech you, dearcst Florina, not: to “ The evening before last, soon after our arrival, ” torturo yourself thus. Let us hope that happy days eid Florina, thoughtfully, “ Harold and her lady- await us. In the depth of my own bitter sorrows, ship walked for an hour together in the gardon. there were not wanting some consolations. My They were alono—and yesterday Iorning Harold sister Angela—an angel in disposition. as well as in departed suddenly for London again.” name—gvas over by my bedside; and that kind-' “Indeed!” ejaculated Devoril. ‘“ Depend upon it hearted oxcellent friend, Mr. Guuthorpée, was un- | he has undertaken some frosh mission for her lady- weuried in his attentions. You know him, Fiorina | ahip.” —you have seen him; and he hes the highest| ‘Ob, my defuded, beguileu, unhappy brothor!” opinion of you. Ho is acquainted with the s¢oret; “ An idea trikes me,” continued Deveril. of our love; and I know not whether it could be to | “ Doubtless it is in connexion with this threatenod sooth my wounded spirit, or whether it were that he | law-suit, for her ladyship has received, letter from had really some esign of his own to be worked ' her solicitors to the effect that an appeal to the out,—but certain it is that with the tone of the | tribunals was menaced. But fear nothing. What- fullest confidence he bade me td’'despair not—for you rat er Harold may undertake will moat probably should yet be mine!” become known to Mr. Gunthorpe. The person “And I will,” murmured Florina, the carnation whose nae attests that document which’ you have again deepening upon her cheeks, and ber beauteons | read, isin Mr. Gunthorpe’s pay, Dv not bo afraid eyes being modestly bent down; then as a sudden that this eaptonnage instituted upon your brother’s thought atruck her, she looked up, and with a parox: | actions, is for any evil purpose. No, no—Mr. Gun- ysm of indignation, exclaimed, “ To be sacrificed to | thorpe is incapable. of wrong-doing: he is tho must the son of that bold, bad woman, Lady Saxondale— ' excellent of men.” no—never, never !” ° “Since you have such per rfect confidence in him, “And Mr. Gunthorpe declares that you William, I must havo the same. And notwith- never be so sacrilicod,” rejoined William ; “ ugh | standing my brother Harold treated him super- ciliously ‘the first night he introduced himself to what means he may have, oF ee to have, in throwing any inflyence into the scale, it ig imposible us—it wad ‘at the Opera~-I was preposscssed in tho for mo to comprehgpd.ew old gentleman’s favour.” “ He failed not to observe your kindness, Florina, * Ho is an intimate friond of my uncle the Mar. quis of Eagledcan,” observed Florina suggestively ; in contrast with Harold's rudeness.” “and perhaps he intends tw invoke his lordship’s in- “And Angela Vivaldi—that beautiful creature terference.” whose very form is the embodiment of poosy—An- “It may be 20,”. said Devel “Tt was in ac- , gele Vivaldi is your sister P” cordance with his counsel—and I need scarcely add | “She is; and I am proud of her—but for .tasons with my own earnest desire—that so soon as [ was which I will preeently explain, We avoid Uppeur Lae sufficiently recovered, I resolved upon making | before the world in the light of brother and sister. another attempt to procure an interview with you. : | Although in that sphere the very air of which is Mr. Gunthorpe by some means ascertained that generally believed to be full of blight for female ou and Lady Macdonald, together with Lord virtue, yet eho is parity. itself, Oh! Florina, if on Harold, had suddenty been invited to pay a visit to | that night when you ‘visited my abode, no ciroum- Saxondale Castle; ; and he hurried me off the day | stances had transpired to fill you with suspicions before yesterday. By accident.I farmed the ac- | and drive you away from my threshold, —i yuu had quaintance of # young man who lives in. Gains. | cromed that threahold—if you - had ‘entered my borough ; and with him as my guide, I'came yeater- home, you yould not have disdained to give your day into the vicinage of the Castle to take a view of ; harid to the ‘celebrated Opera-dancer. You would the*grounds, and see whether there would be the have seen vat her very look is chastity and inno- chance of throwing myself in you way | should you | ' ceioa—that she is a beirig of a superior order—and happen to walk forth _ This morning I re- that in manners and conduct shu is the elegant and turned hither in that has not been frustrated. ButJdearest Florina, I , stage: did you ever observe her cast a glance incon- think it would ec tals ¢ if you wera to do your sistent with immaculate modesty ?” best to conceal from he present No~-never, never,” replied Biorins. “ Angels the circumstance rene you. ate acquainted with hes Vivaldi's virtue was proverbial ; and you may cun- infamy. Mr. Guathorpe recommendy and enjoins ceive the shook that it gave me when under a fear. this, I do not exactly know what his motives aro; ful combination of circumstances, I was led tw be. ‘but he bas assuredly good reasons for the advice he lieve everything injurious alikc to her and to you. given Ho does. not bayer thas “leva Rexcnsiels But is she also acquainted with our secret? Of ne thank heaven, it | well-bred woman. You havo seen her upon the - COMIC OOO© SS (CO)