The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 329: what you’re looking at

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

_ehetehe. $16 there at the moment, the beautiful countenance of the youth, his classio-shaped head, and the expres: | eloq sion of his features, would havo proved a fine study. The complexion of his face was slightly embrowned by a long ‘residence in tho Italian clime; but dis neck, and so much uf his shoulders as the open shirt revealed, were as white as the skin of a woman. Onc hand rosted berncath his head—the other lay outside the bed-clothes. And a beautifully modelfed hand was it, with tapering fingers and almond- shaped nails that the fairest scion of the aristocracy might have envied him the possession of. In a faw minutes the door opened, and the woman whom he had rescued from the water made her appearance. She came elone; and shutting the dour, sat down by the bed in which Deveril was " lying. ". ‘I am not accustomed,” she at onco began in her harsh disagreeable voice, “to much softness of fecling; but I could not possibly Guaway without saying that I do possess sufficient to sender me grateful for your noble conduct. How do you feel now? Ave you better?” Extraordinary was it that at the very Snstant the woman asked these questions, Deveril felt a sudden return of that sense of exhaustion which had seized upon him on the river’s bank. It was no doubt a faintness produced by the fatigue of sitting up in bed to partake of the food he had eaten, and also by having convorsed with the woman of the cottage during the whole time. He murmured that he felt very ill—asked for water—and ere it could be given him, sank off into unconsciousnes4 dyain. When he opened his eyes, the woman was bendjng over him, bathing hi# head with a wet towel; and in a few minutes he recovered completely. She now gavo him a glass of water, and questioned him with an earnestness amounting to even a degree of anxiety as to how he felt. He assured her that he was much better;—and now, as his eyes regained their complete power of vision, and the light of the candle fell upon the woman’s countenance, it ocourred to him that she was gazing upon him with a singular expression in which interest and curiosity appeared tu he blended. Slowly did she resume her seat by the side of the bed; and again she asked if he felt better ? *Yes—much better,” he returned. ‘I do not even feel as if I had so recently experienced a faint- ing fit again.” “Do you think that without exhausting yourself,” inquired the woman, “you could talk to me for a few fuinutos ? ” “No doubt,” replied Deveril. “But, my poor creature, I do not wish you to ay any more to express your gratitude.” “T am not going to say another word upoh the subject. Perhaps I ntiy bo enabled to prove by deeds—which are better than words—that I am grateful: for you have saved my life. And who knows but that it was intended for me to trip upon the bank and fall into the river that you might have an upportunity of saving mo f” . ‘Intended?’ echoed Deveril, gazing upon the harsh repulsive features of the woman with ui- feigned astonishment. “ Yos—-intended,” sho said: “I mean, by heaven. I suppose, young man, you believe in Providence ?” “Indeed I do—most sincerely | !” replied a Deveetl sinoerity and gravity with which she spoke. ceed.” THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. and am he spoke, his looks sent upward a muto but uent thankegiving for his deliverance. “And@ begin to do so: but I did not always,” quitkly rejoined the woman. “Do not interrupt me,” she continued, percoiving that ho was again stricken by the singul@ity of her looks and lan- guage: “you are too weak to talk more than is necessary. Nevertheless I wish you would answer me a few questions: but don’t inquire why | put them. Your namé is William Deveril: I suw it on your card just now amongst the things taken out of the pockets of your wet clothes. You are the same, they, who fought with Lord Yarold Staunton? Ah, poor young manu! no wonder you are weak and enfeebled. Yet weak and’ enfeebled as you are, you perilled your life for me. Were it for a beauti- ful creature of sixteen, the act would still have been noble: but for a miserable wretch such as I am, r is beyond all praiso!”—and again did the ular woman gaze with a peculiur expression a a Doveril’s countenance: then she muttered, to herself, “Dark hair—dark eyes—dclivate aquiline features--short upper lip, with an aristocratic curl -—beautiful teeth, white as pearls, and faultlessly even——” “Tf,” said Devgril, with a good-natured srauile, “these are your questions, I really cannot hear them.” “Yes, singularly brilliant teeth,” muttcrad the woman to herself, as that smile revealed the pearly objects of her admiration. “ But to the point,” she spoke aloud. “Do you know who your father was?” “T hope so,” replied Deveril, again smiling; for the question struck ‘him as almost ludicrously singular: “and I revere his memory.” ‘Then ho is dead? How long ago did he die ?” askéd the woman. Tt immediatély occurred to Deveril that the woman really hetonged to the gipsy tribe, and that she was about #% exercise the craft of her race in fortune- telling: bué being naturally too good-natured to offend her, he again smiled, saying, “If you have really nothing of importance to say to me, you can well understand tit Iam in no state for a prolonged discourse,” “T knew you would interrupt me with thoso obser- vations,” remarked the woman. “In this world one dares not ask a question without stating the why and the because. But will you believe me that my objects arf important; and therefore if you sgeak unnecessarily, it will be your own fault.” Proceod then: I will humour you,” said Deveril, egain being struck by the manner in which the woman yegarded him, as well as by the mingled €é Pro- “T asked you how long ago your father dietl?” . “Two years.” And on his death-bed did he tell you nothing? did he leave no farticular documents behind him ?” * Good heavens! what mean youP wherefore these questions P” cried Deveril. “Do not excite yourself,” enid: the woman. “You must really let me go on in my own way: but you begin go perceive that it is not through mere imper- tinent curiosity I am questioning you. However, if you fopl excited now, I will meet you any where you like to-morrow.” ‘ . — ae ange a ag LOAO© YN S rr (CO)