The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 348: what you’re looking at

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

ee a, agh.-- rrr: ow «= mae qefinds that I yield to her first stipulation ? iv ® =~ 2: ee Gee 6 ee, - es eee. & a... THE MYSTERTES OF THE OOURT. — = = O81. » ieee -——_—s =e = theusand pounds! and who knows but that dee: will double the amount of her demands when she | No— | ry 2 Ge ee eee ee 2. a aie =S .b ee ee) = mop: 335 em “eve ee=e= . = . -] garden, where they soon divided themselves into | couples — J ulinna and Mr. Lawkshaw pairing of iato one avenus-—-Lady Macdonald and Florina into Iimily Archer ust be dealt with in somo other; another —and Lord Harold Staunton remaining way: And now return to your chaise. It is uscleas | algne with Lady Saxondale. ~ prolong the discourse atepresent.” But seareely had thu two last-mentioned thus found themselves together With these words* Lady Snaxondale turned | —and ere n single syllable of any consequence had abruptly round, and began retracing her steps passed between thom—the sounds of a travellin i, towards the caatle. inclined to rejoin her ladyship,and seck an expla nation of those ominous words to which sho had just given ulterance. Dut with a cold shudder he feared to have their meaniny completely cleared up; and therefute hurried bask to the chaise, which quickly conveyed him on to the cast. As he alighted at the entrance-gates, he met his sister Horina, who had discreet left Tuliana and Mr. Hawkshaw to walk by ,thamselves in the ~ garden,’ knowing that the latter was paying . his court lo the former. * “Ah, Flo!” said TWarold, wh the usual cpreless, indifferent manner with which he was ageustomed ; to treat his sister. “Lounging about by yourself— eS) 6 eee a eee = on an > = ee ra ie PS ee = PR eI is I ass RE ies ae ee ais a NS ch?” “You havo returned unexpectedly, have you nob” inquired Florina, with a look of somewhat Ansious scrutiny at her brotleer’s appeagance, whieh salficientiy indicated that bo had not been in bed all meht. “Oh! I was desifous to gel. back,” he answered, assuming an off-hand manuer. “You know, when I went away I promised to rejoin you as soon as possible: But you lpok sirange, Furina? Has anything happenedP Whatis the matterP? “Nothing, nothing,” replied the young damsel. “You seem as if you required erest,—you shave doubtless travelled all ni vht—-” “Yos--I shall ga and lie down for ane hour or two:?—and thus spenking, Lord Harold Saunton hastened into the castle? “Oh, my poor unhappy brother!” murmured Florina to herself, as she turned abruptly away ani procecded along the bank of @lo river, “ What will beeome of you, if you are mdeed, as I suspect, by some means ensnared in the meshes of Lady Saxondalo ?” Hours passed away — evening came—and the company at the castle asseinbled at the dinner-table. Mr. Iuwkshaw had been inPited to remain: and he of course sat next to Juliana, towards whom his attentionsevere eo marked that Lord Harold Staun- ton had no difficulty in perceiving he was paying his court to her. Lady Saxondale did tho honours of tho table with her wonted display of good,brocding ; and it would have been difficult for a casual observer to discern tho agitation of a troubled soul bencath that 8xtern’l self-posyession. Fiorina was silent and pensive: for not oven Deveril's parting injunc- tion, that she was to disserpble tora. short period the unpleasant thoughts which his. revelations had excited in her mind, could lead the young damsel so far to play the hypocrite as to appear joyous or gay wen she was receiving the hospitality of a woman whom sho alike dreaded and loathed, and while she was trembling for the welfare of a brother, whom she knew to be ensnared in that designid¢ woman’« ¢ramrne!s. After dinncr the whole party descended into the geet coop wWeiee: =: a. @ a2 8 A Lord Harold Staunton stood | eguipago dashing up to the castle, bul conceal. d ‘irresolute for nearly a*mninute; sand he was half | from theie view by the treos, reached their cars. This is doubtless the Opera-dancer,” said Laily Saxondale. “If so, I shall seo her alune. Do not atterapt to make your appearance: for afier all you have told me, I question whether she avould be over well pleased to meet you.” “But what course do yu purpose to adopt 2” + yo wea a ea inquired Harold, gazing earnestly upon Lady Sax- ondalo’s countenance. | “© T must bo entirely guided by circumstances,” rejoined her lad}ship. A fomostic now mae bis appenrance, with thy intimation that a lady, who had just arrived ina post-chaise, sought an iromediate interviqw with the mistress of tho castle. “ “Did she give her card or name f” asked Lady Saxondale, with perfect self-possession. “No, my lady,” returnod tho dumestie. “Sho said that as she was unknown to your ladyship, it was uscless to do so.” o I will see her,” said Lady Saxondale: anil ale accordingly re-entered the castle, the footman indi- cating tfe apartment to which the visitress had been shown. 9 *° As the door wits thrown open and Lady Saxondule crossed tho thresholl of Uhaf room, she arined her- self with al her patrician dignity—iuvested herscif with all ber hauvhty pride; and drawn up to her full height—stately og a queen, yet elegant anil graceful in all her movements --she accusted the visitresa, who rose from the soat which she bad taken. At a glance Lady Saxendale scanned! her from head to fuot. She saw that she was handsome —that she was dressed with more magnificence tintin taste-—and likewise that sho possessed a hardihoud and an effrontery well calculated for tho businoss upon which she had come. Tudeed, the spirit oP the visitress was such as to prevent her frof expe- riencing the slizhtest embarrasament on finding herself in the presence of the haughty and brilliant Lady Saxondale, whom however she regarded wiln some jittle degree of caciosily ; for though she hid occasionally scen her in her bux at the Opera, aad also in her carriage in the park, yet éhis wys the first time Chat she had ever lookad her face to face. “Whom liave I tho pleas are of addre ASSL *;" inquired her lsalyship, with a cold politeness, and sceming as if soe entertained not the slizhtest ilsa of who her visitress was. “Perhaps your ladyship may have hedrd of Mademoiselle D’Aletabert ?” “No, nover—at least not to my present recollec- tiony’ responded Lady Sasondale, pretending to reflect, as if sile wero tuxing her memvry: and still by remaining standing, she ‘sought iy keep the dans- use standin: likowise. And yet I havo seen your ladyship at the Italian Opera,” resumed Miss Archer, whose pride was hurt at the thought of hor namo being so utterly un- known to Lady Saxondale. iemetaniaen “atte f] r] 5 . , aa» 2 owen Uwe, a ee ee 0 -ee eh - a-at. Boe WR ftce ches 2 Eee Ld _— HTS ERE coy 5 SS AUC (C©) OOO)