The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 377: what you’re looking at

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ems ER a ar ce ET OIE Dar oma ‘ i i ot ae abzerved after along pause. “ Elizabeth, you are acting most wisely—-most prudently: you are acting in u way that dues you infinite hunour. Yes, my dear IKlizaboth—the good name of Lady Everton musl be screened—rsaust be protected: and therefdte her vile brother-in-law must be dealt cautiously with. You will admit mo to your counsela—you will suflur me to adviso with you relative to each consecutive step you may take. I see that you ar, gn with the soundest sense and the most mature judzment——”’ « Be assurod, air,” responded the lady, still under the influence of that unaccountable power which ‘| Mr. Gunthurpe had in so brief a space of time ac- ' quired over her, “ I shall be only too happy to have a gentloman of your wisdom an& goodness to suc- ; cour and eaunsel me.” | “ And now on® more word,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, locking her very hard in the face.* “You suspect who your mother 1s: have you likewise fourfd any clue tu the name of your father ?” Ludy Bess started at this question; and she gazl upon Mr. Gunthorpe with amazement and intense curiusity. Low did he know th&t she was ever ignorant of her father’s name? Not a woyl to that effect had beon spoken since he entered the hause: not a word to that effect had she ever uttered to Llenrictta; not a werd to that effect had sho ever breathed to a soul who, so far aa sho could see, might have montioned it to Mr. Gunthorpe. Tow then could he know it? Who was he—this Mr. Gun- thorpe, that had become so suddonly interested in her affuirs, and evidently knew more'than she could rem of ? ° “Ah, I seo whatas passing in your mind,” h suid: “but you must not become th6 questioner now. Perhaps tho time will shortly coue when I shall have sttange things to tell you: but that mo- ment is not now present. Again I ask you, Elisa- beth——and I conjure you tu respond——have you any idea who is your father P” “Wait ono moment, sir,” she said; and immedi- alely left the room. , In less than a minute she returned, bearing a letter which sho handed to him, saying, “Read this. It was weitten to me from Dover, by the Marquis of Villebellc, who met Sir John Marston there.” “Ah! Sir John Marston at Dover?” observed: Mr. Gunthorpe, as he opened the letter: then, hav- ing ‘bastily seanncd its contents, he slowly folded it up again—rpturned i¢ to Elizabeth—and began to pace tu and fro in great agitation. She watched him without saying a word: for there was something in his lookc and his mannor which made her feel a specios of awe, as if- there wero sanclity in his emotions—a sanctity upon which sho dared not obtruder “ We have said enough for to-day, Elizabeth,” he suddenly exclaimed, stopping short and taking her hand. “Thera is much more I wish to learn from your lips—the ontire history of yoer past life—the history also of your brother Frank: but it must be postponed. You must think over all that has taken plice within the two hours past: you must study THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. a comparativo stranger unto you. In a day or two you shall see me again: but take no step in the meantime’ without making me aware of.it, And now one word more ere we ‘cavo this room to return into the other. You have n funds—I think you told me—beyond a quartéfly allowance of a hundred pounds: and your brother fias nothing. You havo : 1 ~ I a Adolphus to maintain——In short, doubtless you | are not too well off. Give mo pen, ink, and aper.” ; " Mr. Gunthorpe spoke these last words with the | tone of a man who was accustomed to command, and, to be obeyed likewise tke instant he com- manded. Elizabeth Chandos, still undef that mys- fie and unaccountable influence which gave him an empire over her, placod writing materials bofore him; and seating himself at the table, he wrote something on a slip of paper. “There,” be said, flinging down the pen and afasting up from the chair, “ you will accept that as a proof of the cordial friendship I have offered you. Now let us go into fhe other roum :”—uand without suffering ,her to wait and see what he had written upon the paper, he Jed her forth froin the parlour. They entered the opposite one, where they bad left Adolphus and Frank; and Mr. Gunthorpe, at once accosting tho former, suid, * [ now know all that regards you—and you are beyond doubt the rizhtful Lord Everton. I said so.just now. I remember your features. In.me shall you find a friend.” Adolphus pressed the old gentleman’s hand with grateful fervour, tho tears trickling down his cheeks. “And now,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, with an arch smile, ‘‘ have you no message-to send to Henrietta ? Ah! that name fills your countenance with anima- tion. Well, my Jear Adolphus, the girl is worthy of you—-and she has already learnt to love you. God grant that you snay be happy! IfI do not come again to see you to-morrow, I shall send some kind 11essage by Henrietta, to {urnjsh her with an excuse for calling at the cottage.” With these words, the old gentloman took an af- fectionate farewell of Adolphus, Elizabeth, and Frank ; and hurrying, forth, gave some brief in- structions to his coachman. ' Then, waving his hand to those who stood upon tho threshold, he entered the carriage, which immediately drove away. The three proceeded to tho parlour where he had left the slip of paper lying upon the table. It was a cheque upon Mr. Gunthorpe’s banker for five thousand pounds. Then more than ever did Kliza- beth, Frank, and Adolphus' wonder who Mr. Gun. thorpe could be. eww" ee u « CHAPTER LAXVII. APPREHENSIONS. » . Lozgp PETERSFIELD was seated in his library nt about three o'clock in the afternoon, looking over a number of papers connected with his diplomatic avovations of past years, and wondering whether | certain overtures which he had recently been making to the Ministers then in power, would result accord- \ing to his wishes. His desire was to obtain an to know ine better. Then you will have the fullest impoxtant. embassy, which, according to rumour, ooulidence-in me—and you will speak without reserve. I know—I foel that it is too much to ex- pect you to opon your heart entirely to me who am a would soon be vacant; and he was furbighing up his rusty ideas by the aid of the papers that he was so deeply‘conning. In the middle of his occupation a EE ; SS SS > eee cn ees eeepc | a OOO) C) AUC SS (CO)