The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 385: what you’re looking at

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

Za se ea 'S( Ep @ = 45 m MBs we = @ Raetae we @reamee -- 138: . swe tO 372 tered the ruum, “1 can’t stand this surt of thins any longer; and so [ havo resolved to go abroad.” Lord Petorsficld looked positively aghast at what he considered to be the. precipitate and reckless manner in which the young nobleman spoke ; while his dignity was offended by the omission of those ceremoniul phrases and compliments with which he expected that every visit should invariably commence. Mr. Malton was also surprised at the abrupt and ejuculatory language that Edinund made use of. “Sit down,” said Lurd Petersfield, pompously in- dicating a chair; “and when you have recovered brenth and are perfectly master of your thoughts, ave tho goodness to explain what sort of thing it is you cannot stand.” “Why, I am sick of ‘London: Rfe,” exclaimed _ Baxondale, fling hitaself upon one chair and putting his legs up on another. “I wish I had accepted your lordship’s proposal of a few weeks back, about being attuched to that foreign embassy, you know. Of course you are well awaro from that list of dobts I ecnt in, that poor Mmily Archer aud I wore on very intimate tering to,zethor ; and also as a matter of course, you have read the account in the news- papers of her mysterious death.” € “TJ have no doubt,” said Lord Petersficld, gravoly, “that she was about to pay a visit to Suxondale Castle at the time — peyghaps thinking yuu were thero—or perhaps to sce her ladyship fur sume pur- ose——"" “Well, I can’t say,” interrupted Idimund; “and I don’t like talking of the business: it lins upset ino very much. Besides, I aun sv procivus (lull all by myself in Park Lane——' “Then wherefore,” inquired Mr, Malton, “do you not join the family cirele down in Lincolusiire? 1 understand that Lady Macdonald aud Lady Florina Staunton are there——” “No: they came back to town yesterday,” ob- served Edmund. “I learnt it by accident. My valut happened tv see them arrive.” “And pray, Lord Saxondale,” asked Petersfield, severcly, ‘have you not been this day to pny your respect to that lady who is affianced to you ?” “ Cant say that I have,” responded Edmund. “ But I‘shal) yo thene presently. The fact is, I am very much afraid Florina must have learnt on what torins I was with poor Emily; and if so, all will bo up in that quarter. I wish to go sbroad for a few months; and thereforo I camo to tell ySur lord- ship that [ will accept of that fost——” “It is no loggor vacant,” remarked Potersfield: “but if you are serious, Edmund, you can ac- eompany me. For her Majesty's Minist&s have entrusted me with a special mission tos Vienna——”’ “And when do you propose to leave?” asked Saxondule, making a slight rimace at the thought of accompanying his guardian. “In threo days,” returned Lord Peteratield. “But if you really purpuse tu go with me, you smust make up your mind to-morrow.” “It’s made up at.onco. I will go!* cxclaimod Edmund; “and there’s my hand upon it.” Lord Potersfield just took the tips of Kdmund’s fingers in a ould grasp, and began to give him some advice—which the young nobleman did not think it worth whilo to wait for; and bidding both his lord- ship and Mr. Malton geod bye, ” quitted tho Y@am. i RE TREE Epa OTEI> gE Pera FONE Enna IEEE CUE ree ae THE MYSTERI£S OF THE COURT nn mw ot onenenling - a : . «hes ome ns ra @ a d TT NO TT TR TTT GD! e @ CHAPTER LXXIX. — - @ , TIE DISCARDED SUITOR We must now return to Mr.gGunthorpe, whom we loft at tho moment when ho dqnarted from the pre ° sence of Lord Petersficld and Sir John Marston. Returning to his carriage, which was waiting, the bld gentleman ordered himself tose driven to Lady Macdonald's house in‘Vavendish Square; but as the vehicle proceeded thither, ho folt almost? inclined to issue @ fresh instruction and postpone his visit to Lady Macdonald until the following day. He felt anxious—eeply anxious—to return to Lady ‘Bess’s cuttaze: but on mature reflyction he xesolved to let the interval of a night pass, sv that he should havo ample leisure to compose the feelings which had been so cruelly tortured, and thus prepare himsel! for an interview which be foresaw would be attended with, painful circumstances. He therefore allowed the carriago to procee:! towards Cavendish Square; and by theetime it hud reached Lady Macdonald's residence, Mx. Gunthorpo had so far rezained his wonted dbmposure that whatever he felt inwardly, was no longer reflected in his countenance. That his visit at Lady Macdonald’s had been ex- pected, was evidont from the circumstance that the moment ‘he announced his name he was conducted into a parlour, where her ladyship immediately joined him. Florina was not, pregynt at this inter- viéw, which lasted for wpwards of an hour. Mr. Gunthorpe and Lady Macdonald had much to talk upon: but wo cannot at ptesent cxplain the nature uf their discourse. Sullico it to aay that at the ex- piration of the colloquy, Mr. Gunthorpe accom- panied Lady Macdonald up into the drawing-room, where Florina was seated. This young lady, rising from her clair, hastencd furward to bestow the most cordial welcome upon her lover’s much-valued friend; and it wustevon with a species of paturnal kinduees that the old gentleman treated Florina. * Now, 1 dare say,” he exclaimed, making her sit beside hin upon a sofa, ‘that you are very anxious indeed to know what bitdaken, place between mu and your aunt? Well, I think, my dear Florina— for eo you must permit me to call you—that your aunt will give you the welcome intelligence that she is perfectly satisfied with a certain young gentle- man's rectitude of conduat——” ‘Ah, Mr. Gunthorpe!”” murmurod Fiorina, with blushes upofi her checks and tho light of joy,dancing in her beautoous eyes; “how cah I sufficiently thank you for having thus cleared up the character of one——” ‘Whom yby love so dearly—eh?”’ interrupted Mr. Gunthorpe. “Ab! you need not throw that dismayed look at your aunt. She will not roproach you for having kept this love a secret from her. She knows everything now.” “Yes, doarest Florina,”esaid Lady Macdonald, speaking with a most affectionate kindness; ‘ Mr Gunthorpe has told me everything, and I shall not chido you. ‘To tell you the truth, for the last two or three weeks I have myself entertained serious | mgivings as to whother your happiness was being truly and wally consulted by this engagement with Lord Saxondale. But now I can hesitate no longer in giving you the assurance that it must be broken off.” Ve Oe 2 eee ANICLOOO© ( 7 (CO)