The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 387: what you’re looking at

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

874 ee Epa ee alee = age ee = oe might see the cxtent to which Lord Harold and . Lady Macdonald, | yourself would go in your endeavours to enmesh me , you that I can becomo more steady.” _ in your snares. If Lord Harold showod you the | * “Iam glad; Edmund,” said her ladyship,‘in a next day tho létter which J sent him, you must have ' geen full well that not for a single moment was I ~ made your dupe. I suffered myself to be robbed of a few thousand pounds for a certain reason of my ; own ~—But of that no matter. You would now do - 1 well ty attend to what Lady Macdonald may have to say,” “ Well then, what is it?” demanded Edmund, his lips trembling with rage as ho bent his spiteful looks upon Florina’s aunt—while the young damsel her- self sat by Mr. Gunthorpe’s side, gravo and serious, aud with hor ayes bent down. “T do not wish, Lord Safondale,” gesumed Lady Macdonald, “to touch more than is necessary upon e that lamentable occurrence which, if you possess any heart at all, must havo affected you. But it is no- | cessary fur mo to state that [ consider you. condutt in maintaining such a connexion while furmally en- gaged to my nicco, to have been must dispraceful. Therefore, you cannot be surprised when I request that you will consider hor engagement with‘your- self to exiat no longer.” “Indeed, 1 shall consider nothing of the sort!” he exclaimed flippantly. ‘‘I am well aware that Flo loves me—I am sure of it—although she may be uffended at the moment.” “Lady Florina Staunton,” said the aunt, with severe tone and look, “has only been kept in the room during this unpleasant scene, that she maf, if necessary, give froin her own lips arf assdrance en- tirely corroborative of mine.” ¢ “What!” ejaculated kdmund: “ do you mean to tell me, Flo, tuat you don love mo? I'm acre you won't say that /” : “{ am compelled tu speak plainly and frankly in thiy matter,’ replied the young maiden, with a modest dignity. “1 ain desirous, Lurd Saxondale, that the ongagoment should be broken off between us.” “Jt is you who have donc thia mischief!” cried the nobleman, starting up from his seat anil ad- dressing Mr. Gunthorpe inenacingly. “ You are poking yeur nose in everywhere — bullying my mother in the‘first place—and now thruating your- self into my affairs. What the deuce dves it all mean? and pray who are you P” * Lord Saxundale,” said the old gentlemangslowly rising from the sofa and bendingga stern look upon the gfistocratic stripling, “it is altogether useless fur you to @lect ho airs of the bully with me. If you dare to talk thus in the yresence of gne of your own sex, it is not difficult to uapgine what your conduct would be before these les, were they unprotected and alone.” “Oh! dan’t take things up quite so sharp,” ejacu- lated Edmund, overawed by the old gentleman’s Wdemeanour: then turning to Lady Macdonald, he said, “I hope you will furgive me for the past—I | dbn’t want to break off with Flo—I am every fund of her—and I will turn ovor a new leaf and be quite steady. Indeed, I mean to leave London fur two or three mouths: I have just been with Lord Pe. terafield, who is going as Ambuassador-Ex#traordinary tw Vienna—nand | ain to accompany him. The fact le, Tam heartily sick of the lito 1 have been lead- ing, and want chanye of scene: but if,you desizeit, THE MYSTERIES OF THE 00 URT. Se, SF OS 42662 = ee ee ©: —— aa I will stay in Kondony and shew _ kinder tone than she had before used, “to hear you ‘¢alk in this manner; and I dq most sincerely hope that you will reform. I think You would do well te ‘absent yourself for a time —efpecially as you are going with your guardian Lord Petersficld—a noble- man of such high honour and integrity” Hiere a suppressed ejaculation from Mr. Gun- thorfe drew all attention towards him: but he sud- denly fell into a fit of coughing so as to cover the abrupt pgroxysm of grief and rage into which that eulogy upon Lord Petersfield had thrown hint... “ Yes, Edmund,” continued Lady Macdonald, * you will do well to proceed ¢o the Continent. But the decision which yoy have heard pronounced, is irrevocable; and from this moment you must look upon Florina only as& more acquaintance. I shall to-morrow write to Lady Saxondale to inform her that the engagement is broken off.’’’ Edmund turned abruptly away—muttered some threatening words ¢o Mr. Gunthorpe, who heeded them not-.and flung himself out of the room, bang- ing the door violently behind him. A few minutes afterwards Mr. Gunthorpe himself took his depar- turo, and entcring his carriage, ordered it to drive to Willian» Deveril's tilla near the Regent’s Park. He found our young hero and Angela walking together in their little garden. .The beautiful maigen was now fully acqyainted with her brother's love for Florina; and we need scarcely say that she entertained the most fervant hope it would be crowned with bappmess. They knew that Mr. Gun- thorpe ‘had written to Lady Macdonald at Saxon- dalo Castle—knew also that in this letter he had made an appointment to call upon her at her own house in Cavendish Square un that particular after- hoon of which we are speaking—and they therefore expectod that he would call at their villa op bis way back to Stamford Hill. Nor were they disappointod: for at about five o’clock in the evening, their worthy old friend madv his appearance. - Most cordial was the greeting ho received frag the brother and sister : they conducted him into their taStefully furnished parlour—and he gladly accepted of some rolresh- ments; for he had taken nothing since he left his own house in the morning. Not a singlo word to William and Angela did Mr. Gunthorpe breathe of fhe circumstances which had so deeply saddened him that day: but when he had taken a glass of wine and « mouthful of fuod, he proceeded to speak upon the subject for which he had specially called on the present occa- e100. . , “I told vou, my dear young friends,” he said, “that I wrote four days back to Lady Macdonald at Saszndale Castle, explaining to her sufficient to make her comprehend the necessity of withdrawing herself and her niece at from Lady Saxon- dale’s society. Lady. Macdonald, not choosing to break with Lady Saxondale abruptly until she should have received fuller particulars froma my lips, proffered some pretext to aceount for the speedy de- parture of herself and Florina from the casile. ‘The arrived in town yeaterdsy; and just now, ac- cording to an idtimation whioh I gave Lady May donald in my letter, | called in Osvendish Square. Need,I tell you, Williag:, that you now stand higher t & COMIC ier OOO) SS (CO)