The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 103: what you’re looking at

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§2 eee ee was dressed in plain clothes,—« neat suit of black, with a white cravat. He was of the middie age— quiet and sedate-looking—but with a certain honesty and frankness of countenance Which would at once have a beholder in his favour. He bowed low to Indora, and stood in silence to await her cémmands. We should observe that although he knew full well that ahe was of princely rank, yet he addressed her not, when speaking, with the highest title properly belonging thereto, but with an inferior one: for in order to avoid un- pleasant observation and gossiping curiosity, In- dora passed not as a Princess in England, but merely as a wealthy Isdy of Hindostan. Two female dependants (Sagoonah and another) to- gether with a native male-servant, had accom- panied her from Inderabad. The Englishman, whose Obristian name was Mark, had been hired by her at Calcutta to serve as her intendant, steward, and butler—the comptroller, in short, of her little household. He therefore knew who she was: but Sagoonah alone of those who had accom- panied her from Indin, waa acquainted with the real object of her Highness’ visit to England. It was Mark who on the arriva] in London had pro- cured the villa for the Princess’s accommodation ; and in all respects he had proved himgelf efficient and trustworthy. While we are speaking of the household, we may as well add that besides the do- mostics already mentioned, there was a groom and conohman: for the Princess had at once bought a carringe and a pair of horses on settling at the villa. The coachman did not sleep in the house— the groom occupied an apartment over the stablea; and these two last-named dependants were in total ignorance of the high rank of their mistress. We may now continue the thread of our nerra- tivo,—taking it up at the point where Mark had entered ‘the drawing-room in pursuance of the summons sent by the Princess through Sagoonah. “Is it possible, Matk,” inquired Indora, “ to ob- tain any English newspapers that go back for several years ?” “ Ali English newspapers, please your ladyship,” was the domestic’s response, “are filed at certain places in London; end it is gvon possible some- times to purchase a complete set,of suy particular ne wapaper i “In that case,” resumed Indora, with satisfac- tion upon her countenance, “I must get yeu, the very first thing to-morrow, to procure mo a file for the last twenty years. Do you think you can accomplish it? Spare not gold———” ‘Everything, ploase your ladyship, can be pro- cured in this country by means of moncy. By noon to-worrow I pledge myself that your Jadyship shall be in posseamon of a file of newspapers.” The domestic then bowed and withdrew. ‘ Dn CHAPTER XVIUIL STRUGGLES. Two months had elapeed since the occurrences which we havé bees relatmg; and f now verged towards the close of December. During these two months poor Mary Wright had breathed her last, and was cunsigned to the grave. Almont daily did “A t? $$$ ——_$________- THE MYSTURINS OF THE COUBT. ereature; and for hours would she at times remain with her,—assist- ing the nurse and the landlady of the house in their kind assiduities towards smoothing the pro- Christina visit the perishing gress of the victim to another world. Mr. Red- © cliffa called occasionally to inquire at the front door how the invalid was: but he never sought her presence—he did not choose to be thanked for all that he was doing for her. His purse however afforded ample proof of the gené- rous sympathy which he expermaced on her be- half: for she was not merely surrounded with comforts, but even with luxuries. Her benefac- tor’s conduct in thus avoiding her presence, may appear eccentric: but on the other hand, it was full of kindness and consideration. , Frequently would the most delicious and expinsive fruits be delivered at the house,-—fruits that must have coat gold in Covent Garden Market ; and there was no difficulty in conjecturing from whom they came. When she breathed her last, Mr. Redcliffe gave instructions that her remains were to be decently interred; and he liberally rewarded the nurse, the landlady, and the medical attendant. . He would have rewarded Christina likewise, only he knew not that she stood in need of suc- cour; and he would have been afraid of insulting her by offering her any testimonial of his appre- ciation of her goodness towards the perished one. Well aware was he of this goodnoss: he had not merely learnt in the first instance how Christara had behaved when she visited Mary Wright in Redcross Street—but he had also been informed by the landlady of the house at Islington, of Miss Ashton’s frequent visita there. But it so hap- pened that whenever Mr. Redcliffe called, Chris- tina never came up to the door at the same time; so that since that encounter in Redcross Street, Mr. Redcliffe and the twins had not once met. Christian was in the habit of seeing his sister as far as the house, it being at no very great distance from their own lodging at Camden Town; and then he would set off in search of a situation,— returning at an hour previously appointed, to fetch his sister and conduct her home again. But during these two months Christian had found no situation and Christina no work. They had both used every endeavour to procure such ‘employment as was respectively fitted for each— and they had failed. There seemed at this period of the orphans’ lives to be a kind of fatality which influenced them with its evil spell. We need Shot enter into particulars in respect to the numerous applications made by each in countless quarters, nor the nature of the refusals—eometimes rebuffs —whioh they had to encounter. They had called upon Mrs. Macaulay: but she was unable to give them any recommendations to quarters ; and, as the reader is aware, they were in ali other respects fri two érphans—in the great metropolis, Mre. Macaulay, having per- ceived several instances of Mr. Redcliffe's chari- table disposition, had thought of mentioning to him the gloomy prospects of the twins: but some- how or another she always forgot to-do so when she had an opportunity. Theee opportunitics were ing that abe was of a character, | invariably cut her short whenever she seemed to COMIC OOO|XS.COnt