The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 106: what you’re looking at

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

| ten said, “So you have come alter the situation anianuensis i 4 at re. “Yoo, may ford,” was thd Youth's #éponge > and he icembled with the Rervous anxioty of mingled bope and fear san sek ee es “ First of all,” said the Duke, “ tofore we speak dsother word upon thé matter, ait down at the table and give me a specimen of your wtifing.”’ His Grace then took up the newspaper ayain, dtid continued thé teading of an article, in the midst of which “he had Icft off. Christian sal down; and now that the Duke's eyas were no longer upon him, ho felt much less embarrassed than af first. He took up a pen-- opened & book which lay noar—and began to copy on & dheet of . paper a pombiog of ite contents. ILis hand trembled | as he first took up that pen: bat when he thought of all that was at atake—of how much seemed ta depend on this initiative test of his capscities—of his beloved sister Christinn—and how she bad parted with her raiment on the precoding evening —when he thought too of how joyous his heart would be if he were enabled to return and tell her ‘thet he had succeeded at length in procuring a situation,—be was suddenly inspired with a forti- tude which surprised himself; and his hand trem- bled no more. _ “That’s enough, I dore say, for me to judge by,” exclaimed the Duke, at the expiration of ‘about five minutes: and Christian hastened to froffer the paper on-‘which he had been writing. “This is excelfent !” cried Marchmont: “the very thing! a most gentlemanly hand! I oup- pose, my lad, you have been well oducated P” Christian replied, with a becoming modesty, that he had certainly been at a good school, and that he hoped he had profited by that opportunity for instructing himself. “Its the very sort of handwriting that I wanted,” proceeded the Duke,—‘a gentleman's, and not a clerk’s. I have had three or four appli- ¢ations this morning—and none would suit. There was one fellow who covered a sheet of papor with @s roany flourishes as a writing-master—so that my letters would have had the air of so many tradesmen’s circulars, You see, young man, have a preat number of Ictters of various sorts to answer; and as I dislike the trouble of it, my correspondence gets coufuundedly into arrear. So I have resolved to take an amanucnsis, who will sometimes write to my dictation, and at others make out a good Jetter from the passing hints I may give him, and fram the nature of the corré& gpondence whieh will in itself be suggestive of the proper response. Now, do you think yuu ¢an manage this?” | “TI should got hesitate, my lord, to undertake it pith confidence,” answered Christian, hope rising ill highey in his soul. “ But if your Grace woul give me some letter ty put my capacity to @ fas. ther test———” “Nou, no —I don't think it is necessary,” inter. rupted the Duke. “You are well apoken, and Genteel—which last is another great recommends. tion io yotr favour, [I think that I may safety give you & trial. ithe terms I propose are Bity as eo} Guiness o-yoar | you wl of course have nothing to find exoapt your “Livé in thé house, my lord,” murmured Chris- tinn, hope sinking apain to the very ¥g his heart, whore it becamo well uigh extfiijigieied: for the thaught of separating from Chriithes Wil nofto be endured, nies * Oh, titist live at hand: Decause it is not to be suppoed (hat ean aver be ready at elated hours to attend bo my corréspuiidence.”” “My lord, I amo exceedingly sorry--——I deeply tegrat———the gifuation would have pleased se g0--——bat, but——”’ and the tears came into the poor youth's eyes, “Why, what's the wiatler P’ demanded Mutoh. mont sharply. “If it don’t snif you, you can te tire-—and there's an ond of the business.” “Oh, my lotd, it suite mo-it would be the aaving of me!” exclaimed Christian, with much fecling. “But 1 havo a sister dependent on mo —we are orphans-—I could not separate from her——"" “A sister ?” observed the Duke: and it imme. diately etrack him that if aho wero as beautiful ali Christian himéclf was handeome, bu should hava po objection to become acquainted with her. “ And pray how old is your sister ?” 7 “My own age, my lord: wa dte twins.” “Twina, eh?” ejaculated Marchmont, moro and more interested: fur now he folt convineéd that there must be a great similitude between the brother and siater, and therefore no doubt remained aa to the beauty of tho Jntecr. “And pray, how old aro you P” “ Soventeon and a half, roy lord,” replicd Chris- tian. “And what is your namo P” inquired Marche mont. | “ Christian Ashton,” was the posponse, _ Tho Duke was somewhat struck by (he name: ho thought ho had heard it befora: he reflectad for a fow moments—and all of a sudden it odourred to \ him that Lord Octavian Meredith had montiuued tho name of Ashton as that of the beautiful cren- ture for whom he had fought the duol with My. Stathope. But the Duke did not suffer Christian to Berewivo that heewas in any way struck by the name; ard dftor® pause, ho quietly asked, “ Where do you live ?” The youth named the address in Park Street, Camden Town ; and Marchmont recollected that it was not the same mentioned to him by Logd Ociavian as that where lis Grace was to call in the event of Mercdith succumbing in the dugl. But allin a moment anvther thought finalied to Marchmont’s mind. Octavian had ropréssited his “fair unknown” as having beéu seen walking with a youth whom by the strilfing likébéss be knew to bo hor brother, Putting fwo and two tuxether, the Duke, who was cuniing enough in such imatiers, beyan to surmise that, Misa Asiton must have been Octavian’s “ fair unknown.” But still there was the discrepancy in regurd to the address; and this was tu by clenred up, iu order 16 prove that Christian's sister was really the saute Sies Ashton who had caused the duel, and white identity with the “fair unknown” the Duke shore than half suapeuted. ; in Park Stroet, Odinden “Ifave you lived Town f”’ fic inddired, aa if in a caroless . “ Between nine and ten weeks, wiy lord, Pre- yes,” said the Duke, carclouly ; aly ip the house, so that you may ; veil , NOG ae “be SS