The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THR COURT, inferior onea. They had their own parlour, where ment,—for it was still early in the they usually took their meals together: but of a moreover his heart was full at Souday they generally invited the butler, the | from his beloved sister. ep lady’s-maids, and one or two of the upper servants , ‘het —such as his Grace's valets—to feast at their | me show you at once to your quarters; and when yo. dining-table. 106 es yt i ‘ . forenoon: “Well then, Mr. Ashton,” said the dame, ¥ a ‘ i. wt . eof nm ‘ ¢t i \ being segphated: 4 F re F ‘ L , », 3! ot ry us ’ pe 6 Kt I r have arranged the contents of your bo - It was to this comfortable little parlour that | report your arrival to the Duke.” me FO om 1. Christian Ashton was conducted by the gorge-; Mrs. Calvert accordingly conducted the yo a owsly dressed footman; and there he fqund Mr. | secretary up a back staircaso, to a chamber whioh |, : and Mrs. Calvert, seated together. Both were | though on one of the upper storeys, was novarthee looking over acc@unts; and in front of each was a | less a most comfortable little apartment, —locking goodly pile of money in bank-notes, gold, and | upon a small garden that there was at the back of silver. When the footman announced Mr. | the mansion. She then led him along a corridor— Ashton, they both desisted from their occupation, | down the upper flights of the principal staircase and rose to receive the young gentleman. The | as far as the firat floor ; and there she showed him “steward bowed ‘primly—the housekeeper proffered | the entrance to the picture-gallery, assuring him the youth her hand: he was invited to sit down— | that he was perfectly weloome to lounge in there and then did the explanations commence in re. | and amuse himself whensoever he might think fit. spect to the arrangements which had been made | Decending thence into the entrance-hall, Mra. Cal- for his comfort at Marchmont House. vert conducted Christian to the library, which was “T have ordered a nice cheerful little bed-| on the ground-floor, and the windows of which chamber to be prepared for you,” said Mrs. Oal- | looked upon the garden. It was a spacious apart- evert; “and I will show you to it presently. His: ment,—containing bandsome mahogany cases, the Grace has suggested, if you have no objection, that shelves of which were crowded with slegantly- you should take your meals with us ——” | bound volumes, all protected by glass-doora. By “And we havo no objection,” interposed Mr. | the side of the library was a little parlour—a nar- Calvert, in a half-patronising manner, which was 'yow slip jndeed—with one window, also looking nevertheless both kind and respectful: “for you‘on the garden; and this was denominated the appear to be a young gentleman whose company | cabinet, the freo use of which was placed at Chris- will be agreeable to us.” tian’s disposal. “ “And I aw ayre,” resumed Mrs. Calvert, “we| Having thus far initiated him into the geo- will do all we can torendor you comfortable. One ‘ graphy of the mansion, Mre. Calvert returned to thing we must beg to observe—which is that we her own sitting-room—while Christian ascended to are very regular in our meals: breakfast at nine— | his chamber to unpack his boxes and arrange his dinner at two--tea at six—and supper at nine. ! clothes in the drawers. Ho then made himself But of course, if at any time you wish for! look as neat as pussiblo; and descending to the refreshment, you have only to signify such a | entrance-hall, requested a footman to announce his demre, and it shall be instantanocously complied | arrival to the Duke. In « few minutes Obristian with.’’ ‘While thanking you for your assurances of making me comfortable,’ answered Christian, “I can safely promise that 1 shall conform to your regulations.” “His Grace desired me to tell you,” said the was desired to attend his Grace in the library; and thither he accordingly repaired. - “ Well,” said Marchmont, with a half-smile, “ so you made up your mind to come and live in the house p? “Your Grace was kind enough to leave me to my‘own choice in the matter,” replied the youth ; “@nd having consulted with my sister, I called yos- yD steward, after a brief pause, “ that you are welcome to use the Library as much as you think fit whon his Grace is elsewhere; and on those occasions | terday afternoon when it suits his lordship to be alone there, you! “Yes, yes—your message was delivered to me,” can make our parlour your sitting-room. Or there | said the Duke: “you intimated your intention to is a little cabinet near the library, which Mrs. Cal- /eome and take up your abode here to-day— wert will show you presently, where you are wel-|,and you have doubtless already found that ar- come to sit when you choose to be alone Tg , rangements have been made to insure your com- short, I have not the slightest doubt you will soon | fort f” fall into.the regular routine of the housebold, and that you will speedily find yourself at home.” Christian again expressed his thanks for the * For which I sincerely thank your Grace,” re- joined Christian. ‘Nothing to thank me for,” said Marchmont kind assuranfes thus given him, and the fore-| carelessly: then, after a pause—during which he thought which had dictated all those suggestions {had motioned Christian to take a scat,—be ob- for his cotmfort and well-being. “And now,” said Mra. Calvert, “would you like a piece of cake and a glass of wine ?—or a lectie drop of cherry-brandy? for the weather is uncommonly cold :’—and as the worthy matron thus spoke, she repaired to a cupboard of conaiders- ble dimensions, and the. shelves of which were crowded with pots of preserves, cakes, biscuits, bottles of wine, spirite, and liqueurs—and all those | little luxuries which are invariably to be found in a housekeeper's room in 8 wealthy mansion. Obristian however declined the proffered refresh- served, as if still in the same careless, indifferent manner, “And what ia your sister going to do P Coming to live in the neighbourhood, I suppose, #0 that you may see each other often ?” “No, my lord,” replied Christian: “fortunately | my sister obtained 4 situation at tho very same hour yesterday forenoon that I was so happy as to satisfy your Grace's requirements.” , “Ah, indeed—a situation?” said Marehmons. “ And what is iP” | “Companion, my lord, to a lady ving in Regent's Park.” NOG SS