The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

— oo = one - qe CE? are —=—]———— ——— THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. principle, which prevented her from stooping to not altogether safe thus to be out s0 late and in such a lonely road. Yes—assuredly it waa only my imagination——and yet it was strange that I should twice fancy I beheld that dark shape !” ‘Lettice continued her way—but frequently glancing around, and ever and anon pausing listén whother footsteps were in reality pursuin her. Nothing move however occurred to frighten her; and as she sitered the grounds belonging to Oaklands, she felt ashamed of the apprekensions te which she had given way. mo | The Duke had 20 accurately described the exact path which she was to take through the shrab- beries and the gardens, thet ehe had no difficulty in following his instructi tally ag she was so well aided by the clear atarlight. That starlight bathed the antique edifice in ite argentine lustre, and made the tall chimneys and the pated roofs stand out in bold rehef against the blue sky. All was still, save the rustling of the evergreens as well as of her own dress, and the light tread of her footsteps as she bent her way towards the pri- vate door, which, as wall as the other dotails of her route, had been accurately described by the Duke of Marchmont. On reaching that door, ahe gave three gentle taps; and it was immediately opened by the Duke himeelf. She entered: he closed the door—and conducted her into a hittle room opening from a passage. Here a light was burning ; and he made her sit down and rest her- self for a few minutes. He drew the cork of a champagne-bottle; and the exhilarating influence of the wine cheered her spirits to an extent that she resolved to keep silent as to the circumstances which had affrighted her during her walk from the farm-house. She now, by the Duke's bidding, took off her bonnet and cloak; and she appeared in one of the dresses which had come down in the box. “Tt is most fortunate,” said Marchmont, “ that her Grace wore the exact counterpart of that dress this evening. Now take the veil from the bonnet and just throw it over your head, so as to shade your countenance and cover the hair.” These instructions were obeyed; and the Duke said, “ You must follow me on tiptoe. We shall not take the candle with us: bat there will be light enough through the windows of the staircase and passages to enable you to see your way.” The Duke conducted Lettice Rodney up the private staircase along «a paseage: then they threaded another corridor,—thus reaching the ox- tremity of the building, which was farthest from the one whence they had come. % “Here!” said the Duke: and gently tapping af a door, it was instantancously opened by’ the Hon. Wilson Stanhope. / Lettic@ passed in; and tho Duke hastened away. The principal lady’s-maid of the Duchess of -Marchmont, was a young woman named Amy Sutton. She was tall and handsome—about four- and-twenty years of and of very excellent character. She was however of a cold disposition, which often merged into a morose sullenness when with her fellow-servants; though she had never any occasion to display her humours in the pre- sence of her mistress. She was selfish, worldly- minded, and calculating — exceedingly fond of money—but with a certain pride, rather than a» eee SEE, Raye, RIE OE ST EL A LT eT A Sa I Se ee Ee , -eee, As A a any underhand or immoral means to augment ber hoards. Though handsome, yet if closaly , it would be seen that she had a certain of look indicating much of her real disposition, and which at times became sinister in its aspect... If gjever « fashionable rake or a patrician libertine, acising an opportunity, ventured to pat her cheek, her eyes would flame up and her countenance would express #, savage flerceness; and if an ime proper overture Were whispered in her ear, ahe would reward the individual with the, soundest box that his own ear had ever received. She was too selfiah in her disposition to entertain any real affection fur her mistress— and too independent in character to simulate that which her heart did not feel. At the same time she waa perfectly in her conduct, as well as sasiduous in her duties; and as the natural amiability of Lavinia prompted her to be kind and indulgent towards her dependants, Amy Sutton's temper was never put to the teat by a word or look on the part of her mistress. Thus it was not difficult for Amy to conceal from her Grace whatsoever was rugged, worldly-minded, or sinister in her constitution ; while her honesty, her unim- peachable character, and her regularity in per- forming duties, rendered her more or less a favourite with her Grace. | It must here be observed that the Duchoss of Marchmont, though of such high rank, was not one of those fine ladies who cannot do a single thing for themselves, and who require every detail of the toilet—morning; noon, evening, and night—to be performed by the hands of female attendanta. Her Grace, on the contrary, dis- peneed as much as' possible with the attentions of her maida on these pointe, and only invoked their aid for such services as she cduld not very well render unto herself. All this the Duke of course well knew: and ho was therefore aware that when his wife retired for the night, she very specdily dismissed the attendant handmaid whose turn it was to be upon duty,—proferring to disapparel herself and arrange her hair with her own hands. The Duchess bad sought her chamber about half. an-hour previous ,to the introduction of Lettico ey into the mansion. It was.4my Sutton’s turn to attend updb was, dismissed for the night a few minutes after accompanying Lavinia to her chamber. March- mont had watched from the end of the corridor— himself remaining unseen—until Amy quitted her Grace's room and ascended to her own; and then was it that he stole down the private staircase to await the three raps at the door which were to signalize Lettice Rodney's arrival. He waa not kept long waiting, as the reader has seen. Now that we have given thease requisite expla- nations, we resume the thread of our narrative. Having introduced Lettice into Mr. Stanhope's chamber, the Duke of Marchmont stole up-stairs to the floor above, and knocked at Amy Sutton’s door. The maid hastened to open it,—for she had not as yet begun to undress herself; and on hear- ing the summons, it immediately struck her that one of her fellow-domestics must be taken iil, She was’ surprised at beholding the Duke,—sur. prised only, but not startled: for i¢ was in her nature to take things very coolly. For a moment ECONNIC I OOO© her Grace; and, as usual, she — SS CO