The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 22: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTTRIES OF THE CouRT. a cE preciate the duties of your new position—dis- tresged to think tlt the memory ef the past is atill so strong within you.” “Father,” replied ! liza, earnestly, “distress not ! yourself on my account. [tis dune: I am re- | signed, if I be not contented. No—distress not | yourself: but God grant that all possible happi- | ness may bo yours ‘or t e remainder of your | days !"—and as she uttered these last words, tears | trickled “Blowly own the pals cheeks of the Duchess of Marchmont. “ liza, my darling!” gaid the old man, much moved; “let me see you exeiciso a becoming fortitude!” “ff am strong—and T am calm, too, again, fatuer, ‘Pegpooded the Duchess, wiping away her tears. * What other counsel have you to give me ere we separate 2” | “Only a few words more,” resumed Captain Larey, “FT might say much—I might tell you mauy things—but the time is too short now— the earriage is at the dour—your ducal husband is ,waiting to bear away his beloved bride. And, | mureowver,” continued the old mau, with an in- crease of that uervous oxeitement which his daughter mistook for sorrow at the approach of the parting moment, “it would arouse tuo many painful feelings—too many sad recollections Put yet, my darling daughter, there are a few words which wust be spyukea. You may perhaps shortly hoar names mertioued m your presence, which will vividly recalkthat past to which | have al- luded Youtmay discover, too, that your marriage has given you cofinexions which —-Cut no matter! Jtis only a single word of parting ad- vice that ] have time or fortitude onauph to proffer; and that is tu conjure you to be upon your guard, 60 that whatever you may hear shall |} not lead you to betray to your husband that you | were at cue time the betathed of another” “Father,” replied the Dachess, witha glacial | firmness of tone and a statue-like Immovatnlity | of features and of form, so that not a muscle of | her couutenauce wae sterred by allltetion, nor the folds of ber splendid scarf agitated by the busom's Leavings,—“ you have reen with what fortitnde Lo liave passed through tho ordeal of this dav’s ceremony: you have seen Itkewise | | Pe, uy a] that by my conduot T have never once given tho Duke of Marchmont ground for the supposition that tes is an olyect of the merest 1udiffureuce to me. By all this let my fnture conduct be» judged: by what Ll am you may estimate what L shall bea. Yes—Io am firm. My destiny is fixed —ahd I] aceopt it. ven af ke viinae inage is dearer to me than I can express, were by a miracie tu be brought back to sste—weie he suddenlygto stand before me--1 fel that I am nerved pith the courage——it may bo of despair—but nevertheless it cs the courage that alune is adequate to support me even through such an ordeal as that. Now, father, are you satisfied ?” Siogular and incomprehensible waa for an in- stant the expression which flitted over the old niin‘'s featarea: the next moment it was succeeded by one of gladvese, fodubitable—utmistakable ; and straining hia daughter tu bis breast, be ex- claimed, “I thank thee, beloved Eliza, for these assurances, Go, my darling: the moment is come for us to sepurate! Go: and may a father’s ara errr rr ger GE aN a aT I TS TE, TS ET a a a TT ST SS eT TT a — ee a ee il blessing attend thee as a talismaa to keep thy mind thus firm --thus nerved | The young Duchess was to a certain extent struck by hee father’s look, munner, and words, whieh Appeared somewhat singular: bust Mra. Bailey entered at the moment to announce that the carriage was in readiness, She embroced her afve agaln—shoe embraced her relative also; and thea issuing forth, found her husband ready to escurt her to the maguarficent equipage. And now she was seated by that husband's side in the carriage with duoal arms emblazoned on the panels, symbolic of the almost princely rank to which that day she had been admitted as a partner. The four horses, guided and urged along by the two export postilions, dashedthrough the atreeta ; and in a short space Logdon wae left bebind, Eliza --wlole rasponding with that pensive sweet- ness Which had becoine habitual tu her, to the re- nuartkhs whieh the Dake made,—revolved tu her soul all the details of the parting counsel whigh her futher had given to her; and it waa not very long before ber presence of wind and her fortitude were put to the test. affeationate and endearing speech, the Duke gave her to understand that they were ou their way te the most splendid of his three country seats— that it was situatod io [lampshire—-aud that its name was Oublands, A placial thrill shot through her like an electric thockat the imention of that pame; but she was so completery on ber guard, that hor countenancd betrayed nought of what was agitating within. In ease hawoevor that it should, she looked from the window fora few moments, as if enntomplating the scenery by which thoy were passing; but she avo. on vacancy. country-xeat to which Dertram Vivian had re- pried when he parted from herat Oxford: and it belomred to the fargily of which he bimeelf was a gciou. Wow, then, could it gow be in the posses- sien of the Jruke her husband ? "We shall be there,” continned bis Grace, “confpletely by ourselves at first; and this sealu- Alou, oS beloved Iliza, [ hope will not prove dis- agree. te or monotonous.” “ Noutting,gwy lord,” she anawored, with hor ao- customedsweet amiability, “that Zgconsistout with your will aud pleasure, can be objectivnable to me.” : e*Thanka, my sweet Mliza, for that response ;” —aud ber husband pressed her band to bis lips. “Indae time you will be mtroduced to the other members of the family ~-or rather they will be pre- seuted to you; apdthen we will have a gay com- pany at Oaklands. Youur father aud Mrs, Bailey shall join us; aud imy own sweet Eliza shall do the honours of the house of which I am protd aud happy to make her the mistress.” The Duchess gave a suitable response; and as the journey was cuntinued, the discuurke wan cone tinned aloo; but nothing wore was said by the Dake to put his bride's fortitude aud prescnoce of mind tu the test. Yet Oaklands—that name of Oak lands —kept agitutiog inher brain. She longed to ask ber husbaud how it was that thls estate had fallen inte hin posseesion—but she dared not; and as he said nought upun the subject, she supposed h@ either took it for granted that she was already informed thervon, ur else that he considered it te be a matter of bat litrle moment. PE a an ee For in tho QouUrTRO of an " Oaklands !—that waa the ECoOMmicoookxs.conm