The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 287: what you’re looking at

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ne aaa } ] 276 celles, he was im reality an interloper in the family. . “Now I suppose, Adolphus,” said the Earl, accosting him, “you will consent to marry your cousin Isabel—and I will ring the bell at once to let ber know she is to send for the milliner and order the weddiny-dress,” ‘No, no—for heaven’s aake act not thus pre- cipitately !” exclaimed Adolphus. “Abt least give me four-and-twenty hours to reflect !” « Four-and-twenty hours to reflect !” ejaculated the old nobleman. “Why, I never reflected for four-and-twenty hours running in all my life !” “It is impossible to come to an immediate decision!” rejoined Advlphus impatiently, “My feelings are so disturbed—my mind is so cruelly agitated I beseech you, press me pot now— but at this hour to-morrow-——” “Well, well—I see that I must humour you,’ aaid the old nobleman: “and it is natural enough you should be annoyed and excited to loarn that you are nut your futher’s son! But mind! to- morrow we shall set to work in good earnest to hurry on this bridal.” Adolphus made no response—but hastened from the room. Lfe retired to his own chawber, and there gave way tu ios reflections. An hour did he thus remuin in the companionship of those thoughts; and at the expiration of ¢hat interval, hia mind appeared to bo made up to some particu- lar course. Descending tu the drawing-rvom, he found the Countess and Isabella seatod tugether ; and the former was at once struck by the stranye- ness of Ina looks. He inquired where the Karl was and learnt that he had gone out in the car- riago fur an hour or two. Adolphus then made a sign for tho Cuuntess to escape from Iaabella’s socicty, or get rid of her for a httle while, on sume pretext; and Iithel was therefore still further con- vinced that there was something oxcecdingly wrong. It was by no means difficult for Lady Lascelles to quit the apartment without exciting a suapicion on the part of the unsophisticated Isa- bella; and Adolpbus sperdily followed her. They were now alone together in another artting- room; and Ethel immediately said, “ For heaven's sake, Adolphus, relieve me from suspense! What hap happened P—has the Earl discovered efery- thing ? ta my deep, deep guilt known to hjin P” “No, Ethel,” was the young man’s response: ‘and you are not so deeply guilty as you have hitherto believed yourself! A strange and terrible revelation has been made to me-——In a word, am not the Earl's son " It would be impossible to describe the astouish- ment experienced by Ethel on receiving this an- nouncement: but the first thought that struck her as that feeling of amazement subsided, was that the brain of Adolphus had become unsgftled. When however he circumstantially detailed to her all that had passed between himself and the Karl of J.as- cellos, she perceived that it was indeed the truth which he was telling hor, and that he spoke rationally and sensibly. She then recollected that the old Earl—when, in an exceeding uxorious mood, instituting comparisons to her face between herself and his former Countess—egpecially too when he was under the influence*ot wine—had more than once dropped a hit of some strange de- ception which that deceased wife of his had prac- a tiaed towards him: but from motives of delicacy ee ES Pa er IT RD Re 5 Car aT SAS eR ee weep tn w THE MYSTERIES OF THE COTRT. Ethel had never pressed any inquiry on the point —and the Earl himself had never gone beyond the vague hints just alluded to. Now, however everything was explained ; and in those very hints themselves the Countess beheld a confirmation of the startling and wondrous tale which Adolphus had just related. She sate gazing upon him with illimitable love and compassion in her looks: the better feelings which had prompted her to write him the note so strenuously urging separation, were all absorbed in the profound pity she experi- enced for him;—and the excitement of so much sympathy could not do otherwise than resuscitate all the ardour of her passion. Perhaps, too, the knowledge that this passion had suddenly ceased to wear the doubly dark aspect it had previously borne to ber contemplation, was another strony reason wherefore ber deep and devoted love should thus revive. Yes—she sate gazing upon him with looks of fondness and sympathy: but she spoke not —she knew not what words to gay. + “Ethel,” at length sud Adolphus, breaking this long silence, “after everything that has taken place between us, 1 could not settle my mind to any specific course without first cousulting you.” “I know not bow to advise you, Adolphus,” answered the Countess. “I am as much bewil- dered as, heaven knows, you yourself must bo!” “‘T'oe-morrow at mid-day,” said the voung man, with a species of desperation in his looks, “ 1 must notify my decision to the Earl.” “And that decision,” said Ethel im a Jow soft voice, but with the glitter of anxiety in her cyes, —* what will it be 2” “T sce that you yoursclf fecl,” responded Adol- phus, “ that ] have but one course to adopt—that . there is no alternative but to yield to the Jiarl’s wishes.”’ A low shrieck—or rather half-stifled scream burst from the lips of Ethel at those words ovihently so altoyether unexpected by her; and Adolphus, with a sudden start, contemplated her in mingled sur- prise and terror. “ No—never, never, Adolphus!” she exclaimed, springing up from her chair, her cheeks flushing and her eyes flashing with an almost frenzied cx- eitement. “What! you marry Isabella? no !—I could not live to behold you another's ! But perhaps you have never loved me ?’-—and as the thought smote her with a sudden anguish, she sank down again upon tho chair weeping bitterly. ““Ethei, dearest Ethel!” exclaimed the young man, throwing himself at her feet, seizing both her hands, and pressing them in fervour to his lips; “you know that I love you———dearly—de- voted|y—madly love you! Whereforg, then, this cruel suspicionP Ah, think you that if I loved you not as much as my lips proclaim, I should bave been enabled to stifle all good feelings in my heart at the time when I believed it was my own father’s wife ‘Enough, enough!” cried Ethel hysterically : and then with a sudden solemmify of look and manner, she added in a low tone, “ At all events we arc rescued from that deep sense of stupendous uilt !” ° “Tell me what you would have me do, deareat, Ethel,” said Adeiphus; “and your slightest wurd NOG (C ee ca ge ee iPS SD ~ —_-_ -_—- woo — _ — — re ee eo ee ee ee — —_wes 2 No, _ a ee ne ep Se = = SS