The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 288: what you’re looking at

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

LY ge ot EN OM ena p an ha PARSE, “es ES Se — gays a TT OT ED PEI cE THER MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. shall become the strongest law for me. But re: | member, dear Ethel, my position 1s not merely a infuj one—it is absolutely frightful !” . ‘“T know—I know it!” exclaimed the Counteas, again speaking with a kind of hysterical frenzy ; “ and therefore it ia impossible for me to advise you. Do what you will: but if your position be fright- ful, mine is almost desperate—and sooner than behold you compelled to lead another to the altar-——” She stopped short; and Adolphus was terrified by the strange wild look of mingled frenzy and despair which for a few momenta seemed stamped upon her countenance. “Good heavene! what am I to do?” he ex- claimed, starting up from his kneeling position at her feet, and beginning to pace the room with agitated and uneven steps. “TI feel as if I were going mad!” “ And I,” cried the Countess in a thrilling voice, “ feel as if I were mad already! Ob, why did I ever love you as I have done ?—wherefore do I love you £0 passionately still ?” “Ethel, let us endeavour to be composed and reasonable,” said Adolphus, at length resuming his seat by hor side, and taking her hand as he looked with fond earnestness and imploring en- treaty in her face. “TI tell you that I neither will nor can take any step without your consent :—but will you calmly envisage all the difficulties of the position in which J know we are placed P”’ “Yes, yes—proceed !” enid the Countess. “I am calm—~J am reasonable!’ —and yet she shivered visibly as if with a cold inward despe- ration. * Would you, Ethel, that wo should fly away together ?” asked Adolphus. “ No—I am sure you would not: for it would be ruin for us both. Thp Earl in lis rage would proclaim overything in respect to myself: I should become an outcast— penniless; aud though God knows I shrink not from the idea of poverty on my own account, yet for your sake, Ethel—QOh, I could not endure to behold you, my beloved one, pining away in want !” “Think not of me,” answered the Countess: for I could dare everything. But not for worlds would I have your true position proclaimed !—not for worlds would I have you stripped of your rank - —scorned and spurned by those who have hitherto been your equals No, no—I could not—it would kill me!” “You see, Ethel,” continued Adolphus, “tha what I said is right—and we cannot flee away to- gether. But on the other hand I cannot remain here in the same position as before: the Earl ine sists that I should marry Isabella. Neither can I carry out our origina) view and go abroad upon the Continent: because there again arises the con- sideration that the Karl insists that I shall espouse Isabella!” “In a word, then,” rejoined the Countess, speaking in a voice of cold and unuatural calmness, *“ your position is reduced to these alternatives— that you must either fly away with me, or remain to espouse Isabella. We have both agreed that .| the first of these alternatives ie impossible; and I see therefore that you are endeavecuring to make up your mind to the latter. Is it not #0?” “In the name of heaven, Ethel, what else can eet a, a ~ x ow we oe Ae peat ee = il oo were Pe eee Toe ee a_/- ae FT tiey eelwgquarre «Gs » Ca BED Ay Sr Ma 277 _ ome, id — we reed tay, gp Terni En) fhm een ~merrenese iene I do?” asked Adolphus, with passionate vehee mence. “And Isabella, who loves Christian Ashton?” = the Countess, still in the same voice as be- ore. “Did you ever for a moment fancy that this childish passion of theirs,” exclaimed Adoiphua, “would eventually come to anything? 1¢ was ali very well that you and I availed ourselves of it for our own purposes: but could we in sober serioua- ness conceive that an Earl's niece would bo allowed to throw herself away upon this penniless youth ?” “ And you could level your mind to the accept- ance of a bride whose love you know to be bestowed upon another—and which very Jove you yourself have helped to fan P” “Ethel, you are cruel—too cruel! you are gbad- ing me to desperation!"”—and again Adolphus started up from his seat in a wild and excited mapner. “ Will you tell me,” he demanded, afier two or three rapid pacings to and fro,—* will you tell me, Ethel, what course I am to puraue P—for aa there ie @ heaven abovu me, I ses but one!” Pursue it then,” said the Countess: “ pursuo it, Adolphus-———and may you bo happy. But I—but I-——” ‘Ob! now you fill mo with wretchednoss again |” —and the young man literally wrung his hands in auguish. * No, no—be not unhappy,” responded the Coun- tess: and there was still an unnatural coldness in her Jook. “It is useless, Adolphus, to continuo this scone: it is most painful for us both.” “Then, by heaven,” ejaculated the young man, vchemently, “IT will no¢ marry Teabella! I will take some step—indved L will do the very worst, rather than seal the unbappiness of your lite!” “And J, Adolphus, would do the vory worst also,” rejoined the Countess, “rather than live to behold you the busband of another !’’ Having thus spoken, Ethel abruptly quitted the room: and Adolphus continued fo walk to and fro —but no longer in an agitated manner: it was with slow pace, sombre countenance, and downcast looka. ° CHAPTER LIL. THE DEED OF A FIGHT. Aporprus and Ethel did not meet again until the evening; and this was at the dinner-table, where the Earl and Isabella were present. But it would almost ssem as if they had by tacit consent com- posed their looks in such a manner that not even to each other should there linger the slightest trace to remind them of the painful scone which had occurred a few hours back. The Earl, as a matter of course, suspected not for an instant that Adolphus had acquainted Ethel with the astound- ing revelation in reapect to hia birth; and it was naturally Ethel’s policy and purpose to prevent her huaband frdm aurmising that any such revelation had been made to her. It ia therefore easy to un- derstand why she compelled herself to converse and smile sa gaily as heretofore, and to wear a look as if she were labouring ander no restraint. In the same way it was the policy as wellas purpose of = 2 @e KAO @ EYE s we mew = = 1,2 = NOG ar Oo Se Wy a oe eee eee Le SS