The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 295: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. eee eee ee rer ey FE a a - ~ we awl 284 mantied through the duskiness of her complexion: : to be very bad, aud that the physician had ordered but instantaneously composing herself, she placed — her to go abroad for change of air. her tinger to her Jips of vivid vermilion, to enjoin’ If Zoe be really acquainted with ber husband’s silence. Then beckoning Christina to onter the unfortunate love for me,” said our heroine to her- boudoir, she gently closed the door. self, “I can scarcely think that she would invite “What made you seek me, Mise Ashton ?” ‘me to the house, unless perfectly confident that asked the ayah, in a voiee which though perfectly Lord Octavian will not be present. Therefore I respectful, novertheless displayed firm resolution will go!” to have her query satisfied: then, suddenly recol- | In order to do Christina full justice, we must lecting sometoing, she hastened to cluse the | observe that if ehe had for a moment fancied volume, ae if to prevent Christina from seeing ; she would meet Lord Octavian at the house in the what particular part of the huge file she had been | Regent's Park, she would not have gone: she reading. would have even preferred the alternative of ap- “I heard footsteps descending the stairs,” an- | pearing ungrateful and unkind to Zoe. She showed awered Ohristina: “thoy did not re-ascend—I was | the letter to the Princess,—who at once gave ber alarmed —I went up to your room—not finding | assent, and placed the carriage at Christina's dis- Cidicager een Es Oy EE A you there, I thought you were ill—and with this ’ | posal. On reaching her destination, she found Zoe apprehension q came to see if 1 could be of any | alone in the drawing-room; and the amiable girl service to you.” While the maiden was thus speaking, Sagoonah’s luminous dark eyes were riveted upon ber, as if to read into the very depths of her soul, and thus glean whether she wore truly explaining her mo- tives. But it was impossible to doubt Christina's sincerity: her looka were artlessness iteelf;—and Sagoonah was satisfied. “You must do me a favour, Miss Ashton,” she said; “and that is, not to mention to the Princess that you found me reading one of ‘these great books. Her Highness would be very angry with me; and Il am eure you would not wish to draw down her displeasure upon my head.” “TI certainly should be sorry to do anything of the kind,” answered the maiden: “but I think you muat be in error to suppose that your groud- hearted mistress would be offended-——” “ She would !” Sagounah emphatically responded, as she thus interrupted our horoine. “Then if you are conscious of an indiscretion,” said Christina, in a tone of gentle remonatrance, “wherefore did you cummmit it P” “Do not ask me, Miss Ashton!” rejoined the Hindvo woman: and again there was a sinister flashing in her burning, baunting eyes. “ Promise me the favour which I have requésted—and you know not with what deep gratitude I shall regard ou!” ’ ‘Raat assured, Sagoopah,” repliod our heroine, “T shall not travel cut of my way to dw you an injury. But my pledge is given with the under- stunding that you do not repeat that which, accurding to your own words, you know to be an lndiscretion.” “TI will not repeat it,” snewered Sagoonak; “and I thank you, Misa Ashton, for your kind- ness,” They then issued together from the boudoir; aud cautiously ascending the atairs, separated to their respective chambers. But Christina could not help thinking it strange that the Princess Iudora was likely to be offended if it came to her kuowledge that her Hindoo attendant made use of her progress in her ‘English studies to peep into those files of the Zumea. On the following uorning Chrisfiva received a note from Zoe, requesting her if possible to call upon her in the course of that day. It was most affectionately worded—but made not the slightest allusion to Lord Octavian. Jt informed Christina that the health of the writer continued Cpa oo pease er Ea Gers Lye ee was shocked by her friend’s appearance. Pale, ill, and languid as she was on the former oocasion,— she looked infinitely more sickly now. She was reclining upon a sofa; and it was With a visible effort she raised herself up to a sitting posture to grect our heroine. “My dear Zoe, you are indeed very ill!” said Christina, the tears starting from her eyes as she embraced her friend. “Yes: I suffer much from indisposition,” responded Zoe, in the mild voice of completest re- signation ; “and as I told you in my letter, 1 am going abroad. Those whose aasont it was neces- sary to obtain, have given it; and I shall depart with as little delay as possible.” Zoe evidently alluded to her father and ber husband: but Christina was struck by the manner in which she thus spoke of them,—as if she studi- ously yet delicately avoided the mention of Lord Octavian’s name. “T think I shall go to the South of France or to Italy,” continued Zoe; “and perbaps a more genial climate may reatore me——or perhaps,” she added, with a mild sadness, “I may find a tomb beneath the sunny sky of the South!” “Good heaven, Zoe! talk not thus despond- ingly!” exclaimed Christina, the tears now gush- ing forth from her eyes. “ You will recover—rest assured that you will recover! It is all the effect of that accident But now you are weeping !” “ And are not you weeping, my sweet friend P” asked Zoe, smiling with a soft sadness through her. tears. “Come—let us endeavour to cheer each other. I do not think that I shall see you again before I leave England; and it was to bid you farewell that I asked you to visit me to-day. I am rejoiced you have come I have a little token of my regard for you Remain here while I go and fetch it.” With these words, Lady Octavian Megedith rose from the sofa, and slowly quitted the room,—her every movement indicating langour and lassitude of the frame. Christina was deeply affected by Zs.e’s appearance; and she had indeed a misgiving lest her health had received a shock which it would never recover. She had remained barely a couple of minutes alone, when the door: opened—and Lord Octavian Meredith made his appearance, There was hurry, and troubie, and wildness in hig whole manner; and hastily accosting our heroine, he abruptly exclaimed, “ Obristina, I am half mad | That angel-wife of mine has no doubt penetrated ELOOO© SS