The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 33: what you’re looking at

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

a e Gidget ig ee re ecve —-a Chong ceremuniai distance, wilh merely The young wian gave no lumediate answer: ha | tae gloss of well-bred courtesy over all—between } dropped bie kerchief, and deliberately picked it yp, 22 THK MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. This interval of a single moment was sufficient for him to recover complete self-possession. © Rest assured, uncic,” responded Bertram, “ that tay conduct shall ever be marked with the po. foundest respect towards the Duchess of Margh- mont —-——yes, ever !” The Duke bit his lip for a moment. He thought there was sumethiug cold and distant in the anawa — sormelhing which Justified his suspicion tha Ber- train in his heart hated the match. But yet it was not a reply which would bear any comment on bis Graco’s pirt. It might even ~Imit an ine terpretation which would throw out the delicacy of his nephew's feelings in the most admirable light. What if he consilered that respect was the only, or at least the most becoming demeanour which he ought to adopt towards a lady a year younger than himaclf, and whu had merely become coynocted with him by marriage with a relative ?—what if he were to consider that anything savouring of a more advanced cordialily might touch upon famili- arity, and thac such familiarity might be viewed suxpieiously by the world ? And then too, Bertram had really so little to gain if the Duke had re- mained unmarricd und if he were to die childless. The elder brother Lord Clandon would become Duke of Murehmont—he would no doubt marry— he would probably have issue—and Bertram Vivian would gain the empty title of a lord by courtesy, without a Peer’s rank, und without a single addi- tional iarthing to his income. All these thoughts swept through the mind of the Duke of Marchmont in the space of a few moments; and when he again turned his eyes upon Bertrauw Vivian, there was so much open- hearted frankness, so much lofty intellectuality, sy tunch true grandeur of the soul depicted upon hia faultlessly beautiful countenance, that the Duke fell he must have wrynged him with his unfuvourable suspicions, —while on the other hand, lis) favourable conjectures to account for his nephew's conduct towards the Duchesa, must arter all be the right ones. The gentlemen re- joined the ladies in the drawing-room, where cotfeo wus servel round. Bertram leant against the mantel-jiece, at a distance from all the rest,— at intervals silent and abstracted —at othora falling with well bred readiness und intellectual ease into the cunversation that was going on. He did hot Once approneh the Duchess—he never aldressed the: vuchess and Bertram Vivian, Kut of course nu remark was verbally made; thoush covert and atcachy looks of surprise were exchanger, Thre niital impression was that Bertrain -les« gene rout, less magnanimous than his elder brother — Louked with ill-dieguised discontent and annoyance ou the marriage which his uncle had contracted ; wil that the Duchosa, pereeiving this conduct on hia parf, resented it in a diyzuifiel and becoming manner, When the ladies had retired, the Duke—not wishing to judge his nephew hastily, but at the same time fevling it incumbent upon him to take some little notice, if only by barest allusion, of a tenour of conduct which every one liad perceived — motioned him to bring hia gluss and eome and sit nevtto bim. Bertram obeyed wath an alnerity which, trifling though the incident were, displayed a most willing obedience; and scarecly was he seated by the Duke's side, when he sail in an earn- eat manner, “Accept my eincerest thanks, dear wocle, for the handsume addition vou lowe so con- tittiously made to any own resimeted income. have endeavoured to render myself worthy of your generosity. And now, scarcely am I beneath your roof, when you make ine offers of which any young man ought to be proud. [ never ald -1 Lever ean forget your goodness! Grd forbid that I ever shoulit !’—and it was with the sudden impulsive. neas of a naturally fersid nature, that Bertram took hig uaclo’s hand and pressed it warmly in his OWN, Tie Duke for un instant gazed upon lim in wonderment, as he said to iitneeld, “2s it possible that Burtram is a vile hypocrite — that in his beart he deteats my marnmage- that he iw not altogether able to conceal’ his sontiments from my wite —but that Jeariney he lias prarees ton fir, he nuw seeks to propitinte and concihate me?” Yot there was nothing in the young mun’s countenance --nothing in the honest frankness with which his dark eleur eyes encountered lis uncle's Jouks --t0 justi’y Chose suspicions. “The Duke was bewildered; and Bertram weut on speaking * You asked me,” ho said, “ail! woadd dike to enter Parliament 9— but TE have ny wish to remain my England. English habits and tastes do not suit. one who bas been upwards of three sears abroud.: Besides,” added Bertram quickly, “uy wews are entirely cast ino the diplomeane sphere ; and there, dear uncle, do TE salieut your interest. | his observations to her: but then aa one could Beheve me, lam in baste to get abroad again mej consider (lis as extravrdimary, in‘smuch.as his multor to what part of the worid! I deemed it my {| remarks were made generally, aad not in reply bounden duly to come to Oakl mds to pay my re-| to the presious observations of any particular ine apects to yvou--to assure your Grace of my grate | divalual, Still there was a visible restraint on dude -and to congratulate you on the happiness | the part of buth Bertram and the Difthess : for which you evidently enjoy.” she never once even so much ag turned’ her eyes “Yes - 1 am happy with my amiable Duchess,” | upan lim; and she also had hor intervals of rosponded the Duke: and once more were bis eyes! sileuce and abstraction, which never were perceived fixed earnestly and serutimzm ly upon Bortrgin. belura. The guests separated to their respective Vivian. . chambers with the convietion that Burtram bated “Report had not fuiled to waft her manifold ' the murriage, and that the Duchess (athomed his pood qualities to my ears,” he observed, without feelimg and properly resented it in the way that 9 the ehghtest change of countenance, “evep befure ' well-bred lady could alone exhibit her offended. { bad the honour of meeting ber Grace this day.” and indiguant pride. The Dyke of Marchmont, “Aud yet wethinkg, Bertram,” said the Duke, . tov, again wavered in his opinion, anfl wag ‘vou hardly treated bex With the friendiinese of a! inclined to think that this was the true enti of rolative.” _ the mystery. He therefore esid nothing to Bhs . ' ; eacceajemrpengeene neem Se ks mere, GOnMGOOOKS CO