The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 354: what you’re looking at

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

ed — Ane THE MYETERIES OF THE COURT. ne we a bad been chatecterised by something more than mere levity—that there was also something myste- rious attached to her earlier history—and I remem-_ ber that on one occasion the opinion was expressed that she had actually been the kept mistress of ' gome very rich man, and that in order to obtain a ' position she had accepted the offer made to her by => =» aad aE = w= the infatuated and doating Maxwell. Whoether these remours were true or not, I was then unahlo to discover: at all evente I was certain that never did the faintest breath of scandal sully the fair fame of the lovely and virtuous Louisa: for : supposing that those reports were correct, Louisa ——_— iy agg -~ Ble > nal —_ ~~ = ao ~ 1S OEE ey Gi om ow ee «ee ae sew See ER os eee ee om EI -_ ew @ ws ee ae — ee ee —~ w= «= _ phe enid: ‘because you cannot deceive me. — aoe we ——~ > ro - = ' clent in personal beauty, Et Oe ee se Smt — 0 ae eee ee eee eee ese SE muat have been the inmate of a boarding-schvol at the time her sister was pursuing an oquivocal path. I now take up the thread of my narrative, and will speedily bring it to a close. About a fortnight back I was seated with Louies in a shady arbour in the garden, when we were sud- denly surprised by the appearance of Mrs. Max- well. Her countenance was palo with rage; and she stood gazing upon us with fierce looks,— unable however for the firet few moments to give utterance to a word. Louisa was overwhelmed with terror; and I myself was not devoid of con- fusion. At ilength I recovered a manly firmness; and I told Mrs. Maxwell that IC was devotedly attached to her sister—that my intentions were honourable--and that I was ready to fulfil them as soon a8 circumstances would permit. She seciped on the point of piving vent to ejaculations of rage, and to level the bitterest reproaches at her sister—when, asif struck by 2 suilden thought, she became all tn a moment calm ; and bidding Louisa retire into the house, she remained to con- verse with me. She coldly asked mo what were my prospects 2 replied, ‘ You know that I am the heir preaumptive of a wealthy Baronet; and without further delay I will appeal to him for his assent to my marriayo with your sister.’— ‘She looked at me im a peculiar manner—a manner which I could not understand; end she said, ‘ If *¥ had known the first day we met in tho streets of Brighton, who you were, I should never, never have given you that encouragoment which yqu coldly rejected, and which subjected mo to the deepest mortification thal a woman can possibly experience.” —This speech struck me as so strange that I starcd at her in stupid amazement.——* It is of no use for you to continue thus playing a part,’ I know that from the very firet you were aware who I waa, and that therefore you rejected the advances which under other circumstances a and handsome young man would have willingly Ss peaess 2G Aone a a Oe FIP ae TE Pte Ss i fy poy = $8 af aged HOVER EEEEEs 2p askiad easingy 5 yp ewes my ody house, Bat your chilling coldness towards me from the very first, your reserved and forced politeness, were intended to humiliate mo, though you were careful to abstain from verbal expres. sions of contempt and seorn’—You may conceive, My. Ashton, how influite was my astonishment while Mra. Maxwell was thus addressing me. I was stricken spocchless—and I continued to gage upon her with @ degree of wonderment which she doubtless began to eunpect waa truly genaine. Bhe now surveyed mo with surprieco in her turn; and at length she said, ‘Ie it pussitie that I am mie- taken? do you really know nothing Pend then she stopped short, as if fearful of making an ad- soiseion in caso 1 was really ignorant with regard to the points to which she wae thus mystertmusly alluding.—‘On my soul, madam,’ I exelaimed, ‘you are speaking to me in the atrangost esigmas; and all that you have said compels me to be expli- eit on certain pointe, delicate though they are to touch upon, ‘You say that I wasrold to you on the firat two occastons that we met: but perhaps if my mind had not been full of the loveliness of one who was then a etranger to me, I should have gladly submitted to the influence of your charrea. I will ask whether you did not see that I started with surpriee on the day that Mr. Maxwell invited me to dine dere, and when forthe first time I learnt who you wore f° Enough, Mr. Beverley,’ interrupted Mrs. Maxwell; ‘J bave been Inbouring under a most extraordinary mistake: T have alto- gether misunderstood you: 1 have attributed to you motives which I now see you could not pos- sibly havo entertained. I must crave your for- giverices; for my conduct has been moat ungene- rous. Let ua speak no more of the past: let as think only of the purposy that has brought you hither, and of the topic which all alung ought to have most interested us..—Mra. Maxwell then iv- vited ine to enter the houge and partake of break- fast. Her husband was both pleasod and aston- ished when she introducéd mo into the parlour: but she contented hore if with tho simple observa- tion that there} .a been some little misapprehen- sion en ber part with regard to me,and that if was now cleared tp. Louisa was summoned doqn etairs; and ahe could scarcely believe lier eyes when she’ aaw mo there, nor ber cars when hor sistor repoated the same cbsorvation which she had made to her huaband. In short, tho happiness of Louisa gnd myself now seemed all but completes 2 =eres =e sewer Yo te De for Mré. Maxwell was as courteous and kind ns | T was she had furmorly been cold and distant. y | utterly at vn loss to account forall thiss bat J cared not to waste timo in refiection upon it: 1 surren- availed himeelf of when made by a women who | dered myself completely upto the blise of Loulsa’s may flatter herself that she is not altogether defi. 1 I repeat that when first we encountered each other in the streets, I knew not who you were, but you havo ell along known me; though you ecem to have been playing a part to make me imagine that you did not. Of what use wae this proceeding on your part ? If at the first you had told me candidly who you were, and that you mieant to keep my secret not snerely as aman of honour, but likewise through delicate consideration on bebalf of my sister, think you that I shonid have rep‘arded you with bate? No; on the contrary J shoyild have: been gratofal ; ana most welcome would you have been at car z f society and in being recognised as her accepted suitor.” Here Edgar Beverley stopped again for « fow moments, and then procecded as follows :-— “In the course of that day I had avother pri- vate interview with Mrs, Maxwell: and sho then requcsted me to be explicit with regard to my in- tentions. Lemid that Y would writs to my unelo that very day, and that asa prvof of my hunour- able views I would show her the letter. She was perfectly satiefied, thanked mo for the confidence I in her, but did not decline my offex, as me- thought she might have done, to suffer tho letter to pass through ber hands. 1 went to myquarters oe Se ee ee en eet ee a 1 -~- =-— = aes a “ASN: CES Ca UNS I aa EEE te ae ee 2 Eee en ee eee qe ee eee 2 ee. ee ee — ~<« wo i ee Gee eS ee ee ee ~ a = a > a Ca <2 SS