The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 385: what you’re looking at

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

sprepteeriet De aera rider bs Nenuaiien wate 8 Baws en ebreilieme 2o= Meee Gy a, Wihuhawne f Sirgen YAn = 374 arid pass into the entlofure. Being in the com- mission of the peace, he ¢awed that ha would send them all to the treadmill, whero instexd of oaper- ing upon stilts, they should dance upon An ever- lasting staircase, to the drumming asd piping of the atarcoling German, if the governur of the gan! thought fit to allow such exorcise of his musical powers: Now, we must observe that the old Baronet, Mire. Oxenden, and Laura were all three sCaited it the drawing-room at the time when the itinerdat performers appeated in front of the man- sion. Emura was deeply defected, and su completely out of spirits that neither by threats nor by cafolery could Mrs, Oxenden draw her oat from that desponding apathy. Lhe position of affairs was most embarrassing for Mrs. Oxenden: she foarod jest Sir Juho Steward should beoome sick- ondd or disgusted and back out of the purpose which he‘aad hitherto entertained. She therefore caugit ull in a momont at the presdnce of these mountebanks as the possible mdans of inspiring her young siater with sume little tingo of gaiety, if only fora few transient minutes. “The rogues and scoundrels!” ejuoulated Sir Joho, who was in an excusdiug il-humour at the dead lethargic coldness of the benutitul Daura: “ [ will have them every one acnt te the House of Corrastion, Ll repeat! erg ~lot the footmen come -- i'll awear them in as constables —it is a revular breach of the poate I'll real the rio¢ act—1’ll— 'il—play the very devil!” v “Lert thom proceed, Sir John,” interrupted Mra, Ogdnien, darting upon him a sgmilonne look with hot superb oses: und then, in & hasty whisper, she nided, “ Krorything must bo dose to amuse and ¢heer Laura’s mind at present.” “Ayo, to be sure!” exclaimed the Baronat: “they may be honest, well-intentioned peuple after all. Poor fellows! [ have wronval theta - they are doing their beat to pick up an boneat penty — and as there just happens tu be a haltpenny on the mantel-piece ——" “Nonserse, Sir Jona!” ssid Mrs. Oxenden aside: for wo should observe that the meannoss of tho Baronet in some things was proportionate with his lavish extravagance ta disbursing gold upon bis OWN KcnEUuOUS pledsuTes. . Airs. Oxsudew took out several shillings from hue purag; and yuing forth apan the balovuy, bhe (lung them out tu the mountebanks, who speedily nidked them up. Returning into the raom, she ncoustea her siater, saying, “ You kuow nut, my dear Laura, what surprising feats theses gymuastic performers aro displaying. [Ut ia quite ontertain- ing—1L feel as il d were a ehild enee more, aud could enter intu the spirit of them :"—thon stoop. ing ber head tuwards Laura's ear, she aided, “Qume, my dear virl, do aheer up a little—shake off thie dreadful ueapondeney yuu know that | have nothing bué vuur best interests at heart.” “ My best internets P" saig the young maiden, looking up with aa air so wWos-beruone that it would have udited any heart eavo ote of hardest flint. “Yes—to be gure,” whispered Mes. Osendon, hastily and alsd petulantly, “Am I to explain it to you all over. amd overt afain? But eume, my dear J eat for s few minutes on the bal- cony—the fresh air will do you good—and to feats sf these wien will divers you.” ¢ ¥ ‘ » Ae qs ee ee eae, sees 4 est = re THB MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. een ge ya a PES ere Thus speaking, Mrs. Oxendea tobk her yuuag sister's hand, and Jed hor towards the window! fot Laura had relapsed into 4 state of deopelt dujes- tion, so that she suffered herself to be gaided. we if she were an saatomaton. Sae passed out upon the balcony; and Mrs. Oxenden remained with fier fora few minutes. At tirst Laura contemplated the mouutebanks in « kind of listless vacant man- use: bub by deyzrees her eyes ssomod to display more interest in their proceedings; and Mrs, Oxenden, believing that she was reaily cheored, te- turned into the drawing-taom to impart this intel- livence to the old Baronst. The trath was that Laura did experience just that mall amount of {a- terest which a mind, sunk deop in tethargie despondency, was calculated to feel at any trilling circumstance that might break in apon the deeply oournful monotony of her thoughts. And yet it was rather the eye than tho mind that was thas attracted—for while the poor young tady followed with her luoks the exploits of the ftinerante, hee soul still continued brovding oy the afflictions which haunted it. But she was now alone upon the baleony., Tho wind blew sharp from the north-oast, chough the sun wns slining brightly; and she drew around her the shael which her sister had thrown over her shoulders cre conducting her oub upun that bal- cony. One of tho mountebanks came close unde, the window, and suddenly drew forth something from the breast of his party-culoured jacket. fituca chaerved the astlon—but considered it to bo gume part of tho psrformancy. “One word!’ sak the mountoJank; “ ono word! Quek, young lady! —aro you Aliss Hall P” “ Yos—that is my name,” wae Laura's hasty response: for she instantansously perceived thero waa sothething siguiticant in the man’s proceed: ings; and ts one in hor desperate pogitiun the veriest trifle appcared like a straw of hope float- lug past and ty bo clatched at by her hand. “Tins note!’ rejoined the mountebank : “take it quick !--.t is from Mr. Beverley! We wilt re- turn to perform again tu-morrow fit the samo hour; aod you can then give me the ansser.” 16 were iimpussible ty desotibe tho wild feelings of joy which thrilled through the frame ut the beauteous youny maiden as these words reached her car, She trembled with those cmotions for a few tustants: she was bewildered with a sense of reliel, bepe, and happiness. The mountcbank made an impatient gesture —the young lady, fv- called therdby to her self-possession, flung a rapid glaneo behind ber mto the drawiag-roon—and peroaiving that her sister aad the old Baronet were in earnest cunversatinn toguther—she tuok the note from the hand of the friendly perforuter. Tho next instant he was danciug ahd caper'ys avay on the top of his stilts with greater elasticify than ever; and in the effusion of his joy at baviag ao saccestfully oxecttted his commission, he be- stowed (with vie of the stilts aforesaid) ao hearty w thwace across Ragwtidbak's shoulders that the mouth-organ fur an instant gent forth a peculiar svuid which eeemed to be Composed of a yell and e growl. inure bad thfust the tote into the bosom of her dreds; abd ther she exorted all her powete to } avoid the outward betrayal of her feelings that were So —_ =— (C NOG SS CO