The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 386: what you’re looking at

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

Soe RR a ong ce wen eR NE, TNS RMA cmc “sen ueeSSURRSTNNGSDCaA g Na sc Rf ris aati, ee ee AR. md A. quem alll AE eetige mat geal, a we Grr at - wre G74 2S*w em e@wwevwqee = * EY '. was awaited with some degree of suspenso—in | explanatiuns over and over again. 1 am sorry, b | e @Peepeeeneem «fe eewasee — B7b now so different from those which afew minutes back she Rad experienced. Mrs. Oxenden re. turned to the baleony—and said, “ You aro*di- verted, Laura F? “ Yes!" replied the young lady, searcoly able to repress a gush of emotions: “ more—mych more than I could possibly have anticipated !” “Tam glad of it,” said Mrs. Oxenden: “we will have these men again to-morrow," Laura was about to give expression to a joyous affirmative, when she waa struck by the impru- dence of displaying too much interest in these proceedings —and she accordingly held her peace. Her unprincipled sister susarioned one of the itine- rants towards the balcony; and thisindividual hap- pened to bo the bearer of the lotter—as indeed he was also the leader of the troop. “Do you purpose, my good man,” inquired Mra. Oxonden “to remain io this neighbourhood for a day or two P"’ “Well, ma’am,” replied the follow, with the realy-witted impudence which, harinlass enough, characterizes hig class, — we had a particular en- gagement to be at Oanterbury to-morrow, to per- furmin the prescnce of the Archbishop, lis clery, and alt the surrounding nability and gentry : bat aft Al is your pleasure, ma'am, that we shali attend bere again, I’m sure we would put off all the Arch- bishops in the world ratber than disappoint you and the young lady.” “Ino that case," rejoined Mra. Oxenden, smiling, “you must come hitther again to morrow at the same hour—and lero is vour retaining fee.” Another silver coin found its way to the hand of the mountebank; and ho shortly afterwards do- parted with his comrades—of cuurse including Baron Rayyidbak. On their return into the town, the mountebank at once put off his prutessroyal | eusturve—dressed humsolf ia his plain clothes - aud proceeded to the Royal Hotel, where dar Beverley aad Christian were anxiously awaiting his arrival, Oe communicated to them the reault of lus misstun—and glatdencd then still more by tne intellivence that circumstances were so far favouring their views that his mountebank troop had actually been engaged tu return ty perform in front of Verner House on the morruw. Tho boart of Edgur Beverley was now elate with hope; and fersid soleed were bis expressiona of prati.ude for the counsel and assistance afforded hin by our young hero. Tae mountebank was liberally re- warded ; and he took bis depacturs, promising to fulfil his engagement on the morrow. Licutenant Beverley was careful to keep in-dours throughout that day, for fear jest the uid Baronet or Mrs, Oxenden might happen tu pay # visit to Ramsgate and encounter him in the structs if be were tin- prudent enough to leave the hotel. Obristiun kept hiro Gmpany for the greater portion of the day— merely issuing out to take a walk fur an hour or two: but during his ramble he saw nothing of either Bir John Steward or Mrs. Oxendon. The two voung gentlemen dined tuyetber in tho eyen- ing ; and tho result of the morrow’s proccedings which however hupe was predominant, | Leura gased wth her boautifal blue eyes OMRAPTER LERiL MAS. OXENDES. I? was evening: and Laura had just retired to her own chamber, at about half-psat nine o'clock, under the ples of a severe headache, Hor real motive was however tv Aud an opportunity for penning an answer to Rigar Beverley's note; anil it wae only by thus withdrawing at a somewhat early hour that she could hupe to dad auch an oo- casion—for her chamber was an inner one opening from that occupied by her sister, who thus touk care to act ae the guardian by night of the young, inuiden, sv as to prevent the ibility of escape. Laura had read her lover's billet: it bad filled hor with hope, and joy, and gratitude; and thodigh she had done her beat to wear the same demeanour ee bafore, yet she had not been altogether able to preveot herself from appearing to be in better spirits, On retiring to her room, she speedily dismissed the maid who came to attend upou her night. ‘ toilet; and she was about to sit down to pen a hasty reply to Edgar's note, whon she heard the Outor dour open; and she had only just time to recover from ber confusion and trepidation, when Mrs. Oxenden made her appearance. We ought perhaps te observe that Laura was entirely ignorant¢—and that the purity of her wind pre- vented her from suspecting —that hop atater’é an- tecedents were not the must correct in the world aud that she had bean tho kept mistress of snvern wealthy persons, @monget whom was Sir Juhn Steward, : Mra. Oxenden, on entering her chamber, em- braced ler sister with every appearance of the inost affectionate cordialily ; and iu a bine which seemed fraught with a corresponding sincerity, suo said, “ Denrest Laura, you kuew not bow happy Lam to perceive that you are beginning to cheer up--or at all avents that you area not quite so depressed as you have hitbertu been. You may think, Laura, that L have played a hareh part towards you: bute] was merely doing my duty #4 4 sister who is so much older ¢hau yours , self tha. vou stand in the light of’a daughtge, to- wards mm.” . Lauta mado no answer: sho could scarcely be- lieve that her sister spoke in exact accordance with the truth; and yet it revolted ayainst the niutural generouty of lor nature to arrive at a contrary conclusion. “Lam sur; that you are making up your mind to be rensunable,"” continued Mra. Oxenden: * [ felt confident that when your miad became sufli- ciently calia for deliberate reflection, you would seo how completely I have been studying your best interests. But you spoke to me this morn- ing in the drawing-room as if you fanciod it wae otherwise; and perhaps Io anawered you tropa tiently, and oven unkindly, when i appeared to upbraid you for compelling me to give the same denr Lgura, if I did thus speak somewhat too hastily; and I wae determined to take the frat opportunity to remove that impression from your mind.” " unter: COMIC OOO© (C RB — we ES ee Re waa eR pre A ‘ 1 \ - SHE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. | SS CO