The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

tiie ae nN ee eee ne enna ee enn nn a anetineesspeemstie mn mananmenstaathenmmeemettsttianens inet i) 82 THE MYSTERILG OF THE GHCRT. - ft een ene - Seer“ eee, a upon the former glagjal frigidity of his demeanour. satie sort, highly eulogistic of Bertram.—ruse ane The Duke however was pleased: Lord Clandon seemed likewise gratified by his brother's courtesy towards their young and beautiful relative; and his lordship took an opportunity to whisber to the Duke when the ladies had retired, “ You nee, dear uncle, that my advice was good. Her Grace has unbené sombwhat; and Bertram’s wounded pride is healing proportionately.” On the following day thero was a riding-party after breakfast. Bertram required not to be pressed ¢o join if; and somehow or another, he found himeelf, when they started off, by Eliza’s eae. In the afternoon there was a boating-party: Bertram had no letters to write—no other kind of axercise, recommended by hie physician, to take— no plea of indisposition to keep him indoors. He escorted the Duchess to the barge; and he again kept by her side when they took their places thercin, But at dinner-time prudence whispered in hiv ear that he must not continue to monopolize the society of his fair relative: Lord Clandon therefore escorted her to the banqueting-room. In the evening, when they were all in the drawiug-room, Lord Clandon, after lounging about with a languid fashionable ease—chatting to one, then to another—pansing to louk over a print, or loitering a few minutes near the piano at which a young lady was seated,—presently dropped into a chair next to that occupied by tho Duchess: for Bertram, having been scated with bor for the pre- v.ous half-hour, had thought it prudent to bestow some attention on others present. “You know not,” said Lord Clandon, in a low voice to Eliza, “ how deeply I telt my first meeting with that dearly beloved brother of mine, after our separation of more than three years. Your Grace must not think me so spoilt by the pursuits of the fashionable world, as to have lost all fraternal love. Besides, Bertram is a brother gf whom one can be proud. I do really believe he is the handsomest young man in all England. What oxquisitely chisolled features! what symmotry of form! But all that is nothing in comparison with the light, of And intellect which shines upon his noble brow. yet I fear me," added Clandon, in a tone of myste- rious confidence, “that he is not beppy.” Kiliza was actually frightened as Hugh address. ber in these terms. She trembled to the very ut- ‘moat confines of her being—but it was with anin- watd tremor, outwardly invisible. She dreaded lest Clandon had penetrated the secret: but as she bent her searching gaze upon him, while he was riveting his own looks upon the graceful form of Bertram at the farther extremity of the room, she felt satisfied that there waa really nothing signiti- cant in his remarks—but that they were merely conversational, the topic being esaght up by acci- dent et the moment. “Yea,” continued Clandon, “T believe and hope that Bertram is destined tu shine in the world. Ny uncle, your Grace's noble husband—as noble in nature aa be ie in neme—has written most press- ingly to the Government to appoint Bertram as Minister to ong of the minor Courts; and I have no doubt that in a few days intellizence will ay- rive that the Duke of Marchmont’s interest has not heen exercisxd in vain,” Klies wale some suitable response; and Lord Clandon, after a little make conversation of’ the 4 sauntered away to another part of the room. “My dear Mrs. Batley,” he presently took an opportunity of whispering in this lady’s ear, “you saw yesterday and to-day that there has been some little change in my brother's demcanour towards the Duchess. The fact is, I have no doubt things will be all right now; and those two in whom we are both naturally so much interested, will get upon that amicable footing whereupon they oaght to stand together.” se ‘ “Yes,” answered Mrs. Bailey, aieo in a low cautious tone. “I thought that Mr. Vivian was behaving differently : for when we met at breakfast this morning, and the Duchess glanced at the cold chicken, your brother was the firat <o offer her a wing.” “Nothing can transcend your shrewdness and penetration, my doar Mrs. Builey,” rejoined Clandon with a smile: and he then lounged towards the piano again. A week passed away from the date of that inter- view which we have recorded at such length in the preceding chapter—an interview in which all the acutest and intensest feelings of which human nature is susceptible, were called into play. Bar. tram and Eliza loved as fondly as ever: how could it ba otherwise P But still they were both shielded against tetnptation by the rectitude of their prin- ciples; and thus when left alone for hours tcze- ther, 1 was only in their looks and in their sighs that the Duchess was unfaithful in her duty to a husband, or Bertram in that towards an uocle, They spoke no more of their love: it was a topic which by tacit consent they avvided. There was‘ no significant pressure of the hands—no embrace snatched —no kiss exchanged. Yet as they sat or walked toyether, they often found themselves, when unobserved by others, gasing into the depths of each other's eyes; and when suddenly recollect- ing that there was impropriety and danger in this, they averted their looks amidst blushes on the cheeks and sighs coming up from the heart, — those looks however which were again so soon to meet and blend in the soft transfusion of their spirita' And these looks, impossible of control — umpuosstble of repression, conveyed all the adoration which was mutually felt,—foadness commingling with fondness—the beams of tenderness enter- twining together. But their discourse, as we have already said, was not upon love; and the) were both tuo intellectual to dwell incessantly upon light evary-day topics—while, on the other hund, they could not bring their minds to the calm, serious, deliberate discussion of books, the sciences, or the arts. Therefore was it that long intervals of silence would reign between them —but @ stlence only of the tongues—a silence in the midst of which a thousand things were said bythe eloquent language of the eyes. Any¥ stranger who might have seen that young man of god-like beauty, and that young lady of excelling loveliness, would have at once concluded that they werl mated in mar- mage, or that they were lovers avon tobe se joined: for even the most superficial glance must have perceived a cartain fitness im the union of this couple. But destiny had decreed otherwise :— they loved, yet they were not mald; they adored each other-hut a stupendous gulf existed between them. . nme tiet en bane: amanaeed (C NOG SS