The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

1 Coe eee pengene eg .- be - is not to be moved - 38 rte: “and why waa it she bagged { would not Cume | yect, either letter or message; aod he looked himeelf im into her roora 4 little while back ?” THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ee A TO, ES “positively forhade eny cus to bring bigs “Her Grace, ma‘am,” *eplied the maid, with a} a roon—— saddened countenancé, “lovks as if she were ten years viler than ¢he was an hour back. was with a strange calmness she sat herseif down to write that letter which Lurd Clandon has so kindly taken in to thé Duke. Heaven send that ita contents may move his Grace! It was only be- cause my poor mistress was occupied on that letter, that she ecquid nut'see you. Oh! ma’am, her Grace may have been weak aad imprudent — but it is hard to believe her guilty !” Mrs. Bailey, —being well acquainted with all Eliza’s earlier history, and knowing how deeply sho had loved Bertruin —bosides beimg a wo.nan whose notions of the better side of humanity bad been warped, if not actually spoilt by the frivolities of fashionable lifo, -really did oelieve in her own heart that Eliza was completely guilty; ant she coull not belp alaking her head ominously in response to the mairl’s expreased doubt on the subject. The countenance of the maid herself therefore fell sudilenly as she boheld that look; and her own previously wavering opinion settled infa a conviction unfavourable tv the untortunate Elign. Atthis moment Lord Clandon camo forth from the apartment, where he had been closeted with the Duke; and his looks showed that his miasion had proved unsucces-ful. “ His Grace read the letter,” he said, in a low deop voice. “After much troublo [ persuaded hito that éhie was at least an act of justice which he owed towards the Duchess. But his opiniva -nor his resolve shaken, His commands are that with the least possible delay the Duchess is to leave the house.” The maid, With a sorrowful countenance, as- cended the staire; followed by Mrs. Bailey; and they entered the boudoir, where Bliza was pacing tu nnd fro in a slate of mind which may be more readily imagined than deseribed. Another of her maics bad remained with her; and tlis ono was atanding aside, following with mournful tvoas the form of her mistress as she thus paced to and fro. Eliza did indeed acem as if she had received a most fearful ahuck: ber oount.nance was pale ns death —her eyes were haggard—her look was as care- woru as if she had pussed through a dozen youre of uncepsing, ineffuble sureow. The instant the door opened, her eyes, glistening feverishly with uneasiness and suspense, were flung upou those who entered; and Mrs. Bailey hastening forward, said, “O Eliza, how could you-———”" “ Madam,” interrupted the Duchess, all her trepulation settling down in a imument into the most dignified calmnoss,— “T see that you believe me guilty: bat fam innocent !" im “Weil, my dear,” answered Mrs, Bai'ey, “I most sincerely hope you are--but of course you cnow beat.” “My letter, Jane P” said the Duchess, turning proudly and indignantly away from tier relative, and ad lressing herself to the maid who had tol- lowed Mrs, Bailey into the rooin “has 16 been gent to us Grace P*—and nuw again thebe was the feverish glitter of sugpense in cr eyes as she awaited the resparise. “The Duke,” Mrs, Bailey mqvtoned te inter- } “My letter, Jane?” ejaculated the Duchess, But it| now quive-ing visibly with impatience—but dis- daining to take any farther notice of Mrs. Bailey, since this lady had shown that she believed iu her guilt. “Piease your Grace,” answered Jane, “ Lord Clandon kindly touk charge of the letter—bis lordship was very much affected--and he, was closated with his Grace for nearly « quarter of an hour. But, my lady——a=" * Enough, Fane | !” said she Dachess, her marble features suddenly becoming fixed and rigid in the last stage of despair. ‘“ I understand you. Phe Duke believes me not. I therefore leave hig houve at once. But before I go, let me call God to wituess that if I have been thouchtless—if I have been weak —if I have been imprudent have not been guilty !” “QO Kliza—my dear Eliza!” said Mrs. Bailey, atill full of a nervous trepidation; “pray don’t call Gorl’s naine in vatn !” * Woman!” ejaculated Eliza fiercely, as she turned abruptly round upon her relative; “do you dafe stand forward as my accuser ?’—thoen, as Mrs. Bailey staggered back, frightened and avhast, the Duchess went on to say, “I will not accvpt a home fruin you! You cannot lay your hand upon your heart and say that you are sensible of no wrongs towards me, You know whut I mean! I could curse you, were it not that I should involve the memory of my deceased parent ta the same frichtful malediction. If I were gutlty but Gud is my witness that I am not how much of that guilt would be Ae tributable to your detestable machinations! yone!—remain not here another moment in my presence !” Mrs. Builey,—frightened to death lest Eliza should enter into the fullest explanations relative to the pst, and thereby seriously compromise her, —hurried from the room, and rushed down stairs in a condition of bewildered terror. “ Where is the Duchess?” asked Lord Clandon : but as Mrs. Bailey sped past him, not knowing what she was abuut, he burried after her. “Do tell me, my dear madam,” he continued, in a voice full of anxiety and uneasiness, “what has oc- curred ?” “ Don’t ask me, my lord! don’t ask me, I be. seech you!” she ejaculated. “To be abused, and raviled, “and taunted, after I helped te musize her a Duchess ~it is perfectly shocking !” “Shocking indeed,” said Lord Chandon, who was pow cnabled to comprehend pretty welt what hed taken place. “ But are you going withoet her” he askel, as Mra. Bailey rushed throazh she ball to her earriage, which was waiting at the entrance. * Yes, my lord! — prey let me go! you I hive had quite enough of Osklands.” “ But the Duke’é co ‘omsuds are thag you should take the Duchess with you.” “Tue Duchess will nut come—and thank heaven that she won't?” rejuined Mrs. Bitlev, who was alt in a flutter of oringled angor afd affraght; and without even waiting fo be harte-t to ty carriage, she scrainbled up inte it as best she could. Lord Clindua "Bdwed courteously ~ and the I can assure. | ECOMICHOOOlKS.Cconn