The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 58: what you’re looking at

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

-ers a ee ee ee eee ree eee eee ee ee ___.._._-@&_ ne ay ee ca cr a Pc Pe te ena nemencessasAe EN ee Po ee en ° THE MIRTRRIRS OF THE CATR. furuaa et hie eyes. His cuanienanve wus tin Wat day, - when a tuctues envesed ano paie—bis featurca had grown anyular—but rgouncing “ Mr. Armytage.” m their expiossion was that of a culd haughty AD expressivn of annoyance awept for a ‘aasent severity. over the countenance of the Duke of Afarahmtents He hed married about two years after the but it ripilly pasecd away, ao it supprossed ‘by gus tragedy al Ouklands suddeoly put him in pusees- own etrung vill, because he did nut elpoes 46 ae sion of the title ang estates of Marchmont: but play it to the imuivuiual who was thus gseneped no issue bad biessed the union, The Jady whom into his presence. Thi individual wae @ mae the Duke had espoused, wan a young creature of of about lifty—of middle stature, somewhat dik Ae puviah, an Ry * only sixteen at the time of the marriage; end clined to corpulency—and wilh 6 countenance that fifteen years having elapsed since the sulemnisa- ' was far from prepusseasing. It had a mean, eune tion of those nuptiale, she was canerquently now hing look--an expression of cold worldly-winded thirty-one. For sowe time the Duke had earnestly , calculation, which evinced selfishneng, love of gain, hoped to have an heir to his title and possessions: petty ambitiong, and other low d«hasing feelings. but os year after year passed and the hope re-' Yet there was a certain gentility of mauner apnut mained yniulfilled, Hugh gradually conceived an this peraon,—a gentility, however, wick ta che aversion towards hie young and beautiful wife. eye of a well-bied observer would wom to have This aversion did not at first display itself in any been piched up from cuntact with tue betters, overt ects towards the Duchess: but in proportion rather than to be naturally his own. He was as it increased, the Duke grew all the luse careful dressed with somo degree of pretension~—and nt in concealing it—until the unfortunate Duchess all evente looked like a well-to-do individual in ovuld no lunger blind herself to the growing indil- | soniertable circumstances. ference of her husband,—an indifference that| Advancing into the room, Mr. Armytage bowed, ° was merging into downright bato, At lest the! with a certain commingling of familiarity and Duke of Marchmount separated so far from his respect, to the Duke of Marchmont,~-who, with wife that they occupied distinct rooma,—though out rising trom his seat, merely nodded bis bead; atill continuing to live beneath the same roof, and and indicating a chair, inquired, “Well, Armytugo, preserving, wien in society and befure the world, what has brought you hither this morning F’ all the outward decencies which husband and wife “T come to consult your Grace,” replid the are bound to maintain towards each other, The visitor, “on a certain family matter which I have uchess was not the less virtually and in reality very much at heart, and on which 1 have been Deplected,— the Duke seldom dining at home, but thusking fur some hike tine past: go that at eecking hie own pleasures in quertera that were length J resulved to address wyaself to your lurde most agreeuble to hin. Though he had been ex- ebip.” travagant and improvident in the earticr part of — “A family matter P? ejaculated the Duke of his lite, and was indced overwhelmed with aeate Marchinont, in evident surprise. “© Whee the at the period be succeeded tothe title and Gomnins deuce can you meanP This is tho first ima yor ” of Marchmont,— he had, since the accession, uived ever thought of consulting te on exch a subject ; Within his income: bul then hie ascome was ample aud renily, Mr. Armytage, 1 should fancy that with enough to minister to all the wante und wishes of your slrewduess yeu are the beat joasible pareon even the most pleasure-seehing individual, in the wurld to manage your own affairs.” The town mansion occupied by the Duke and’ “ But sotnetimes, my Lord Duke,” rejoined Ducliess of Marchmont, was one of the handwomest Armytoge, “the best manager requies the asatst- and most extensive in Lelgrave Square. It had ance of~ of-———~—” he wag evidently about tu say lately been refurnished in a sumptuous manner: “a friend”—but he substituted the term “au the -picture-gullery contained some of the finest advirer.” ; works of the old masters: all the appoiuiments of. ‘ ‘Vell then, proceed,” exclsiined the Dukes the palatial residence were indicatise of great “fur .c is past mid-day, and I um nop yet dressed wealth and a luxurious taste. Thraugiout the te go oul.” entire arrangements the voice of the Duke himecif — “* Your Grace is aware,” proceeded Armytage, wae,nutocratic,—the Duchess nut being allowed to “that my daughter Zo is now in her twentieth interjere. Neither did she seek to do so: her year ” disposition was gentle, weck, and submissive: ber “Ab! is she 6o old as that P” anid the Duke, lot was an ubheppy upe-—but she endeavoured to listlessly. “But es you aro aware, I have seen bear it With all becoming resignation, avd sedu- ber so veldom.” lously avoided the aggravation of ite hardship by ' any manilestation of a wall of her own in oppwsi- tion to that%f her imperious husband. it was ip the beginning of June, 13847, that the ecene occurred wlich we are about to nerrute. The time-piece in one of the cleganily furnished apartmenis at Marclimont House, bud just pro- cleamed the hour of noon; and the Duke, who was alwe there, laid aside the newspaper which he bad béen reading. He wus sitting, or rather lounging upon a sofa: kis person wus wrapped ip a handsome silk dressing gown of a rich pattern, - with a cord tic@luvusely round the waist. He was thinking of the recreations be had prapoeed to Bisset and the appointments which he had for | i eel “It ia perlectly true,” replied Mr. Armytage, accentuating his words into the significancy of reproach, “(hat your Grace seldom eundesoends to appear at my pares; aad it is unfortunate that on several ecearions for the last two or three years, when 1 solicited your dracels presence, you alvase had prior eagagements.” * Well, Armytage, that was not my fault, you know,” reeponded Marelunont, “ But about Mise Zoe P—jou were speaking of her. Sle is @ very beautiful girl-——~” ‘ “And, 1 flatter myself, my lord,” Arm} tage, “thet sha is well brought up. 2 here sparcd nO expenses ou her education ami supaime plishiasute———? a ELOOO© 47 | , | re SS