The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 69: what you’re looking at

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ud sat at the piano: he accompanied her in a duet. He had a fine volee and sang admirably: Zoe's voice was of silvery sdftness; and she too sang with exquisite taste—a tasto that was alk the more apparent from the utter absence of affectation. When Lord Octavian, after having sat by Zoe's side at the gupper-table, returned at two in tha morning to his own Jodgings, he thought to him- sclf that never did Miss Armytage appear so ravishingly beautiful and so charmingly fascinating in hie eyes; ae that he mentally ejaculated, “ After all, I think J gan love her |” On the following day he paid the usual visit of courtesy which followa an evening's entertainment ; an on this occasion he remained an hour and 4 hal¥ with Zoe,—her father having at the time, or pratending to have, a very pressing appoint- men with some great nobleman, whom he of course apoke of aa his very particular and intimate friend. After this visit Lord Motavian said confidently to himeelf, “I pot only cas love her—but [ do already love her {” Yet an image rose wp before him, and a sigh came up inta his very throat, He hurried hie pace through thé Regent's Park as if to escape from tbo image: he atifled the sigh ere giving it vont; and then he endeavoured to pefsuade him- evif that it was all nothing—that the fair unknown had really no hold upon his affections—that it was & mere passing whim or caprice excited by a pretty face and a sylphid jigure—and besides, that it was perfectly ridiculous to entertain a serious thought of one to whom he had never spoken in his life, and whom he might never see again. Still there was a secret voice speaking with its silent elo- guence in the depth of his soul, which told him that-he was reasoning not as the truth really was, but accarding as he wished it to be; and this time the deep-drawn sigh could not be altogethor stifled. ‘ Ifowover, the next day beheld him again a visitor at Mr. Armytage’s house. How oould he help going thither on this occasion?—ho hada picce of new music of which he had spokon .on the preceding day, and which he had volunteered to bring Zog’ It wasa duet; and us Mr. Army- tage wha Present in the drawing-room when Octavian ushered thither, there was no im- propriety in his offermg to sing it with the young _ lady. They did sing its Octavian thought chat never had Misa Armytage displayed her musical accomplishments with so fine an effect—never had her loveliness appeared more angelically charming. When he took his leave after thia visit, he had far leas diffloulty in putting aside the image of the beauteous unknown, or in suppressing tho rising aigh, than he had experionesd. on the preceding day. On the following day he called upon Zoe again; and for nearly each auceessite day for the ensuing six weeks. On every ogcasion he became —or fancied that he became, more profowndl enamoured of Miss Armytage: he saw himse received with a gradually inorcasing ovrdiality on the part of the father, and with an unchanging affability on that of the daughter. He seldom thought now of the beauteous unknown: less eel- dom too did ha' thd himself sighing when her image did happen te nive up to bis mental vision, But did Zoe tiorself’ love him? wes he indead at ey, ee just made. But that she THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, as 4 visitor with whom a sort of intellectaal friendship had sprung up?, This question pus- sled him: he had never seen on Zoe's part the slightest betrayal of any tender partiality towards him. What if he were to offer and to be refused ? Buch a catastrophe would be terribly humiliating to his manly pride ;—and in this frame of mind, hovering between hope and uncertainty, it was by no means difficult for Octavian Meredith to per- suade himeelf thas he loved Miss Apmytage to a degree that his very happiness «deperfded upon their alliance. To do him ample justice, the more ke had seen of her and the more be had felt himsolf attracted towards her, the less he had — thought of the pecuniary advantages to be derived from euch a marriage, The naturally oble feel- inga af his disposition, by inducing him to scorn the thought of mere aclfish interest, led him to believe that his sentiment towards Zoe was now altogether a disinterested and a legitimate one. So easy is it, under gertain circumstances, to hug as a positively settled belicf that which we reaily wish to believe in !—so facile is it to cheat at times our own higher intelligence and regard our hopes and our wishes a6 actual and unmistakable con- vigtions! There are more false fanaticiams and delusions of the mind than even the most expe- nenced of men are always willing to admit unto themselves. Six weeks, as we have said, had passed since that day on which we first introduced Zoo to our readers: and one afternoon Octavian Meredith called at a somewhat earlier hour than usual. He found Zoe alone in the drawing-room; and as he entered, she put down a book which she had been reading. “ May I see,” he inquired, after the usual com- pliments had passed, “ what is the subject of your rocreative study Pp” “Oh, certainly,” responded the voung lady, with her usual affuble smile. “It ja vue of my favourite authors.” “ Goldsmith's ‘Deserted Village,” said Octa- vian, as he took up the book. “ Miss Armytaze, there must be times when, with your intelligence, you view with a feeling which borders on disgust the frivolitics of fashionablo life. I confese can- didly that Ido. Jam convinced that whero there is no intellect there ig no heart—but that if the head be hollow, the place where the heart should | be is likewise a void.” © *I know not, my lord,” replied Zoe, “that I weuld go altogether to such an extreme con- clusion——” ; “‘ Na—beoanse were you to admit it,’ he ex- claimed, with irrepressible enthusiasm, “ you would be aa it were proclaiming that you are all heart, because you are all intelligence. Ab! Miss Army- tage,” he added, “ were I posseased of a fortund, Tshould sink down upon my knees to lay it at your feat |” | Zoe averted her countenance, where the colour went and came in rapid transigions. It was evi- dent that she knew not how tf reply; and Mere- dith was not altogether, whether she were offended or leased. by this grt of avowal he had rienced one or the other af those feelings, he had no doubt: for jndiffereat and ynruified she assuredly was not. indifferent to her? a did aie fegent him wiwrely| “If Ihave offended you, Miss Armytage,” be ECONNIC I OOO© ane nner aia "ame, 6 4 SS {