The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERION OF THE COURT. wanting to sustain the impression of their twin- eondition, an identity of name had been observed with regard to then? so far as the difference of the sex would permit: for the brother was denomi- nated Christian, and the reader is already aware that the sister was called Christina. We introduce them in the afternoon of the day following Christina Ashton’s adventure in the Regent's Park—and therefore the sare on which the duel had been fought in the morning. Christine had of onnrm told her brother every particular— for they had no secrets from each other; and now, when occasionally glancing up from his book, he perceived that ahe was evidently somewhat restless and uneasy, he could full well divine the cause thereof. At first be forbore allusion to it,—fearing to rivet Rer*thoughts too completely upon the sub- ject: but when he observed ber restlessness in- creasing, he laid down his book, and said in a plaintive voice, “I wish, dearest sister, that you were relieved from this anxiety.” “Tt is a dreadful thing, Christian,” she responded mournfully, as the tears started into her beautiful dark eyes, “to reflect that lives have possibly been risked—and oven lost—by this time, and entirely on my account.” “But did not Mr. Percival promise that “you should be made acquainted with the result P” asked the brother: “and depend upon it, that if anything fatal had occurred we should know it by this time. Mr. Percival did not tell you where he resided, I think P--for if he had, I would go and make some inquiry in his neighbourhood.” “No,” responded Christina: “he suspected that I purposed to inform the authorities and pre- vent the duel.” ‘Ah, my dear sister,” exclaimed Christian, “it was the firet time you ever went out alone during the whole six months we have been in London ; and it shal] be the last !" “ You were so occupied with your drawing, you know, Christian,” answered his sister, “that I did not like to take you away from it; and as the Regent’s Park is so near, I thought there was no harm for me to go alone as far as Mr. Preston’a. Besides, you had forgotten that it was the day for receiving our monthly money; and ¢o you were not ready dreesed to go out. The hour had arrived when the money was to be called for ; and you are aware how severe and particular—indeed how cross and stern Mr. Preston is, and how particular he ‘was in enjoining us always to come 6 the very day and to the very hour—otherwise he should be offended.” “Well, my dear sister, another time,” reeponded Christian, “I will be sure to recollect when pay- day comes round; and I will be ready to go out with you t@ the very hour. But I forgot to ask eyou—did Mr. Preston prove more communice- tive-———” “Than on former occasions?” asked Christina. “No—not at all. He was abrupt and hurried a¢ he always is—curt enough, without being abeo- lutely rude, I lingered with the intention of asking him a few questions: but he quickly bowed me out—and the sezvant was in readiness to pen the front door.” ’, * How I dislike all this mystery!” exclaimed being foe a moment ruffled by a vexation which ¢ , ¥ v to make. “TI cannot lead a life of ‘Sian long to be placed in some position that wil me to garn something. If it be chayity we axe dependent upon, the sooner we escape frou | * humiliating position, the better: but # that our dear deceased uncle, on dying w: denly, left us some property, and that éhée Preston is his exeoutor, and eo to speak, isp guardian—I wish he would tell us oxactly how we. are situated and what we have to rely upon-~mwilt or little. Iam determined, Christina, that when the menthly pay-day comes round again, I will ask firmly—bdut of course respectfully—for some little information on these points.” “Yes—you shall do so, Christian,” was the sister's reeponse. “It was a year last Monday,” ahe added, with a sigh, “that our dear uncle was smitten with death in so shocking s manner—and. only last Monday therefore that we put off the mourning we worn for him.” “And during all thie time,” added Christian, “we have learnt no more of the circumstances in which we wore left by Mr. Ashton, than we knew on the very day of his déemise—unless it be that Mr. Preston became in some way or another inte- rested in, our behalf. Ab! I hoped when, six months back, he sent for us to come up from our own pleasant little village to this great metropolis, that it was to do something for me—to give me a profession or an employment~—to put me in s way to carve out for myself some career euitable to my tastes. But no!—nothing of the sort! Here we have been six months in these lodgings; and I am no farther advanced in my hopes than I was on the day of our arrival. But, Ah! I must not re- pine: it is perhaps wicked in me to do eo: for wo have enough to support us comfortably—and our wants being limited, twelve guineas a month are s little fortune.” “I am not sorry, dearest brother, to hear you speak now and then in a way which proves that you possess proper manly aspirations:”-—and as Christina uttered these words, her looke were bent with inexpreasible fondness, mingled with a sisterly admiration, upoy Christian. At this mgment one of the servants of the housebuid entered the room, and said, “Please, Miss, here’s 3 gentleman inquiring for you. He says he is Mr. Percival.” . “Then he is safe!” murmured Christina, with a look of profound thankfulness: while her brother bade the servant show the gontleman up. But while Lord Octavian Meredith is ascending the stairs, we must avail ourselves of the oppor- tunity to describe under what circumstances he still preserved his feigned name of Percival, and meant to retain it while visiting Christina. The reader already knows that he had all along been deeply enamoured of the young girl while she was still to him only “ his fair unknown ”—and that he had deluded himeelf in respect to the real nature of the sentiments which he experienced towards Zoe. That mecting with Christina in the Park, had torn the veil from his eyes, and had cleared his mental vision to the full perception ’of the grievous mistake he had zaade. In short, he could not conceal from himeelf thet he was deeply atteched to Christina Ashton— that he loved her with an enthusiasm i wag im- wht ECONNIC I OOO© eet } SS CO