The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 81: what you’re looking at

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

ay aN Sab 70 THR MYSTERRIES OF THE COURT. Ae possible for him to restrain; and though his duty | the twims upon 9 variety of topics. He learnt from towards Zoo, and his dyty towards Christing her- | them that they had been sic manthg in the metro- self, abould have led tim to avoid the dangers of | polis—that their parents had bpen long dead—that another interyiew,—he had not the moral courage | they were brought up by an uncle, 4 gentlemay —he had not indeed sufficient control over him- | of some little property, who dwelt in a remote vi- — self, to resist the temptation of calling upon the | lage in the northern part of England—and that object of hia passion. ‘To do the young nobleman | they possessed not, to their knowledge, any rela- justice, the idéa of a deliberate neduction’had not | tions now upun the face of the earth. These little for a single inetant entered his head:—in his | pieces of jnformation came oyt during the’ dis- infatuation he thought of nothing but the pleasure | course: but the twins did not menting whence . her beauty—of liatoning to the sweet music of her | Octavjan did not seck by any intidivas‘iexterity voice. Yet there was a whisper in his sou) that | {to fathom the matter. He saw that they were all this visit which he was now paying, would not | ingenuousness, franknesg, and inexperience; and be the last: for he could not possibly make up | ke was fearful of shocking the delicate fibres of their minds by the display of aught sqvouring of undue curiosity. On rising to take his “eave, he requested permission to call occasionally when he might happen to be passing that way. Christina gave no response: but Christiqn, delighted at what he considered a display of the kindliest and friondliest foeling, ¢heerfully proclaimed his 4s- ant, Lord Octavian Meredith bad not taken hig departure many minutes—and the twins were in the midat of self-congratulations that the duel had resulted without injury to either party—when Mrs. Macaulay burst somewhat suddenly into the room, with a visible consternation depicted upan her countenance. The brother and sigter both surveye(L lice in alarm; and gho hastened to exclaim, “Ilave I not heard you say, my dear young gentleman and lady, that ‘Mr. Preston of the Regent’s Park 18 your friend—or guardian—or something of the sort P” A quick aflirmative burst from the lips of the twins; and it was with increased suspense, min- gled even with terror, that they surveyed Mrs. Mucaulay: for they were smitten with the presen- timont that something serious had happened. ‘Do tell me,” shp went on to exclaim,— has Mr. Preston gut much mouey of yours in his handa ?” “We do not know,” was Christian's response. “Indeed, we gre utterly uninformed oa the sub- ject. But what has occurred ?” “Tam really very much afraid it will be a aad blow for you,” she eaid. “Now, don’t alarm yourselves—I mean, don’t excite yoursolves too much though J dare say it will be exciting chourzh , “But what kes occurred?” asked Christiga, almost goaded to torture with anxiety. “Do nut keep us in suspense !" - “Mr. Preston has run away,” responded Mrs. Macaulay: “he has committed forgeries to an immenye amount—placards are posted up offerin areward for his apprehensioa—I haye just seen one—and as the name struck me, T was fearful it might be your Mr. Preston. And it ds too!— there is np doubt! Joseph Preaton, of Cambridge Terrace F” Yes-~it was the same; and this annduncéement came like a thynderbolt upon the brother and sister. For upwards of a minute they atood con- teniplating Mrs. Macaulay in blank diemay : then, | as if simultaneously smiften py the same senti- proffered his hand,—Wwhich wos accepted with all | ment, which prompted them to seek consvlation the frankacss of unguspigious youth. | from caob other, they locked themselves in a fond Octavian sat down, and began conversing with : embrace. Mrs. Macaulay's woret fears were con- - wot - hig mind to the bold a«1 resulute step of avoiding her in future. Yet to announce his real name— to proclaim himself Lord Octavian Meradith— would be to furniah her with the means of ascer- taining that he was already inarried,—a circum. stance which an accident at any moment might bring tu her knowledge. And if the truth did thus come to her ears, he could not again hope to be regeived by her: whereas, if cdiaguised under the name of Percival, he might ontertuin the hope of being occasionally pormitted to call in Mortimer Street. Thus i¢ was without any deliberately wicked plan—withuut any positively softled de- sign against tho virtue of the young girl -but merely in obedience to an infatuation which he could not possibly control—Lord Octuvian Mere. dith sccuyed tu himaclt the advantage which his feigned name gave him in the matter. t was not until Moredith entered the young people's sitting-room, that he entertained any par- ticular idou of whom he should find with Christina —whetler she wos living with parents or re- latives—nor indeed in what circumstances she was placed,—saye and oxcopt tliat he knew she had a brother, with whom he had acen her walking on a few occasions, ag he had stated to the Duke of Marchmont. He had lunged to ask the servant who opened the door, some few questions: but he was fearful that such curiusity, on being reported to those whom it concerned, wayld act prejue dicially against him: and therefore he bad ab- stained. . “According to my promiec, Mist Ashton,” he eaid, ae he evtere! the apartinent, “lam here fo make you awaro uf my safety.” » He extruded bis hand towards the young gh, who-gave him her’s with an ingenuoys frankness : for she felt that she lay under a deep obligation to one who had delivered her freia a gross imeult —and who, by the very words which had just fallen from his lips, had evidently becn cumpeiled to rivk his life on her account. Jn the samc artless manner she renewed her thanks for his chivalruus conduct; gnd timidly but sinceraly expressed her delight that no serious con- sequences had ensued. None, Miss Ashton," answered Meredith. “I went out with My. Stauhope--for that ie the name of the gentlaman who insulted you; and no harni was done, I ueed nut ask if this be your brother :""—and thus speaking, he turned toward Christian, to whom he with well-bred affability of bebolding Christina again—of contemplating ; their presont resources were derived.—and Lord l SS EEE eee @ * 7 j ECONNIC I OOO© SS