The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 97: what you’re looking at

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upright aa a dart—her head somewhat inclined forward, hke a flower upon its statk: and yet in that uprightness there was neither ungraceful stiffness nor inglegant rigidity. Sha seemed to feel that, as a slave, she was bound to submit with all bocoming respect to that survey on the part of her mistress. Had an ubserver been present, he could not have evoided thinking to himself that they Were two cf the most splendid specimens of oriental beauty, of distinet shades of complexion. “And have you never thought to yourself, Bagoonah,” asked the Princess Indura, “ that you would like to know what love is? —have yuu never felt a craving to oxperience that sentiment wirich plays the chicfest part in all the affairs of this life? fas there been no curiosity in your soul to Jeatn the joy, the delight, the happiness of love P" The Hindeo woman’s checks glowed as if with the purple flush of wine,—the rich red blood mantling through the transparency of he, dusky skin: but the ruddy hue passed away as quickly as it rose up; and when the Princess again slowly turned her eyes upon the countenance of Sa- goonab, it had its wonted look and expression again. “Yee—within the hour that is passmy,” said Indota, euddonly sverting to that tiple which was most vitally interesting to nerself, a_i with out observing that her dependant had not an- pwored the questions which she had put to her,— “my fate must be sealed !’ “And if the Englishman's decisiun be againat your heppiness, dear onistress of mine,” said Sa- goonah, now sinking on one knee and looking with alfectionato varnestneas up into Indora’s countu- nance, “ what will your Highness do?” “Ah! what will I doP” she murmated, as an exprosmon, of anguish at the bare thought, fhitted over her superb features, “ What will J ie, Sagoonah ?’—-then after a pause, during which the seamed to refloct profoundly, she udded m accents of mingled mournfulnoss and desparr, “ Hoaven only knows what 1 shill do!” have you not?” maquired Sagoonah, aa sbo any knelt by the velvet-cuvered otfonian, and st gexed earnestly up into the counteiance uf Indora. ‘Do yeu not imagime, beloved Princess, that the sense of obligation ia greater than that of wrqng in the mind of the Englishman? If yuur Royal father kept hint captive for so many, many years, he nt loast treated him with all becoming hospi- tality: ho lodged him in his own palace---he gave him slaves to ioinster unto him-—a guard of honour to attend upon him—and riches ta dispose of as he thought &t.” “ Ayo—but you understand not the proud soul of an Englishman !” replied the Prinegas Indora: “you oomprebend not that however brifliant the citoumstetiogs of |i captivity, it is captivity all the same! The chnins may be of gold—-bul they are still chaing which be burns to throw off. Lika the bird in hia gilded care, ho is dasslad not by the sumptuousness of bis dwellimg—but pants for tho fresh air. of feedum: and so it was with Clement Redoliffe. He knew that the slaves were spies upon his uobiond—tkeat the guatds, though oatensibly appointed to @y nia honour; were naught ciso than gavlors & eustodianse —and that a 2% | length my fathor would have given it “But yet, dear lady, you have overs hope~ alas & THE MYSTERIES OF TIE COURT. the riches heaped upon him, were mere toys to render his captivity somewhat the less intole- rable. ? “And yet the Englishman boty hinwelf courte- ously and well towards your Bayal fathor and your Highness’s self,” vbecrved Biigobngh. “Tt was with & cold co *” tesponded In- dora; “and all that Clemént Redoliffe did, w&s doubtless for the purpose of conciliating my sire in the hope of obtaining his freadem all the mort quickly. Besides, the natural of a civilized Enghshian could not help feeling flattered by being placed in a position to smooth down the asperities of our own semi-batbarism. Clement Redcliffe inculeated the arts of pence, and by his counsel enablod my father to ry _thoes lkwe that were bad, and to promulgate slew ones that were good, so as to forward the interests and prtu- mote the happiness of the people of Indorabad. But not ono eingle suggestion it, the art of war did Clement Bedeliffo ever proffer: nor would he affurd the slightest insight into the discipline of those English troops who have rendered themselves so formidablo in our native chime. Do you com- prehend wherefore ho maintained go inexorable a rogerve upon those points 7’ “‘ Doubtless, lady,” answered Sagoonsh, “ he thought that the time might come when the English invaders would push their conquests to your Hoya: parent’s far.off kingdom, and therefore he world not put a weapon, even the smaliest aud the bluntest, in the hands of youg auyust father’s truops—for fear lent it sheuld be used sooner or later against the srore8 of his own fellow. countrymen,” “Yes —these wero his motives,” rejoined the Princess; “and they rendered him all the more admrable—all the wore noble, in my estimation. But I was cre now explaining how it was that Cloment Retehfly, white enduring his captivity, toulk a pride in propayating the arts of peace amongst us. Yet mupth after month and yeur afler year did he demand bis freedom; and at. but I, The Princess stopped short; and Sagoonah, slowly rising from ber knecling position, retreated to a respectful distance, where she stood im her wonted attitudeo—ber bayadere form upright, and her face inclining towards the splendidly modelle-4 bust which the arrangements vl her bnen aress loft more than half revealed. “Twas strange,” proceeded Endors, after a brief pause, aud again speaking in & Inuhag mater, “that tiny interference shuald lave come to Clo- ment Redelite’s knowledge: for my f ‘would scarcely have spoken of it. poate ‘was a surmise, thougss a correct one, on Redftiffe's part : but how biter were the reproaches which he levolled against me at the time! Ab, that was » acenc of fearfah excttement Which I tafi novet forget!" “Your Highness has suffered an for yout love’s sake,” observed Sagoonah pert * Love is « rose with thorns,” catered Indore, in a mournful voice: “and pothape, tny farthfal Seaconah, it is fortunate for you that you have novar experienced thit sentiment. To me it bas proved a souree of iimitable heppitets anil of almost overwhelgaing effliction--the soni sites ELOOO© | | | a va ieee epee cteteenenisionte® SS