The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 112: what you’re looking at

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we + ive me if for a moment I have alluded to such matters as recommendations and so forth——-”__. “It is nécessary, my lady—and it is better,” replied Christina. “ ¥ I have the good fortune bo please your ladyship, I should wish to enter yo house in the fullest confidence that yoii are satisfi with me.’ a ) oo “Tam already satisfied, from everything which you have told me,” rejoined Lady Octavian Mere- dith; “and I will request my husband to use his interest to procure some suitable situation for your brother. I can understand, from all you have said, that it would be painful for you to separate from that brother; but you have my free permission to receive him as often as he may ch 30 to call upon you—the oftener the better: for it will dp me good to behold you happy and contented. am already much interested in you, Miss Ashton ; am and I ami grateful that Mrs. Giles should have counselled you to visit my house to-day.” Christina expressed her warmest thanks for all these kind assurances; and Lady Octavian Mere- dith proceeded, in the most delicate and consi- derate manner, to intimate _ rms which sho roposed to offer 0 ady whom she might Palect as her friend. "fa a wo J, the compact eas formed; and Christina promised to remove to her ladyship’s house on the morrow. = a “I shall fake the liberty of requesting Mrs. Giles,” said Christina, when rising to depart, ‘to call upon your ladyship in the course of the day, that she may confirm, so far as she knows me the representations that I have mado; and as 5 e 1s scquaintd with my former landlady she cin giro your ladyship such assurances as Mrs. Macaulay herself would impart if referred to,” _ . “Tt is by no means necessary,” answered Zoe: “but inasmuch as I see that if will satisfy you, Miss Ashton, you can bid Mrs. Gil upon me presently.” | Zoe rose from her seat, and extended her hand with sweetest affability to Christina—who, with yenewed thanks and with joy in her heart, took her leave. Thus, while Christina was retracing her way across the Regent’s Park — Christian, having slighted ie ) along Alb treét, also in a homeward direction. Neither bad thé faintest suspicion of the good fortune which had suddenly smjjéd upon the other: each heart waé full of joy on the other’s account. But that of hrs istipa was somewhat shaded, be- cause in her case, it was settled she must separate from her brother; whereas in Christian’s case it had been left by the Duke of Marchmont bo his own option as to whether he should live at ’ ry es the masision in Belgrave Square, of 6 to reside with hissister, $88... ar Christina reached the lodgizig frat, arid at once informed Mrs. Giles of the success of her visit to Lady Octavian Meredith, She likewise requea the worthy woman to call upon her ladyship in the courseofthe day. $=. |... . “That I shall do with pleasure,” was the re- sponse cheerfully given: “indeed I shall set off at once—and you may depend upon it, my dear young lady, I shall say everything in your favour which you so fully deserve.” _ | Christina hastencd up-stairs—and scarcely had she put off her walking apparel, when Christian came rushing up as if he were wild. He burst _ ‘PE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. _ e omnibus, was speeding | into the room; and folding his sister in'a warm embrace, cried, “ Joy, joy, darling Christina! I have succeeded at length.” _— “ And I too, my beloved brother, have succeeded in soniething,” she responded, with an almost equal exultation. _ Co | . Christian contemplated her with surprise; and mutual explanations were speedily given. But Christian was now saddened at the idea of separat- ing from his sister. | “His Grace,” he said mournfully, “left it to me to decide whether I would live at his mansion, or continue to dwell with you; and I had arranged in my mind such a nice little plan of removing 99 into the neighbourhood of Belgrave Square, so that we might be together——” “But my dear brother,” interrupted Christina, though with tears in her eyes, “we must rosign ourselves to this separation. From what you have told me, the Duke of Marchmont offers you fifty guineas a-year—a most liberal sum if you dwell in his mansion—but it would instantly become a small one if you resided in lodgings and had to support me. Lady Octavian Meredith offers me sixty guineas a-year; and I am to dwell with her. We can both save considerably from our incomes; and perhaps, my dear brother, in the course of time our economies will enable us to reside toge- ther again. Besides, Lady Octavian assures me that the oftener you call upon me the better she shall be pleased; and the Duke of Marchmont has informed you that you will have plenty of time at your own disposal. We may see eack other daily, or nearly every day: we may walk out together-—— Oh! indeed, dear Christian, we shall make ourselves happy! And re- member what a change these few brief hours have suddenly worked for us. Last night we ate the bread of bitterness: to-day we shall eat the bread of happiness. This morning we rose in mournful. ness from our respective beds: to-night we shall lay ourselves upon our pillows with hope, consola- tion, and thankfulness in our hearts. We shall close our eyes in slumber without the dread of the marrows awakening, = , Christian could offer no remonstrances against this reasoning on his aister’s part; and the ar- rangements were therefore to the effect that he should return in the course of the day to the Duko of Marchmont to state thé decision to which he bad come—so that on the morrow he might remove to his Grace’s mansion, at the same time that, his sister took up her residence with Lady Octavian Meredith. _ In the course of a couple of hours Mrs. Giles returned from her visit to Zoe; and she now learnt the good fortune which had simultaneously overtaken Christian, Shé congratulated the twins with the most genuine sincerity; and placing an envelope in Christina’s hand, said, “Lady Octa- vian Meredith is already so deeply interested in you, and is so fearful of losing you, that she has desired me to tender you this as a ratification of fhe compact . | _ Mrs. Giles then hastened from the room; and Christina, on opening the envelope, found that it contained a bank-note for twenty pounds. The orphans were deeply touched by this proof of Lady Octavian’s generosity and kindness—and all tho more so on account of the delicate manner in which the succour was conveyed. (GO) an (C DOO Col