The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 120: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. | 107 at home,” said Christina, little thinking that she was addressing one of those of whom she spoke. 99 ‘“ Her ladyship will not return for two hours “ But Lord Octavian himself is in the house,” observed Meredith. “TI will ring and inguire,” said Christina: and she was rising from her seat, when the expression of Meredith’s countenance struck her as so pecu- liar that she stopped short. “ No—Miss Ashton,” he said, “you need not make any such inquiry. Pardon me for a little deceit which was practised on you—forgive mo— listen to me——” | “Ah!” ejaculated Christina, with a feint shriek : but instantaneously recovering herself, she said somewhat coldly, “ You, then, are Lord Octavian Meredith ?” } “TI am,” he responded. “ Pray resume your seat—and suffer me to give you those explanations which are requisite.” | Christina hesitated. There was in her mind a vague sense of impropriety in remaining alone with the young nobleman who had deceived her ; and yet she felt that it was a duty both to herself and to him to listen to whatsoever he might have to say. She accordi sat down ywgalu—but spoke not a word; and her look was atill cold, but with a certain tremulousness in if. “You will ramember, Miss Ashton,” proceeded Meredith, speaking in the most respectful tone, and with a corresponding look—for he felt that he had an exceedingly difficult part to perform,— “you will remember that on the day I had the satisfaction of rendering you a trifling service, I penetrated your motives in asking my name. You saw that a duel was probable—nay, more, that it was inevitable; and with the most generous of purposes you intended to give information to a magistrate. But my honour was at stake; and I was bound to meet that antagonist whom circum- stances had suddenly raised up. Therefore, to prevent your generous intentions from being car- ried out, I gave a false name ” “True!” murmured Christins, as all the cir- cumstances flashed vividly back to her mind. “That duel,” continued Meredith, “ took place, as you are aware: but as no injury was the result, it was so completely husheg up that it never reached Lady Octavian’s ears. I: trust to your generosity that it shall continue a secret in respect to her. But to continue my explanations. I promised you, Miss Ashton, that you should be made acquainted with the result of that duel— that if I fell, my second should wait upon you with the intelligence—but that if I eecaped unhurt, I would personally call to convince you of my safety. 1 did call—I sent up the name by which you already knew me: it was however my inten- tion to reveal myself fully to your knowledge. But when I beheld the simple tastes and pursuits of your brother and yourself—pardon me for thus speaking—I thought that the frank and affable manner in which I was received, and the friendly feeling which your brother specially exhibited to- wards me, might receive a eck I proclaimed myself:to be of titled rank. In my estimation that rank is nothing: but I know full well that as the world goes, as society is constituted, and as prejudices have their i-fucnce, an aristocratic name has a certain prestige——In a word, I saw enough of you both to wish to become your friend ; and [ feared that as Lord Octavian Meredith I might not experience the samo frank and open- hearted reception which was already given to Mr. Percival.” } Meredith ceased: but Christina did not imme: diately answer him. As a matter of course tho: explanation was entirely satisfactory up to the point where it. treated of the visit to the lodgings after the duel: but from that point to the end it was less satisfactory. Miss Ashton was too art- leas, ingenuous, and unsophisticated herself, to penetrate the subtleties of the human soul: but on the other hand, she was too intelligent and right- minded not to entertain a certain misgiving as to the young nobleman’s compte self-exculpation. A vague idea that the latter portion of his speech had some sophistry in it, floated in her imagina- tion: but yet she could scarcely explain the feel- ing to herself—from the simple reason that she could not possibly suppose Meredith to have been smitten with her beauty. | ‘* My lord,” she at length said, speaking gravely and sériously, “I thank you for the explanations which you have given me: but I do not see how it is possible for me to withhold from her ladyship the circumstance that we have met before.” | *'You have not as yet uttered a word to Zoe about that duel P” inquired Octavian hastily. “TY know you did not yesterday—but to-day ?” “IT have never spoken of it to a soul except m brother,” responded Christina. “But 1 really cannot comprebend, my lord, wherefore you should object to her Iadyship becoming acquainted with a generous deed which you performed. The danger, thank heaven ! has long been over-——” | “‘ Miss Ashton,” interrupted Meredith, “your own good sense will tell you that it can be no wel- come intelligence for a wife to learn that her hus- band has for more than two months treasured up a secret from her. Proclaim the truth, if you will, to Zoe—but pardon me for saying that you will be guilty of an act of unkindness towards myself, inasmuch as my wife would never put confidence in me again. If ¥ happened to rise at an earlier hour than usual in the morning—or if I wete de- tained out later than is my wont at night—she would torture herself with all possible anxieties— she would picture to herself her husband involved in some cruel dilemma the imminence of which he had carefully concealed from her-——” “Yes, my jord,” interrupted Christina; * all that you say is but too true. Nevertheless, I feel that I cannot be guilty of a deception towards an amiable lady who has received me in the kindest manner———No, I cannot! I wifl say nothing of past events: but I will withdraw from the house at once. Yes—whateoever construction may be put on this step——~-"”— | ‘Miss Ashton,” exclaimed Octavian Meredith, “TI would rather ten thousand times that you should tell Zoe everything! ‘What could sho pos- siblv think if you withdrew yourself thus abruptly? She would either imagine that you had received some insult from me, and were too generous to mention it; or on the other hand that you were conscious of some unworthiness of your own which you were afraid of transpiring. Against the for- mer suspicion how could I possibly vindicate my- self when all appearances would be in my dis- (COLL (C DOO (GO)