The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 244: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THER COURT. 281 aught grand or striking in it: and moreover, that if he meditated mischief, he was unable to conceal the pettiness of his mind beneath an air of frank cordiality and kindness. However,” thought Christian to himself, “no matter what his lordship’s motives are, let me think only of the joy afforded by this prospect of passing hours in the society of Isabelle !” We must observe that Christian had no longer the slightest jealousy in respect to Lord Osmond. He had often noticed the young nobleman, the Countess, and Isabella walking together in the grounds; and had invariably seen that while Os- mond and Ethel kept together, Isabella would either linger behind, or else walk by the side of one hand and understood on the other,—recipro- cated too as well as understood, though not a syllable from the lips may pass between the enamoured pair. Thus was it with Christian Ashton and Isabella Vincent. In the presence of the Earl, Lord Osmond and the Countess were exceedingly upon their guard ; and as the young nobleman had every reason to be rejoiced that Christian was now so much brought . within the sphere of the family circle, he had not the slightest notion of interfering in respect to the loves of the youth and Isabella. For that such. an affection subsisted between them, was visible enough to any eyes save those of the foolish old Earl. the Countess and not by that of her cousin Adol- | the garden; and as he walked with Isabella, it phus. Thus, although Christian felt tolerably wall | necessarily threw the Countess and Adolphus to- certain that Lord Osmond was not thinking of paying his addresses to Isabella,—yet on the other hand hig naturally pure mind suspected not for an instant the criminal intimacy whieh sub- sisted between that young nobleman and his beayteous mother-in-law. We may here observe too that Iepabella—even more femininely chaster souled than one of the opposite sex could possibly be—was equally far from imagining that an un- holy passion subsisted on the part of her unclo’s wife and son. Two oy threp weeks morte passed away; and during this interval Christian frequently dined at the Earl’s table. Lord Osmond and the Countess were perfeptly well aware of tha motive fot which he was thus brought into their society, and treated as an equal in the little family circlé: for Make- peace, whom the five hundred guiness had bought entirely over to Lord Osmond’s interest, had fniled not to inform the young nobleman of his father’s delectable scheme. Isabella imagined that her uncle was merely displaying these civilities towards Christian in consequence of a disinterested esteem for the youth’s merits: while Qhristian himself continued as much in the dark as ever in respect to the whole proceeding on the part of his noble employer. CHAPTER XLIV. YOUTRRVA LOVRH. Ig was a serene but profound happiness which the youthful lovers now enjoyed—for lovers they as- suredly were, although as yet no syllable from our young hero’s lip had revealed the affeetion which he experienced. But the eyes speak a language more eloquent than that ef the tongue; and the sympathies of two hearts, pouring forth in re- ciprocal transfusion—gentle and unseen——make mutual revelations which are not to be mistaken. When hand tonches hand and the pulses of the two beat quicker—when the gase of the liver settles in respectful tenderness and bashful admiration upon the countenance of the adored one, as if his eyes would penetrate h the mirror of her own orbs, deep down into her heart’s tabernacle and feast their looks upon the hived sweetness of her own pure love—and when her eyes, modestly sink- ing beneath that gaze, veil themselves with the richly fringed lida.-then is love’s tale told on the Jeave the house. position would have ehrunk from this ceremony . gether without the risk of exciting any suspicion on the part of the younger pair as to the illicit intimacy existing between them, Thus was it that both Lord Osmond and the Oountess had every reason to be pleased that Christian was 40 much at the house; and for the same motive the young. nobleman did not choose to pay any marked atten- tion to Isabella, even though by so doing he might the more effectually have lulled the Karl into complete security in respect to the Countess, One day Mise Vincent was to be presented at Court at one of the Royal drawing-rooms. Countess of Lascelles, as a peoress, was to intro- duee the young lady : but when the appointed day came, she was really indisposed and unable to Isabella’s naturally retiring dis- which to her had the aspect of an unpleasant ordeal: but it was a whim of her uncie’s, and therefore must be gratified. He was resolved that the presentation should take place: and there- fore as the Countess could not assist in it, the Earl speedily enlisted the services of two titled ladies of his acquaintance. The fact is, the old nobleman was getting wearied of his son’s delay— as he thought it—in openly proposing for Isabella’s . hand ; and therefore he was resolved to accomplish another of his fine strokes of poliey. ble from Court costume, her appeatance would be so ravishing that Adolphus could not possibly tor another moment resist beseeching her to name the . nuptial day. , And truly beautiful indeed was Isabella Vincent on this occasion. Her glossy dark brown hair, showering in ringlets upon her shoulders of das- | sling whiteness, was decorated with a single white camelia—a fitting emblem of her own immaculate purity. The dress that she wore—combining the necessary attributes above specified—set off her tall, slender, sylphide shape to the utmost advan- tage: while the fear that she might not acquit hersels properly, heightened the eolour upon her — cheeks, whieh made her seem the fairest image of modest loveliness that ever mortal eye rested upon. And to Court Isabella went: but while proceeding thither in the carriage with her lady- chaperons—while ascending the staircase at the in the midst of a throng of all that was ighest in rank, most brilliant in beauty, and most eminent in respect to State dignitariese— while passing through the splendid saloons—while Christian joined them in their rambles in. The . He fancied . that if Isabella were seen apparelied with all the - elegance, taste, and richness which were insepara- - (GO) an (C DOO Col