The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 221: what you’re looking at

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

WO She staggered a few paces and was on the point of falling: but in a moment she perceived the tre- mendous precipice of which she stood—in an instant she saw the necessity of gathering all her courage and presence of mind to her aid, if she wished to relieve herself from a state of awfal sus- pense aud ascertain whether he had actually even heard her conversation with the Duchess, or not. “ What! are you here?” she said, in a faint and faltering tone, advanciag. at the same time end laying her hand upon his shoulder. “Ah! my dearest Eleanor,” he exclaimed, start~ ing up: bet tt struck her that he was very pale ! “ Have you been here long ?” she asked, her tone becoming still more tremulous, and her entire frame quivering like an aspen leaf. “Yes—that is, not mang minates,” he repiied, in- atantly correcting his first monesyilabic answer. “ I nave been reading that bosk, and was se absepbed. in its contents that I really forgot how leng I could have been here.” And he smiled—but, as & stenck her, with, a attempt to conceal howrible thoughts ! “ What book is it?® she iaquived, bastily bending down ber head to hide the shame which finshed her cheeks—and not shame cnly, but texturing terror .of the most agonising nature. No pen can describe the exquisite aculonses te which her feelings were new wrought up, when she saw that the volame lying epen on the table was upside down! The barbed point of a lance thrast into her heart aad then tam viclently out again— supposing that it were possible to live theengh sach an infernal precess of crusity--ceuld not have been accompanied with an anguiah more rending then that which the unhappy iady new fel. Her bram wesca. tortures of hell were lacerating her soul. But suddenly it dashed to her magination thather husband might have tarned the book in this manner at the moment when he started from his seat at the ‘words which she had addressed to himend on feeling her hand upon hisskoulder. Revived by the hape, which was instantly followed by the thought that if he had overheard her conversation with the Dachees it would be impossible for him to appear even as cool and collected as he was, Eleanor raised her countenance again, saying, “ Were you not aware that an old friend of mine was with me just now? She would have been delighted to see you.” “ Yee—I understood that you had company—the Ouchess of Devonshire, was & not?” observed the: Earl, in a tone which struck the Countess to be orainouely peculiar anil unnataral. “ But I did not: eheose to disturb you” he added, almost tame- diately: “ benides, I de not feel very well this after- eon.’ “ Has anything ‘ecoursed to vex or anacy you, | @rancis ?” inquired the Countess : and, as she spoke, ehe darted a rapid but searching—~eceutinising — (penctrating glance upon her hasbaad's coantenance. “ Annoy me! Oh! nothing—nothing, I cam essure ‘you,‘dear Edeanor,” he exclaimed, taking her hand 1: 6nd carrying ‘it to his lips: then, instantly dropping #t—and, as she thought at least, with singular ab- ruptness, as if it had suddenly ‘haoeme loathsome to ‘hin efter his mouth had thus touched it—he said, ¥ “Ne-—I have avthiog to annoy me—anless dt be ‘the perverse conduct of Fernanda, in 90 obstinately tefesing the teparution | SS , MESCURRSS. honourably offered. Have you seen Fernanda to-day f” “She has kept her room,as you know, almost ever since her return home a few days ago,” answered Eleanor, gradual! y becoming reassured, though still experiencing an oppressive uneasiness—for she could not subdue the idea that there was something re- markably strange, forced, and unnatural in her hus- ' band’s manner. At this moment a domestic entered to announce that dinner was served. The Earl instantly profiered Eleanor his arm; and, as he escorted her to the dining-room below, turned the conversation on some leading topic of the day, and which was quite distinct from their own concerns: then, after they were seated at table, he continued to discourse in the same strain, and with a better flow of spirits than he was accustomed enjoy. The result was that Ejeanor’s a gradually subsided, until they passed away gether ;—and, feeling convinced that her had not overheard anything which occurred herself and the Duchess of Devenshire, she cluded that what she had fancied to be an e.. He f { singularity of manner on his part was only the work of her own fevered imagination 2nd guijty con- acience, For Eleanor did look upon the revelution which she had made to the Duchess and the thoughts to which she had Yielied subecquentiy, es eximes which she had euunnitted ! CHAPTER LIX. EUS COUNTESS AND THE MILLINER. Derwsn eleven and twelve o'clock on the fellow. | img morning, Mrs. Brace, attended by a young person dressed in mourning, alighted from a hackney-cosch | at the door of tke Earl of Desborough’s mansion in ' The young person just alluded to, carried a large . band-box ie her hand: for, being the junior assist~ | | ant in Mrs. Brace's establishment, it was her daty to accompany her mistress on such occasions as the | present. She however remained below in a species . of waiting-room opening from the hall, while the | milliner, taking the band-box, ascended to the bed- chamber of the Countess. Eleanor, having pasted a restless and feverish night, had not long risen frem her couch. Dressed im a charming deshabtilée, she was balf-recltning in @ capacious arm-chair nearthe fire, and-playing with — rdther than partaking of the cup ef ohovolate which ‘tos on a little table at her right hand. : Her raven heir was negligently gathered wp into batids, the rich nensees of whieh fumed with ebony — her spotiess ‘ferthead’: she was pale—and an appear ‘ance of languor ‘was ‘expressed on her countenance | and pervaded her entire form. ‘The lady’s-maid, having ushered in Mrs. Brace, iemediately retired ; andthe miléiner was left alone | - ay had really forgetten my appotutment with you, this morning,” said the iatter. “Tf it will enit your ledydtip better, I can easily . vall-ayain,” answered Mra. Brace, in ber most dulcet tones. “No—I wotld.net give yor v0 Much trouble, since | with the Countess. | | COMIC OO© co