The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 376: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES. nGi Mr. Clarendon led the way to an adjacent apart- prent, Lord Florimel being thus left to console his mell-beloved Pauline in the drawing room. “J have already hinted,” said the Duchess of Devonshire, when she was alone with Mr. and Mrs Clarendon, “ that the nature of the communications which I have to make is two-fold. On on3 side there is a great calamity—on the other an amazing piece of good fortune. I will not however insult you, Mr. Clarendon, by intimating that the latter will entirely compensate for the former: but as you are a man of the world and doubtless entertain that laudable ambition which animates the breasts of all human creatures, you will doubtless perosive in the favourable tidings a certain atonement as well as solace for the evil intelligence.” “TI beseech your Grace to explain yourself at ence,” said Mr. Clarendon, trembling all over with nervous anxiety and suspense. “In the first place,” continued the Duchess, “ you must prepare to bear unpleasant news respecting your elder daughter, Octavia.” “Ah! what of her ?” ejaculated Clarendon, the feelings of a father suddenly vibrating painfully to the ominous sound of words which appeared to herald the revelation of a misfortune. “ Your daughter—your elder daughter—the lovely and fascinating Octavia,” said the Duchess, solemnly, “has been seduced [” “Impcssibie!” cried the wretched man, bounding upon his chair as if a bullet had penetrated his heart. “ She is virtue itself!” “Alas! alas!” exclaimed Georgiana, “ her virtue has yielded to the influence of love and temp- | tation——” — “ Meledictions upon the man who has blighted that fair flower!” thundered forth the enraged father, springing from his seat and gesticulating with awfal vehemence. “Stay ! stay [” cried Georgiana, catching him by the arm. “He who has thus deeply injured you in ene sense, has vouchsafed a royal act of bounty in another—-—” “A royal act!” repeated Clarendon, catching at the word which seemed to afford an instantaneous clue to the solution of the mystery that was con- nected with his daughter’s shame. “ What am I to understand from your Grace's observation ? Has Royalty so far honoured me as to debauch my daughter 2” he demanded, with a Jaugh of almost maniac bitterness. “ Cease this useless excitement,” said Fernanda; “and let us hear what atonement is offered. For that reparation of some kind is intended for the injury thus done you in the person of yoar daughter, is evident from the language of her Grace.” __ “ Atonement — reparation [° murmured Mr. Clarendon, sinking down into his seat again. * Well —let us hear it! May it please your Grace to eontinue,” he observed, half ironically, as he threw s wild glance upon the Duchess of Devonshire. ‘‘T pray you to look upon me as a measenger of peace and conciliation,” said Georgiana, stifling the resentment which rose up in her bosom at Mr. Claren- don’s ungracious manner. “Your daughter Octavia had the misfortune to attract the notice of the Prince of Wales—and in a moment of love and passion, he triumphed over her virtue. But unfortunately the calamity does not end there. On Wednesday last Octavia sought an interview with her royal a lover—and the excitement of the scene which en- sued has temporarily impsired her reason.” “Holy God! what do I hear?” exclaimed the unhappy father, once more springing from his seat. “My lord, | implore your lordship to be calm and composed!” said the Duchess of Devonshire, in a tone of suitable significancy. “Ah! what do I- hear?® ejaculated Mr. Claren- don, turning towards her Grace with an abrupt start. “Was it to mie that those sounding titles were addressed f” “To whom else could I have spoken f* asked Georgiana, with a sweet sinile. “I have revealed to you the injury—and I now proclaim the atonement. The Prince has infli¢ted the wound—and to the ex- tent of his power he administers the anodyfte. Per- mit me, then, to congratulate your lordship upon your elevation to the peerage;— and here is the patent of nobility which confers upon you the ttle of Baron Holderness.” The newly-created peer received the parchment from the hands of the beautiful Duchess of Devon- shire: but he took it mechanically, staring upon her vacantly at the same time. It was evident that he could not believe his own ears, nor dared to trust his own eyes: he fancied that he was dreaming, and feared to utter even a word or make an abrupt move- ment lest he should awake and thereby dissipate the golden vision. e But Fernanda snatched away the parchment— tore it open—and was in a moment convinced that the Duchess of Devonshire had indeed spoken truly. The patent of nobility was drawn up in due form, and conferred upon Walter Octavius Claren- don, Esquire, the style and title of Baron Lord Holderness, to be had and held by himself and male heirs so long as his posterity should exist. A docu- ment On fuolscap paper was annexed to the patent; and the hasty glance which Fernanda threw over the former, showed that the peerage was accompanied by the grant of a pension of two thousand pounds a-year, “for services rendered at divers times and in sundry manners to the Sovereigns of these realms by the ancestors of the said Walter Octavius Claren- don Baron Holderness, and likewise to enable him to maintain the dignity of his peerage.” A glow of mingled pride and joy saffused the countenance of Fernanda; and her huxband, . ab- serving the animated expression of her features, no longer remained sceptical with regard to his good fortune. Taking the papers from her hand, he perused them with attention; and by degrees, as he read, the colour came to his sallow cheeks — the light of ineffable satisfaction and triumph gleamed in his eyes—his nostrils dilated—his chest expanded— and a thrill of ecstasy passed over his frame as he felt that the object of all his ambition was suddenly and moat unexpectedly attained. Forgotten was Octavia—unbeede now were her wrongs ;—and, elate with boundless satisfactiun, the uewly-made peer expressed his gratitude to the Duchess of Devonshire for having been the bearer of the welcome tidings which now alone engrossed his attention. Turning towards Fernands, he sa. luted her by the name of Lady Holderness and embraced her as fervently as if they had been courting for years and had married through love: then, flinging open the door and holding the papers in his hand, ho hurried to the drawing-roum to ' announce his good fortune to his younger daughter p<. | CONNIE NOO|KS..COMM