The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 251: what you’re looking at

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pane of a vister-demigoddess. Fer she wes speaking in {she Prinses. “I suppose cneanenaced mp life as well the jewest tone-—and yet with a continueumess which ; as her ews [” showed how earnest were her words;—aad asl hap-| “Just eo, may if pleess pour Reyal Highness,” ce- pened to beveated at. the tiene in-s Hnhtareeer cs sponded Page, evesgreana at the bettom of. sy garde, i did not; “It devs not please meet all," observed thePrince, think it necessary to distarb the poor: yeung ledies | for a mement cufioring his features to relax inte a by letting them know that I wasnear. I accosdingly | smile'at the eddusss of that eanjancture of phrasee. remained perfectly still;~—and ef course if I did/ “ Bat what was che resalt of this lamentable nlapse overhear anything that passed between them, it- was } on Mies Clareadon’e part f” not uty fault. Fancying themeclves to be entirely! “Me-aad my wife remeined.aleng with Miss alone, they were discoursing. anreservedly, altheagh ; Pankiue uatil two o'cloek this.cnorniag,” replied in a very low veice. Octavia was declaring her re- | Rage ; “ and aever-shall I fosgetthe awful peroxysums solve to preceed to Carlton House—demand an interview with your Regal Highness—end-accertain your intentions from your own lips. ‘These views she enunciated in a strain which waseo0 collected aad rational, that I fancied she must have altogether re-| “And ehen you left Octavia at two this morning f° covered the fail use of her reason. It was evident | demanded the Princes abruptly. that Paaline entertained the same ideas Sor che} “She hed: sunk into a-prefeund cleep, threugh began to argue with her cistar just as one sane pereon | sheer exhaustion,” was the answer: “but ber lant addresses ancther. She represented.the inspropriety | weeds were fraught with terrible menace towards as well eas the isutility of the propesed step: but { yeur Reyal Highness. And now, perhaps, the Octavia was immoveably wedded to her design. The Zhjeat of my intreslen wpon dhe time end notice ef discussion was continued with a esint earnestness on § your ‘Royal " voth aides for upwards of a quarter of .an hoer ;. and not evice during that interval did Oetavia give the} “You think that F entertain any fears of a poor slightest proof of mental alienation. Nevertheless, | naniac girl?” said tho Primce,-vainly endeavouting ehe persevered.in her resolve to. seek’ an interview }- with your Royal Highness; and Pauline, evidently deconring alarmed at the determination to witich her mind had settled dewn, and no doubt presuuting too much upon its extreme apparent taluances, broke to ber the truth—the tremendous trath—that your | Carlton Eleuse, would. not be ellewed to push her marviage with her Royal Highwees the . Princess | way further than the hall. But she might never- Caroline was Axed to take place that very evening! }@heless create: subh a disturdbace-—prociain -s0 Then, all ta a moment, from the lips of Octavia | many disagrecable ” burst the ‘wildest of cries—and, turning abreptly| “Yes-dhat is indeed to be feared,” exclaimed away frem her sister, she fled into the beuse, ex- | thé Prince. “ Of course bar sister will not encour- claiming, * Give me my cloak—my bennel—and ia tage her in this wild echeme of demanding ean _ ia- me departte claim my husband, whom a foreign | terview with a-—-—” rival is taking.away from me !'—Your Royal High-{ “Qn thé contrary. I have already assured your ness will forgive meif I chus wuceremenioualy..and } Royal Highness that Mises Pauline did everything frankly repeat the very words wiich the poor exzea- | she could ¢0 reason her sister ont of the notion,” éate attered-——”" mid Mr. Page. “ But what is she to do with a “Yeu need make no apology, Mr. Page,”. ex- } mad girl ” ‘claimed the Prince, whose thoughts wore new divided | “ Whatwould you do with her?” demanded the between compunctionus feelings on bekalf of Octavia + Prince, some sinister meaning in the and lieentious hopes ef possessing Pauline. “Pray ‘ Joole whiok the ex-bagman Gxed apon him. contiante—and hesitate not to-tvl] me-everything just | “I woeld have her looked ep im a lnnatic- as it cecurred.” esylam," was the prompt answer: and he looked “The frensicd shriek of wildest anguish which {-harder. and more significantly still at the heir- thrilled from the lips of Octavia,” zeswmed Page, | apparent. “ was eohoed by one of the tensest alanm on the part} “But do you really famcy that she is Go very of Pauline; and the whole neighbourhood would | dangerous?” he inguired, with: evident irresolution have been frightened out of its seven senses had not | hew-éc act. aearly every one.gome into tewn to eee the illumi-| “Iam certain, great Prince,” responded Page, astions m honour of your Royal Highnese’s marriage. | “that the very first opportunity she has, Octavia But ay wife was at hone—and | was in the arbour, | will break away from her sister’s eare ; and, under asl have already explained: and while Mra Page | the inspiration of her frenzied ideas, she will not was rushing down the steps in-ene direction, I was | only seek Carlton House, but her history will be dashing throngh the evergreens in another. Over} preelaimed to all who may be near enoagh to che iron railiegs once more—inte our neighbours’ | listen !” garden we sped—and this time Miss Pauline was| “This mast not take place, Mr. Page,” said the sight glad of oar presence: for peor Ooctavin . had { Prince; then, after-walking enee or twice ap aad gone saving, raging, feriously mad—and it was as | down the roam, be suddenly etopped short within evach‘as all three ef us could do to hold her down. | a yard of the ex-bagman, an whom he east a look At one instant she threatened to ley vielent hands } as if he meant to read him through and through. a@pon hereelf—at another she —— But this may/ “I am stewnch—disceeet—faithfal,” observed mount to treason——” Page, perceiving and understaading that giance 60 “Speak out, man—and fear nothing!’ exclaimed ' penetrating and so searching. a ‘observe; “B®ecnuse I.am well aware that Miss Octavian Clarendon, if she presented herself at ECOMicoOokKSs.cO