The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 357: what you’re looking at

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346 “I am grateful to thee, Gabriel,” whispered Pauline, “for thus finding an extenuation for my injurious, rash, and precipitate conduct towards thee. Bus tell me—who could that individual have been who wore the blue domino and personated yourself at the masquerade ?” “ Doubtless some accomplice in Caroline Wal- ters’ scheme of revenge,” replied Florimel. “And now let us avert our eyes as much as possible from the past, and think only of the present—yes, and of the future also,” he added, pressing the mai- den’s hand to his lips. “It is for you, Pauliue,” he continued, in a low and tender tone, “to settle the day which will render us both happy—unite us, never more to separate—and, while bestowing upon me a husband’s right to protect and cherish you, afford me also a brother’s privilege to watch over and console your afflicted and deeply-wronged sister.” Then, with melting looks and blushing cheeks, the charming maiden murmured a few words in her lover’s ear;—and doubtless the response which they conveyed to his solicitation was agreeable to his hopes and wishes—for he once more caught her in his arms, strained her to his breast, and covered her cheeks with kisses. CHAPTER CCXIV. AN EXPLOSION AMONGST THE NEW LIGHTS. WHILE the preceding scene was taking place at the corner house in the genteel little row known as Paradise Villas, the occupants of the dwelling a couple of doors off were playing their part in a somewhat leas agreeable drama at the Police Court in Bow Street, Covent Garden. The reader has probably borne in miad the cir- cumstance that when Mr. Page introduced himself on the first occasion to Carlton Palace, he informed the Prince of Wales that, on taking a house in Paradise Villas, he found out that the Honourable Misses Clarendon dwelt on one side, and the Reverend Mr. Sneaksby on the other side of his new abode. Such was indeed the fact: for the esteemed and estimable pastor of the New Lights, accompanied by his admired and admirable friend Mr. Ichabod Paxwax, had transferred their quarters from the establishment of Mrs. Piggleberry in Jermyn Street to the beautiful suburban villa aforesaid. The worthy dame was of course well aware that these chosen vessels had thus removed to the Edgeware Road, inasmuch as she had given them a highly satisfactory character when referred to by the landlord of their new tenement: but she was not equally well informed in respect to the fact that they had enticed her niece, the pretty Ann Jones, to follow them secretly thither and under- take the duties of housekeeper. In plain terms, the niece was found to be missing a few days after the removal of the pious gentlemen; and her parents, from whose home she had fled, toyether with her aunt, at whose house she had been a con- stant visitress, were overwhelmed with sorrow and cruelly perplexed at her sudden disappearance. Iudeed, there was some cause for suspecting that the young woman had experienced fou! play; in- ' asmuch as, at the period of her flit. sho war eee eee THER MYSTERIES. passing a few days with her aunt, by whom she was sent out to liquidate some little accounts that were owing in the neighbourhood, and for which pur- pose a ten-pound note was given to her. But she never returned; and, on subsequent inquiry, it proved that she had not paid the dcbts at all, nor even visited the shops where the accounts were owing. She had been home to her parents’ abode for a few minutes, to put on her best clothes and procure her father’s umbrella: but from the mo- ment she started forth again, all trace was lost of her. Her father, mother, and aunt had therefore naturally experienced much alarm and uneasiness on her account; and all the researches and in- quiries which they set afoot proved unavailing. The neighbours shook their heads and observed siynificantly that “Miss Ann was a pretty girl, and she knew it :” some added that “she was a thorough coquette and given to fine dressing lately ;”—and others ventured to prophecy that “she would come back again when she wanted the widwife’s assist - ance.” But her parents and aunt turned a deaf ear to these remarks: they could not possibly think that Ann had gone astray after becoming a member of the New Lights: nor did it for a mo- ment strike these worthy people that she had been allured away by the odour of sanctity which attended like a halo upon the persons of the Reverend Nathaniel Sneaksby and Brother Pax- wax. Thus several weeks had passed, during which Ann Jones was pleasantly and comfortably em- ployed in discharging the duties of housekeeper at the new dwelling where the chosen vessels had established themselves in Paradise Villas. But it happened at last—indeed, early in the very morm- ing of the day on which Florimel and Paulie were reunited—that Mr. Jones, Ann’s respected father and consequently Mrs. Piggleberry’s beloved brother, was passing along the Edgeware Road,— when, to his infinite surprise, he beheld his daughter taking in the hot roils at Mr. Sneaksby’s frontdoor! The ejaculation of wonder which burst from his lips at this discovery, met the ears of Mise Ann Jones; and, instantaneously recognising her sire, she dropped the rolls as if they were scorpions —stepped back into the house—and slammed the door in the face of the astonished baker, who naturally thought that the Reverend Mr. Sneaks- by’s confidential domestic had suddenly gone mad. But Mr. Jones, to whose comprehension all the perfidy of the pious gentlemen suddenly became clear and apparent as day-light, was resolved to recover his daughter : and rushing up the steps, he began to knock furiously at the front-door. Fer some time no regard was paid to his noisy sum- mons: and therefore he continued to knock, and, knock, as if inspired with a determination to break in the door on the one hand and arouse the whole neighbourhood on the other. Doubtless both these catastrophes were at last apprehended by the m- mates of the house; and they therefore thought it prudent to capitulate. Accordingly, Mr. Ichabod Paxwax opened the door and besought Mr. Jones to step in and “settle the matter amicably:” but Mr. Jones being a very passionate individual, was not to be soothed or coaxed by the bland appea! of the chosen vessel. He therefore preferred taking his stand on the threshold, and bawling out to his dauchtsr fo eome forth from “that den of hypo- GOH GOO SS