The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 373: what you’re looking at

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er __| 4 ee sa fl a ieee nrenents> pended over the mouth with such precision and in gach a manner that on loosening the winch-rope which gustained it, the massive granite could not fall to settle exactly on the head of the buttress.” e “Bach was the condition in which we had left the storie on the Saturday night,” observed young Brooks; “and when we went to work on the Monday morning, bo and behold! the winch-rope had given way and the crowning-stone had fallen wpon the buttress. But as it had settled to a hair’s-breadth in the position which it was intended to occupy, your ladyship's eteward decided upon not having it disturbed for the mere sake of placing the soins inside the buttress.” - “And therefore the ceremony did not take pines?” exclaimed the Marchioness, inquiringly. “No, my lady,” respomied- yeung Breelt. “ Your ladyship’s steward gave: orders that tile ceremony should be postponed. usti the newt Bhttress is built———” “Bat this is absurd !* grind’ the norma io ‘tone of apparent annoyance and dissstisfustion: “ } ordess were explicit upon the subjest—and they have not been obeyed. I wrote to my stewardcemmanding him to have the usual ceremony perfOrmed at the proper time—end I sent him a quantity of clduccins whickhe waste use; in addition to the varinpasepeci- mene of the existing. currency, for the purposes: Now thery is a sort of superstition: in the minds of many honest but simple country-folks, relative: to the bape tixing of the foundation-stones of atmew bridge wit: a botéle of wine, and the deposi®-of-the coins. in. the. first buttress ;-and I would nee: fir ths would: have ladyship that many of yeur ladyshhjarthennts declare they will never cross that brédigs—for, let it be built ever se:streng, they think it won't be safe on account of omitting the usual ceremonies when the first but- trees wap raised.” “Then we will have the afair righted to-morrow, my good woman,” said the Marohloness, in a tone of firm decision. “Let your son step up to the Hall and tell my steward that I have arrived at Malden Farm. where I propose to pass the night—and that early in the morning I will myself superintend the ceremonials relative to the bridge. Immediate preparations must therefore be made for the purpose—especially as the auge stone over the first buttress must be raised “I will go at once, my lady,” said young Brooks, rising from his seat, ‘and deliver your message at the Hall. I will then go an:: inform the overseer of the works that the masons muat be at the bridge by day- light. Shall I tell the steward that he is to wait upon your ladyship.this evening ” “ Ne—I will see him in the morning upon matters of business,” returned the Marchioness: “for it is now past eight o’clock—and I propose to retire to rest soon, in onder to riee-early in the morning. The time has passed so agreeably in your society, my worthy friends, and' our conversation has been so varied——” * But there is one thing I quite forgot to mention te-your ludyship,” exclaimed Farmer Brooks, as an idea ‘struck him—“ and that is, a lawyer's clerk was here Yesterday inquiring for Lord Raymond Mont- “Ahi Mr. Rigden’s clerk, I presume?’ said the nodle lady. ~ Yeo—that’s the name ef the lawyer who sent him,” continued the farmer.” He came in a post- nite a bustle ———" “And eo important withal,” added Miss Brooks, who now joined in the conversation for the first time. “Oh! he quite put my daughter out,” exclaimed. Brooks, laughing,—*“ by questions. Amd when he found that we could give him no clue to search after Lord Raymond, he ac- tually became saucy—eaid it was very queer—very “ And eo I told him he had better go about his bu- siness,” remarked Miss Beooks ; “ whereupon he -grew more civil and even apolagised for withthe had been eaying of an offensive chawacter.” “And did he set off again.om. hiewetarn to Lon-,, don P” iziquired the Mirehtioncss of Bulldaden. “Ty.my lady believe nott’ responded Miss Breshis “He said thathechoulfimke ingnittes all over ths act bourhood--élias he: sheuldi' pewesed to the villigs cf Bellundes—and.tiet hs: chvelil'leave no etene: uatarmed to discover semie-clus'to his missing lordeliiyy) But i¢ does not appeastie=:he has much tims fi making his seaveliy besanmpeche says that unles> heecan find him beitee miiiiigiivumsthe 30th of May ———" “Ti. loses every possiiiie.pretensica--evm if he possessed any’! valid -cluim af all-—to'thuwe estates,” added‘the Miic@ioness>. “Wall, this is the.29th—to- MOErOWw Wi bathe 300 a" “ pd the cleriy cwoan with!.« tertile cath,” said Breceks, “before the time«wep-uyp;. he: would discover the young nubitema, cithesdentitr alive.” I shoalti: be truly pluassdte bese of' my unfertanate cousiats-eaféty, anti: Hitewise of hiv:happiness. It is his mother the Dowager-Countess and his brother Eugene the Earl, who have carried on the suit with a merciless perseverance against me;--and I believe that poor Raymond has been more their tool than their - “Fe always spvlie of yeur ladyship in the most respectful terms,” said Brooks; “and I have frequently heard hint deplore the feuds which subsisted between yourself and his family—the more so that your lady- ship's self was a Montgomery previous to your mar- riage with the late Marquis of Bellenden.” “ Poor Lord Raymond !” observed the Marchioness, rising from her seat as a signal of her wish to retire for the night: “I most sineerely hope that we shall soon resetve eatiafactery tidings cemcerning him.” CHAPTEA® CCXVIIL. THE RAGING OF THE STORE. Ir was about ecven o’siock on the fillowing merning that the Marchioness of Bellemden came ferth from the homestead of Maiden Fiuren; where she had pessed the night, and proceeded’ on foot towande the: spot | asking her such a host of where the bridge was being built. She was attended | by the faithful Margaret, hersteward‘and heasskeeper from the adjucen¢ Hall, together with Mis. aad Mm Brooks and their daughter. The noble lady, clad In the mourning. gamments wo. ElOOO® | | which so much became her, walked « Little inadvance | of the rest, but every now and then turned and spoke — SS