The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 378: what you’re looking at

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

er ne ee eet ce Pde THE MYSTERIES. mured the maiden: for she felt that the answer which ehe had Just given him was in wffect a declaration that her innocence remained intact and titat she had passed pure and spotless through the ordeal of temptation, persecution, and violence. ‘ * Yes—the moment thatl saw your beantesus coun- tenance,” exclaimed Meagjes, “ when you raised your veil ere now’ in the Edgeware Road, I knew that heaven had shielded you—for virtue, candoar, and chastity are depicted upon-your features the same as | and stainless brow :—nor with a maudlin prudery when I first formed your acquaintance as the begin- ning of this memorab‘e year.” The partial excitement—or rather inspasdoned tone im which Meagles had just. spoken, and which contrasted so remarkably with the low deepness of voice that he had previously adopted, stsuck Rose Foster with surprise ;—and she gazed upon him with a half frightened, half-deprecating look. “ Do yor not understand me, Rose}—do you not cormprehend all I would say to you, if I could find language wherein to clothe my feelings?” exclaimed Meagies, now for the first time in his life finding him- self embarrassed for words to express his thoughts. “ You experience a friendship for me—do you not ?” “Oh! most assuredly—most assuredly I” cried the grateful girl. “I look upom you as a benefactor—a kind friend—a brether I might almost say ——” “ Well—a brother, then,” interrapted Meagies, feeling as if he could go down upon his knees and worship that pure and innoeent girl who thus proffered him as it were her sisterly affection. “But tell me, Rose—tell me,” he said, with strange abruptuess, “ have you as yet encountered any one whom you love better than a brother ?" The maiden became scarlet: and yet the was not altogether angry. But she wassuddenly overwhelmed with shame and-canfusion ;—yes-—-and she now com- prehended the fact that Meagles loved her, and that he was floundering in his awkwani endeavours to make her aware of his passion. Fora mioment she had felt vexed and annoyed at the query which he put to her: but on a second thought she remembered all lls chivalrous kindness toward her and all he had suffered so uncomplainingly en her aecount ;--and her anger, dissolving like snow, was succeeded by a pro- found sorrow at the fact that she was loved by one who possessed such large claims on her gratitade, but whom she could not possibly leve in return. “Ah! that tell-tale blush!” exclaimed Meagles, starting from his chair and speaking in a tone of vexation. “Catch a young girl who is not in love,” he muttered -to himself: then instantaneously feeling how ungenerous it was on his part thus to give vent to any sentiment of annoyance towards the pure minded artiesa girl, he caught her by the hand, ex- claiming, “ God bless you, Rose—God bless you’ Not for worlds—no, not for worlds, would I aay or do aught <0 give you pain. Poor girl! you have already seem and known suffering enough in this woeld—and if it ¥ lay within the power of any man to ensure your happiness by cutting his right hand off, it should -be cheerfally done by Tim Meagles.” The tears roiled down the cheeks of Rose Foster as. she caw by her friend's swimming cyes, and. quivering lips, and muscular nerveusness of features, how deeply ho was meved—how profoundly affected: and she comprehended that he loved her well-and that he was waiving all claim upon her heart and hand as a sacri- Goce which he generously made to her happiness. “ Yese—I was a madman and a fool ever to dream a 367 of possessing tliee, Rose,” he said, after a short pame, during which he gazed apon her with an carnest and yet most respectft admiration: “ such a gem as thon ast was not formed to place In a diadem made of dross, but in a crown of the purest gold! Well— may'st thou be happy, sweet girl, with whdom»oever thou shalt ntate thyself;—and never, never shalt thou want a friend so long as thou hast confidence in plain, biant Tim Meagies.” Thos speaking, he imprinted a kiss upon her white did she turn away. On tlie contrary, she received that kiss as if it were bestowed upon her by a brother. —sa kies from which she would not have shrunk had George Woodfall himself been present, and which she would not be ashamed to own when next they met. “And now, Rose,” said Meagles, after drinking a giaee of the wine which had been placed on a side table, “I shall bid you farewell for the present: in a few days you may expect to see me again—and henceforth,” he added, with « solemn significancy, “I shall regard you a2 a friend—ase a sister.” Rose pressed his hand in acknowledgment of the kind feeling which prompted this assurance; and Meaglies then took his leave of the orphan daughter of the suicide merchant. “Well, I feel happier and more composed now that I have seen her,” said Tim to himself, as he threaded the gardens of the Priory. “Ifshe had accepted my suit, I shoald certainly have proved faithless to poor Letitia—and that would have been a scoundre!'s trick on my part: but as Rose is already provided with a lover, Iam saved from anything like treachery towards the Amazon. So, after all, Letitia will be my wife— a marchioness, no doubt—because it la impossible that the old king, blackguard and scoundrel as he is, can fly from his engagements with me. If he did, I could soon. enforce their observance.” Tim Meaglies arrived at this very satisfactory con- clusion and at tle garden-gate simultaneously ;—and the latter being opened, he issued forth. But Just as he was in the act of mounting his horse, he beheld a man with a well-known countenance passing along the Edgeware Road: and once muré tossing the reins to Lady Bellenden’s porter, he bounded on foot after the object of his suddenly-awakened interest. “ Melmoth |!” he exclaimed, clutching the individusf by the shoulder. “Ah! that voice!” cried the working-man, as he stopped short and turned with a sudden start. “ Yes —'tis you—thank God !"—and seizing Meagles by the hand, Melmoth burst into tears of joy at this most unexpected but most weloome encounter. ‘‘ Where can we go to converse for a short time 7” he lnguired after a long pause. “T have just left Miss Foster—she resides in that handsome building, and will be truly rejoiced to aed you,” said Meagles. “Indeed, not teu minutes have elapsed since we were both talking about you. Come along with me, then-——” “No—I cannot face that young creature, Mr. Mea- gleas,” interrupted Melmoth, bitterly : aud now Tim noticed for the first time that there was something wild and strange in the expression of the man’s eyes. “Why not?” demanded Meagies. “You have never done anything to injure her—and she epeaks of you with gratitude and warm friendship. Indeed, she has been searching after yor em! yours——" “ Nevertheless,” interrupfe? Nelnuth, doggedly (C r Lad DOO SS (CO iin