The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 389: what you’re looking at

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

378 to voughsafe any reply to that question: and ina few moments she emerged upon the leads on the eummit of Stamford Manor. There was a low parapet which ran along the edge,—but so very tow that i¢ was dangerous for a person at all prone ‘to giddiness to venture too near. “Is not this a charming prospect, Eleanor?” exclaimed the Karl, stretching forth his arm and ‘sweeping it slowly around as if to fix her aftention pon the scenery. “But the finest view may be obtained from this point——” And he advanced nearer to the parapet as he e. “For heaven's sake be cautions, Francis f” cried Eleanor, shrinking back in the dismay whioh snd- denly blanched her cheeks and rendered her voice tremulous. } “Is it possible, Eleanor,” said the Barl, turning abruptly round and fixing his eyes full apon her, -—yea, fall upen her for the first time daring this ecene which we are describing,—“ is it possible | ago that you can entertain any apprehension for me 7’ “Do yeu doubt it?” cried the Countess, retarn- fog that gaseo—but gaziog in mingled curiosity and alarm. “Qh! if you have broaght me up here to test my feelings towards you--—But, no—you -would net do that,” she exclaimed, her manner sud- denly becoming.all perplexity: then, as it merged with eqnal rapidity into the mogt poignant alarm, -she said, “ How strangely you. ragged me !—your looks fill me with vague terrors! © Francis, sorely you do not intend to injure—-” “To injure you!” ejaculated the Ban,-in a voice which immediately reassured her: aad tho whastly, borrifed, shuddering look whick she bad for a moment flang towards the-ahyas below, was once more bent upon her husband. “Gud forbid that I should hort a hair of your head! No, no,” he continued, with a wild exeitement which had something of the painful joyous- ness and martyrised enthusiasm of self-devotion ‘in its tone and manner,—“{[ would not live to amake you miserable, my Hieanor—~bat I would die to ensare your happiness |” “Just heavens! what mean you, Francis?” shrieked forth his wife, a strange and fearful suspicion flashing to her brain: and the perspi- ration started out in bead-like drops from her brow, . “* Kleanor,” said the nobleman, taking her hand —that hand which was not withdrawn,—and at ‘the same time he gazed steadfastly upon her, with a desperate determination written on ail his features,—“Eleanor, this is the firat ocoasion on which we have been enabled to look each ‘other in the face without horror, and to touch -each other without loathing, since that fatal -evening——” “Yea, yes—I comprehend you, Francis,” inter- ‘Fapted the noble lady, with a wild impatience. “But what thought—what purpose is now upper- most in your mind? Speak, I conjare you! Leave me not In doubt, I implore you * aod in the agony of intolerable suspense, she jai the band that was disengsged apon her panting bosom | a8 if to still the paiuful throebings of the heart that beat within. “I will explain myself in a few words, Eleanor,” #aid the Earl, all the recent animation of his coun- -enance being now lost in an expreasion of mourn- fal and despairing resolotion. “ You have already assented to the proposition that we cannot live together any longer—and you have likewise de- clared that it would be imprudent for us to separate. In these opinions I coincide with you—and there- fore neither alternative is open tous! But is there no othescourse left ?—is there no remedy for the gad position in which we are relatively placed ? We are now gazing upon each other without aver- sion: but it is only beoause feelings of a nature still more potent have arisen £0 supersede for the instant that mutual abhorrence and distrust which never can be annihilated altogether. No—that chilling reserve, that sullen formahty, and that cold embarrassment will ali come back again;~and s0 soon as the present excitement has evaporated, we shall once more shun each pther’s glance aad dread. each other's touch !” “"Tis trae—my God! too true!” msursmred Eleanor, in a woive of sinothered biteesmess and ny. ‘Oh! then a sacrifice must be made by one that the other may be &appy,” said the Karl, hastily. “And inasmach.as I have been thine evil genius, Bleanor,— inasmu¢h as I drew thee into a marsiage which thon hast been fated to deplore from the very Arst,—oh ! on account of all this, I will endea- vyour—now-—at last—to make thee a-signel aapara- tion! Be happy, Bleancr—~may Ged fongive and bless thoe-——" “What mean. you?” gasped: the horrer-etricken lady, her large dask eyes gasing apon him in ghastly constemmation. ‘You willmmake the world balleve it-wae-an soci. dent, Bieaner,” said the nobleman: thea, dropping hen-hand aften pressing it fervidly for an instant, he threw himecif over the parapet. A scream—a piercing, rendiug seream ofanguish thrilled from the lips of Lady Desborough: aid the next moment she grew rigid—tennsfixed to the spot with an appalling consternation,—ber eyes dilated—her lips apart—her cheeks perfectly bianched—aod her wholo attitude that of agonised terror. The gardeners, who were working on the grounds at the front of the house, beheld the tragedy and hurried to the place where the nobleman fell: but his head was frightfully shattered—and life was extinct! . The servants rushed up to the roof to take charge of their mistress, whom they. bore, raving with delirium, to her own chaml&r ;—and the tidings of the fatal accident which had occurred to Lord Desborough soon spread like wild-fxe throughout the neighbourhood. CHAPTER CCXXIL OCOURRENCES IN NWRWaATE. Te seene changes from. Stamford Manor to the gloomy gaol of Newgate: but the day is atill the same on which the preceding incidents took place. , It was shortly after the hcur of noon; and Caroline Walters was taking exeraine in the low- arched, stane- paved hall, whence the door opened into several of the felons’ yards. We have alread} atated that the discipline of Newgate was by no DOO AUC <Sr es eens fen enSUURSEDASEEEy TNE wYerunres. Ce ae UE” o 6! atin“ Ee a 4u *em,4 -.' aor 6b we