The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYGTERINS OF THE COURT. the slender graces of the sylph to constitute the perfection of her shape. In her toilet she was simple and modest—never secking by means of low-bodied dresses for a meretricious display of her charms, nor caring much to avail herself of the sumptuous presents of gems and jewellery made by her husband for the embellishment of her per- 60D. Such was Anastatia Latham; and we must now say a few words in respect to her husband. Sir Frederick was a tall man—somewhat inclined to stoutness, without being actually corpulent: he was perfectly upright, and carried himself with @ certain stiffness,—which, together with his gene- ral appearance, impressed every one with the sense of cold formality on his part. Handsome he oer- tainly was not: but ho was equally far from being ill-favoured. His features were large: his fore- head, exceedingly high and massive, gradually rounded off into the crown of the head, all the front of which was bald. Thus his iron-grey hair being worn away from that pert, gave bim a cer- tain dignity of appearance, which by his manner he evidently strove to sustain. His blue eyes were of that cold expression which denotes calculating, business-habits: they moved steadily in their orbits— never turning nor flashing restlessly. There was something severe too in the expression of his thin lips, which if not actually compressed, were gonerally retained close and immovable— except of course when he was speaking. To look at him no one would give Sir Frederick Latham oredit for genius, nor even talent : bat at the same time there was a vast amount of worldly know- evidenced in the expression of that counte- nance. No designing man possessed of the least discrimination, would think of selecting Sir Frede- yick as his victim: wariness, shrewdness, and ex- treme caution were displayed in his looks as well as in his speech. Without knowing who he was, @ stranger would say, “That is a man who never does anything inconsiderately, but who coldly and dispassionately weighs every proposal that may be submitted to him.” Sir Frederick was rich and exceedingly fond of money,—-not however for the purpose of hoarding %, much lees of spending it extravagantly—but to enjoy it according to the common notions of that enjoyment which money can procure. He lived handsomely — kept fino equipages—gave sump- tuous entertainments; but nevertheless was always careful to assure himself that he was not merely living strictly within his income, but that he would have a large surplus at the end of each year. As he had risen from comparatively nothing, he was proud of his position. He scorned all civic honours, and sought to draw himself nearer towards the Aristocracy of the country. He would not have accepted the post of Lord Mayor of London for a single hour: but in his heart he was infinitely elated, though outwardly he showed it not, when he was created a Baronet. He would have held it as a positive degradation to become an Alderman of London: but he was flattered and gratified when placed in the commission of the peace for the County of Surrey. He was proud of ing to the great Moneyocracy of Eng- land; and if he by shrewd and cautious steps strove to introduce himsclf more and more into tho region of the Birth Aristocracy, he never 183 fawned upon a lord—never played the sycophant —nover forced himself unasked upon the society of great personages. Wherever he went in that patrician sphere, his demeanour indicated the calm self-possession of one who felt that he was by no means out of place, and that he was receiving no favour by being invited there. Coldly calculating as Sir Frederick Latham was —endowed with common sense and worldly know- ledge in the most accurate meaning of those terms —it may be a matter of surprise to the reader that after having remained so long unmerried, he should at longth have conducted to the altar a lady who was young enough to be his daughter. On the other hand — considering Anastatia’s oxceeding beauty, her youth, and her accomplishments, her fascinating manners and her patrician birth—it may be also a matter of marvel that she should have failed to captivate any wealthy suitor in her own sphere. The dowerless daughter of an Earl and Countess—who, partly from extravagance and partly from the depreciation of property in the West Indies, where they had large estates, had barely enough to maintain themselves, — Lady Anastatia’s position was one which had rendered fortune indispensable on the part of whomeoever she might accompany to the alter. Still there was many a rich scion of the aristocracy who might perchance have sought to wed a young lady in every way his equal except on the score of riches: bat to the astonishment of everybody the fashion- able newspapers one day announced that “ Sir Frederick Latham, partner in one of the most eminent city mercantile firms, was about to con- duct to the hymeneal altar the young, lovely, and accomplished daughter of the Earl and Countess of Fordwich.” And the marriage took place: nor on the wed- ding-day did there seem on Anastatia’s part to be any particalar sense of self-sacrifice—no in ‘ication of efforts being made to crush other affections which her young heart might possibly have formed. Her demeanour was serene ; and those who knew her best, declared that there could be no dissimulation on her part—for that it was impossible the soul of one so pure could be infected with hypocrisy or guile. There were not however wanting at the time certain busy tongues to whisper that Sir Frederick Latham had rendered great pecuniary assistance to the Fordwich family, especially to Anastatia’s only brother, Viscount Rushbrook, the heir to the Earldom. But on this point nothing was certain: that is to say, no positive details could be relied upon— though, asa matter of course, it was patent to everybody that the mar- riage was one of expediency on the part of Anas- tatia’s family,—the great wealth of Sir Frederick Latham being the idol on whose altar the young lady was sacrificod—though she herself might pos- sibly feel that it was no sacrifice at all. This marriage had taken place about two years previous to the time of which we are writing. Sir Frederick was then building his palatial mansion at Balham Hill; and it was not finished until the lapse of some months after the solemnization of those nuptials, But when completed, Sir Frederick and his wife removed to their new home, where they had since maintained a sumptuous establish- ment. The aristocratic marriage which Sir Frede- rick had contracted, fulfillad the darling hope (CO G OOO SS} (CO