The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 147: what you’re looking at

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140 patient, whom he found so happy in mind that her health was improving hour by hour— minute minute. The circumstances just referred to, had naturally produced their excitement; but it sp- peered not to be prejudicial to her ladyship: on the contrary, it seemed, as already stated, to inspire her with new life. And so it was. At the expiration of a week she was enabled to sit up for several hours in an easy chair: at the end of another week she was strong enough to quit her own suite of apartments and repair to the drawing-room. Need we say that the Rari of Castlemaine kept his word, and proved most kind—~most affectionate ? or that he preserved the completest control over his temper? Indeed, his cure in this respect appeared to have been tho- roughly effected,—as if he only required the and most convincing proofs of his wife’s andivided and disinterested love to render him a happy man. His spirits rose: he experienced a THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. English Ambassador at the French Court; and by Edmund who had visited this gay metropolis be- fore, and liked it well, was by no means sorry to have an opportunity of mingling again in its Pp We will not pause to relate how he Lord and Lady Petersfield to the palace of the Tuileries and was received by the King and Queen of the French—nor how he was included in the in- vitations to the soirées at the British Ambassador's mansion: but we will proceed to describe a circum. atance which led to results of no mean importance to himself. A grand subscription ball took place at the Odeon Theatre, on behalf of some charity connected with British residents abroad; and all the elite of the English aristocracy and gentry, at that time resi- dent in Paris, were present on the occasion. Lord and Lady Petersfield, together with Edmund and some other gentlemen of their suite, repaired to this gaiety which for yeara he had not known—a buoy-! ball. Tho pit of the theatre had been boarded over ancy of heart that rendered him another being. ' to s level with the stage, so as to constitute « uni- Thus time wore on: the health of Lady Castlemaine , form surface of flooring for the dancers: at least a was completely restored—the husband and wife | thousand persons, male and female, with every ceased to occupy separate suites of apartmente— | variety of splendid toilet, were assembled there: the and the servants of the household were unfeignedly orchestra was grand—the theatre was flooded with joiced to witness a reconciliation which not merely | light—dancing was maintained with great spirit— established the felicity of their noble master and mistress on @ sure foundation, but which set at rest and the spectacle was alike superb and exhila- During a pause between the quadrilles—and to her ladyship’s honour. CHAPTER CXVI. THB IADY AT THE BALL. Iz will be remembered that Lord Petersfield was pertnor to her seat, was lounging about alone, gazing upon the most beautiful of the fair sex with that half listless, half impudent stare which was partially affected and partially characteristic of the young man—he observed a lady enter, whose appearance he had not before noticed, and who indeed evidently only just arrived. Her beauty appomted to undertake, on behalf of the Govern- ment, a special mission to Vienna,—and that his ward, Lord Saxondale, was induced by many reasons that dassling description which could not fail strike every beholder, and which made an instan- taneous impression upon Edmund Saxondale. She was tall, and most symmetrically shaped,—her figure to accompany him. The mysterious murder of his mistress in Lincolnshire—his dismissal as the suitor , combining the richness of a Hebe with the grace- of Lady Florina Staunton—his quarrel with Lord | fulness of a Sylph.. Her toilet was elegant, anc Harold—the coldness with which he was regarded , tastefully adapted to her peculiar style of beauty. by the other young noblemen and gentlemen of his | Her hair was of that auburn hue which shines bright acquaintance —and the satiety wherewith he was | as gold where the light falls upon it, but seems like clogged in respect to the dissipated pleasures and dark velvet where the shade remains. It flowed in debauched pursuite of London-life, had all combined und to take that step. Hoe had i to uy sta s 1 anticipated; and after a residence of about im Vienna, the embassy set out on ites i England. It in the middle of the month of October and Lady Petersfield, accompanied by Edmund, and attended by the other persons of their £ bé atructions to terry for this brief space in Paris, in order to confer on certain political matters with the tresses and ringlets upon shoulders of dassling whiteness,—one or two stray curls resting-upon a of scene; and he knew that the bosom of voluptuous fulness. Her eyes were large an Ambassador Extraordinary | and of a delicious blue,—rnot the dark blue of the ‘violet, nor the asure of the heavens,—but of the intermediate hue. They were coft and languishing, and had an ion of sensuousness when the lids were allowed to droop slightly. The forchead was not high—but it wae of alabaster fairness: and clearnces of this lady’s complexion. The tant of the rose-bud was upon her cheeks, softening of tall imperceptibly blending with tho lily fairness of the skin generally. Her nose was slightly, but very alightly, aquiline: the mouth was amali—the lip curved like Cupid’s bow—the lower one fuller, rounded, and completed the oval of a face which would have been of faultless beauty if the fore= head were slightly more elevated. Even as it was, it would have been a monstrous festidiousness of (COL (C DOO CS (COL