The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 149: what you’re looking at

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143 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Saxondale, with increased petulance. “That lady | Tho lady, who had been looking over hor fan an4 with the magnificent suburn hair——” , saw Lord Saxondale approach, at once raised herself “You cannot guarantee that it is her own,” ob- up from the half-reclining and gracefully lounging served Petersfield, shaking his head with solemn : attitude of seeming nonchalance and unconcern in mystery. which she had been sitting : and she responded with “ But you see her? Who is she ?” a amile of the most affable sweetness, “I thank “Really, Edmund, this question is so home- your lordship—but I do not dance for the present. thrust, that I—I feel myself justified in hesitating I have only recently recovered from a long and even before I answer—which answer I may givein severe illness; and my physician bas positively ore all truth and confidence—that I know nothing at all dered that I do not over-exert myself.” about her. And tomy knowledge-—~mind, I speak | While she thus spoke, she made a slight side-long with this proviso, to my kuowledge—I ever saw movement, which seemed to be an invitation for her before in all my life.” _ 8axondale to take the chair next to her ;—and com- “Why the deuce couldn't you have said so at pletely infatuated, as well as dazzled and bewildered once f”’—and Lord Saxondale broke awey from his by the power of her charms, he unhesitatingly did guardian, who was perfectly confounded vy what, in so. Two things surprised him somewhat. One was diplomatic terms, he would have denominated the | that the lady evidently know who he was—for she “inconvenience” of so indecorous a remark. had addressed him as “my lord;” and the other Edmund, perceiving one of the other attachée to | was to hear her say that she had recently recovered the embassy loitering at a little distance, and evi- ' from a severe illness; for certainly her appearance dently gazing with mingled interest and admiration | was very far from corroborating the averment. The upon the beauteous stranger, hastened to accost | hue of health, though of roseate delicacy, was upon him,—saying, “Sydney, my dear fellow, do 7 | wie the which were plump and softly rounded ; know who she is f” “No—I was just thinking of askkmg eome one the question. Ien’t it strange that she should be thus left all to herself? We know very well that at these subscription balls almost any one may come: but still it is difficult to conceive that a lady, know- ing what sort of a reception she is likely to meet, would voluntarily court such painful treatment as this. Besides, if it were anything very flagrant, the stewarde would interfere. I have an uncommon great only I am afraid of offending Petersfield. But I rally leaves behind it. there was a third circumstance which he specially noticed. This was, that as she had tem taken off the glove of her left hand, he saw that she wore a wedding-ring, and therefore was either a married woman or a widow. But these reflections were hurriedly made: for he found himself so com- pletely under the empire of her charms—so intoxi- cated by the perfume of beauty, which, as it were, mind to run all ae a oe ee tell you what, Saxondale—if I were you, and inde- | exhaled from her like fragrance from flowers—that pendent of the old lord as you are, I wouldn’t | he soon had no thought for anything else. He hesitate a moment. Why don’t you go?” knew not what to eay; and yet he scarcely felt “Well, I will,” quickly responded the young ' awkward while gasing upon her in silence; for the nobleman, who only required some such suggestion | feelings that inspired him were those of ineffable “But, stop, though! I see that Lord and Lady ture. “You have not been long in Paris, I believe, Petersfield are just going; and I may as wellwait Lord Saxondale?” she said, at length breaking till they have taken their departure. They said that they should retire early; and as it happens, I am deuced giad of it.” It was as Edmund said: the old diplomatist and as a silver bell. “Only a week, on the present occasion,” he an- swered: “and it was my intention to leave to- his wife were wending their way together towards ' morrow. But——” the doors; and in a few moments they passed away from the scene ot gaicty and splendour. “ Now, Saxondale,” said the Hon. Mr. Sydney, ipal paid attaché to Lord Petersfield. “You shall sce how nicely I will manage it,” enswered Edmund. But he did not observe the ironical smile which sppesred upon the lips of Mr. Sydney, who, though he knew not the lady, nor anything concern- ing her,—nevertheless saw that there must be somo- thing very remarkable about her character for her to be thus shunned: and he was purposely urging Saxrondale into a course which would make him appear pre-eminently ridiculous; for the young nobleman was in reality no favourite with the Hon. Mr. Sydney. Edmund, assuming his most affable look, and walking with an affected mincing gait, approached the isolated lady; and with a very low bow, exid, “Madam, shall I have the honour of your hand in the next dance ow oe Ai oe | T understand your lordship,” observed the lady, | with another bewitching amile: “this Paris of ours bas so many charms and fascinations, that you cannot readily tear yourself away from them FP” “You say this Paris of your's,” ramarked Saxon- dale, with a renewed fecling of surprise: “surely I have the honour of speaking to an English lady” “ English by birth—but naturalised a French- woman by marriage,’ she rejomed. “Your husband is not here this evening ?” ob- “ My husband——is dead,” returned the lady: and her face was bent downward with a sudden expression of profound mournfalness, which to Saxondale’s eyes was but a new and more touching phase in which her beauty displayed itself. ‘¢ Pardon me, madam,” he said, with an inward feeling of delight—though he scarcely knew why— to learn that she was a widow: “I did not intend te recall painful recollections.” “You must suppose, my lord, that my husband”® (COL (C DOO CS (COL