The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 218: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIZS OF THE COURT. not travel out of my way to do so. I am too much indebted to for the important revela- though so unintentionally to my cars—not to feel anxious to show as much gratitude as I possibly can in return.” countenance as the door closed behind him. The reader has most probably guessed how Lord Harold Staunton was led into so stupendous an error. From what he had learnt at the hands of old Musters, he fancied that the Dowager Lady Saxondale had already been to the mansion, and had summarily ejected Edmund’s wife from the threshold. Accordingly, on speeding with the most excited haste to Park Lane, he had de- manded of the scrvants “ whether Lady Saxondale was at home?” forgetting to specify which Lady Saxondale it was that he sought,—and indeed not thinking it necessary. The response was of course in the affirmative: and as the Dowager Lady Saxondale was supposed to be still upon the Con- tinent, the servant who gave the answer did not think it necessary to particularize the Lady Sax- ondale of whom he himself spoke. On roceiving that response, Harold had begun to ascend the stairs with so much haste that the footman had some difficulty in keeping pace with him—and still greater difficulty in getting before him on the landing to throw open the door and announce him properly. Thanks, therefore, to the gloom in which the apartment was involved, Adelaide had thus gleaned the most important revelations. We must incidentally remark that she had heard Ed- mund speak flippantly and superciliously of his mother—he had even assured her that the Dow- ager was too much in his power to show overt aversion to his marriage; and she had wheedled out of him the particulars of the adventure in respect to the masquerade-dress, and of the part which she had induced Harold to play in provoking William Deveril to a duel. From the first, there- fore, she had never entertained an exceeding high opinion of Edmund's mother: but still she had felt that she herself knew too little of that lady’s mis- deeds to be able to convert such knowledge into a weapon either offensive or defensive. But during the hour which was just passed, Adelaide had learnt more than sufficient to compel her mother. in-law to sink down in terror at her feet,—or at least she thought and hoped so. I@ was not long after Lord Harold had taken his departure, and as dinner-time was apprcaching, that the door of the drawing-room was suddenly thrown open, and Edmund's mother made her ap- pearance. It will be convenient if we still con- Gite were - tt 2 oe e m= « <a 3 - o-_— = —_- « - wwe oe ww oa 211 tinue to distinguish her as much as possible as Eady Sazondale,—at the same time aignalising dmund’s bride by her Christian name of Ade- Lady Saxondale still wore her bonnet and shawl : for having but that moment arrived at the house, and burning with anxiety to carry into effect the purpose for which she expressly came, she had not even lost the time that would be necessary to ascend to her own chamber and put off her super- finous garments. Nor had she paused to make any inquiries of the domestics; and thus she was not even informed that Lord Harold Staunton had called at the mansion. She entered the drawing- room with mingled disdain and scorn, hatred and vindictiveness, depicted upon her countenance,— while Adelaide rose from the sofa and made a dig- nified salutation. “Woman, this is no place for you !” cried Lady ; | Saxondale : then pointing towards the door which she had left wide open, she said, “ Begone! pol- lute not this dwelling any longer with your pre- sence !’’ “By what right and title do you issue this mandate ?”” demanded Adelaide, who was resolved not to come to extremes at once with Lady Saxondale—but to sound as it were the depths of her mind, and obtain a greater insizht into her true ‘character and disposition. “ By what right and title?” repeated her lady- ahip. “It teste m pelled thus to y words with you: neverthe- less, as it is quite possible my son may have de- ceived you as to his real position, it is but just that I should explain it. He isa minor: sighteen months must elapse ere he will come of age; and in the meantime—even apart from other circum- stances—all his property is in the hands of his guardians. By their,oconcurrence it is that I exercise the fullest authority within the walls of this mansion, and likewise at the Castle in Lin- colnshire. Now, madam, you understand the matter thus far.” “Your ladyship used the terms ‘apart from other circumstances,” observed Adelaide: “may I request to be informed tho meaning of that expression P” “Well, I will curb my own impatience and gratify you eo far as to be explicit upon that sub- ject :"—yet as Lady Saxondale gave utterance to these words, there was an unmistakable malignity in her tone and her look, as much as to imply that her temporary forbearance would be speodily followed by a stern and implacable course of action. “I am listening, my lady,” said Adelaide. ‘Those other circumstances———” “They are these:—that inasmuch as there is the best possible reason for supposing my son to be of unsound mind and incapable of managing his own affairs, i¢ is more than probable that steps will be taken at once to ensurs the placing of his property under competent management by the time that he comes of age.” ‘And that management,” observed Adelaide, with the ironical tone of a retort, “is doubbless a task which your ladyship is seeking for your- self ?”” “¥ disdain any response to your impertinence,” rejoined Lady Saxondale, drawing herself up with = "Mme foo wow patience sorely to be com- amen GEp~see ‘oes “ae oe 06 - eee Oe ow Oe ee nee ae oe —rutieii> Se DD 2a, ape Qe Sees EP COLL (C DOO CS (GO)