The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 219: what you’re looking at

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213 an air of glacial hauteur : then again pointing to which | dale. Bat answer me truly,” continued with an ironical smile: “are we not a pair well have chosen this drawing-room for my own use; and I intend to keep it. Iam not so rude as to command you to quit it; and therefore you may remain here if you choose. But if my presence be disagreeable, it assuredly is not I who will take the trouble to relieve you of it :—it is your lady- ship who must seck another spartment.” “ Madam, you will gain nothing by the adoption of this insolent demeanour. If you have any- thing to say, let it be spoken quickly :”—and again did Lady Saxondale bend her disdainfully flashing looks upon her daughter-in-law. “It appears to be a struggle between you and me,” replied the latter: and she assumed a de- meanour as scornfully queen-like and as stately as the other. “ A struggle—how?”’ demanded Lady Saxondale. “ Rest assured that it is a most unequal one, as I will presently prove. Behold! the time-piece on the mantel marks the hour of seven. In five minutes you will either leave this house with your own accord, or I pledge myself that you shall be expelled by force.” “And J, on the other hand,” rejoined Adelaide, “declare as solemnly that when the hands mark half-past seven, I will ring the bell and order my dinner to be served up.” “This is a most matchless effrontery!” cried Lady Sexondale, stamping her foot: then as she instantly recovered her glacial dignity of demea- nour, be deliberately put off her bonnet and shawi, and said, “Now, madam, will you be speedy with whatsoever you may have to state? Doubtless my unhappy eon has spoken lightly and impertinently yop meting al ;—and you think that you exercise & over me—perhaps that you hold me at your mercy ? If these be your notions, it is well to disabuse you of them at once: for I can assure you that I reck but little for whatacever you may know me.” concerning “ You are self-sufficient and proud, Lady Sexon- matched ? is there not « certain fitness in the cir- amount of execration scarcely paralleled and never surpassed.” Lady Saxondale looked hard at Adelaide, but cane nous wafforing it to appear that she sur- veyed her thus and then she said, “Tt is useless for you to throw out such detestable inuendoes in mere random malignity: they do not come home. See! the five minutes are just ex- piring. Depart—or I pull the bell to give orders that the lacqueys thrust you hence.” “ And I will ask the lacqueys,” rejoined Adelaide calmly, “whether they be aware that their mis- tress was the paramour of Lord Harold Staun- ton P” “Wretch! it is the vilest of scandals!” ejacu- ladyship and Lord Harold “The world knew it,” interrupted Edmund's mother: “it was no secret—but it was an honour- able inti : for we were about to be married.” “Very likely,” said Adelaide, with a aneer: “but though the parson bas never spoken the nuptial “ Enough of this insolence!”—and Lady Saxon- dale’s eyes flashed fire as she advanced to the bell- pull. “ Ring if you will,” said Adelaide, still calmly ; “and ask the footman who answers the summons, whether the ghost of Mabel Stewart walks at night through the rooms of this mansion ?” Lady Sexondale lot the bell-rope slip out of her hand : she turned ghastly pale—but her eyes burnt like living coals as they were fixed with keen penetration upon Adelaide, whose countenance however was 60 uil that her ladyship could not gather thence whether the words just spoken were a random shot thrown out, or whether they emanated from a more settled conviction. Believing the former to be the case, and speedily recovering her self-possession, she toseed her head (COL (C DOO CS (COL