The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

See fe ssspeecinenstestre ae THE MYAPRRIES OF THE COURT. i eee re Me it—he entered the garden—and then, “Good heavens!” ejaculated the nobleman: for opened , he hesitated whether to go and aceost that lady, or whether to advance up to the house at onee and make the usual inquiry which a visitor would put. At that moment a domestic, in a plain dark livery, appeared upon the steps: he was an old man, and one who might at once be set down as being a faith- fal dependant of long standing in his present service. The Marquis sceosted him, and said, ‘“I wish to sce Tady Everton: is that her ladyship walking yonder in the garden P” “T¢ is, sir,” responded the old servant: “but her ladyship receives no visitors. Ali matters of business must be condacted through Mrs. Jameson———” “Ah!” ejaculated Lord Eagiedean : for he remem- bered that this was the friendly housekeeper at Everton Park, who had been admitted into the confidence of her mistress im respect to the birth of the two children. “ Bat I have some very particular intelli to communicate.” “ If so, air,” observed the footman, “ there will be no harm in your introducing yourself to her lady- ehip: ahe can but refer you, if necessary, to Mrs. Jaineson.” The old man spoke courteously—even benevo- lently; and the Marquis of Hagledean, thus en- cuuraged, was about to hasten away towards the extremity of the garden—when it suddenly occurred to him that if Alexandrina should chante to recog: nize him at once, a scene might possibly ensue which she would afterwards deeply regret and wish to have been avoided. He accordingly turned back again towards the footman,—saying, “ All things consi- dered, it would perhape be better that I should see Mrs. Jameson first.” The domestic bowed, and led the way through a hal], up a staircase, to a room where an old woman with heir as white as snow was seated, occupied with ber knitting. She was dreseed in black; and in her look benevolence was mingled with sadness. She was not so much altered but that the Marquis would have recognised her, even if he had not been fnformed who she was. “ Mre. Jameson, a gentleman wishes to see you on some business connected with her ladyship ;”—and having placed a chair for the aseommodation of the Marquis, the old footman withdrew from the apart- mens. Lord eat down, and did not imme- Giately speak-—for he saw that Mrs. Jameson’s looks had been at once earnestly fixed upon him. They grew more searching: the expression of her counte- nance showed that was doing its work fasthfully, and that he would be recognized by her. 4h! then if she were thus enabled to penetrate through the change and alteration which years had effected in him, how much more easily would Lady Everton have done so! and how prudent was the precaution he had thus taken in secing Mrs. Jame- son first! “My lord, my iord,” said the old woman, trem- bling from head t8 foot with the violence of her emotions, “I know you—I recognise you! What brings you hither ?”’ “Need you ask?” inquired the Marquis: “can you not conjecture ?” “But your wife, my lord—the Marchioness o1' these words struck him as a revelation, instante- neously making known to his comprehension some new phase in the villany of Mr. Everton. “My wife—the Marchioness of Eagledcan ——~I never was married |” A cry of mingled joy and astonishment burst forth from the aged housekeeper’s lips, as she started up from her obair: then fixing her looks earnestly and penetratingly upon the Marquis, she said, “My lord, I adjure you by everything you deem solemn and holy, to proclaim the truth, whatsceves it may be!” “I have already proclaimed it,” he replied, pree foundly agitated. “I am inospable of deceit. I never have been marmed——-No never, never has the image of your mistress been absent from thig heart of mine!” . “Ob what misery—what long years of misery, wretchedness, and woe might have been spared te my poor mistress, had she known the truth!”—and ae Mrs. Jameson spoke, she resumed her seat, wring- ing her hands, while tears trickled down the coum tenance that was farrowed with age. “The biackest iniquities have been perpetrated,” said the Marquis with bitter vehemence: “ but until this moment I did not oven suspect their fullest extent. And now let me hasten to ask you a ques- tion——Does Lady Everton know that her sca Adolphus is yet alive?’ Mrs. Jameson gave a wild ste” s~-and then sink- ing baek in the chair, gased in speechless astonish- ment upon the Marquis of Kagledean. She evidently know not what to think: and by the expression of her countenance it was apparent that she feared his reason was unsettled. “ No, my good woman—faithful dependant of your mistress that I am eure you have been—I am not decsived—Iam not deceiving you! It is another truth that I proclaim—Adolphus lives—and what iz more, hie rights are acknowledged! Yes—his vil- Janous uncle has abandoned the title and cstates which he had usurped!” “Then, may God be thauked!’ eaid the old woman in a tone of the profoundest piety. “There may yet be happiness in this world for my poo mistress:"—-and having thus spoken, she clasped her hande weed her venerable counte- nance—and the prayer of thanksgiving, which she eaid inwardly, wavered upon her thin lips. “I see that we have much to talk about—man things to converse upon,” resumed the Marguia, after a paure, “ere the intelligence be broken to your mistress that her son is alive and that L am within these walls. In a few words let me likewise explain to you that our two children Elizabeth and Frank are well and happy. They are beneath my roof in the neighbourhood of London—~Bus again yeu survey me with the despest amase- ment P” “Because, my lord, it has this moment become gour turn,” replied Mrs. Jameson, “fo reveal another phase in that scheme of villany which has bean peactised towards my poor mistress. Four yeare have elapsed since she was assured in a letter from ber brother-in-law, that poor Frank was no more— ” interrupted Mrs. Jameson,—" is she according to the terms of your lordship’s teust-deod, not still alive ? is she no mure ?” Oe, gee ee ee ee Gee oe eho | wos dissipating it rapidly, ss che had. already die RE, AME. AE -_ wy aie > ne (COL (C DOO CS (COL