The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

8 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. had Francis Pator been walking to and fro in that retreat; and the interval which had elapsed thrice as long. Twenty his watch — twenty times had he stopped short to glance m the dires- tion of the Manor, aad again and again did he murmur, “ How long the interview lasts !’’ But at length he beheld his sister advancing hastily towards the spot where he was awaiting her arrival ; and perosiving that she came quickly, and not with a slow languid psoe, his heart bounded with hope: for he thought within himself that she had pleasing tidings to communicate. As she approached nearer still, he saw in her looks sufficient to confirm this anticipation; end flying towards her, he exclaimed, “What news, deay Elisabeth? what does our father say ?” “ We have both alike, my dear brother,” she re- “ev ing to hope.” A cry of joy burst from Frank’s lips; and he embraced his sister with the warmest effusion of deligb+, “Now tell me,” he said, “everything that has taken place.” ‘Oh, then, dear Frank,” she replied archly, and yet with « softly blushing confusion at the same time, “you will now hate patience to Hsten to everything that I may have to say ?” “Yes,” he answered; “provided that you have nothing of a dimgreeable nature to quanfy the joy- ous intelligence already communicated. “T do not think you will find it 0,” she rejoined. “But first, dear Frank, I will epeak of your own little love-affair. Come, let me take your arm—and we will walk to and fro beneath this grateful shade. I represented to our father frankly and candidly everything which had taken place between yourself and Miss Juliana Farefiold, as you had previously related it all to me——” * You told his lordship P” murmured Frank, half-averting his blashing countenanée. “ Oh, yes!]—did we not agree, when I undertook to become spokeswoman in the matter, that our father was to be dealt with frankly and unre- eorvedly? Well then, my dear brother, I told him all; and at first he looked very grave and very serious, for more reasons than one~-——” “And those reasons?” asked young Paton quickly. “The first, as he explained them to me,” con- tinued Elisabeth, “ was because he could not help thinking that it was a mere transient passion on Juliane’s part ; but yet he admitted that he might be mistaken. is mistaken!” ejaculated Frank “Oh! vshemently: “for I know that she loves me; and were it not an egregious vanity on my part to use such terms, I should say that sho loves me devotedly ly!” “So much the better, Frank—inasmuch as you, my dear brother, are so deeply enamoured of her. That however was one reason which made the Marquis look grave. The second is, because he has mo reason to entertain any good feeling towards Juliana’s mother, Lady Saxondale. On the oon- trary, there are certain cireumstances, which he partly explained to me, and which have not only y you sister them. These circumstances relate to his nephew, Lord Harold—and to Mr. William Doveril, whom Jou bay” Onen seen, and’ who ke coming to dine here “Bat no matter for the clroumstances, my dear sister,” exclaimed Frank impatiently, “so long ss our father has not placed his negative-——” “No, my dear brother—I have already assured. you to the contrary. Now listen to what the Mar quis says. He himself has experienced too bitterly the fatal effects of thwarting the heart’s affections, to entertain the slightest idea of attempting a similar coercion with eithe of his children. No, no—he will not do that———-not for worlds would he adopt a course by which he himself and our dear mother were rendered such cruel sufferers. He would rather strain many a point—rather make much sacrifice of feeling as a parent, than practise such tyranny such cruelty. This therefore does he you shall put Juliana Farefleld’s love to the test: he himself will suggest the means, and sketch fortis the plan to be adopted’; and in three or four days shall you repair into Lincolnshire for the p " “Oh, that condition I cheerfully accept!” ex. claimed Frank ; “and I feel deeply grateful to our father—deeply grateful to you also, my dearest “'No gratitude to me, Frank,” interrupted Bliza- beth. “ Heaven grant that the result of the test, whatecever it may be, shall prove in accordance with your bopes and aspirations! The reason that made me s0 long ere I rejoined you here, was be- cause our father—after he had heard all that I had to say, both on your account and my own—proceeded to the drawing-room to consult our mother. Ahi you may suppose that during the twenty minutes I was left alone in the library, I endured some degree of suspense both for your sake and mine. And yet hope above fear: for the Marquis bad listened to me with so much benevolence—with so much paternal kindness—he had me in such gentle and soothing terms to proceed each time I hesitated ———in short, I saw full well that he would do all in his power to minister unto our happi- ness.’ “And you were not mistaken, Elizabeth P’ ex. claimed Frank. “But in reference to yourself——” “Our father will grant Don Diego Christoval an interview the day after to-morrow,” answered Miss Paton, the rich blood again mantling upon her cheeks; “and I do not think there is any reason te apprehend an unsatisfactory termination to that meeting. To-morrow evening, you know, dear Frank,” continued Elisabeth, ing more seri- ously, “the hands of our father and mother will be united in the holy bond of marriage. ‘ The special license is already procured—the various arrange. ments are made. But these indeed are few, inas- much as the ceremony will take place with the utmost privacy. Perhaps this marriage may be followed shortly by sevcral others —-” * Oh!” cried Frank, in the sanguine enthusiasm of youthful years, “how delightful would it be if Adolphus and Henriatta—yourself and the Count —and, and " “Speak it out, my dear brother,” said Elisabeth, with a smile upon her lips and a blush upon her brought him already in collision with her, but | cheeks: “Juliana and yourself———<if we were all to now threaten to mske a still wider breach between be married on the same day——Well, we shall see.” (COIMUC DOO CS (COL