The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 51: what you’re looking at

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38 embowered the path sought by herself and her admirer—and riper than any luscious fruit that THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. For a moment Miss Farefield’s heart was emittes with remaorse at the idea of the basely treacheruus hung to the garden-trees. Though the morning- | part which she was playing towards a man whe dress that she wore ascended to the throat, thus concealing the grand eonteurs of her bust, yet was the swell of her bosom indicated by the rising and falling of the corsage of that white drapery; and ite heavings could be felt by her companion’s arm as she leant upen it. Her looks — her air—her demeanour — ber brilliant beauty,—everything about her, in fine, was but too well calculated to rivet the chains which she had forged around the heart of George Hawkshaw; and if he had ever hesitated to p himself as her husband,—which assuredly he had not,—he could no longer have possibly hesitated now. *‘ Miss Farefield,” he said, after the of some casual and indifferent observations, “I have made up my mind——I have determined——to— to speak to you this morning on a subject closely regarding my happiness——” “Indeed, Mr. Hawkshaw?” she observed mur- muringly, at the same time affecting the most delicious confusion. “Yes, Miss Farefield-——Juliana-——dear Ju- liana!” he exclaimed, gazing upon her in rapture: “can you not comprehend mef Iam not a man accustomed to make flattering speeches—I am frank-hearted and ingenuous——sueh I believe is my nature——but if you will accept the hand, as you already peesess the love, of one who will make your happiness the study of his life, that individual now kneels at your feet !”’ And suiting the action to the word, George Hawkshaw did fall upon one knee; and taking the lady’s hand, he preseed it to his lips. She mur- mured some words which were half choked by the enthusiastic feelings of triumph and success which agitated in her bosom, and which the unsophisti- cated admirer attribated to a maidenly confusion. E and delighted by those few murmuring words, and by the manner in which they were uttered, he started up from his knee—and gasing with renewed rapture upon her downcast blushing countenance, he said, “Tell me, Juliana—tell me— will you be mine ?” “T will,” she responded, still faintly and tremu- lously; and Hawkshaw, flinging his erms around her, strained her superb form to his breast — at the quickly passed away—her selfishness became parsa- mount once more—and the words to which she gave utterance, were spoken with every appearance of a congenial frankness and candour. “ My dear George, I have loved you from the first moment we met at Mr. Denison’s. Perhaps I may even admit that on former occasions when in Lincolnshire, I did not behold you with indiffer- ence——~" “Oh, Juliana! is this possible? may I flatter myself that it is so?”—and the ing noble- hearted Hawkshaw again spoke with exultant enthusiasm. “It is true, dear George—it is true—most true,” murmured the artful Juliana, appearing to be plunged into the modest confusion of a maiden from whoee lips an avowal of the heart's feelings is elicited by the influence of sincerest love. Mr. Hawkshaw was overjoyed by that assurance, which he firmly believed: for what will not a man believe when he is lip-deep in love, and when the things which he is called upon thus to pus faith in, are so intimately connected with that love of his? He and Juliana continued to walk together for three whole hours, until the bell rang for luncheon. Those were three hours of elysian bliss to the fine- hearted Squire; and they afforded J i op admirer in the language of love, she pictured to herself that it was Frank Paton to whoni ahe was that it was young Paton’s; and she felt a thrill of sen- same time covering her warm glowing cheeks with | suous ecstacy sweep fervid and glowing through her fervid caresses. “You will be mine?” he said in exultant tones: “this is the fulfilment of the dearest hope I ever cherished in my life! O Jultana, you cannot conevive the joy that you have poured into my heart! And let me tell yuu that it is the heart of an honest man —a heart that is your’s, and your's only. Give me arm, dear Juliana—and let us walk here entireform. And whentoo Mr. Hawkshaw pressed ‘his lips to her’s, it was still in imagination young Frank’s mouth that thus grew to her owa; and as 'the boiling blood ran like lightning through her veins, the effect was to impart a more rapturous "fervour to her kisses. which you possess—a heart that never loved before | forth from the belfry over the entrance-tower, sprin- _kled the hot stagnant air with its metallic sounds; At length the summons for luneheon, ringing your together for a little while. I feel that I could and Mr. Hawkshaw led back his intended into the become eloquent to a degree in promising all that I | Castle. After the repast the Squire requested a will do to ensure your happiness ; and I am confident ' private interview with Lady Saxondale—which was that you will reciprocate this strenuous endeavour on my part. We are not mere children, Juliana— we understand our own feelings—and what we promise we know that we shall perform. On my side there is the fullest confidence that I shall be happy with you: tell me, dear Juliana, that you feel an equally strong conviction of being happy with me?” of course immediately acoorded: for her ladyship had received a rapidly whispered hint from Juliana to the effect that she had received an offer of Mr. Hawkehaw's hand. Lady Saxondale led the wry to the library; and there, without much circamio- cution, the Squire informed her of the step he had taken, and requested her assent to the mateh CO IMULUG CYL DOO CS (COL