The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 57: what you’re looking at

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a 44 THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. that love has a future. What is to be the future of our love? I come to you, poor—unhappy— an obscure and unknown youth: my apparel de- notes my condition—you yourself have already pe- shaw’s, would nevertheless be en ample one ;— different, we say, would it have been, if very Juliana had heard all these things from Frank’s lips! Then she would have followed only the dictates netrated it—and you have given me your sym- | of that powerful passion which she believed to be pathy. delicate as they were kind, that if I 27 tw of lowe, dearest, thet I am shout to speak,” he continued. “Ihave said, therefore, enough to | hi convince you of my position. You behold it— you have understood it. But poor as I am in purse, my heart is rich in boundless, illimitable love for you. There are two alternatives between which I have to choose. An opportunity presents itself for me to seek my fortune in a far-off land. That is one alternative. The other is, that if you will bestow your hand on me, you will raise me to. 1] Nay, more—you have assured me, in | love—thes she would at once have clasped that charming youth in her arms, murmuring an en- rh il oF i rE continue her Yor upwards of a minute did she remain motions | leas, half reclining in his arms, with ber head resting upon his shoulder: then she slowly raised her countenance—and assuming her most winning, most seductive look, she said, ‘‘Tasten to me, your own renk in life, and I may have a chance of | Frank.” obtaining a livelihood in my native country. Those are the alternatives, dearest Juliana: my decision depends upon the next words that issue from your lips If the Hon. Miss Farefield did not start—did not even raise her head from the yanth’s shoulder, when he thus undisguisedly, frankly, and even boidly demanded her hand in marriage,—it was because she was seized with a perfect stupor of astonish- ment. But he himself noticed not the effect which his words thus produced upon her, inasmuch as he could not behold her countenance: his cheek rested upon her temple. And she wae astounded! As the render is well aware, she had regarded Frank only as the object of a passion that devoured her—only as the means of assuaging the fires that were con- “ Proceed, dearest,” he responded: for there was “Listen, my dearest boy,” she continued; “and I will tell you what I think, and what I propose after all you have eaid. As for the alternative of your fleecing from your native land to seek your fortune in other climes, it is cruel of you to hint at such a thing; and you must know perfectly well that I could not endure the thought. Then, as to the other alternative, we must look at is calmly and delibe- rately. Of what use would it be, Frank, for us to wed in order to be poor? I have no fortune; and I could neither endure poverty myself, nor behold you suffer it. You know that I love you devotedly— y; and you love mein retarn. We must suming her—only as a being whom she could cherish | make the best of circumstances; and they perlaps as the idol of a secret and illicit amour. But to! are not so unfavuurable as you may apprehend, become his wife—to sacrifice herself to one who had | Now listen, dear Frank—and let me not eve a been a lacquey—to wed the poverty in which he seomed to be steeped—to descend from the pedestal shade gathering upon thet beautiful countenance of your’s: it must always brighten up with smiles to of her patrician rank, and become the object of | beam upon me, as mine shall ever beam emilingly scorn and contempt on the part of all who knew her—to abandon likewise the brilliant prospect of becoming mistress of Hawkshaw Hall, with a hus- band whose generous confidence she felt assured of being able to abuse in all ciroumstances where her own particular pleasures and fancies might be con- cerned,—to consummate, in a word, all these tre- mendous sacrifices -——= no, Julians Farefield was utterly unprepered for each a result! She was ae- tounded therefore at a demand, which, notwith- upon you. Deer Frank, I have received an offer of “Ah !"—and the youth gave a quisk spasmodic start, while the colour which had been slowly fading away from his countenance during the latter por- tion of Juliana’s speech, suddenly vanished altoge- ther. “Why do you start thas? why do you turn pale P” she said, pressing his hand to her bosom, and at the same time looking with impassioned standing the fervid passion she experienced for | earnestness into his countenance. “ Hear me tothe Frank, she could not help regarding as a monstrous audacity on his part. Ah! it would have been very different indeed if he hag revealed to her the whole truth—that he had found a father in the rich Mar- quis of Eagledean—that in due course he was to be publicly acknowleagea as that great nobleman’s end. I have received, as I was eaying, an offer of there is no affection on iny side : for all the love that my heart had to bestow is your’s—and your's only. Well, bat this marriage will give me a social son—and that his sire would give him a position, and will aleo give me wealth; and you, my a fortune, which, if not sa large as Mr. Hawk- dearest Frank, ehall continue to be the real object of COMMUC DOO CS (COL