The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 59: what you’re looking at

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

6 | Tae Myereeiss ‘seen the mask so completely tern away from the; countenance of her whom he had so fondly loved— to be compelled to look upon her henceforth as a snake wearmg a beautiful skin—to have the con- viotion so rudely forced upon him that she was a lamp of moral rottenness—corruption throughout from head to foot—etesped to the very lips in de- pravity——Oh, all this wes suflident to make him mistrust the whole world in futare—elmost sufficient to induce him to eseape from it as from a morass Ah ! these were etern and severe truthe indeed for Francis Patun to admit into his soal: but never- theless they ewere truths, and not to be But the longer he sat meditating on that verdant bank where he had thrown himeelf, the more did he see reason to appreciate the wisdom and the fore- sight of his father, the Marquis of Eagiedean, who had eo earnestly conjured him to put Juliana Fare- field to the severest test. Ah! and he, in his in- fervid and enthusiastic trustfulness, would at one moment have abjured that test as an insult to her love—-an outrage to the evidences of affection which she was lavishing upon him. Love! it was a mockery !——no: it was the baseness of a depraved passion. Evidences of affection!—no: they were the blandishments and the allarements in which the feelings of the profligate woman expressed them- selves. Francis Paton remained for more than half-an- hour seated upon that bank, giving way to his Teflcctions. Suddenly, he looked at his wateh, the chain of whieh he had been hitherto careful not te display, as the appearance of jewellery would but have ill-assorted with the studied penury of his garb. He looked at his wateh, we say—and he found that it was six o'clock. The evening was de- licious: but he had no power to appreciate the beauties of natare in the present condition of his naind. It was true that he had grown calmer through that half-hoar’s reflection; but still he was very far from being completely tranquillised. He was unhappy—restless—uneasy. taking, nor caring whither he went. On, on he walked at a quick pace: for the excitement of his mind was still sufficiently strong to make him pro- ceed thas hurriedly: but it never onee occurred to him to cast a glance around and assure himself whether he were towards Gainsborough or not. In this strange condition of mind, the youth continued his way through the fields. An- ether hour had passed: again he looked at his watch -—it was seven o'clock. Yet, it was only in a sort of mechanical manner that he thus thought of the time, when he did not think of the path that he was pursuing: but presently the thought suddenly flashed across his memory, that he was thus wandering aimlessly and without purpose. He now stopped short and looked all around. Saxondale Castle was no longer to be s nor wes he near any town that might be Gai He was in the wide epen country, with here and there a fow isolated cottages dotting the beautiful landscape. He began to compute that he must have walked some six or seven miles since parting from Juliana. He felt weary and faint, alike from fatigue and want of : E ; hope bright and ide expanse eight borough, cottage. thirsty y THB MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. food: but he had no appetite—he craved meal, Wrank asked for a cup of milk: it was im- mediately supplied him; and not choosing to rema- nerate the woman in a direct manner for her hos- pitality, he put some silver into the eldest child's hand, bidding him “ purchase a toy with it the next time iis father took bim to " He then inquired how far he was from that town ?—he was told eight miles. How far was he from Saxon- dale Castle? for he wished to ascertain what dis- he was told seven miles. Oould he obtain any con- veyance in the neighbourhood totake him to Gains- for he had lost his way and was much wearied? But at the very moment that he had put this last questien-—and before it was answered— a gentleman on horseback rode up to the front of the “Here's the Squire’” exclaimed the peasant, rushing out to see what Mr. Hawkshaw wanted. It was a glass of ale or cider, whichever might happen to be im the place: for Mr. Hawkshaw was . Frank's first impulse was to stand ase from the vicinage ef the open doar, eo as to avoid being seen by the Squire: for he did not wish to undergo the process of another interrogatory at that gentleman’s hands—nor to have the pain of de- clining a renewed invitation which might posny be pus in respect to a visit to the Hall. But Mr. Hawkshaw bad caught sight of him; and in « hurried whisper he asked the peasant whether a outh of eueh-and-such a description was not in the cottage? On recsiving a reply in the aflirma- tive, together with an sccount of the varius in- quiries Frank bad been making, the good-hearted Se (COL (C DOO CS (COL