The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 61: what you’re looking at

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438 a that I am about to narrate; and at all events it will serve for conversation as well as any other topic.” “If you the matter in this point of view,” observed Ha w, “you shall have your own waym@ Now, fill your glass—and let us enjoy our- selves. Iam sorry to seo that your spirite are none of the best: but I must hope to contribute towards cheering them eomewhat. I dare be sworn it is some love-matter: but pray do not for a moment fancy that I seek to make light of it—as I myself muat plead guilty to having recently surrendered up my heart to the keeping of the most beautiful and virtuous of her sex.” Frank heaved a profound sigh : for he could not help envyiog Mr. Hawkshaw the mingled confi- dence, satisfaction, and pride with which he was enabled—or at least thought himeelf enabled—to of the object of his affection. “Yes,” said the youth, “ you have ciscovered the true key to the reading of my unhappiness. I have loved where I ought not to have loved. But permit me to give you some few words of explana- tion. And first of all, start not when I tell you that but very recently I was in & menial capacity, though having been well educated and properly brought up. However, such was the @se. I eas a manial, wearing the badge of servitude—an obscure and humble individual—more than half suspecting that my perentage was good, and yet without any cer- tainty upon the subject. Indeed, I had not the remotest idea who my father might be—though, as I have already hinted, I had some reason to imagine my mother was a lady of rank. Weil, Mr. Hawk- shaw, it was my good fortune—aes I thought at the my misfortune as I now discover it to be—to become the object of what I took to be lowe on the part of a young lady of marvellous beauty. K will not mention her name: I will not even give you the slightest idea of her portraiture. God for- bid that, having loved ber as I have done, I should do her an injury by proclaiming ber secret! Suf- fice it to say that I saw she loved me. I loved her in return. Yes: ardently—fondly—adoringly did I love her! She was to me the object of a worship: her image eat enshrined in my heart like an idol in @ temple. I would have laid down my life for her: there was rio sacrifice possible to make that I wae not prepared to make if called upon, and if such sacrifice on the part of so humblo an individual as I was then, would have benefited her. Methought that she loved me as fondly and as well. Mr. Hawkshaw, inasmuch as I have not as not a syllable will pass my lips to furnish an idee of her identity, should you ever meet her in the world—there can be no harm in confessing that she gave me the utmost proof which woman could give of her attachment.” Francis Paton stopped short : he wished he could have recalled the statement he had just made: he was fearful he had gone too far. It now struck him that Mr. Hawkshaw had casually mentioned, a few hours back, at the time of the accident, that he had just come from Saxondale Castle. He therefore knew Juliana: possibly he might some day learn that he (Francis Paton) had been in Lady Saxon- THR MYGTERIES OF THE COURT. and thence errive at the conclusion that Juliana hor- self was the heroine of the present narrative. Such was the transient fear which shot throagh the youth’s brain. But it was only transient: for on a second thought, he saw that it would be very diffl- cult indeed for Mr. Hawkshaw to imbibe any such suspicion or frame any such conclusien. Frank had been speaking vaguely: he had not said that it was a lady in the same house where he was a menial, who had formed an attachment for him. Buf would it not appear strange that he should this day have been seen in the vicinage of Saxondale Castle ? might not thie circumstance lead Mr. Hawkshaw to suspect something? Again did Frank see the perilous groand on which he had been treading, and the danger there was of seriously compromising Miss Farefield—which he was far too generous- hearted and too magnanimous to do. He therefore at once saw the necessity of deviating somewhat from the truth of his narrative, end making it ap- pear that the lady of whom he was speaking, resided in quite a different neighbourhood from that in which he had first encountered Mr. Hawkshaw. Such was the train of reflections which swept raptdly through the youth’s brain; and though it has required a long space to record them, yet in reality they ocsupied but a few moments. Mr. Hawkshaw, perceiving that he paused and reflected, attributed this to the peculiar mood of bis mind at the instant. “Yes,” continued Frank, “this lady of whom I am speaking, gave me the utmost proof of leve: and ht that it was a real love, the sincerest and the fondest. Then came a whirl of circumstances, hurrying me on to the solution of the strangest destiny. Isuddenly quitted the family where I was in service—I wes separated from the object of my adoration—the mystery of my pareatege was clearad up—I found that my preconceived suspicions were correct — my mother was a lady of quality—and more than this, I discovered that my father was a man of exalted rank. My fortunes changed all in 8 moment. After years of seperation, a ee oom mother were brought together again. ere now mar- ried. You understand, Mr. Hawkshaw, from what I heave told you—that I was not born in wedlock: nevertheless, I was the offepring of the tenderest and most faithful love. My parents are immensely rich: my father will give me a fortune whensoever Tam to settle in life. A few days back he learnt-the history of my love for this ledy of whom I am speaking. How did he act ?—mnot sternly and implacably, as many fathers would—but generously, kindly, and cousiderately. He said, ‘Go to where the object of your affection is at present to be found ; appear before her in the mesnest ead poorestcostume; suffer her to think that you are steeped to the lips in poverty; tell her « tale of hopeless prospects in this country, and of offers to amend your fortunes in & ni iy if wot tee pdr aap bpealier If her love be sincere, she will make every sacrifice rather than renounce you: if it be a mere gross passion, selfish and egotistical, she will refuse. By these means, my son, you will put her to the test. If she come out worthily from the ordeal, I will settle upon you two thousand a year: buat if it prove otherwise, you will be rojowed to think that you dale’s service—and should this fact come to his have escaped from your infatuation in respoct to dnowledge, he might put two and two together, | one so utterly undeserving of your regard.’—Thus (GO) iC 5 DOO CS (COL