The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTRAIRS OF THE COURT. 8D will be no harm; for whatever she may say, will mot alter the decision to which on my part I have come.” “I know not in what terms I ought to addres you. You fied precipitately from Lincolnshire, notwithstand- ing the appointment I gave you; end you have not xplanation. This dered to be a fest; and if [ had agreed at once to wed you, you would have joyously assented. What then ie my fault P That having no fortane of my own, I could not bring my mind to take a step that should drag you down into the depths of poverty ; and that in the ardour —or I may call it in the /rensy of my love—I suggested o ecurse which though unjustifiable upon s morel ground, wae nevertheless the alternative to which hope alone could fiy. And it is for this I am abendoned | for this thet I am discarded! The immensity of my affection is made a source of woe, and sorrow, and bitterness to my- eolf | “ But there is another subject to which I mast direet your etteation. Did I follow my mother’s erample in scurning you on sccount of your sister's crimiuality P Ne: far from it. When I discovered the ground apon which Ledy Sexondale sent you ferth from the mansion in Park Lane, 1 apbraided her bitterly for her conduct ; and when you appeared before me the other day in the e, I received you with open arms—I thoeght not the worse of you on your sister’a account. In this therefore, as in all other respects, Frank, have I given you signa) proofs of my fervid and devoted love. Canact you therefore, forget and forgive one little error oa my pert P can you not attribute to the strength of my attachment that proposition which appears to have shocked you so much, but which was made in the mo- ment of my heart’s profound despair ? “And now, Frank, after having thus appealed to you for the last time, I require your decision. Is everything to be st an end between us P or shall the past, in so far eo I have offended, be forgotten and forgiven? Your prompt reply ie necessary. Delay not: or, if after a listle while you shoald repent your decision and wish to seek me again, it will be too late ! “One word more, Frank. I have no doubt you are acting under the guidance of your newly-found perents, whoever they may be: but parents are not always the best eonnsellore—or at least their advice is not always compatible with the promptings of their children’s hearts. Think you that my mother, for instance, would have looked kindly apon my love for you at the time that #t commenced F Would she even now—(no matter how altered your circumstances may be)—after what you hase bee, and considering what she knows of your sister And ye I have been ali along prepared to sacrifice every- thing to my love for you. Osan you sacrifice nothing for me? Goto your perentsa—throw yourself at their feet— tell them that your happiness ie bound up in me—aad Sg a a SE TS I TE I a I SS aS Ta OT I ED kind hearted, or they would not even have conssated thet you should put me to the test for whieh purpose you came into Lincolnshire. At all events send me your prompt decision—whether everything is at an end between us, or not? The bearer of this missive is trust- worthy ; end upon receiving your answer, be will set off on his return into Lincolnshire. Frank, I conjure you not to achieve the unbeppinese of one who loves you tenderly and well ! To say that Frank Paton was not moved by this epistie would be to speak incorrectly. He was at first much moved; aud he even thought within himself that his conduct had been too harsh and severe—his judgment relative to Juliana too stern and implacable. He could not help feeling that there was much trath in many passages of her letter; and when he had finished it, he remained standing on the spot to which he had aside—refiecting profoundly. But gradually the conviction that this was only a well studied piece of sophistry—the craftily worded appeal of a designing woman—stole nto his mind: and thes too, as gradually and as slowly, arose up before him the image of Angela Deveril, like a good genius with outstretched hand to draw him awsy from the brink of destruction. His resolve was taken; and rending the letter into the minutest fragments, he tossed them away. “ What answer am I to bear beck, sir?’ in- quired Woodman, now accosting the vouth. “ Doubt- less you purpose to write your reply—and I will remain here until you bring it to me.” “No,” returned Frank: “it is unnecessary. Tell Mies Farefield that I abide by the result of the test —and she will understand you. More I need not With these words Francis Paton turned abruptly round--hurried up the lane—and was speedily lost to the view of the emissary from Lincolnshire. But as the youth retraced his way towards the Manor, one circumstance almost more than any other engrossed his thoughts and filled him with perplexity and bewilderment. That letter which he had written at Mr. Denison’s, and under this gentleman’s dictation—had not Juliana received it ? He could scarcely think so: for it was worded in a strain so cutting—so bumiliating—that it was im- possible to suppose that after the perusal of it she could ever again have regarded him with any other feeling than that of a vindictive haté. In her letter there was not the slightest allusion to that one which he had Indeed, the very opening lines of Juliana’s epistle reproached him for not writing to her; and indicated an uncertainty on her part as to the resolve to which he might have come when leaving Lincolnshire. No: it was evident enough that Juliana had not received the letter which he had written at Mr. Denison’s dictation. Bat wherefore had she not received it? Had Mr Denison himself, on second thoughts, suppressed 1t P or had it been sent and miscarried ? Frank was bewildered: he knew not what to think ;—and m this mood he walked on towards the mansion. Near the principal entrance he encountered the Marquis of Eagledean; and feeling that his cour tenance would betray that something had occurred, even if he himself should hesitate to reveal it,-< they will yet consent to our marriage. They mast be | feeling likewise that he ought not to keep anything CY CO IMULUG DOO CS (COL