The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 93: what you’re looking at

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p ' }t upon himself to interfere in your 82 “TI am very much obliged to you, Miss,” said Woodman, as he gathered up the money. *T need scarcely repeat,” murmured Juliana, “what I have already said—that this is in the strictest confidence——” “You know, Miss, that you can rely upon me—— And besides, you promised——” “Yes: that I would provide for you well in some way or another.’ Fear nothing—I shall not forget my pledge—you shall have a good situation found | you. Bat one word more! Where does this Mr. Paton live? and who are his parents?” “He lives, Miss, at a very splendid scat near London——It is called Stamford Manor, being on a bill of that name——” “But his pargnte—who are they?” demanded the young lady, somewhat impatiently. “TI could not exactly discover whether his parents lived there or not: I had so little time to make in- quiries when once I had found Mr. Paton out—for your injunctions were so positive for me to loee no time in returning immediately after I had seen him——”’ ; “Well, bat who lives at the house, then?” de- manded Juliana. “A gentleman by the name of Gunthorpe,” was the response. -“* Gunthorpe P” echoed Juliana. “ No wonder, then, that everything has failed,” she murmured to herself: “for that man seems to be the evil genius of our family!”—then she added aloud, “No—Mr. Gunthorpe cannot be his father. Probably Mr. Paton is on a visit to him. That is sufficient, Woodman: you can retire.” The man accordingly bowed and took his depar- ture from the-room, leaving Juliana to ponder u the information he had brought her. She did not however remain long thus ruminating; but pro- ceeding to the library, advanced straight up to the table where Lady Saxondale was seated—and said, “Mother, have you heard anything lately relative to your friend Mr. Gunthorpe ?”’ “ My friend, Juliana?” at once exclaimed Lady Saxondale, laying down her pen: “ what means this ill.timed jest ?”’ “It is no jest, mother,” responded the daughter. “I merely put a simple question, to which you might, had you chosen, have returned an equally plain answer.” “But why the question at all?” “Simply because I have learnt that Francis Paton is very intimate with Mr. Gunthorpe—that, poa | you ously in her tarn, “ it struck me as being somewnat ominous and suspicious that Mr. Gunthorpe should have as his guest this youth who was once in your service.” “T can see in it nehmg out a coincidence,” ob- served Lady Saxondale: and she took up her pen “ You have not forgotten, mother,” said Jaliana, after a pause, “that this Mr. Gunthorpe came to England recommended as the very intimate friend of the Marquis of Eagledean; and as the Marquis is Lord Harold Staunton’s unele, I did not know whether it were at all possible for Mr. Gunthorpe to take any step in respect to your contemplated “ What step can he take?” inquired Lady Saxon- dale coldly. “ For my part, I am no love-sick girl; and if the marriage were prevented, it would nut break my heart. Bat it cannot be: Lord Harold the Marquis of Eagiedean, who is no doubt still in Italy, cannot have given Mr. Gunthorpe carte blanche to interfere as he chooses with Lord Harold Staunton’s affaire—even if he should have heard of our intended marriage at all.” “Most likely he has,” observed Juliana: “for Francis Paton, who is now staying with him, having been in Lincolnshire a fortnight back——-~” “When nothing was known of this intended marriage of mine,” interjected her ladyship. “Not positively known—bvat more than half suspected,” continued Juliana. “To tell you the truth, for my part I like as little as may be the idea of this meddling Mr. Gunthorpe knowing anything at all about the affairs of our family. I will tell eomething which has struck me as baing singular. You semember that Mr. Gunthorpe and Deveril——”’ ‘“Well, well, Juliana,” said her ladyship, some- what impatiently, “You remember, I say,” continued the daughter, “that they were down here in Lincolnshire abox five or six weeks back——just at the when the marder of those women took pi “Well, well, Juliana,” said Lady.& more impatiently than before: and itde discourse, or else at the turn it was taking. ~_ © And very soon after ” added Mig F¥ field, “ Lady Macdonald and Florina eft us so abruptly — indeed with an abruptness, aiid with a singularity of manner too, that savoured of actual indeed, this youth is at present on a visit to that | rudeness. Do you not think that Mr. Gunthorpe’s gentleman——” “ Gentleman!” said Lady Saxondale, contemptu- ously: “do youcalla vulgar money-grubbing banker a gentleman P”” “No, certainly —I wae wrong. That person, then,” said Juliana. “ But what has it all got to do with us? Kvery- visit with Deveril to Lincolnshire on that occasion, was somehow or another connected with the preci- pitate departure of Florina and her aunt a few days afterwards Pr” *‘ Yea,” observed Lady Saxondale: “it is not the first time that the idea has struck me.” “ And then, too,” continued Julians, “you re- “. “A Pe eee ee eee eee nen EEE 8 a eee: ee thing that regards Francie Paton,” added Lady member that when Edmund wrote to ny, saying Saxondale, maliciously, “is of interest to you—and that his match was broken off, and he knew it was not to me.” ' all through that meddling old scamp Gunthorpe— “Perhaps. And yet metbought you would like those were his very wordsa——” ' to know that Francis is thus intimate with Mr. | “Well, Juliana,” interposed Lady Saxondale, Gunthorpe. Considermg how Mr. Gunthorpe took “there can be no doubt that this Mr. Gunthorpe has affaire—in re- been endeavouring to do me and mine all the mie- svect. you know, mother, to a certain William chief he could: but we must not exalt him inte Deveril,” continued Juliana, now speaking matlici- | such importance as to believe that he is an ogre, or ‘pi Em, COMMUC DOO CS (COL