The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 16: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 8 tion; and as she grew up in lovelinees and in virtue, she rewarded him for his care with the most devoted affection. Sensible of the numerous sacrifices which her father had made on her ac- count, she felt that no degree of tenderness could be tog great wherewith to recompense such a parent. His will, therefore, was her law; and if he had demanded any sacrifice at her bands, even that of her life, she would have made it resign- edly nay, more—cheerfully. And exquisitely beautiful was Eliza Lacey. A year younger than Bertram Vivian,—that is to say, with eighteen summers upon her head at the time their acquaintance was formed,—youth and health lent all their charms to her face and figure. A cloud of raven tresses fell around her oval countenance : her complexion was matchless in its transparent purity,—pale on the lofty expansive brow—daz- zlingly fair on the softly rounded shoulders, the arching neck, and the Hebe-modelled bust—but with the rich carnation tint upon the cheeks, and with a still more vivid and a riper crimson on the lips. The delicately pencilled raven brows arched nobly above eyes that were large and dark, and which though so bright, had an ineffable sweetness of expression. Her features were outlined with a perfect regularity; and her teeth were as white as pearls. A little above the medium stature of woman, her figure, just in all its proportions, had a certain graceful and flowing roundness in the contours and in the limbs, which added to its marvellous symmetry. All her movements, even to the slightest gesture, were characterized by an unstudied elegance; and thus, in every respect, was she the rarest model of feminine beauty. Her disposition was amiable and good—naturally trust- ful and confiding: incapable of guile herself, she suspected it not in others. Scandal and malice, jealousy and envy, were known to her only by name,—beyond which she had no experience of them. Her manners and her conversation were roodelled by her character — frank, artless, and fascinating. Yet though so utterly unacquainted with the darker sides of humanity and the treacheries of the world, she was not on this ac- count to be regarded as an easy victim for seduc- tive perfidy: her very innocence was in itself a defence. The intuitive sense of her sex’s dignity and of virginal propriety, would in a moment have led her to resent the slightest word that shocked, or the first look that threatened her with insult. Such was Eliza Lacey. She dwelt with her father in a small but comfortable house on the outekirt of the University City,—their only attend- ant being an elderly female who was in Captain Lacey’s service at the time of his marriage, and who had therefore known his charming and inter- esting daughter from the moment of her birth. Captain Lacey, on leaving the Army and settling down into married life, had fixed his abode at Ox- ford,—not exactly through choice, but from the fact that the death of a relative had bequeathed him a email property consisting of three houses. In one of these he lived: the other two were let— and the moderate rentals derived thorefrom, added to his own half-pay, constituted his entire income. This was small enough: but still, by dint of the strictest frugality, the little family was enabled to maintain a respectable appearanee and avoid debt. The possession of the houses likewise relieved Cap- ==. eee ap tain Lacey’s wind from the bitter anxiety which he would otherwise have felt at the thought of death snatching him away from the world ere his daughter should be comfortably settled in it: for though his half-pay would die with him, yet the rents of the little property would produce a suffi- ciency for the subsistence of her who would be left behind him. Thus, though well aware that the City of Oxford was by no means the most suitable place for a beautiful girl, as Eliza was, to reside in,—Captain Lacey was in a certain measure chained to the spot; and moreover, he trusted to his daughter’s admirable principles as a sufficient safeguard against whatsoever temptation might be thrown in her way. He had however been careful in avoiding the acquaintance of any of the young collegians ; and though several attempts were made on their part to obtain an introduction to Captain Lacey and his daughter, they had all proved in- effectual. It is needless to particularize the details of the accident which threw Bertram Vivian in their way. Suffice it to say that on one occasion he was fortunate enough in being close at band when a half-tipsy undergraduate, meeting the young lady in the strect, offered her an insult: and he atruck the fellow to the ground. To escort Miss Lacey to her home, became a courteous necessity on his part, and which she could not without rudeness decline: to be invited to walk in and receive tbo thanks of her father, was an equally natural sequence. During this brief interview, Captain Lacey was so favourably impressed with his daughter's deliverer, that when the laticr soli- cited permission to call and pay his respects again, utter churlishness could have alone refused - it. He did call; and he became enamoured of Eliza Lacey. The tone of his conversation, his agreeable manners, the delicacy of his conduct, and the un- studied evidences of a fine intellect which developed themselves,—all contributed to confirm Cuptain Lacey’s favourable opinion on the one hand, and to make their impression upon Eliza’s heart un the other. The Captain, without setting himself stu- diously and deliberately to work to inquire into the young man’s prospects, thought it, when he happened to learn that Bertram belonged to a noble family, quite sufficient to prove that these prospects must be good; and though hitherto he had entertained a very indifferent opinion—bore dering indeed almost upon aversion—for the Ox- ford Collegians, he was now inclined to fancy that Bertram Vivian constituted at least oxe very favourable exception. Bertram called as often as he dared, consistently with delicacy, when this acquaintance first com- menced: his visits however soon became more frequent; and from the very fact that he found pleasure in taking a quiet cup of tea and passing his evenings in that humble parlour, the Captain argued everything in favour of the young man’s steadiness. Thus was it that as weeks grew into months, and Bertram’s attentions became more and more marked towards Eliza, the father in- wardly rejoiced on beholding the evidences of a mutual attachment on the part of tho young couple: for he felt that his gray hairs would go down with additional resignation, and even with contentment, to the grave, if previous to his death he had the happiness of seeing his beloved daugh- (COL (C DOO CS (COL