The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 276: what you’re looking at

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THE MYETERINS OF THY COURT. 267 Isabella: but he hesitated,—fearful that he might be taking too great a liberty and trusting too far to the favourable feeling of the Karl's son. But now, when Lord Osmond entered his little sitting- room, Christian’s countenance saddenly lighted up with mingled hope and joy. “Still in the same place? and still without em- ployment, my young fiend P” said Adolphus, shak- ing Christian warmly by the hand. “JT cannot teer myself away from this neigh- bourbood,” repfied the youth, his cheeks glowing with blushes: “and now the truth is frankly told '” “You entertain some hope P* said Lord Osmond. “Perhaps you wish to see Isabella——But of course you do !—it is natural enough !” “Oh, for one parting interview!” exclaimed Christian enthusiastically; “and you know not, my lord, how deep would be my gratitude !” _“ Well, we must manage it by pame means or ahother,” responded Adolphus. 7. Have you the courage to enter the grounds stealthily this evening, or to-morrow evening, on receipt of a note or mes- sage from me ?” | Christian hesitated for a moment : the natural rec- titade of his principles recoiled from the idea of thus olating the sanctity of ises whence he been s0 Sci dismissod. But a fecond thought told him that was no more harm in enter- ing the Earl’s grounds against his consent, than in seeking an interview with his niece likewise in opposition to his will. Love therefore triumphed over‘all scruples; and he exclaimed, “ Tell me how I can see Vincent—if only for a few minutes —and i will risk everything. But think you, my lord, that she herself will be agreeable——” “She loves you, Christian—and that assurance ought to be a sufficient anawer. Hold yourself in readiness for a communication from me; and trust to my ingenuity to manage the matter. And now one word more ere I take my de - You must Jook upon me as & , and regard me as such—even to the extent of making me your ‘banker: for that is the proposal I have to offer without offending your delicacy.” Christian expressed his warmest gratitude for the y nobleman’s kind consideration—but assured him that he possessed ample resources for the present. Adolphus then took ; leaving the youth full of hope and joy at the pro- spect of po apeedily obtaining the object of his en- thusiastic wishes. In the evening the Karl and Countess of Las- celles, Osmond, and Isabella were seated in the drawing-room between eight and nine o’clock par- taking of coffee. Ipabella was sad and dispirited, though she did her best to conceal what she felt: she was go afraid of angering her uncle. The Countess displayed the most amiable demeanour towards her husband, and was completely on her uard not to exchange so much as the most rapidly urtive glance with Adolphus. Jord Osmond chatted with every appearance of ease and gaiecty; eng as the Earl had Srank a few extra glasses of wine, he was in q much better humour than he had been since the adyenture of the summer-house. * Ah! now that [I think of it, my doar father,” gaid Lord Osmond, thus abruptly giving a turn to the previous conversation, “ when are your me- mnoirs to appear P” “Why, the fact is, Adolphus,” answered the Earl, “I have come well to a full stop for the present: and without any di ble allusion” — and he glanced somewhat spitefully at his nieco— “I have lost my right hand, as it were. Dicta- tion was easy enough: but when I sit down to write for myself, I find my ideas rushing on —like what shall I say ?——like a troop of wild elephants: bué my penmanship ‘can no more keep with them than—than—hem !—a lame don- key at a short trot.” “It is a great pity, my dear father,” rejoined 1 Adolphus, in an under-tone, so that Isabella could not overhear him, “that you havo got rid of that very useful young man merely on account of # pass- ing folly 7 “ Don’t mention it, Adolphus!” interrupted the Karl sharply : “he shall never enter my house “Oh, no—of course not!’ responded Lord Osmond, finding that the htfle feeler he had thrown out experienced such a rebrff. “But really it is cruel of you to keep the public on the tenter-hooks of suspense awaiting that work of yours, which has already been so extensively ad- vertised. ‘You must permit me to look out for another secretary——-or else,’ added Lord Os- mond, in the hope of putting his father into the most amiable of humours, must act as your amanuensis for an hour or two every day.” “No!—would you, Adolphus?” exclaimed the old Earl, catching eagerly at the propusitjon. — “With the utmost pleasure,” was Lord Osmond’s ready response. “We will commence to-morrow morning, if you will.” “That we will!” exclaimed the Earl, forgetting everything else in his joy at the sort of compliment conveyed by his son’s supposed anxiety in respect to the forthcoming work. “TI will go this minute to the library, and sit down for an hour or two to rack my imagination and invent——I mean ar. range the papers in readiness for to-morrow.” “Pray do!” said Lord Osmond: “for I am now all ess.to begin. And perhaps, ag it is so sultry in-doors and the evening is so beautiful, the would accept my escort for a ramble in the garden P” The Karl made a passing grimace at the propo- sition—for he retrospected not lovingly upon those evening rambles: but as the thought flashed to his mind that his nieco must remain the whole time in companionship with Adolphus and Ethel, he uttered not a syllable of objection, and hastened away to the library,—intent upon the concoction of some startling incident for the morrow’s lucu- brations. The Countess and Isabella rang for their shawls; and Lord Osmond, hurrying down stairs for a moment, sought Makepeace, to whom he made a significant sign, which that individual at once comprehended. The young nobleman then rejoined his mother-in-law and cousin; and they walked forth into the garden together. As this was the first occasion since the dis- astrous incident of the summer-house that an evening ramble had been taken, or that the system of guarded conduct had been in the slightest degree deviated from, the Countess could not help thinking thaf Adolphus had some particular pro- ject in view: for he had found no opportunity during the day to communicate his intention to (COL (C DOO CS (COL