The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 293: what you’re looking at

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284 mantled through the duskiness of her complexion : but instantaneously composing herself, she placed her finger to her lips of vivid vermilion, to enjoin silence. Then beckoning Christina to enter the boudoir, she gently closed the door. “What made you seek me, Miss Ashton ?” asked the ayab, in a voice which though perfectly respectful, nevertheless displayed a firm resolution to have her query satisfied: then, suddenly recol- lecting something, she hastened to close the volume, as if to prevent Christina from seeing what particular pert of the huge file she had been reading. “I heard footsteps descending the stairs,” an- awered Christina: “they did not re-ascend—I was alarmed—I wont up to your room—not finding you there, I thought you were ill—and with this | posal. apprehension I came to see if I could be of any service to you.” While the maiden was thus speaking, "5 luminous dark eyes were riveted upon her, as if to read into the very depths of her soul, and thus glean whether she were truly explaining her mo- tives. But it was impossible to doubt Christina’s sincerity : her looks were artlessness iteelf;—and Sagoonah was satisfied. “You must do me s favour, Miss Ashton,” she said; “and that is, so¢ to mention to the Princess that you found me reading one of these great books. Her Highness would be very angry with me; and I am sure you would not wish to draw down her displeasure upon my head.” ‘‘ I certafhly should be sorry to do anything of the kind,” answered the maiden: “bat I think you must be in error to suppose that your good- hearted mistress would be offended———” “ She would !” Sagoonah emphatically responded, as she thus interrupted our heroine. “Then if you are conscious of an indiscretion,” eaid Christina, in a tone of gentle remonstranos, “ wherefore did you commit it P” “Do not ask me, Miss Ashton!” rejoined the Hindoo woman: and again there was a sinister flashing in her burning, haunting eyes. “ Promise me the favour which I have requested—and you know not with what deep gratitude I shall regard you !” “Rest assured, Sagoonah,” replied our heroine, “YT shall not travel out of my way to do you an injury. But my pledge is given with the under- standing that you do not repeat that which, according to your own words, you know to be an indiscretion.” “TI will not repeat it,” answered Sagoonah; “and I thank you, Miss Ashton, for your kind- ness. They then issued together from the boudoir; aod cautiously ascending the stairs, ted to their respective chambers. But Christina could not help thinking it strange that the Princess Indora was likely to be offended if it came to her knowledge that her Hindoo attendant made use of her pragrees in her English studies to peep into those files of the Times. On the following morning Christina received a note from Zoe, requesting her if possible to call upon her in the course of that day. It was most affectionately worded—but made not the slightest allusion to Lord Octavian. I¢ informed Christina that the health of the writer continued TR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. to be very bad, and that the physician had ordered her to go abroad for change of air. “If Zoe be really acquainted with her husband’s unfortunate love for me,” said our heroine to her- self, “I can scarcely think that she would invite me to the house, unless perfectly confident that Lord Octavian will not be present. Therefore I will go |” In order to do Christina full justica, we must observe that if she had for a moment fancied she would meet Lord Octavian at the house in the Regent's Park, she would not have gone: she would have even preferred the alternative of ap- pearing ungratefal and unkind to Zoe. She showed the letter to the Princess,-who at once gave her assent, and placed the carriage at Christina's dis- alone in the drawing-room ; and the amiable girl was shocked by her friend’s appearance. Pale, ill, and id as she was on the former occasion,— she looked infinitely more sickly now. She was reclining upon a sofa; and it was with a visible effort she raised herself up to a sitting posture to greet our heroine. “My dear Zoe, you are indeed very ill!” said Christina, the tears starting from her eyes as she embraced her friend. “Yes: I suffer much-——from indisposition,” responded Zoe, in the mild voice of completest re- signation; “and as I told you in my letter, I am going abroad. Those whose assent it was neces- sary to obtain, have given it; and I shall depart with as little delay as possible.” Zoe evidently alluded to her father and her husband: but Christina was strack by the manner in which she thus spoke of them,—as if she stadi- ously yet delicately avoided the mention of Lord Octavian’s name. “TI think I shall go to the South of France or to Italy,” continued Zoe; “and perhaps a more genial climate may restore me——or perhaps,” she added, with a mild sadness, “I may find a tomb beneath the sunny sky of the South !” “Good heaven, Zoe! talk not thus despond- ingly *” exclaimed Christina, the tears now gush- ing forth from her eyes. “ You will recover—reet assured that you will recover! It is all the effect of that accident——-But now you are weeping !” “ And are not you weeping, my sweet friend ?” asked Zoe, smiling with a soft sadness through her tears. “Come—let us endeavour to cheer each other. Ido not think that I shall see you again before I leave d; and it was to bid you farewell that I asked you to visit me to-day. I am rejoiced you have come——~I have a little token of my regard for you—;—Remain here while I go and fetch it.” With these words, Lady Octavian Meredith rose from the sofa, and slowly quitted the room,—her every movement indicating lengour end lastade of the frame. Christina was deeply affected by Zoe's appearance; and she had indeed a misgiving lest her health had received a shock which it would never recover. She had remained barely « couple of minutes alone, when the door opened—and Lord Octavian Meredith made his appesrance, There was harry, and troubie, and wildness in his whole manner; and hastily sccosting our heroine, he abruptly exclaimed, “Christina, I am half mad | That angel-wife of mine has no doubt penetrated (COIMUC DOO CS (COL