The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 32: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 19 the remainder of that day she stayed m her boudoir, | splendour, elegance, and grace, blended with a» sending a message by one of her maids to her hus- | touching interest as well as with a becoming dig- band, to the effect that she begged his kind consi- | nity, rendered her a being of whom any husband deration and wished to be alone. The Duke na- | might be proud. And the Duke of Marchmont turally fancied—as indeed was but too terribly the | was proud of his Eliza: he had seen her as much case—that his wife had found in the contents of | admired in Italy as she had been in England; and the desk something to make her thus court soli- tude; and he obtruded not his preasnce upon her. he now hoped that as England was reached again, ahe would mingle in the society which her rank | But on the following morning, when she descended | and loveliness qualified her to adorn, and where to the breakfast-parlour, she expressed her grati- tude for all his goodness towards her; snd when be saw how pale she was, he thought to himself that the documents she had found in the desk, must have revived all her bitterest affliction at her father’s loss. He however delicately and carefully abstained from breathing a word in allusion to the subject— much less to inquire what the contents of those papers might have been. From that day forth the sadness deepened upon Eliza's counte- nance—but also blended with a sweeter and holier resignation: her tones acquired that soft plain- tiveness of harmony which characterises the voice that is accustomed to keep down an ebullition of feeling : her cheeks remained pale—but not with a sickly whiteness: it was the perfect transparency of the complexion which loses not its animation when the tint of the rose dies away. We should observe that Lord Clandon had left Oaklands almost immediately after Captain Lacey’s funeral—as did also Mrs. Bailey: the other guests who had been invited to stay there, had for deli- cacy’s sake taken their leave on the very morning ‘after the demise of the Duchess’s father. The Duke of Marchmont,—thinking that change of scene would contribute to the restoration of his wife’s spirits, and that a southern clime during the approaching winter would benefit her health, —proposed a visit to Italy. Eliza, ever amiably ready to yield to her busband’s wishes im all things, gave her assent in that calmly serene manner, tinged with sadness, which bow be- come habitual to her:—and to Italy they accord- ingly went. The winter passed: spring reviaited the earth, clothing the trees with a tender verdure, and covering the boughs with blossoms. Summer followed, to expand that verdure into a more brilliant green, and ta prepare the boughs for the rich fruitage of autumn. It was in the beginning of September, 1820—exactly one year from the death of Captain Lacey —that the Duke and Duchess of Marchmont returned to Oaklands. The Duke had some reason to flatter himself that his hopes, when they set out upon their travels, bad not been altogether unfulfilled. It was not that the colour come back to Eliza’s cheeks —that appeared to have gone for ever: but as, there was naught of insipid deadness in the purity of her complexion, her beauty was not marred— only rendered the more interesting. she would shine as s star of matchless and sweet- ‘est beauty. The Duke of Marchmont’s ments vere | that they should remain at O throughout | the autumn, until the Christmas season,—when they would remove to the town-mansion. His Grace was accustomed to submit to his wife's approva] whatsoever he projected : for to her only was he neither proud nor autocratio;—end she on her side invariably gave her sweetly and softly expressed assent to all his propoasls. the Duke suggested that they should entertain « select circle of friends. Accordingly invitations were sent to Mrs. Bailey, to the Lomax family, and to half-a-dozen other members, male and femala, of the fashionable world. They came in due course; and though Eliza received them with her wonted affability, and did the honours of the mansion with a becoming grace experienced no real relief in their society from any of the aorrows that lay deep in the immortal caverns of ber Lord Clandon was at his shooting-box in a midland county, when the Duke and Duchess re- turned to England. On learning their arrival, he lost no time in writing a dutiful and affectionate letter to his uncle, expressing a hope that the amiable Duchess had recovered so far as could be from the shock of her father’s death. The Duke, flattered and gratified by thts fresh testimonial of Hugh’s complete and generous de- ference to the head of the family, responded in cordial terms, and invited him to pay a visit to Oaklands. Lord Clandon was unmarried; and the Duke jocosely hinted in his letter that it was igh time Hugh should think of taking unto him- a partner for life—and that probably amongst the lady-gueste assembled at Oaklands, he might find one who in personal and pecuniary points of view would prove an eligible watch. The peon- niary point of view was perhaps the more im- portant for Lord Clandon’s consideratian, inasmuch as he was far from rich: his income amounted te a bare two thousand a-year—little enaugh to aup- port his position as a Peer—and a mere trifle indeed for one whose habits were expensive and extravagant. The Duke well knew that his There are some forms which remain uninfluenced nephew was thus straitened in his means; and — by the sorrow which lies deep in the heart: it is|in the same letter which conveyed the invitation ever 6o when that sorrow exists always the same, | to Oaklands, he enclosed s cheque upon his banker —bresking not forth in sudden and violent ebul- | for a handsome amount. Jord Clandon hastened litions, to be succeeded by periods of exhaustion. to acknowledge the epistle and its enclosure,— These cause the wear and tear of the frame: but. expressing & fervid gratitude for his unole’s con- it is the former state which shows itself but little | siderate kindness, and promising to be at Oaklands outwardly ;—and so it was with the Duchess of at the expiration of a week. Marchmont. Her figure retained all its rounded | The same post which brought this letter from contours, its rich proportions, its flowing outlines: ' Hugh, brought one from another quarter—hkewise (COL (C DOO CS (COL