The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 382: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIFS OF THR OCOFRT. 475 now so different from those which a few minutes back she hed experienced. Mre. Oxenden re- turned to the balcony—and said, “ You are di- verted, Laura ?” “ Yes!” replied the young lady, scarcely able to repress a guall of emotions: “ more—much more than I could possibly have anticipated |” “T am glad of it,” ssid Mrs. Oxenden: “we will have these men again to-morrow.” Laura was abont to give expression to a joyous affirmative, when she was struck by the impru- dence of displaying too much interest in these proceedinge—and she accordingly held her peace. Her unprineipied sister sumaioned one of the itine- rants towards the baloony; and this individual hap- pened to be the bearer of the letter—-as indeed he was.also the leader of the troop. “Do you purpose, my good man,” inquired Mrs. Oxenden “to remain in this neighbourhood for « day or two ?” “Well, ma’am,” replied the fellow, with the ready-witted impudence which, harmless enough, characterises his class,—‘‘ we had a particular, en- gagoment to be at Canterbury to-morrow, to per- form in the presence of the Archbishop, his clergy, and all the surrounding nobility and gentry : but if it is your pleasure, ma’am, that we shall attend here again, I'm sure we would put off all the Arch- bishope in the world rather than disappoint you and the young lady.” “In that case,” rejoined Mrs. Oxenden, smiling, “you must come hither again to-morrow at the same hour—and here is your retaining fee.” Another silver coin found ite way to the hand of the mountebank ; and he shortly afterwards de- parted with his comrades—of coureg including Baron Raggidbak. On their return into the town, the mountebank at once put off ha professional eostame-—dressed himeelf in his plain clothes—and to the Royal Hotel, where Edgar Beverley and Obristian were anxiously awaiting his arrival. Hoe communicated to them the result of his mission—and gladdened them still more by the intelligence that circumstances were eo far favouring their views that his mountebank troop had actually been engaged to return to perform in fromt of Verner House on the morrow. The heart of Edgar Beverley was now clate with hope; and fervid indeed were his expressions of gratitude for the counsel and assistance afforded him by our young hero. The mountebank was liberally re- warded ; and he took hie departure, promising to fulfil his engagement on the morrow. Lieutenant Beverley was careful to keep in-doors ¢ bout that day, for fear lest the old Baronet or Mrs. Oxenden might happen to pay a visit to Ramagate and encounter him in the streets if he were im- prudent enough to leave the hotel. Christian kept him company for the greater portion of the day— merely issuing out to take a walk for an hour or two: but during his ramble he saw nothing of either Sir John Steward or Mrs. Oxenden. The two young gentlemen dined together in the even ing ; and the result of the morrow’s proceedings was awaited with some degree of suspense—in which however hope was predominant, . - EEE —=e = e - = CHAPTER LX}. MES. OXENDEN. Ir was evening: and Laura bad just retired to her own chamber, at about half-past nine o'clock, under the plea of a severe headache. Her real motive was however to find an opportunity for penning an answer to Edgar Bevorley's note; and it was only by thus withdrawing at a somewhat early hour that she could hope to find such an oo- casion—for her chamber was an inner one opening from that oooupied by her sister, who thus took care to act as the guardian by night of the young maiden, so es to prevent the possibility of escape. Laura had read ber lover’s billet: it had Glled her with hope, and joy, and gratitude; and though she had done her best to wear the same demeanour as before, yet she had not been altogether able to prevent herself from appearing to be in better spirite. On retiring to her room, she speefily dismissed the maid who came to attend upon her night- toilet; and she was about to sit down to pene hasty reply to Edgar's mote, when she heard the outer door open; and she had only just time to recover from her confusion and trepidation, when Mre. Oxenden made her appearance. We ought perhaps to observe that Leura was entirely ignorant—end that the purity of her mind pre- vented her from suspecting—that her sister's an- tecedents were not the most correct in the worid, and that she had been the kept mistress of several wealthy persons, amongst whom was Sir Juhn Steward. & Mrs. Ozenden, on entering her chamber, om- braced her sister with every appearance of the most affectionate cordiality ; and in a tune which seemed fraught with a corresponding sincerity, she said, “ Dearest Laura, you know not how happy I am @o perceive that you are beginning to cheer up—or at all events that you are not quite so depressed as you have hitherto been. You may think, Laura, that I have played a hard part towards you: but I was merely doiag my duty as a sister who is so much older than your- eclf that you stand in the light of a daughter to- wards me.” Laura made no answer: she could scarcely be- lieve that her sister epoke in exact accordance with the truth; and yet it revolted against the natural generosity of her nature to arrive at a contrary conclusion. “Tf am eure that you are making up your mind to be reasonable,” continued Mrs. Oxenden: “I felt eonfident that when your mind became safii- ciently calm for deliberate reflection, you would see how completely I have been studying your best interests. But you gpoke to me this morn- ing in the drawing-room as if you fancied it wes otherwise; and perhaps I answered you imps. tiently, and even unkindly, when I appeared to upbraid you for compelling me to give the same explanations over and over again. I am corpy, dear Laura, if I did thus speak somewhat too hastily; and I was determined to take the first opportunity to remove that impression from your mind.” Laura gazed with her beantiful blue cyce ee Se ete ° (COL (C DOO - —_— a2. _— -_— ee + ee eee _- — -— —_A_. ae =. —_ — _ -o— ee —. eee | CS (COL