The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 385: what you’re looking at

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378 she said, “ Laura has yielded finally and com- pletely, as I all along assured you that shb would.” “Then the maFHage inay be celebrated By the priest to-morrow ?” exélaittied BLE Johh, ih a of hasty iiquitd; “ahd we cat det off immediately afterwards td havé the Protestait ceremony per- formed By aptcial licens in Lottdon, depording te our ofiwinal plan P” 4f feat that it cannot be Oxtiideh: "fot sot bow that thé priest had scruples if pronouncing thé Auptial blessing uhléds Lanié gave her fallest and coiupletest assent. This ahé has chi} just dons: she will require to-motrow to thik well over it—fok fam ad intimately sé quainted with her dispositida aa it is possible to be But the day aftef———” . "Ah, I anderithhd Fou!” growled Bir John surlily, “You dre 4 word of the #orld—and you Will have all tha fettletitints signed and sealed before you give me yout sister. Do you think I shall fly from my word P do you suppose f am not sincere th disinheriting a younker for whom I have no moré love nor affection than fob the veritst stranger—but whom ott the contfary I tin inclined to hate because 6 shows his father’s independent spirit ? or dé You think that I shall &y &Way from the bargain which is to make ovef té@ thousand pounds to you as the price foe Jott charming sister ?”” “I wish you would not use iG thee blunt language, Sir John,” observed Mts. Oxenden, as a flush appeared upon her handsetne eouhte- nance. “ Coarse language, intleed |” ho ejaculated: ahd then he gave a still coarser laugh. “Why, look you, my dear friend !—let us not shut our eyes to the true nature of the transaction—bectuse when we have to deliberate over it, it is inconvénient to blink the truth and go beating about the bush. Besides, you and I have known each other long enough and well enough to have no disguise be- tween us——~”” “Well, my dear Sir John,” said Mrs. Oxenden deeming it expedient to cajole and conciliate the old man as much as possible; “have it entirely your own way—and put the matter in whatsoever light you may think fit.” “All I want is this,” oontinued the Baronet,—. “that you shall not flatter yourself I am your dupe, or that you have caught me as a veritable dotard in your mesheé.” “Good heavens, Sir John!” exclaimed Mrs. Oxenden, frightened lest things were about to take a turn but little in acoordance with her hopes and views; “how can you think of talking in a strain s0 ungenerous—so unkind——” “ Well, well,” interrupted the Baronet, who was réally under the influence of this deep designing woman, but who wished to persuade that it was otherwise and that he was altogether indv- pendent in his own mode of action, we will not get to angry words: but now that affairs are grow- ing towards a termination, it is just as well For us to understand each other. Look you—how reste the matter? I receive communications from Brighton, from my nephew and yourself, to the effect that he has fallen desperately in love with your sister Laura. I at once send off for you to come to me and receive personal explanations ; be- Sn, ie,” auswoted Mrs. | THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. cause I think they are due to you after all that in previous years had taken place betwixt you and é. You deine accordingly—and I then tell you in Geiifitetee that £ mean to disthhetit my nephew, tole | &6 £ postens the powst to 4d so—and that I mean te inact} in the hope of having an heir. Then yok draw me stich & pictre we beantiful Bistdt that you make thé Bleed itil in my “ But why this recabituiatio#,” exciattied Mrs. Dealt Wet GE ink Be 18 Wal Btotk % us th Betause FT ain resolved,” ieturned StF Sohn, sornewhat gif}, “that the shatter shall be esta- blishéd cluarly be ui iff all its details. Well, as I was sayihg, you picturé of your sister that I Was quite ravished by it—and fancied myself altogether young again. Patience!—do not intéffubt me. I told gou ast the time that if ths OHginal proved villy half as charining as thé ture, I wonld gladl} thake bet Lady Steward. Now, I do fot henitate to Golifess tht skilful as Jott dre in the att of word- paintisg, dhd vivid as yout Verbal delineation was of Lauéas Ghats, you adktted strictly t the truth—yod did hot exagperate——” Wel, t Ais plad to heat that my promives and youk Ropes Weid completely falBHed,” interjected Oxend#h: © Oh, yes!” Sfavtilated Sir Toh: *f Keely ad- mit that sith vthe case. Bat if dhothet sense you déceivéd tHe somewhat.” * Deteived you P” ejaculated Mrs. OStndok: * Yoa,” Fejoitied the Baronet: “bit gét I do sot- you did it wilfully. I from @hat you aid that E should fihd her leas toy—or at ail eventd fiore susceptible uf kind assiduities and atténtioni——” “You dull teattely expect, Sir John,” obletied Mrs. Oxenden, “that @ Young maiden & being introduced to you for th» Stst time——” * Yeu, my dear friehd,” thterposed thé Baronet : “but during your joutnes from Brightoh to Rame- gate, you broke yout mittd to het—you told her that she must banish Edger Beverley from her re- collection—and that she must prepare herself to look upon me as her future husband.” ‘¢ All this I did, Sir John, as you are well aware,” answered Mrs. QOxenden impressively; “and though not remarkable for any peculfat nicety of feelings, I can assute you it was 4 task which I should by no means like to have to execute over “Well, well, I give Jou credit for all good in- tentions,” rémarked Sir John: “but still you rhust allow that my firat meeting with your sister was but little flattering to me. First she looked at ine in a sort of wild bewilderment as if she had not rightly comprehended whom { was: ahd then, when you formally mentioned my naine, she posi- tively gave a shriek” * But you should make allowances, Sir John, for the circamstances which attended our arrival. The breaking down of the postchaise—and then you will admit too that your costume was not precisely that which becomes you best.” “It is the one though thit I like tho best!” answered the Baronet: “it leaves me cormfortabke and easy :’—and he stretched himself out upoh the sofa; for he was still attired in the very same tWway drew me such « - COMMUC DOO CS (COL