The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 97: what you’re looking at

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teal upright as a dart—her head somewhat inclined forward, like a flower upon its stalk: and yet in that uprightwess there was neither ungraceful stiffness nor inelegant rigidity. She seemed to feel that, ase slave, she was bound to submit with all respect to that survey on the part of her mistress. Had an observer been present, he could not have avoided thinking to himeeclf that they were two of the most splendid specimens o oriental beauty, of distinct shades of complexion. “And have you never thought to yourself, nah,” asked the Princess Indora, “that you would like to know what love is ?—-have you never felt a craving to experience that sentiment which plays the chiefest part in all the affaires of this life? Hs there been no curiosity in your soul to learm the joy, the delight, the happiness of a Pr” The Hindoo worman’s cheeks glowed as if with the purple flush of wine,—the rich red blood mantling through the transparency of her dusky skin: but the ruddy hue passed away as quickly as it rose up; and when the Princess again slowly turned her eyes upon the countenance of Sa- goonsh, it had its wonted look and expression again. “‘¥es—within the bour that is passing,” said Indore, suddenly reverting to that topic which was most vit to herself, and with- out observing that her dependant had not an- swered the questions which she had put to her,— “‘ my fate must be sealed |” “And if the Knglishman’s decision be against your happiness, dear mistress of mine,” said Sa- goonah, now sinking on one knee and looking with affectionate earneatpess up into Indora’s counte- nance, “ what will your Highness do?” “Ab! what will I do?” she murmured, as an expresajon of anguish at the bare thought, flitted over her guperb features. “ What will I do, Segoonsh ?’—then after 4 pause, during which she seemed to reflect profoundly, she added in accents of mingled “ Heaven only knows wha “But yet, dear lady, you have every hope— have you not?” inquired Sagoongh, as she still kpelt by the velvet-covared ottoman, and still gazed earnestly up into the countenance of Indora. “ Do you not imagine, beloved Prinooss, that the sense ef obligation is greater than that of wrong in the mind of the Englishman? If your Royal fathey kept bim ceptive for so many, many years, he at least treated him with al] becoming hospi- tality: he lodged him in his own palace—he gave him slaves to minister unto him—a guard of honour to attend upon him—and riches to dispose ef as ha tho fi" “ Aye—b u understand not the proud soul of an Englishman geplied the Princess Indora: “you comprehend not that however brilliant the of his captivity, it is captivity all the samo! Tho chains may be of gold—but they ave still chaing which he burns to throw off. Like the bird in his gilded cage, he is dazsled not by the sumptuousness of his dwelling—but pants for the freah air of freedom: and co it was with Clement Redcliffe. He knew that the alaves were spies upon his actions—that the guards, though ostensibly appointed to dq him honour, were naught else than gaclers and custodians—and that THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. the riches heaped upon him, were mere to render his captivity somewhat the less intole- rab 99 “ And yet the Englishman bore himself courte- ously and well towards your Royal father and your Highneas’s self,” observed 8 “Tt was with a cold ” responded In- dora; “and all that Clement Rodeliffe did, was doubtless for the purpose of co my sire in the hope of obtaining his freedom all the 1 more quickly. Besides, the natural pride of a civilized Englishman could not help feeling flattered by being placed in a position to smooth down the asperities of our own semi-berbarism. Clement Redcliffe inculcated the arts of peace, and by his counsel enabled my father to amend those laws that were bad, and to promulgate new ones that were so as to forward the interests and pro- mote the happiness of the people of Inderabad. But not one single suggestion in the art of war did Clement Redcliffe ever proffer: nor would he afford the slightest insight nto the discipline of those English troops who have rendered themselves so formidable in our native clime. Do you com- prebend wherefore he maintamed so inexorable a reserve upon those points P” “Doubtless, lady,” answered “he thought that the time might come when the English invaders would push their conquests to your Royal parent’s far-off kingdom, and therefore he would not put a weapon, even the smallest and the bluntest, in the hands of your august father’s troops—for fear lest it should be used sooner or later against the armies of his own fellow- countrymen.” “'Yes—these were his motives,” rejoined the Princess; “and they rendered him all the more admirable—all the more noble, in my estimation. But I was ere now exp how it was that Clement Redcliffe, while enduring his captivity, took a pride in propagating the arts of peace us. Yet month after month and year , | after year did he demand his freedom; and at length my father would have given it —but I, alas——” The Princess stopped short; and Sagoonah, slowly rising from her kneeling position, retreated to a respectful distance, where she stood in her wonted attitude—her bayadere form upright, and her face inclining towards the splendidly modelled bust which the arrangements of her finen dress left more than half revealed. “*I'was strange,” proceeded Indora, after a brief pause, and again speaking in 4 musing manner, “that my interferepce should have come to Ole- ment Redcliffe’s knowledge: for my father would acarcely have spoken of it. Doubtless it was a surmise, though a correct one, on Redcliffe’s part : but how bitter were the reproaches which he levelled me at the time! Ah, that was s scene of fearful excitement which FE can nevee forget I’ * Your hag suffered much for your love’s sake,” observed gently. “ Love is a rose with thorns,” answered Indora, in a mournful voice: “and perhaps, my faithful Sagoonah, it is fortunate for you that you have never experienced that sentiment. To me it has proved a source of illimitable happiness and of almost overwhelming affliction—the soul alter- (COL (C DOO CS (COL