The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 138: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. a eT aay? | Ct Petia progress and have that love suspected. I therefore made up..my mind to speak very serioudy to the Bari of Castlemaine on the following day, and be- seech hia to let everything end at once between us, unless in his own heart he entertained the convic- tion that my love was purely and disinterestedly devoted to him. You may well supposes, my dear chat while engaged in such reflections i3, her nerrative, which deepened in interest as it pro- “ Lavan rivetted to the casement for some minutes, not knowing what to thiuk or how to act. To my increased astonishment, the Earl did not once look up at the window; but there he stood—motionless —~—with hie arms folded over his chest, and his eyes bent down, so that I did not obtain a glimpse of his Broughton, as these, I had no inclination to sleep. I had not countenance. I grew frightened: a superstitious even begun to lay aside my apparel: I had thrown terror came over me. Could it be possible that I myself on an ottoman at the foot of the bed—end there had I remained giving way to those painful Nevertheless the time hat eee Te, beat. My cheske burnt as if in a fever—my tem- ples throdbed—I felt as if I were about to faint. 1 opened one of the casements: my chamber was as the back of the house, and looked upon the garden: . beheld the spjritual image of one who physically and in earthly shape was eleewhore—perhaps slum- bering in hie couch at his own residence? This ap- was speedily augmented into absolute torture, 80 .fhat I lost as it were the fear of encoun- tering an apparition in the anxicty to ascertain if auch it really were. In ane sense therefore I became saddenly nerved with a strange fortitude. Thore the figure remained—etill motionless—still with arms folded ~~ still with looke cast down. I hesitated there was consequently no impropriety in thas no longer: my feelings were terrible — it was going to the window to let the air, if there were 4: absolutely necessary that I should go and see breath stirring, fan my countenance. Thenight was’ what this was and what it meant—it was a benatifally cleer—eo bright.indeed that the smallest ' mystery too appalling not to be cleared up primt might have been read; anda gentle breesedid | ab ence. I did descend: the house was quict— epring up at the tame—eo that it blew no one heard me opening the back door—and I on my throbbing brows brows and feverish cheeks. I' stepped forth into the garden. My first feeliu,. lingered at that open window, gasing ap into the | was one of a cold shudder as I flung my looks in | moon-lit heavens, and sighing for an in-dranght to | | the direction of the grass-plat, expecting to behold any soul of that serenity which appeared to prevail | that figure still there: but it wae gone. Then my above ! When sbout to withdraw from the ease. | eyes were swopt wildly all around: but no living ment, my looks fell upon the garden; and I etasted | object, nor the semblance of one, met my view. I in mingled astonishment and terror, on beholding | was now shookingly frightened and as I hastily the form ofa man motionless ta the sidee of ta | re-aseended the stairs to my chamber, I shuddered grase-plat whieh was almost immediately under my | end resoiled uader the apprehension that the cold window. My first impression was that it must be | hand of death might suddenly be laid upon my one of the men eccond that it wae: bare shoulder. I put off my apparel and went to a robber: but my third, which instantancoualy | bed: but it was not till long after the sun had risen became a conviction, wae that the Baril of Oastle- | that sleep visited my eyes. Then I bebeld the whole maine himecif was the individual stationed there... incident enacted over again in a dream—the figure Yes s there could be no doubt of it! I recognised ou the grass-plat, motionless as a statue, with folded his form—hie attitude-—his very garments. mks | tat bald wo} end elton When I awoke I standing with hie arma folded « acrves hie chest—his looke bent down, as if in the despest meditation. | deavoured to ascertain whether the whole bad been And he remained so motionless too, that it seemed a dream and that I had not really gone to the win. | as if he had been turned into a statue. Guod dow at all, nor esen the figure, nor descended inte heavens! what could this mean? <A thousand the garden. I knew not what to think. On the varied and sonflicting thoughts swept through my | ane hand there appeared to be the conviction that mind. Was he jealous, and had he come to watch my movements? was his object of even a darker . cheracter, emd more criminally insulting to the ' purity of my own character ? ce in the romantic wildness ef his love, had he come to woo me down to a renewal of cur evening ramble in the garden ? er, more tenderly romantic etll, had he come only to be near the dwelling which harboured the object of his adoration P These were a few of the hurried and excited questions that I put to myself. You may wonder, Mrs. , that such refieetions should have suggested thensasive toa young maiden of but four monthe over exxteen: but during those four months my eyes had been opened to many more so when is displays Keelf in such wayward moods, wiki humeurs, and impssnoned phases as did that of the Earl of Castlemaine.” The Countess again paused: bat this time it was enly fer @ few moments; and she quickly resumed ee qe eee S “ayn ———ieeeee eee the incident was real, and that it had been repeated im a dreasa: bus then, om the other hand, was my ‘own endeavour to believe that it was alJ a dream, and to persuade myself that i¢ wasso. I re solved to keep the circamstance locked up in my felt eold as igo; and collecting my thoughts, I en- . o> - ae eee eee eee ee ta cy ome own bosom, and not to speak of it unlese the Kark — himeelf should mention it. He came, ae usual, soon after breakfast ; he was haypy, cheerful, and loving + he brought me handsome presenta, whieh he had purposely caused to be sent down from London; ‘and he talked joyously of the preximity of the wedding-day as he imprinted kisses on my cheeks. Then he spoke of our lore: he volunteered his con- | me Ce —_= . @ = ~ viction that mine was ag sincere aud earnest thougls not so impassioned as his owa ;—and throughout that dey not a single unpleasant word ruffled the harmony of our minds. How, therefore, could 1 carry into effect my resolution of the previous evening—to beg that everything might be brokes off unless he were thoroughly convinoed of the dis- interested and unselfish quality of my love? Bow tes (COL ( 5 DOO CS (COL