The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 24: what you’re looking at

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

ee fe ssspeeecieensststre eee THE MYAPRRIES OF THE COURT. LB ee re Me it—he entered the garden—and then, “Good heavens!” ejaculated the nobleman: for he hesitated whether to go and aceost that lady, or whether to advance up to the house at onee and make the usual inquiry which a visitor would put. At that moment a domestic, in a plain dark livery, appeared upon the steps: he was an old man, and one who might at once be set down as being a faith- fal dependant of long standing in his present service. The Marquis sceosted him, and said, “I wish to see Jady Everton: is that her ladyship walking yonder in the garden P” “T¢ is, sir,” responded the old servant: “but her ladyship receives no visitors. All matters of business must be condacted through Mrs. Jameson————” “Ah!” ejaculated Lord Eagiedean : for he remem- bered that this was the friendly housekeeper at Everton Park, who had been admitted into the confidence of her mistress m respect to the birth of the two children. “ Bat I have some very particular intelli to communicate.” “ If so, sir,” observed the footman, “ there will be no harm in your introducing yourself to her lady- ehip: she can but refer you, if necessary, to Mrs. Jaineson.” The old man spoke courteously—even benevo- lently; and the Marquis of Eagledean, thus en- evuraged, was about to hasten away towards the extremity of the garden—when it suddenly occurred to him that if Alexandrina should chante to recog: nize him at once, a scene might possibly ensue which she would afterwards deeply regret and wish to have been avoided. He accordingly turned beck again towards the ing, “ All things consi- dered, it would perhape be better that I should see Mrs. Jameson first.” The domestic bowed, and led the way through a hal], up a staircase, to a room where an old woman with heir as white ae sow was seated, occupied with ber knitting. She was dressed in black; and in her look benevolence was mingled with sadness. She was not so much altered but that the Marquis would have recognised her, even if he had not been fnformed who she was. “ Mre. Jameson, a gentleman wishes to see you on some business connected with her ladyship ;”—and having placed a chair for the aceommodation of the Marquis, the old footman withdrew from the apart- mens. Lord Eagiedean est down, and did not imme- Giately speak—for he sew that Mrs. Jameson's looks had been at once earnestly fixed upon him. They grew more searching: the expression of her counte- nance showed that was doing its work faithfully, and that he would be recognized by her. 4h! then if she were thus enabled to penetrate through the change and alteration which years had effected in him, hew much more easily would Lady Bverton have done so! and how prudent was the precaution he had thus teken in secing Mrs, Jame- son firet ! “My lord, my lord,” said the old woman, trem- bling from head t8 foot with the violence of her emotions, “I know you-—-I recognise you! What brings you hither f’’ “Need you ask?” inquired the Marquis: “can you not conjecture ?” * But your wife, my lord—the Marchioness oi' these words struck him as a revelation, instante neously making known to his comprehension some new phase in the villany of Mr. Everton. “My wife—the Marchioness of Eagledcan ——~I never was married!” A cry of mingled joy and astonishment barst forth from the aged housekeeper’s lips, as she started up from her obair: then fixing her looks earnestly and penetratingly upon the Marquis, she said, “My lord, I adjure you by everything you deem solemn and holy, to proclaim the truth, whatsceves it may be!” “TI have already proclaimed it,” he replied, pree foundly agitated. “I am incapable of deceit. I never have been marmed——-No never, never has the image of your mistress been absent from thig heart of mine!” . “Oh what misery—what long years of misery, wretchedness, and woe might have been spared te my poor mistress, had ehe known the truth !”—and aa Mrs. Jameson spoke, she resumed her seat, wring- ing her hands, while tears trickled down the coum tenance that was furrowed with age. “The biackest iniquities have been perpetrated,” caid the Marquis with bitter vehomence: “ but until this moment I did not even suspect their fullest extent. And now let me hasten to ask you a ques- tion——Does Lady Everton know that her son Adolphus is yet alive?’ Mrs. Jameson gave a wild ste” s~-and then sink- ing back in the chair, gased in specchiess astonish- ment upon the Marquis of Eagledean. She evidently knew not what to think: and by the expression of her countenance it was apparent that ahe feared his reason was unsettled. “ No, my good woman—faithful dependant of your mistress that I am eure you have been—I am not decsived—Iam not deceiving you! It is another truth that I proclaim—Adolphus lives—and what iz more, hie rights are acknowledged! Yes—his vil- Janous ancle has abandoned the title and estates which he had usurped!” “Then, may God be tfauked!’ said the old woman in a tone of the profoundest piety. ‘There may yet be happiness in this world for my poo mistress:"—aend having thus spoken, she clasped her hands sed her venerable counte- nance—and the prayer of thanksgiving, which she said inwardly, wavered upon her thin lips. “I see that we have much to talk about—many things to converse upon,” resumed the Margquia, after a pauwe, “ere the intelligence be broken to your mistress that her son is alive and that IL am within these walle. In a few words let me likewiag explain to you that our two children Elizabeth and Frank are well and happy. They are beneath my roof in the neighbourhood of London——~But again yeu survey me with the deapest amase- ment ?” “Because, my lord, it has this moment become turn,” replied Mrs. Jameson, “ to reveal another in that scheme of villany which has besa ised towards my poor mistress. Four yeare have elapsed since she was assured in a letter from ber brother-in-law, that poor Frank was no more— fF ” interrupted Mrs. Jameson,“ is she according to the terms of your lordship’s teust-deod, not still alive ? is she no mure ?” OP, gee ee ee ep Gee o> sehen | wos dissipating it rapidly, 0s she had. already die- RE, AM. AEE -_ yy ie > ene (COL (C DOO CS (COL