The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 242: what you’re looking at

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

ey — - J SS. PReeOBPRaBEwgadic. ? min B TH) MYSTERIRS OF THE COURT. not the door open ; but it did—and the Marquis of Eagledean, accompanied by the Marchioness, re- maimed for a few moments upon the threshold to contemplate that young couple who were respee- tively such perfect specimens of the beauty of the two sexes. Angela was seized with confusion when Lord and Lady Eagledean epproached: but Frank, enthu- siaatic with joy, embraced his perents in gratitude for the hint which they had given him, and the opportunity they had afforded him to avow his love, by both of which, oe the reader has soe0, ho failed not to profit. The Marquis and Marchioness, welcoming Angela as their future daughter-in-law, embraced her affectionately ; and it was soon whis- pered throughout the mansion that the beautiful Miss Deveril was the destined bride of Francis | her Paton. On the following day one of the Marquis’s car- niages bore William and Angela back to London; and when they had taken their departure, Eliza- beth Paton said with an arch smile to her brother, “ Now, my dear Frank, since through my interces- sion our dear parents have allowed you to precipi- tate matters somewhat and confess your love to Angela, I hope to see your spirits cheer up alto- gether ; instead of taking solitary rambles, that you will have the kindness to ask me to accompany you.” CUAPTER CXXXVL MRS. CHESTERFIELD. It may be neceseary to observe, for the benefit of some of our readera, that in the immediate vicinity of Paris stands a charming village known by the name of Auteuil—one portion of which is bordered by the Bois de Bo anglicising the term, “ Boulogne Wood.” In this district there are numbers of beautiful villa-residences, the gardens and pleasure-grounds of which are so well stocked with evergreens, that even in the middle of winter they have a gay appearance. There is always suf- fivient verdure to afford a refreshing spectacle tho eye to repose upon; and the more genial cli- mate of France the duration of Antumn and keeps back the advance of Winter more than in the Britieh Islands, It is our present purpose to direct the reader’s attention to one of these delightful villas in the neighbourhood we bave just described; and al- though it was now the beginning of November, yet the view from the easements of this residence was pleasing and cheerful. There was a spacious garden attached; and in front, et a short distance, was the Bois de Boulogne. The villa thus stood in a rural seclusion; and if its site and scenery were eo agreeable as the cold season the yeader may imagine whet must be the charms of that spot in the more auspicious periode of the year. The villa belonged to an elderly Frenchman { on and his wife named Durand—who having saved up seme little money by trading pursuits carried on im Paris, retired from business and purchased this kit tle property with the mtention of settling down shere, and also with the hope of enjoying a serene wbd ago. They had no ehildren, and no near rela- > Oe Cee ~ <r eee 0 oe eee ee for | the . 235 tions; so that when, after a time, they began to feel somewhat dull an and lonely in this seclusion, after having spent the greater portion of their existence amidst the gaicties, the bustle, and the excitement of the Parisian capital, they had no ons whom they could take to reside with Under these circumstances, and having several spare rooms in the villa, they determined to let out these apertments, either to a quiet married couple with- oe gunale, reacting wu some single person, male or female, req tisements to this effect were inserted in some of the Parisian newspapers; and the first applicant whom they brought to the villa, was so pleased with the apartments, the situation of the house, and the elderly couple themselves, that she at once took up her residence there. This wae an English lady, who however spoke the French language with an almost perfect fluency. She gave the name of Mrs. Chesterfield ; and stated that her husband held an important had not accompanied him, if being understood that she should remain in Europe until the decline of the following year, when she purposed to set off and join him in his oriental home. Mrs. Chester- field was a lady of great beauty—apparently about aristocratic to denote that she had moved in the circles—— but yet so fascinating snd en- gaging, when she thought fit to render them so, that she at once gained the good opinion of the Durands. On taking the apartments for s term of i vance. She paid by means of a Parisian banker, signing the name of Augusta Chesterfield; and when she arrived at the villa from the hotel where she had been staying, she brought trunks well filled with every variety of cheque on @& and most elegant apperel. She had no maid of her own; and therefore an addi- tional female servant was engaged by Madame Durand to attend especially on the beautiful Tt soon became apparent to the elderly couple that Mrs. Chesterfleld was not altogether happy ; and the keen eye of Madame Durand, with a woman's of penetration, also observed that she endeavoured to conceal whatsoever cares were gnawing at her heart. Sometimes, when Madame Durand ascended to Mrs. Chesterfield’s apartment to receive orders respecting the dinner or other matters, she noticed that the lady was sitting at the window in a mood of deep abstraction—per- haps with a book resting on her lap, but her fine dark oes gasing vacantly from the window. Then, being addressed, she would be startled back into self-possession ; but the recovery of her com- posure was instantancous—and her countenance would become animated with a smile which con- trasted strangely with the mournful reverie whence she had been aroused. She received no visits— appeared to have no acquaintances in Paris—and (COL (C DOO CS (COL