The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 51: what you’re looking at

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38 embowered the path sought by herself and her THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. For a moment Miss Farefield’s heart was emittes admirer—and riper than any luscious fruit that | with remorse at the idea of the basely treacheruus hung to the garden-trees. Though the morning- dress that she wore ascended to the throat, thus concealing the grand eonteurs of her bust, yet was the swell of her bosom indicated by the rising and falling of the corsage of that white drapery; and ite heavings could be feit by her companion’s arm as she leant upen it. Her looks — her air—her demeanour — ber brilliant beauty,—everything about her, in fine, was but too well calculated to rivet the chains which she had forged around the heart of George Hawkshaw; and if he had ever hesitated to p himself as her husband,—which assuredly he had not,—he could no longer have possibly hesitated now. *‘ Mise Farefield,” he said, after the of some casual and indifferent observations, “I have made up my mind——I have determined——to— te speak to you this morning on a subject closely regarding my happiness———” “Indeed, Mr. Hawkshaw?” she observed mur- muringly, at the same time affecting the most delicious confusion. “Yes, Miss Farefield-———Juliana-——dear Ju- liana!” he exclaimed, gasing upon her in rapture: “can you not comprehend me? Iam not a man accustomed to make flattering speeches—I am frank-hearted and ingenuous——such I believe is my nature——bat if you will accept the hand, as you already possess the love, of one who will make your happiness the study of his life, that individual now kneels at your feet !”’ And suiting the action to the word, George Hawkshaw did fali upon one knee; and taking the lady’s hand, he preseed it to his lips. She muar- mured some words which were half choked by the enthusiastic feelings of triumph and success which agitated in her bosom, and which the unsophisti- cated admirer attributed to a maidenly confusion. E and delighted by those few murmuring words, and by the manner in which they were uttered, he started up from his knee—and gasing with renewed raptare upon her downcast blushing countenance, he said, “Teil me, Juliana—tell me— will you be mine?” “T will,” she responded, still faintly and tremu- lously; and Hawkshaw, flinging his erms around her, strained her superb form to his breast — at the same time covering her warm glowing cheeks with fervid caresses. “You will be mine?” he said in exultant tones: “this is the fulfilment of the dearest hope I ever cherished in my life! O Jultana, you cannot conevive the joy that you have poured into my heart! And let me tell yuu that it is the heart of an honest man —a heart that is your’s, and your's only. Give me your arm, dear Juliana—and let us walk here together for a little while. I feel that I could become eloquent to a degree in promising all that I ; will do to ensure your happiness ; and I am confident | that you will reciprocate this strenuous endeavour on my part. We are not mere children, Juliana— we understand our own feelings—and what we promise we know that we shall perform. On my side there is the fullest confidence that I shall be happy with you: tell me, dear Juliana, that you feel an equally strong conviction of being happy with me?” part which she was playing towards a man whe addressed her in such honest terms and in such noble language. But that compunctious feeling quickly passed away—her selfishness became para- mount onee more—and the words to which she gave utterance, were spoken with every appearance of a frankness and candour. ence-——-" “Oh, Juliana! is this possible? may I flatter myself that it is so?”—and the ing nodie- hearted Hawkshaw again spoke with exultant enthusiasm. “It is true, dear George—it is true—most true,” murmured the artful Juliana, appearing to be plunged into the modest confusion of a maiden from whoee lips an avowal of the heart's feelings is elicited by the influence of sincerest love. believe when he is lip-deep in love, and when the things which he is called upon thus to pus faith in, are 20 intimately connected with thes love of his? He and Juliana continued to walk together for three whole hours, until the bell rang for luncheon. Those were three hours of elysian bliss to the fine- hearted Squire; and they afforded Juliana an op- portunity for setting to work all the kastics of the while resolving to decsive him. She had to affect a passion which she did not feel : but this she did more easily, because while to admirer in the language of love, she pistured to hersolf that it was Frank Paton to whom abe was speaking. Thus substituting the image of Frask in ite youthful, delicate, and almost effeminate beauty, for the i image of George Hawkshaw in its that it was young Paton’'s; end she feit a thrill of sen- sucus ecstacy sweep fervid and glowing through her entire form. Andwhentoo Mr. Hawkshaw pressed ‘his lips to her’s, it was still in imagination young Frank’s mouth that thus grew to her owa; and as 'the boiling blood ran like lightaing through her veins, the effect was to impart a more rapturoas "fervour to her kisses. which you possess—a heart that never loved before | forth from the belfry over the entrance-tower, sprin- _kled the hot stagnant air with its metallic soands ; At length the summons for luneheon, ringing and Mr. Hawkshaw led back his intended into the Castle. After the repast the Squire requested a private interview with Lady Saxondale—which was of course immediately accorded: for her ladyship had received a rapidly whispered hint from Juliana to the effect that she had received an offer of Mr. Hawkehaw’s hand. Lady Saxondale led the wry to the library; and there, without much circamlo- cution, the Squire informed her of the step he had taken, and requested her assent to the mateh CYL (GO) iC DOO CS (COL