The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 77: what you’re looking at

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62 measured every word that he uttered —caloulated every look that he throw towards her—and studied every attitude that he assumed and every move- ment that he made: seo that not once—no, not even for a singic instant, while they thus remained seated togetner 10 the parlour did Pauline suspect #hat her agreeable and fascinating companion was otherwise than as represented. Indeed, so well pleased were they with each other, that three hours elapsed ere they Ancied that even gnc had passed away since the first moment that they snet. It was now ten o’clock—and Pauline prepared | supper, of which they partovk together; and thus the time was again whiled rapidly away, until eleven. Then the young lady began to grow anxious for the return of her sister: but Florimel was perfectly cer- tain that Octavia would no¢é come home until the morning! He accordingly affected to be getting sleepy, in the hope of inducing Pauline to retire to rest without delay; and she proposed to conduct her new friend to the spare-chamber, observing that she must sit up to await her sister’s return. Florimel apologised for his drowsiness, and declared his inten- tion of keeping her company in her vigil :—and thus another hour Midaight struck—and still Octavia came not “You are uneasy respecting your sister?” said the disguised nobleman, in a soothing tone. “ She promised to return by eleven, at the latest,” answered Pauline. “Perhaps something of importance may detain her?” suggested Fiorimel, anxious to elicit, if pos- sible, the nature of the excuse which Octavia made for her absence. “It may indeed be so,” said Pauline, in a musing tone. “She went out shopping yesterday evening; and asshe was passing slong Oxford Street, she saw an elderly lady run over by a hackney-coach. My sister wae the first to hasten to the assistance of the suflerer, who happened to live close by. Octavia accordingly aided her to reach her home; and the lady besought her to remain with her for a few houra This request was granted; and it wos past eleven when my sister returned home. This evening she thought it would be but courteousand humane ‘to call and inquire after the patient; and as the old lady dwelis entirely alone, Octavia foresaw that ahe would ask her to pass a little time with her. She however promised to come back by eleven at the latest; and now,” added Pauline, glancing uneasily at the watch which Mra. Smith had given her, “it is a quarter after twelve.” “ My dearest Miss Clarendon,” said Florimel, * there ie nothing in your sister’s prolonged absence to male you uneasy. I can readily understand the eause of it. The elderly lady is ali alone, you tell me—and she is perhaps worse. Your sister, who is po doubt as kind-hearted as yourself, will not aben- don the sufferer in such cruel circumstances; and she very naturally concludes.that you will not fail to conjecture the reason of ber absence.” “Oh! thank you for thus suggesting an explana- tion,” cried Pauline, her countenance brightening up. “ Yes—it must be as you suppose: at all events, I will net compel you to sit up any longer on my aocount.” ° “ And as your sister is not here,” said Florimel, with a palpitating heart, “there is ne necessity for THR MiSTERINE. “If you do not object to take Octavia's place by my side,” responded Pauline, with artless cheerful ness, “I shall be delighted to have you as a comme ion.” With these words, the ingenuous and unsuspecting maiden secured the front door and led -he way to hes bed-chamber. CHAPTER X{Xk. THE VIRGIN AND THE VOLUPTUARD As Lord Florime! followed the beauteous Pauline up the stairs, that pang which had already smitten him, again shot through his heart: for the reader will remember that we have described him as being by no means naturally deficieut in generous senti- ments ;—and oow that his atrocious perfidy seemed to be approaching ite consummation, those finer feel- ings that lay crushed and subdued beneath the ine fluence of voluptuous passions and selfish desires, suddenly put forth a latent power. But it was when he crossed the threshold of the virgin sanctuary and the door of the bed-chamber was closed behind him,—it was then that his remorse becaine invested with a horror such as he had never knowa nor ex- perienced before. Sinking upon a chair, he pressed his hand to his brow as if to steady the thoughts that were racking his brain: and Pauline, observing his emotion, though very far from suspecting the cause, smoothed down his hair with the unpremeditated maauer of one who offers a tender sympathy,—observing at the eame time, “ My poor friend, you feel unhappy at the idea of passing the night beneath a stranges’e roof” These words, falling upon the ears of the young nobleman in all the silver melody of Pauline’s sweet voice, and the simultaneous contact of her warm hand which swept over his forehead, produced an effect upon him as if lightning had been suddealy poured into: his veins: and, taking that hand, he pressed it to ais lips in the rapwre of a passion which the ansuspicious maiden believed to be a grateful friendship. “No, my dearest Pauline,” he said,—* for you wil it me to call you by your Christian name, as I must henoeforth be Gabrielle to you,—I am not un- happy on aocount of this temporary absence from home: indeed, I rejoice at the incident, disagreeable in itself though it were, which drove me to avek an asylum beneath this roof—inasmuch as it has nade me acquainted with you. We have not known each other quite six hoears—and I already feel that I lov. you as a sister.” “We will be friends, Gabrielle,” reaponded the artless Pauline. “I bave often longed to possess « sincere and dear friend—one of about my own aga and whom.I could take a fancy to at first sight: foe . as my sister's ideas and thoughts so completely oor - respond with my own, we never ‘ave anything now to sey ta each other—no little coufidences to mpast —no advice mutually to seek———” “TI understand you,.my dear Pauline,” interrupted Florimel, enchanted at. the turn which the conversa tion was taking; “and I can assure you that | have often felt just as you describe. Yee—I have longed to form a friendship with. some young lady of about { us to separate even though we retirese rest.” my own age—--" | CONNEC OOO <SreOiin