The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 251: what you’re looking at

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pee of a cister-demigoddess. For she was speaking in the lowest tone--and yet with a continususess which showed how earnest were her words;—and ae I hap- pened to beveated at.the Gmc én-a evergreens at the bettom of. sy gardm, I did not think it necessary to distarb the poor: yenng ladies by letting them know that I wasnear. [acconsdingly remained perfectly still;~—and ef course if 1 did overhear anything that passed between them, it: was not usy fault. Fancying themecives to be entirely alone, they were discoursing anreservedly, altheagh in a very low veice. Octavia was declaring ber re- solve to preceed to Carlton House—demand an interview with your Regal Highness—end ascertain your intentions from your ewn lips. ‘These views she enunciated in a strain which waeso0 collected aad rational, that I fancied she must have altegether re- covered the fail use of her reason. It was evident that Paaline entertained the same adeac Sor she began to argue with her sister just as one sane person addresses another. She represented.the impropriety as well es the inatility of the propesed step: but Octavia was immoveably wedded to her design. The ‘Realise until two o’cloek this. caorning,” she Prince. “I suppose <neenenaced my life ag well as her own f” “ Juut oo, nay it please your Bieyal Hsghnees,” go sponded Page. “ I¢ devs not please meet sli,* observed the Prince, for a mement cuficring his features to relax into a atnile'at the edduess of that canjancuure of phrases. “ Bat what was the result of this iamentable relapses on - Mies Clareanivn’e part “Me-aad my wife vemeined.aleng with Miss replied Rage ; “and aeverehall I fosgetthe awful paroxryeus of anguish and eutbersts of feeling which we were compelled to witness! And poor Miss Pauline hereeli--Ab | thet young lady possesees an exoel- ient beart——" “ And when you left Oetavia at two this morning f° demanded the Prince abruptly. “She hed: suak into s.prefeund cleep, threugh Sheer exhaustion,” was the answer: “but ber iat weeds were fraught with terrible menace tovards your Reyal Highness. And new, perhaps, the object of my intrusion upon the time and notice of discussios was contisued with a esint earnestness On j your - eoth aides for upwards of a quarter of an hoer ;. and not evice during that interval did Octavia give the sligktest proof of mental alienation. Nevertheless, she persevered. in her resolve to. seek’ an .interview with your Royal Highness; and Pauline, evidently decouring alarmed at the determination to which her mind had settled dewn, and no doubt presuuting too much upon its extreme apparent talaaness, broke to ber the truth-—the @emendous trath—that your marriage with her Royal Highwees the . Princess Caroline was Axed to ake place that very evening! Then, all ta a moment, from the lips of Octavia burst the ‘wildest of cries—and, turning abreptly away frem her eiecer, she fled into the beuse, ex- claiming, ' Give me my cloak—my bennel—and la me deparite claim my husband, whom a foveign vival is tahing.away from me !'—Y dur Royal High- ness will forgive meif I chus wnceremeniougly..and frankly repeat the very words which the poor erea- ate attered-——-” “Yeu need make no apology, Mr. Page,”. ex- -olaimed the Prince, whose thoughts wore new divided between compunctious feelings on bebalf of Octavia and lisentious hopes ‘ef possessing Rauline. continde—and hesitate not to.tell me-everything just as it ooeurred.” “The frensiced shriek of wildest anguish whieh thrilled from the lips of Octavia,” zesumed Page, “ was echoed by one of the tensest alawn on the part of Pauline; and the whole neighbourhood would have been frightened out of ite seven senses had not aearly every one.gome into tewn to eee the illumi- estions in honour of your Royal Highnese’s marriage. But ay wife was at hone—and | was in the arbour, asl have already explained: and while Mra Page was rushing down .the-staps in-ene dissection, I was dashing throagh the evergreens in another. Over garden we sped —and this time Miss Pauline was sight glad of car presence: for peor Ootavin . had gone saving, raging, feriously mad—and it was as evach‘as all three of us could do to hold her down. At one instant she threatened to ley vielent hands apon hereelf—at another she —— But this may ¢mount to treason——” “Speak out, man—and fear nothing !"’ exclaimed “Pray “You think that F enterteia any fare of a poor endeavouting ananiac girl ?”- said the Prince, vainly -to conceal his uneasiness. “I de mot suppose that year Royal Highness apprebends aeteal vivience,” Page hastened to ‘observe; “becuase I.am well aware that Miss Octavia Clarendon, if she herself at Garkon Gleuse, would: not be ellewed to push her way forther than the hall. But she might never- ‘theless crete: suph 0 disterbamce—procisim -s0 many disagrecable “Yeo.-¢hat is indeed to be feared,” exclaimed thé Prince. “ Of course har sister will not encour- age her in this wild scheme of demanding aa in- terview- with a10--—-” “ Qn the contrary. I have elready assured your Royal Highness that Mies Pauline did everythiag she could ¢0 reason her sister ont of the notion,” mid Mr. Page. “ But what is she to do with a mad girl “ What-wauld you do with her?” demanded the “I would have her locked wp mm a lnanstic- esylam," was the prompt answer: and he looked harder. aad more significantly still at the heir- apparent. “But do you really fancy that she is Go very dangerous 7” he inguired, with: evident irresolution hew-¢o act. “Lam cartain, great Prince,” responded Page, “¢hat the very first opportunity she has, Octavia will break away from her sister’s eare ; and, under the inspiration of her frenzied ideas, she will not only seek Carlton House, but her history will be preelaimed to all who may be near enoagh to listen !” “This most not take place, Mr. Page,” said the Prince: then, after-walking ones or twice up aad down the roam, be suddenly: etopped short within a yard of the ex-bagman, an whom he east s look as if he meant to read him through aad through. “J am staunch disceest—faithfal,” observed Page, perceiving and understaading that giance so penetrating and so searching. ee C) ( DOOLK (CO