The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES. orphan, overhearing the announcement: then, in- stantly reflecting that it might be Meagles, of whose treatment at the hands of the Government she was totally ignorant, she said hastily, “I will recerve him here—in the presence of ——”’ And she stopped short as she glanced towards Mrs. Brace; for it suddenly struck her that it was in the milliner’s house that Meagles had appeared to deliver her—and he would doubtless be alike as- tanished and indignant to observe that she was on endly terms with the woman who had persecuted But all her uneasiness on this point was dissipated in a moment: for instead of beholding Meagles enter the room as she had expected, she instantly recognised that aame tall, thin, pale, but very handsome and in- teresting young man in whose company she had found herself for a few minutes on a certain occasion, in the waiting-room of the Earl of Desborough’'s mansion. Advancing with evident timidity towards Rose, the young man took off his hat, bowed gracefully, and said, “ Yon doubtless have forgotten me, Miss Foster—indeed, I cannot possibly suppose that you remember to have ever met me before——” And he stopped shost, for he perceived the looks of Mrs. Brace fixed angrily and suspiciously upon him. Indeed, this lady recollected perfectly well having seen him before: but where or under what circumstances she could not, for the life of her, call to mind. As for Mr. Grumiey—not being interested in the present scene, he walked to the window whistling one of the tanes to which he had sung a baccha- aalian song at the free-and-easy where he had passed che greater portion of the previous night. “It would be a ridiculous affectation on my part, sir,” observed Rose, in reply to the young gentle- man’s remarks,—* were I to declare that i do not remember you.” “Then you recollect that we have met before ” exclaimed the stranger, a perceptible gleam of satisfaction lightiog up his pale countenance. “Yes—for a few minutes—at the Earl of Des- borough's,” responded Rose;—and Mrs. Brace, overhearing what was said, instantly called to mind the fact that it was so. *“ Curiosity led me into the Court a few minutes ago,” continued the young man: “for as I was passing through the street I heard the observations which certain loungers at the door were making apon the proceedings within. [ accordingly entered, tittle suspecting that the young lady of whom the people outside were talking was known even by sight tome. With difficulty I forced my way through she crowd; and at the same moment that I suc- ceeded in obtaining admission to the Conrt, youwere caving it in company with that lady ;”— and the stranger glanced towards Mrs. Brace. “I recog- aised you instantaneously,” he continued, fixing his eyes upon Rose with an expression of tender inte- rest and respeotful admiration : “Oh! yes—I knew you again immediately—for since I saw you that day at the Earl of Desborough’s, I have thought of you ofteun—very often Y” | The countenance of the young maiden became suddenly suffused with a deep blush as these words fell upon her ear ;—and she glanced timidly towards Mrs. Brace to aseertein whether she had overheard | and mat delicate compliment—for such indeed Jt was, and uttered too in a tone se fervid and sincere, bas secompanied with a manner so profoundly re- spectful and timidly deprecating, that even the pure-minged, innocent, and artless Rose Poster could not possibly take offenee. But at the very moment when the maiden thus fhrew her rapid gianee towards Mra. Brace, Mr. Grumley, turning away from the window, accosted that lady, mying, “ P’rape it woald be as well, ma’am, if you and me was to havea few minutes talk together; seeing as how that I must be aff almost directly.” Sirs. Brace accordingly rose from the seat whick she had oecupied near the fire, and hastened to cen- verse apart with Mr. Grumley in the windew-reoess. “You may conceive, Missa Foster,” now resumed the stranger, drawing nearer to ber and speaking in a lower tone than at first, “how surprised — how shocked—how pained I was to behold in you the heroine of this day’s sad proceedings. But, no— you cannot eonceive what my feelings were, because you are ignorant how deep was the impression you made upon me during the few minutes that we con- versed together at Desborough House.” Rose started—surveyed the young man with as- tontshment for a few moments—and then, casting down her eyes, blushed deeply. “Oh! do not be offended with me,” he said, in so earnest, sincere, and appealing a tone that no measure of resentment could have withetoed it: “I would sooner die than cause you pain—for God knews you have this day endured enough! Bat I was telling you how shocked I was ere now to recognise in the accused Rose Foster that same young lady whose image has ever been present in my memory since first we met at the Earl’s mansion in Berkeley Square: but that first feeling of anguish on your acoount was almost instantaneously relieved by the intelligence that you were discharged—and then a burning joy filled my soul when I heard that your inneceuce had been made manifest beyond all possibility of doubt. Yes—Oh! yes—TI wept tears of ecstacy and bliss at the issue of that painful ordeal through which you have passed;—and [ overheard persons near me saying, ‘ He is perhaps the young lady's brother f —‘ No,’ repited some one better informed than they: ‘ Miss Foster is not only an orphan, bed has neither brother nor sister, nor any near reletion.’—Then | thought how happy I should be if I were your brother: for I aleo am an orphan, and without a single relative in the whole wide world,” added the young man mournfully. There was something in this announcement which touched the tenderest chord in the heart of Rose Foster ; and, raising -her eyes, she surveyed the stranger with a look of benevolent feeling and com- passionate interest. That avowal which he had just made, seemed to establish as it were 9 secret affinity between them ;: the identity. of their orphan positioas in the world appeared to ulace them all in a moment on a footmg of friendliness. The harrier of cold reserve was suddenly removed: the diffidence of strangers was annihiisted. Those worda~-“ For J also am an orphan!” were a better—Oh! far better introduction on the part of that pale but haadsome young man to the poor but lovely maiden, than if a Dake or a Dachess had presented him to her with all the weual forms end ceremonies—hollow words : obsisances measzingiess { “Yea-—1 theught how hapsy I should be, were J (COU + nna : : ——————E en ‘ee, (C DOO (CO