The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 15: what you’re looking at

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

Pee iMEaMas®) etaive CORO 6 a eu. imam > © Oe Grae a Re > Go aay 3 THE METERIZES OF THE COURT. that way during the season when Fiora is wont ‘to deck the earth with the loveliest and richest hues, could fail to pause, at least for a few mo- ments, and contemplate that picturesque spot. Bat oft-times the interest of the scene was enhanced by the presence of two charming female forms, moving along the gravel walks, and affording in the simplicity of their attire a striking contrast to the pomp and gaud of the tulips, the daffodils, the pinks, the roses, and the peonies, which margined their path. The two beautiful creatures just alluded to were sisters—and they were likewise orphans. Their parents they had never known: but in that cottage they had been reared from their in- fancy by an affectionate aunt who fostered them with a maternal care. From this relative they had learnt that they were born in London: but their earliest reminiscences were associated only with their present picturesque though humble abode. Their father, they were informed, was an officer in the army who had been killed in the Flemish campaigns in 1788; and this inci- dent, it appeared, had prodnueed such a shock upon the mind of their mother, who was still in her confinement with the younger girl when the sad intelligence reached her, that sie died of a broken heart. Thus was it that the care of the orphans had devolved upon their deceased father’s sister, Miss Stanley—a maiden lads; with but a limited income. The near Canterbury; where she dwelt, was however her own property ; and as she was a woman of frugal habits, she had managed to ensure the advantages of a geod education for her two nieces. In the ages of the sisters there was a difference of about twenty months: but in their personal appearance there was a great discrepancy. Clara; the elder, was a splendid creature—remarkably precocious in the expanding richnessof her form, and looking two or three years older than she really was: whereas Louisa, the younger, was of that nymph-like beauty and sylphid grace which invested her with an air of childish eweetness and charming simplicity. A similar comtrast existed with regard to their minds, their tastes, aad their pursaits, although they had beea subjected to the eame influences in respect to training and edu- cation: but it was nevertheless a faet that while Clara was fond of romances and love-tales, Louisa’s favourite reading was the highest stand- ard of poetry, and books calculated to improve and strengthen the understanding. Moreover, the elder sister was somewhat indolent in her habits, and disliked mneedle-work: whereas Louisa could not bear to be unoccupied, and was always busied with her books, her flowers, her music, or her needle. There was also a tinge of selfishness and egoism in Clara's dispv-icion, which had peeped forth in her childbocs and become decidedly perceptible in her gir:hood, although the mode of life in which she was rearea waa too regular, simple, and unar! ‘cial the other hand, Louisa was all artless genervsity and ingenuous good-nature—the purity of hor thoughts rehecting in the amiability of her matiners, and the innocence of her soul shining | in her looks and penetrating all her actions. In unroffied tranquillity had passed the exist- | ence of these lovely beings until Clara had at- tained the age of nineteen and Louisa was con- sequently a few months past that of seventeen. Then did a terrible calamity befall the orphans -|——a blow which struck all the more severely in- asmuch as it came with such cruel abruptness. | This was not the death—but perhaps the worse than death—of their aunt, who was saddenly | stricken with a paralysis that deprived her of the faculty of speech and of her reason. The ablest professional assistance that Canterbury could afford, was called in: but no mitigation of the misfortune resulted from the talent, skill, and attention bestowed upon the {| case ;—and, though the aant’s life‘was pronounced heyond any immediate danger, she nevertheless | lived as it were without the sense of existence— dumb as the inferior beings of the creation, and with the mind’s lamp extinguished apparently for ever. Seme months elapsed—and so long as the mo- ney lasted which the sisters found in their unfortunate relative’s writing-deek, they did not gtve themselves mucb thought as to pecuniary matters. Clara's indolence threw upon Leuisa the powers | the principal charge of the household arrange- | ments; and the younger sister's economy—a habit derived from her aunt’s example—made the immediate resources endure as long as possi- ble. But one morning, when Louisa gave the | female-servant the last guinea to change, the young maiden was for the first time troubled as to the source of future supplies. She communi- cated the cause of her perplexity to Clara, who suggested the prudence of examining the aunt’s private papers in order to ascertain whence | her income was derived. This step was accord- ingly adopted: but nothing was found in the writing-desk at all calculated to assist the orphans oat of their dilemma. Louisa however recole lected that her aunt was in the habit of paying | an occasional visit to a bank in Canterbury; and | putting on her bonnet and scarf, she at once | repaired to that -establishment to make the inquiries which circumstances suggested. The | banker received the young maiden with kind- | ness, and informed her that Miss Stanley, the aunt, had been in the habit of drawing every half- | year for sixty pounds upon a certain Mr. Beck- ford who resided in London, and who had inva- riably honoured the draughts: but who Mr. Beckford was, or what claim the aunt had upon him, the banker was totally unable to state. Ho however undertook to write to that geutleman and describe the calamity which had reduced | Miss Stanley to a condition of worse than child- ish helntessnese. to dave. wat sentiment completely. But, on; Ina few days Louisa called at the bsnk again; — a ee CONNEC MOO SS COMM