The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 341: what you’re looking at

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that the Marquis ie generosity and liberality personi- fled. If you asked him for any boon on which you set your mind, you would have it. And young ladies Aave their little whims and caprices, you know——”’ “Good heavens! what means this strange lan- guage?” cried Ariadne, all the suspicions and mis- givings which within the last few minutes had been aroused in her mind, now becoming excited to a painful degree. “If you really wish to befriend me——” “What can I do, young lady? Speak!” “Procure me some apparel. I cannot offer to recompense you at this moment: but in the course of the day—when once I shall haveseen Sir Douglas Huntingdon——” “Ah!” ejaculated the housekeeper, now perfectly convinced in her own mind that Ariadne was the Baronet’s mistress. “ But wherefore should you be in such haste to quit this mansion? Do you desire to return to that Sir Douglas Huntingdon of whom you have spoken f” , “I do—he is my only friend!” exclaimed Ariadne, with passionate vehemence, and not reflectiag for a moment what interpretation might be put upon the manner in which she spoke of the Baronet. “ But will you—will you, my good woman, procure me some fitting apparel? Surely Lady Ernestina Dysart would take compassion upon me—or one of the female servants might lend me a gown—a shawl—a bonnet—in fine, the barest neces- saries ——” “To be sure, my dear girl,” said the house- keeper: “I will procure all you want in good time.” “At onoe!” cried Ariadne, springing from the couch. “Procure me some raiment—I will dress myself with all possible haste——and will then in- trude no longer ——” “Ah! you are wrong to speak of intrusion,” interrupted the housekeeper. “But come into this dressing-room: here are all the requisites of the toilette—and I will soon procure you fitting apparel.” “Oh! then I shall thank you indeed!” exclaimed Ariadne, somewhat tranquillised by this assurance. But while she was combing out her beautifal long flaxen hair in the dressing-room adjoining the bed-chamber, the housekeeper took advantage of a moment when the maiden’s back was turned, to touch the secret spring and open the door lead- ing into the suite of private apartments. “I asked you just now whether you really wished to return to Sir Douglas Huntingdon,” resumed the wily woman: “and you declared that such was your desire.” “ He is my benefactor—I have already told you as much,” said Ariadne. “I am under obligations to. him—deep obligations,” she repeated with a profound sigh, as she thought of her brother to whom the Baronet had despatched his valet James with reassuring messages and with money. “You are wrong, young lady—you are wrong,” continued the housekeeper, “to think of returning to Sir Douglas Huntingdon, when you may be so much happier at the house of the Marquis of Leveson. Behold, my dear girl—-behold this splendidly furnished apartment into which the ! dressing-room opens,” she exclaimed, drawing back the secret door. “All these rooms that you THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT Sa see shall be your’s—with domestics to wait upon you—if you will only consent to remain here! Ah! my dear young lady, I am suro I shall not supplicate in vain The amazement produced by these words over- whelmed as it were the alarm previously excited: and Ariadne, desisting for a moment from the operation of combing out her hair, turned upon the woman a look so fall of wonder and startled inquiry, that it even expressed her feelings more eloquently than the words to which she simultane- ously gave utterance. “ Wherefore should you invite me thus to remain Within these walls?—wherefore should you offer me the inducement of these elegant rooms? In- deed, what know you of me, that such a proposal should have emanated from your lips ?” “Ah! young lady,” said the housekeeper, adopt- ing a tone of gentle persuasion, “did you not observe that the Marquis surveyed you with admi- ration! Aud surely, surely you will not be so cruel as to treat him with indifference or scorn ?” * Good heavens! what words are these that I hear!” exclaimed Ariadne, the colour coming and going in rapid transitions upon her cheeks, “I¢ is impossible that this can be the house of the Marquis of Leveson !—impoasible that any noble- man would have intruded into the chamber which his hospitality had afforded to a young and friend- lesa girl !—im possible that any female in his service would dare to address me in the language which has just fallen from your lips!” “Now, if it comes to the matter of that,” ex- claimed the housekeeper, suddenly throwing off the mask and speaking in a tone of coarse inso- lence, “I don’t see why you should pretend to be so very particular. Come, come, young woman—. here’s enough of this nonsense: and I have already adopted the coaxing tone too long. I suppose you meant to sell yourself to Sir Douglas Huntingdon, even if you have not done it already. But let me tell you that the Marquis of Leveson will prove more profitable to you. I saw just now by his lordship’s words that he does not regard you as the stubbornest of prudes, or yet as a dragon of virtue; and I know his humour well enough to feel assured that he won’t waste much time in coming to the point with you. Indeed he has only retired for a few minutes, just to give me the opportunity of being explicit with you.” A mortal paleness gradually spread itself over Ariadne’s countenance, as these words smote upon her ears, carrying as it were the blight of a pesti- lence down into her very soul: and towards a seat, she sank upon it crushed and over- whelmed by a terrible consternation. A faintness seized upon her—a film spread rapidly over her eyes—and she felt that her senses were aban- doning her,—when the sudden sound of a door Opening and shutting recalled her to herself. Startled back as it were into complete conscious- ness, she threw her affrighted looks around, and perceived that she was now alone. The house- keeper had left her—and it was the sound of the outer door of the bedchamber that she had heard opening and closing so abruptly. But that door almost immediately opened again : .and now it was the Marquis of Leveson who re-a | A: scream of terror burst from the lips of Ariadne: and not only did alarm, but also a feel- f . COUMIUC Ss CO Do ]