The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 51: what you’re looking at

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

Y-- truly and veritably stamped with the traces of profound study, aud the deeper marks of a stern qunviction and a thorough earnestuess of purpose — that is to say, in a religious sense. Thus, when his dark brown hair was thrown back from his ample forehead, and bis piercing black eves flashed the fires thas accompaoied an impas- gioned oratory—and when, too, he gesticulated with @ violence seldom indulged in by clergymen of the tvtablished Charch,—he seemed lke a modern Peter the Hermit fulminating against Mussulinans uud intent upun gathering proselytes fur the insaue purponee of a crusade. Such was the individual who had accosted Louisa Staniey in the manner already described, aud who was bow waiting for her reappearance from the second shop which she had entered w make parchases, To her he was personally un- koown, as the reader has already scen— although had he declared hie name she would immediately have recognised it as that of the eminen: preacher who had ouly lately come to reside at Canterbary eud uf whom she had heard mention made by the few persons of her acquaintance. It may be well imagined tiat Louisa Stanley was both amazed and annoyed when, on leaving the shop, she fuand the clergyman waiting at a little ilistance. Fora moment she sto;ped short, un- certain whether to proceed or to return into the shop: but reflecting that this latter course would ‘nly expose her to much unpleasant observation, if she were to mention the cause of her aunoy- auce, she hastily crogsed the street and passed along on the side opposite to that where her tor- mentor was posted. He did not move, but affected tu be occupied in examining some religious prints in a shop window; and Louisa, hastening her pace, emerged from the street and in a few miuutes reached that beautiful pleasure-ground kuuwn as the Dane Juhn. This is a large enclosure, containing shady avenues, gardens, aid gtass-plats. One side is buunded by the remains of the wall that in an- cient times belonged to the fortifications, and which ‘is now converted intu an agreeable walk. The outer side, protected by a rude ston parapet, with the ruins of watch-tovers at short intervals, over- looks the moat, which is now a yarden: and the inner side presents to the view a siuping embank- EP eee y s- a a ce a a and with one of its sides abutting against the wall, rises an immense mound, with an easy ascent of circling walks fringed by hedges: and on the top fsa marble pillar, the base of wh ch is furnished with seats for the accommodation of those who re- pair thither to inhale the breeze or to enjoy the splendid prospect which the circumjaceut scene affords. Louisa’s shortest way homeward was through the Dane John: and she was threading the beau- tiful xvenne of trees which intersects the enclosure, when she heard footsteps approaching from behiud | fe a hasty manner. Struck by the idea that some ea | on Was endcvavouring ts uv ertake her, ste glanced | ity which was becoming absolutely painful,—ead ' round--and the next mument the clergyman was , Summoning all her presence of mind to her aid,— ' by her side. “ {said ere now t' at our ways were apparently | perils which now cuviron me ?” ! | lying in the sane direction,” he immediately ob- | served, with that Llandness of manner and suavity | of wane which he knew so wel) how to assume: nn — | THB MYSTERIES OF TRE COURT. | ment of verdure. In the centre of the Dane Juhn, | fundities of her soul,—oue telling her that she “and I was not mistaken. Perinit me to esco:s you ——” | , ‘‘ Pardon me, sir,” interrupted Louisa, with a | tremulous voice and timid air, — “but I must roe | spectfully decline ——” “Young lady, I am a minister of the Gospel,” | said the clergyman, his tone now becoming sulemu ; and impressive; “ and there is no impropriety is | your accepting my escort. Js it pussible that yuu hesitate, when my motive is one of kindness? - fur — I like not to behold a lady of your age waudering thus alone.” “What can there be to fear, sir?” exclaimed Louisa, astonished at the observation. “Everything” replied the clergyman. “The world abounds with temptations and perils; and it is the duty of my sacred calling not only to warn the unsuspicious but likewise to defend the un- protected.” “J thank yon, sir, most sincerely,” murmured Lonisa, somewhat alarmed by the vague meution thus made of cuntingent dangers, and fveling that she had probably behaved uugratefully in showing a disinclination to accept the escort of one whose aspect and bearing displayed so much frankness and benevolence. — “You are young—and doubtless aware that yon are beautiful,’ cuntinued the clergyman, his words suddenly calling up a deep blush to the cheeks uf the maiden, whose ideas were also thrown into a strange and painful confusion by language which she now heard for the first time:—“yes, you are young and beautiful,” he repeated slowly, as he watched the effect which his remark produced ; “and the path of the young and beautiful is always interspersed with hidden pit-falls. Thiuk yuu that the mission of the clergyman is merely to enunciate these doctrines from the pulpit? No— it is likewise to proclaim them aloud, or to whisper them softly, wherever the warning may seem Ww be required, and according to circumstances. Heuce it is that I have accosted you, young lady: for there is something in your appearance which in- spires me with the same interest that 1 should ex- perience towards a danghte:, did I pussess one.” Louisa knew nut what to think— what to s\y— or what to do. She felt uneasy—annoyed—em- barrassed. It seemed us if two distinct voices were whispering their sugyestions in the pro- should not listen to the man whou thus forced him- self upon her notice—the other assuring her that all he said was sincere and well-meaut. She threw a rapid, furtive look upon him—aud his counte- nance was such as to increase her apprehensious : but his voice, as it still sounded in her ears, was fraught with benevolence and paternal kindness. She felt, in fine, as if some vague presentiment of evil had seized apon ber, and which she could not shake off, alt!iough on the other hand she knew it¢ to be a mere delusion. At length, feeling the necessity of adop' ing some decisive course iu order to escape from a perplex- she said, “ Will you tell me, sir, the nature of th..ee “ First, young lady,” returned the reverend gen- tleman, “be kind enough to say whether yon know who ] am.” an GORMGOOOKXS Rene ere en la EAD oo wa SD i Sm 9 S = » COMM