The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

apne SS THS MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 47 business-topic,” exclaimed Sir Douglas Huntingdon, in a tone of entreaty: “or rather, if we must speak of my estates and my property, let it be only in this manner—that I am prepared to lay all my fortune at your feet!” “ You have already offered me Acacia Cottage as a gift,” said Venetia, with a blush and a emile; “and now you propose to confer all your possessions upon me. Such unusual liberality—from an entire stran- @3 “Do not mistake me, I implore you,” interrupted Sir Dougias, eagerly. “I intend to base my offer upon terms to which you may af least listen without ®@ « And those terms?” said Venetia, with an air of mingled amazement and incredulity. “ Marriage, adored one!” exclaimed the baronet, falling upon his knees in her presence. “Rise, sir—rise—this is too ridiculous,” said Ve- netia, with that tone and manner of dignified and at the same time good-tempered rebuke which showed that she did not think it worth while to take the matter in.a particularly serious light, nor to invest it with any undue importance. ‘You are evidently @ good-natured, well-meaning man—and I cannot find it in my heart to be positively vexed with you. But—" “But you do not think that I am serious? ex- elaimed the baronet, rising from his suppliant pose- ture and looking very crest-fallen. “Tf I did not suppose you to be serious in offering me marriage,” said Miss Trelawney, now speaking with all the dignity which woman knows so well how to assume and which becomes her so loftily,— “J should spurn you with indignation and order my lacquey to eject you from my presence. But as I do believe you to be serious in making me an honourable proposal, I can only reject it with peliteness—at the game time begging you to observe how silly and ri- diculous it is to take such a step after an acquaint- ance of precisely twenty-five minutes :”"—and Venetia towards the or-molu clock on the mantel- piece as she uttered these last words. “ Miss Trelawney,” said the baronet, to whose cheels, before so pale, had rushed the crimson glow of mortification and bitter diaappointment,—“ you are not so much a stranger to me as you may imagine. "Tis trae that I have never spoken to you until this day: but I have seen you—I have admired you from a distance—and—and—I love you.” “ Bat, unfortunately, my dear sir, I do not love you in return,” answered Venetia, evidently resolved to treat the matter with a good-tempered raillery : “and therefore we must consider the topic at an end. Now, I am not angry with you—I shall not mention this ailly proceeding elsewhere, so as to make a laughing- stock of you-——”" “Oh! I thank you for this kind consideration on your part!" exclaimed Sir Douglas Huntingdon, with bitterness of tone: then, instantaneously repenting of the unwarrants*e ebullition of anger, he said, “But indeed I ought to thank you sincerely and un- feignedly, Miss Trelawney ———” * Yon are reasonable, Sir Douglas, and will view the affair in its proper light,” interrupted Venetia. “What complexion, then, does it assume? A gentle- man of whom I know nothing, writes to me upon a matter of business—in fact, he announces to me that he has suddenly become my landlord. I cannot re fase to grant bim the audience which he craves. He - Oo one -ap comes—he throws himself at my feet—and offezs marriage. There are but two ways to treat him— either with anger, or with indulgence. I prefer the latter course, and I adopt it—in the hope that he will take his departure in a friendly manner and come near me no more: Now, Sir Douglas, have I made myself intelligible?” “You have—too intelligible, Miss Trelawney,” an- swered the baronet, not knowing how to act and scarcely what tosay. “But am I to understand that you henceforth debar me the privilege of paying my respects to you occasionally ?” “Your visits cannot be agreeable to me after what has just passed,” rejolned Venetia: “and I should also imagine that you yourself will feel no inclination to renew them.” - “But is it impossible that I can ever make a favourable impression upon you ?” inquired the baro- net. “Quite impossible, I can assure you,” returned Venetia, laughing, as she leant against the mantel- piece—for she had risen from the sofa when her visitor threw himself upon his knees, and she had “- mained standing in order to discourage a prolongation of the interview. Sir Douglas Huntingdon hesitated—and his oon- fusion therefore became absolutely painful. “You will order your doors to be closed against me ?” he said, with a nervous quivering of the lip. “YT should hope that yeur good taste will render no such extreme measure necessary,” answered Venetia, in a tone of dignified remonstrance. “You are really very kind—very forbearing—very good-tempered,” exclaimed Sir Douglas, now laugh- ing in order to escape from the embarrassment and awkwardness of his position; “and it would be un- pardonable on my side to do or say aught that may anger you. I shall therefore take my departure.” Thus speaking, the baronet made a low bow and quitted the room. “I love her to desperation,” he thought within himself, as he returned to his carriage, which was in attendance. “But how to possess her either as wife or mistress—aye, that is the question !” The carriage was about to drive away, when a loud voice called out in a commanding tone for the coach- man to stop—and the head of the redoubtable Cap- tain Tash was immediately afterwards thrust in at the window. « How are you, my dear Huntingdon? I eaw you coming out of Acacia Cottage—and-——” “There, there—that’s enough!” said the baronet impatiently. “I suppose you want eighteen-pence or balf-a-crown—and here it is.” “By Jove, sir—but I want nothing of the kind!” exclaimed the Captain, affecting a tone and look of the deepest indignation. “ Well, it's the first time that I have ever known you not to want a trifle of the kind,” said the baronet, laconically: then, as his glance happened to travel acroes the road, he beheld the Captain’s man Robin standing bolt upright against a lamp-post, and apparently as motionless and rigid as the post itself. “By heaven! a thought strikes me!” exclaimed Sir Douglas, his countenance brightening up. “ What is it” asked Tash. “Send your man to me this evening, Captain, at nine o'clock,” was the response, “‘and J will give him something to do that shall be well paid for. And now good-bye.” = a @ @ @-@ie® aon gn Gap ote. «dine. Seg eee Oe” mn + Raa COMM SS boo COMM aut