The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 79: what you’re looking at

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

&¢ TRB MISUBRIES OF TUX COCRE abuut e'ght o'clock, they entered it and were driven to the residence of Lady Wenlook in the neighhourhood of Kew. Her ladyship gave on this coosesion ao entertaine ment which she was pleased to denominate an autumnal fae. The mansion stood in the midst of spacious plessure-grounds, consisting of gar- dens, sheabberies, shady avenues, and delicious arbuars, Fountains and fish. ponds varied the pie- turerque seene; and conservatories of fruite and fl-were were souttered abuut in all directions. The entire enclosure was now one vast ilfamiaation, produced by myriads of variegated lamps; so that in the deepest recesses of the bowers and in the vistas of the largest avenues, it was as light ez day. The effect was brilliant and dazzling. The pools, in which the gold and silver fish disporied, were penetrated with the living lestre: the cou- servaturies,; all of glass, shone as if in a perfect biese;—and the fonntaius seattered their myriads of drops as if the shining waters finng gems aruuad in their ovaseless play. Lady Wenlock was a wealthy widow ‘about sixty years uf ages. and remarkable fur the hospi- taliy of her disposition sad the brilliaucy of ber enwuetainments. Though well stricken in ycars, she loved to see young persuns happy; aud her greuseet detight was in gathering sround her a host of youthful guests who would lay aside all extreme furmatisies and indaige in the exuberance of inmo- eons wiirth. Theagh perfectly Indy Mice ia her beasing sad polished in her manners, shese Gas no frigid reserve new sfeetation aboot hers she was thereaghly cpea-hearted, frank, sad goed-netered | taste —and everybody felt “ats home” whe partehing of her howpisslity. With this excelient Indy Mis, Astuthact was well arquainted; and she had therefore easily pro- eure! a card cf invitation for Mies Tre‘awney. The groands were already thronged with guests when Venetia, her “companion,” and Penelope arrived at the ‘mansion; and from Lady Wenlock did Miss Trelawney experience a cordial weleome, Iicr appearance in the gardens was moreover pro- ductive of a great sensation—for her extraordinary be.uty was such that no man could gase upon without emotion, and no female eye could con- template without admiration, tinged as this sen- timent might’ also be with envy. But scarcely had Venetia and the Asbuthnots thus made their appearance, when Colonel Mal- pas, who was one of the numeroas guests al- ready arrrved, hastened up to Lady Wenlock and begged her tattyship to introdute him to Miss Tre- lawney. “Oh! certainty,” said the good-natured hostess : “and as Miss Trelawney and her friends are urac- companfed by any gentleman, I shalf consign them, Colonel, to your especial care.” ‘this arrangement was within the strictest rules of etiquette, and also of propriety—the more so as Malpas was a married man, although his wife was not present at the festival. Accompanying the Colonel to the spot where Venetia, Mrs. Arbuthnot, and Penelope were pausing to admire a beautiful fountain, Lady Wen- lock introduced him to the three ladies—observ- ing withthe good-natured smile and cordial maaoner *0 well becoming a hostess who knows how fo do EE Gara eo aE ee ee, —— = the honours of her entertainments, “I have con. signed you to the care of Colonel Malpas—and | shail be very angry with him indeed if he do nog make himself agreeable.” = © =, “3 cas assure your ladyship,” said the Colonel, | with. bie moet apprered drawir'g-room draw), “that if I fail in this respect, it will not be for want of inclinatéen.” “I am eertain of that, Colonel,” replied Lady Wenlock: and off she sped to greet some new arrivals. There was a slight ef the natura} bloom on Venetis’s cheeks as she bowed to Colonel Malpas when the introduction teok place- and for a moment—s single moment—there was a naughty curl of hey beaateves Hp as she beheld an expres- sion of mingled triumph and satisfaction sweep over the Colonel's countenanes. He offered her his arm, which she took - that is te say, she just laid her white-gloved fingers lightly apom it that it wus utéeerly impossible for him bo feel the pressure of her hand at all. Biss. Arbutinuot and Penelope walked together in from: and in chis manner did tic party enter ong of the bril avenwes. “ Fh is o pleasure, Mise Trelawney,” said the Colonel, “whieh I did not expest—and— ahem !— which is the nese delightfal on account of being so cowapletely “I never beheld so enchanting a domain,” ob- served Venetia, taking wo notice of his clumsily- wordsd and avkwardly-delivered compliinent. “It is a perfect paradise; and the beanty of all the arrangements is blended with the most exquisite ne Besutifal beings are neeessarily julges of beantifal things,” said the Celonel. *Yes.—lI have no doubt that Lady Wenlock was very handsome in her youth,” returned Miss Tre- lawney, with an air of artless gaiety; “and there- fore, if there be any truth in your remark, it is not astonishing that her ladyship should have had her grounds laid out so handsomely.” There was a slight and scarcely perceptib'e tinge of irony in the latter portion of this metres snd Colone! Malpas threw a piercing glance upon Venetia to ascertain if the suspicion which struck him to that effect was well founded. But the beauteous features expressed only the animatior of gaiety; and the self-conceit of the gallant officer likewise tended to reassure him. “You did not exactly comprehend my meaning, Bix Trelawney,” he observed. “Bot no matter. I wish to speak to you npon another subject.” “The weather, doubtless?” said Veretia, with auddued archness. “Gentlemen in fashionable life invariably talk of the weather——” **Pon my honour, tirat’s excellent, Miss Tre lawney!* exclaimed the Colonel, with a laugh as elongated as his drawling habit of speech. “You are really very severe upon us gentiemen. But no doubt we deserve it: for whenever we enter into conversation with « lady, we are sure to observe either what a fine day it is, or what a bad one Ha! ha! you are quite a critic, Miss Trelawney.” “At all events you admit that I am a just one, Colonel Malpas,” she observed, scarcely able to conceal her at his fippancy and coz- combry. “You are, Miss Trelawney. And in order that | aol ES - _eEE aie CONRRICLOOOKS;: COMM