The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 114: what you’re looking at

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NL A LE ECA ET CC ES RO LES NE MYSTESIRSG OF THE COURT. 101 2 ED See ecif-.ocusings on the part of Mrs. Leyden, and when and 4 generous heart, which indications cf character the unhappy mother told him what had taken place wore amply corroborated by the high and noble when her daughter brought home the gold she had forehead that seemed formed to be crowned with received from Angela Vivaldi—and how the inci- nature’s own peerless diadem of intelligence. deut had since dwelt in Henrietta’s mind—the old § William Deveril was accustumed to dress in a gentleman at first became very thoughtful. Butat style which became a perfect gentleman, but with- length he said, “You must tranquillize yourself, out the least pretonsion to fluery—much less of, Mrs. Leyden; for I do not think from what I have mawkish dandyism. Nevertheless, a stranger who seen and heard of your daughter, she would suffer beheld that elegant young man, of such exquisite her galled feelings thus to urge her on to so despe- masculine beauty, apparelied iu the most becoming rate a step as accepting libertine proposals. In any style, would have been very far from suspecting that ease you will not losc a friend in me. I shall come he was anything less than a scion of the aristocracy. and see you again to-morrow: but as I feel inte- And yet, as the reader is already aware, Willian rested in all that concerns you, mind you send and Deveril carned his bread by giving lessons in draws , let me Xnow the instant your daughter comes back. ing, music, and painting upon ivory. But thon he For that she will come back, with a satisfactory ac- had become quite the rage, so to speak, as a prue count of her present absence, I feelconfident. Here fessor of these arte; and teaching only in the bost is my address.” families, ho was enabled to turn his talents to a very Thus speaking, the old gentleman laid his card lucrative adv-.ntage. upon the tablo; and having kissed little Charley,! 1 was about mid-day as Mr. Devoril knocked at who had gone to bed an hour previously, crying thedoor uf Lady Macdunald’s mansion in Cavendish bitterly at his sister’s absence,—the eccontric bene- Square; and to his questions as to whether Lady factor took his departure. He did not however Florina Staunton was at home, the footman who leave the house without placing gold in the land- | answered his summons, replied in the affirmative. lady's bands, and desiring her to minister in all | The young professor was thereupon conducted toa possible ways to the comfurt and well-being of Mrs. ' parlour where he found Lady Fiorina seated alone. Leyden. But, alas! unhappiness had once again; The young patrician dameol had already arranged entered that humble chamber,—not the unhappiness : upon a table the requisite drawing-materials ; and produced by poverty, for this evil existed there no it had beon with a fluttering heart tlut she bad longer,—but the unhappiness arising from the dis- | counted the minutes until William Devcril made appearance of Henrietta and the self-accusings of | his appearance. Now, as he entered the room, she her invalid mother. with that command which a well-bed and modcst It appeared from the card which the old gentle- | young female is enabled to exercise over her feol- taan had left upon the table, that the name of the ! ings, received him with that affable courtesy which poor family’s benefactor was Mr. Jonathen Gun- ghe was always wont to display towards her young thorpe, and that his address was at the Bell and preceptor. Then resuming her seat from which she Orown, Holborn. | had risen, she said, “I have done but little, Mr, Deveril, to this picture since you were last heros but I hope to make some progress this morniag.” As sho thus spoke she bent her head over a picce of ivory, of an oval shape, and about six inches in diameter at ite widest part. The subjoot of the de- Tx name of William Deveril has been occasionally | sign was a beautiful landscape which tho fair pupil mentiuned in our pages; apd we must now intro- | was copying from a wator-colour drawing made by duce him more particularly tothe reader. He was Deveril himself; and so far as her performance had quite a young man; but it was not very easy to fix advanced, it gave promise of being a very tolerable his exact ago to a yoar or two, because his com- | imitation of the original. plexion being rendered somewhat dark by alongre-| “Your ladyship has not touched it, I see, since I sidence in a southers clime, together with a cortain | was here the day befure yesterday,” ubserved De- thoughtfulness of look, possibly made him appear a veril, as he glanced at the ivory: then taking a seat trifle older than he really was. Thus he might have ‘ near his beautiful pupil, be added, “ But if your been a little under twenty or a little above twenty: _ladyalfp can give me an hour to-day, some progress {ur with no nicer precision could his age be fixed. | will indeed be made.” He had dark hair, worn somewhat long, and curl-| “I wish to have it finishod, Mr. Deveril,” an- ing naturally—whiskers which though small in- swered Florina, “ because iny auat is Gesiruus to ersased the manliness of -his otherwise youthful | present it to some one of her acquaintance. I had appearance—and fine black cyes, beaming with in- ' therefore purposed to beg you to extend the lesson .uUigence when nut bunt down in the mind’s ab- to at loast two hours—that is, if it do not interfere siraction of thought. Hoe was tall and slencer, not | with any previous arrangement which you have merely symunetrically formed, but modelled with an | made.” Apoli»-like grace and elegance. His features wero; “And if I had made any, % should cheerfully be of the Grecian ¢ast—his upper lip short, with that ' put off for your ladyship!” replied Deveril, with a G@ristocratic curl which may cxpress disdain where , warmth of tone which suddenly made Fiorina start there is false pride, but which is equally indicative and the colour rush to ber cheeks: for there was of acalm and manly dignity where there is no over. something in those acconts which touched tho ton- weening hauteur. His teoth were remarkable for doreet chord that thrilled to her heart's core; for she their whiteness and evenness; and there was some- ' knew that Deveril loved her, and this was anuther thing peculiarly sweet, though by no means ef- of those unwitting and almost unconscious pruofs of | feminate, in his smile. It denoted «kind disousition ' that love which from tame to time escaped him. CHAPTER XXIV. TUB PRECEPTOR AND HIS PUPIL 5 COMIC OOOKS.CO