The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 136: what you’re looking at

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

If any doubt had previously existed in my mind in respect to Bt. James’s Palace being the piace where I had seen that lady whom I always think of as my mother, it was now cleared up. But P who could she have been? Some of no mean rank: for on two ccoasions had I scen elegantly dressed ladies with her, apparently im attendance upon her, and treating her with de- ference and respect. Moreover, that nobleman with a star upon his breast—was he not in some way elosely connected with that lady or with her secret ? -—for that there was a secret, and that this regarded my sister and myself, it wae impossible to doubt. However, I will not dwell upon all the dames who visited at the palace, did I catch a giimpee of that one countenance which above all others I would have given worlds to behold !” “ And should you recollect it now, if you beheld that countenance, Frank?’ inquired Juliana, more and more interested in the youth’s strange and romantic story. . “ Recollect it, Mies?” he exclaimed. “Oh! it were impossible to forget it! Even if I had never seen that lady but once—and even if it were only on that first occasion when I was but six old— her image would have remained indelibly impressed tpon my mind. But recollect, Mies Farefleld, that on two subsequent occasions did I behold that lady at about 2 year’s interval each time, and that on the last occasion I was eight years old. At this age the mind is callous end insensible to many things, but equ ‘lly susceptible and sensitive in other things. Amidet the Alpine foreste there is a tree which if, when « tender sapling, a name be engraved upon it, will, as it grows with the progress of years, retain the thus made; and while increasing in balk and height, it still preserves the name in- dented upon ite rind—and the larger it becomes the deeper, the wider, and the more palpable grows the inscription aleo. So it is with certain images which are engraven upon the youthful heart. The human sap- | “But it was without effect. The nobleman con- ling grows up to man’s estate, and time instead of ob- | tinued cold—unmoved—inscratable. If he die lterating the inscription, deepens it, makes it spread | played any emotion at all, it was ap affectation of over a wider space of the heart, and allows it not to | surprise, as he said, ‘ Young man, you are talking be effaced.” in enigmas. I know nothing of the incidents to “ Frank,” murmured Juliana, gazing upon the | which you allude; and they are evidently secrets youth in mingled astonishment and adoration, “it | into which I have no right to pry. But as you is something ineffably sweet, though mournful and | have made guch a mistake without sinister design, toushing, to hear you talk thus. Oh, if my image | I will not chide. On the contrary, I am rather in- eould only be imprinted thus indelibly upon your | clined to take an interest in you; and therefore if heart, how happy should I be! But ere now you | ever you need a friend, do not hesitate to apply to addressed me as Misa Farefield. When we are | me.’—'Oh, my lord,’ I exelaimed, ‘torture me not “alone together, let there henceforth be no ceremony | with this assumed ignorance of the past; but tell between us. Away, away,” cried the impassioned | me who and where is the lady that I long to clain young lady, “with all cold formalities! Tome you as my mother!’— ‘Young man,’ résponded the are Frank—and to you I am Juliana /’ | nobleman, ‘it is weeless for you to address me in The youth, who in his inexperience of the human | this manner. Let it be suffivient for you that the heart mistook this gush of impassioned feelings for | romantic singularity uf the present occurrence which the purest and chastest love—a mistake which | has led you to mistake me for another, bas 2 Juliana herself also made in respect to her own emo- | enlisted my sympathy that I will prove your friend.’ tioms-~was enraptured by the language, the looke, | —He then passed rapidly on through the hall; but and the caresses of that splendid patrician lady; | ere he issued forth from the palace, I inquired of a end amuist all the mournful reminiscences which | fellow-page who made his appoarance there at tie GOnMGOOOKS (CO