The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 190: what you’re looking at

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.and he beheld a tall, stately, and majestic female THE MYSTERIES OF THE COUR®. 179 abandoned the pursuit, and mean to devote myself: have recognised her,—yet he felt assured that be. closely to it in a few days——” | hind that mask was a countenance well worthy “ Unless,” observed Edmund, “this new love-| to be gazed upon. His eves swept over the sus affair which presents itself in so mysterious a shape | perb outlines of her noble and majestic shape ; by means of that letter and the appointment for and he thought to himself that a form blending to-night, turns all your thoughts into quite another ' so much voluptuous symmetry with dignified ele- direction.” 'gance and feminine grace, could not possibly be “Well, it may do so,” remarked Lord Harold, | associated with an ordinary, much less an ugly eareleasly. “But even if my unknown tsamorata | countenance. And then, too, there was something be beautiful beyond expectation, I do not think her | in the whole bearing, the gait, the gestures, and chirms can possibly come up to those of Angela | the walk of his companion which seemed to indi- Vivaldi.” cate a lady of the highest rank: so that while he The two young noblemen finished their lemon- | was excited with a pleasurable suspense as to what ade, and re-adjusted the one his mask and the | the style of her beauty might be, he felt embar- other his visor over their countenances. They then | rassed and confused as to the way in which he lounged forth from the bowery alcove, and made | should address her. Indeed, for one with whom their way amongst the multitude of guesta that had | timidity was not very prevalent, this awkwardness been pouring into the saloons during the half-hour | on his part was singular, and could only have arisen spent in the preceding colloquy. As we have al- | from the presentiment that it was no ordinary or ready said, there were costumes of every variety | commonplace love-adventure in which he was en- and all descriptions. Amongst those worn by gen- | gaged. But who the lady might be, he could not tlemen, were several Spanish Cavalier dresses; but | furm the remotest conjecture. Not only did the with none were the plumes of the cap fastened by | mask so effectually conceal her countenance, but the means of so brilliant a diamond clasp as that which | drapery which she wore upon her head and which shone above Lord Harold Staunton’s masked coun- | descended upon her shoulders, altogetber veiled tenance. There were also amongst the female cos- | her hair, and even the shape of that head, the car- tumes several representing the apparel of Spanish | riage of which upon the arching neck and fine queens and princesses of the olden time: but none | shoulders was nevertheless statuesque and queenly, which identified iteelf with that of the wife of the | Above the drapery she wore a crown, the diamonds illustrious Ferdinand. Half-an-hour passed, and | of which reflected with jets of light the lustre of the two friends were still ‘ounging about together, | the many lamps suspended to the ceilings and when all of a sudden Lord Harold nudged his com- | ranged round the walls; and her flowing garments panion’s elbow, and said in a hasty whisper, “ Now, | were embellished with precious stones. There Saxondale, we must separate.” seemed to be a real royalty about her, as there Edmund cast a lock in the direction towards | was likewise a mystery which enhanced the ro- which Lord Harold was himself at the time gazing; | mantio charm of the love-affair wherein. Lord Harold Staunton thus found himself figure, clad in a queenly apparel which set off her; It must not be supposed that this meeting be- fine shape to the fullest and noblest advantage. ! tween the young nobleman and the unknown lady She wore a black mask upon her countenance; and | had anything marked or extraordinary in it so as to the silken fringe descended so low as entirely to | attract the notice of the other guests; for there cover her chin, the visard thus concealing the entire were plenty of encounters of the same kind, and ac- face, save and except the bright eyes which sent cording to preeoncerted arrangéinents: besides, no their glances flashing through the holes. | one could tell whether. lady, when thus meeting “I wish you success,” whispered Saxondale ; and a gentleman, was not being joined by a brother, turning away from his friend, he walked off to an intimate friend, a near relative, or an acknow- another part of the room. ledged suitor. Certain it was, hawever, that on her Lord Harold Staunton advanced towards the lady ' first entrance the lady did attract mueh attention, who had jurt entered, and whose appearance seemed but solely on account of the tasteful eleganee of her to correspond with that of ber whom he was ex- | dress and her own imposing and grandly syntme- pecting: bat he dared not immediately accost her, | trical figure. We have already said that a pair of although he felt convinced that the costume which ' dark eyes sent their fires flashing through the holes she wore was intended to represent that of Isabella in the mask; and as Lord Harold caught those of Spain. Not long was he suffered to remain in glances, he beheld therein an additional reason for suspense: for the lady herself, no doubt singling supposing that the countenance to which such him out trom all other Spanish Cavaliers then pre- | eyes belonged must be eminently handsome. sent by the diamond-clasp upon his cap, made a| They passed amidst the brilliant assemblage, not alight Leckoning signal which his eye immediately with the haste of persons wishing to break the caught. The next instant he was by her side; and | spell of silence as speedily ae possible, nor as if abe at unce placed her arm in his. | they were purposely seeking the aloove for the sake He led her gently amidst the brilliant assemblage, of retirement from the rest: but thay proeseded in in the direction of the alcove where he and Saxon- | the slow and gracefully lounging manner which is dale had so recently been; and not a word was adopted in the ball-room—and on reaching the al- spoken by either of themi,as they advanced towards cove, they passed into it with the air of a couple that spot. Lord Harold felt himself » prey to secking no studied seclusiop, but merely availing mingled rapture and confusion. Though the lady’s themselves in a casual. manner of ay opportumity eourtenance was so effectually concealed that he to retire for a while from the midst of the more goukt not obtain the slightest glimpse of it,—and heated atmosphere of the saloon. a, thus if she had been his own sister he eould not; “And now, fair lady—or rather, I ahould sey en . COMME MOO (CO