The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 249: what you’re looking at

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

—_ nuts aii=Er® &=a - @ Soom = « - ~eicte —~= —swe een «= oh eased. “I think i¢ must have been the next night that I triad my door again—again found that it had not bean bolted on the outside—and again did I atealforth. I thought that I would go and see that sweet. pretty creature in her chamber: for I know not how it was, but I entertained an idea that she was @ like myself. I was much interested in her; and I thought that if she were a prisoner I would help her to escape with me. I felt along the wall of the passace for the metal knob—found it—apd opened the door leading into her chamber. There wae s candle burning in the room; and that beautiful creature, with her clethea on, was re- cliping ma large arm-chair. She was asleep—and I staod still to gaze upon her. I thought that I had mavert sean any one so beautiful: I longed to go and hias hex as che slept: there was such a sweetness in her countaenance—so different to the disagreeable look of that horrid Mrs. Martin. She began to awake: and [ knew not then what to do. I grew fright- ened; but mustering up my courage, [ advanced cowards her, determined to speak. I raised my hand to make a sign to her to be silent and not to be afraid: but she suddenly seemed to faint—and [ was 60 confused and bewildered that I turned away, shut the dooz, and hurried back to my own chamber. I did not think of any farther attempt at escape that night. Even if I had found the means, I do not think that I should have fled to leave that pore girl behind me. The next day, from the window of my chamber I saw her walking with ghat odious Mrs. Martin in the garden at the back of the house. How different was this sweet crea- ture from the vile woman she was with! I thought to myeelf that if they would allow me to have that interesting to come and ait with me a little end talk to me, I should not so much mind living at Beech-Tree Lodge. But no, no-—-I knew they would not: they never did anything to soothe me in my captivity—and so wretched was I at times, that I used to cry out aloud, even in the deep silence of the night, in the bitterness of my an- guish.” ‘Do not think of that any more, Adolphas,” eaid Lady Beas, as soothingly as if she were speak- ing to a child: “it will only make you unhappy. Have you told me all your adventures with the rusty key of your own chamber and the secret door of Henrietta’s? for I am quite sure that you are tnz of her.” “Oh! I havea great deal more to tell you. We nearly succeeded in escaping together once; and I must explain to you how it was. Another night— I think it must have been the next—I again stole forth from my chamber, descended the stairs, and crept along the passage. But how frightened was I when I saw that secret door open and a light utreaming out: J stopped to listen. Oh! that eruel uncle of mine was with Henrictta, threaten- ing her—ill-treating her. I rushed in and dashed him to the grouhd. Then I seized Henrictta’s arm and hurried her from the room. Oh, to escape! Dut no—we were not to escape then. Somehow or another the household had been alarmed, so that Mellamy and Mrs. Martin with some of the servants caught us. The monster Bellamy struck me down ; and when I came te myself, I was nv longer an oc- capent of the chamber which for so many years bad veen mine, but found that I had been removed a LPO eo =e er, aoe AD ™ —- ®@a « o THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. up to that loft where you afterwards discovered me. That is all.” “ And you still experience for Henrietta the kind f same sympathy?” said Lady perfectly well understanding that the unfortunate Adolphus had beoome deeply smitten with the young damsel’s beauty, though he himself did not com- prebend the nature of the feeling. “Yes—Oh, yes—I love her very much, and be so glad to see her again :”—and as he thus spok his pale haggard countenance became animated with a light reflecting the emotions of the heart. “Depend upon it you will see Henrietta answered Lady Bess. “ But have you not wearied yourself by so much “Yes, a little: and yet I feel relieved by having told you all these things. I thought when I began that I should have had much more to tell you; butas I went on, a great deal of what I bad been of slipped out of my mind. Perhaps I shall re- member more to-morrow; and you may rest as- sured that I will tel you everything.” “Now you would do well to compose yourself to sleep,” said Lady Bess. “If you will not go away. Promise me to remgin here by my bedside, and then I shal) sleep in peace and comfort.” “I will stay here,” was the respange of his king hostess. Thereupon Adolphus, like « tractable and satisfied child, closed his eyes and was soon asleep. For some time Lady Bess sat thinking upon ell he had told her: but gradually her thoughts wan- dered elsewhere and settled thamsclves upon the incidents of that day. She reflected with joy apon the meeting with her brother, and the happy dis- covery thus made that he was not lying cold in the ailent grave as she had been treacherously led to suppose: but a gloom gradually settled upon her countenance as she thought to herself, “Oh, if he should discover what Iam! But no, no—he must not be suffered to find out that. How strange that he should be in the Saxondale family, and it was the young lordling who bears this name that I despotled a little while back. The lawyers too, connected with the affairs of that family, were those with whom I had that strange and exciting adventure :” —and now the radiance of triumph superecded the gloom upon the amasonian lady’s features, as her grand exploit of the ride ‘to Dover came back to her memory. Again did her thoughts turn into another channel, and settle themselves upon her interview with Lord and Lady Petersfield, which likewise brought a smile tu her lips: but suddenly becoming grave and eerious, she drew forth the portrait which she had torn from the volume, and unrolling it, fixed her eyes upon the beautiful countenance of the ludy re- presented there. ‘Was this indeed my mother?” eho said to her- self, contemplating those features and endeavouring to trace therein some resemblance to her own. “ Methinks there is a faint, faint likensass between this beautiful patrician lady and my dear brother Frank—yes, and also a likoness to myself. Aad yet. it may be but fancy. Assuredly I am not capable of vanity sufficient to induce me to assimilate my. selt to thia lady. And yet I do think there is a likoness to both me and Frank. The yeucilling af sec wees. as . =—@e ae =m «ae . ipa hp v4 GON GoOO wate aem® 68 Geese = —8 8 5 GERSEe® EE Ee ee © eS ee owe wneraetbees -m - ep fe es ee ree »- ope ewe @~ 2 w= SS CO