The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 261: what you’re looking at

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

250. THE MYETERIES OF THE COURT. door, to leave it ajar: for her curiosity was excited | “Mother,” exclaimed C now that -she was most anxious to know what was passing | she had no alternative but to show her spirit aud between the mother and daughter—and from the sesame a firm mien, “you are threatening me— pign Constance hed made her, she understood that | you are using strange Tady Saxondale might every moment be expected to return into that room which she herself had just | because you quitted. ” continued Lady Saxondale, rising from Meanwhile Constance, having instantaneously re- | her seat, “it seems as if it were to becomo a strug- cognized the handwriting of the Marquis of Ville- | gle between you and me who is to be the mistress. belle, tore open the letter, and ran her eye over its | False girl that you are! ere now you were embrac- eontents. It was to the effect that his expectations | ing me and weeping—ere now you affected to be had been realized—that he had that morning re- | touched by my complaints against your rebellicus ceived from the French Government the notification | brother and sister: and at present you are becoming of his appointment as Secretary to the Embassy at | rebellious in your turn! Take the oath—swear to the Court of Madrid—that he was to leave London | me that you will not abandon yourself to this in four days—and that it therefore became abso- | French adventurer: or I vow——” lutely necessary for him to see Constance assoonas| “Mother, you dare not call him en adventurer * possible, that they might make prompt arrange- | exclaimed Constance, the flush of indignation ap- ments for their marriage, which must immediately | pearing upon her features: “he is an take place. man——” A sensation of joy thrilled through every vein and | “Oh! aince you are so vehement im his defence,” fibre of the young lady’s form as she read these | interrupted Lady Saxondale, “it is another proof lines; and she forgot for the moment that her | tHat you think more of him than you just now led mother would re-appear in a minute or two to exact |me to suppose. But listen! The day after to- the cath. As this recollection however flashed back | morrow you will accompany me into Lincolnshire. to her memory, she thrust the letter into her bosom | In the meantime I will watch you with an unceas- with the deep resolve that, happen what might, she | ing vigilance. Whithersoever you go I will follow would neither prove unfaithful to the promise she | you: at night you shall aleep with me in my own had given her lover nor hostile to what she conceived chamber: you shall not even send outa letter to to be her happiness. Scarcely had she thus disposed | the post without first showing it to me: nor shall of the note,—and while the flush of joy was still | you have an of communicating alone lingering upon her countenance like the last tint of the setting sun upon the western sky,— Lady Saxon- dale re-entered the room. A the sofa, she resumed her seat thereon; and then taking her daughter’s hand, said, “Now, Constance, are you prepared to give me this proof of filial love which I require P” ‘“‘ Why should you put so little faith in me that you exact an oath P’’ asked Constance. “Because a mere pledge given is often broken, where an oath would be valued. And now let me ask why you hesitate to take this oath? Constance, it is for your own welfare that I am adopting so serious a course. Do not let me think that you ere now spoke falsely, and that you have really been maintaining a secret correspondence with the Mar- quis of Villebelle. I now tell you plainly, as I have often before hinted, that the Marquis is married. | Ihave tho positive assurance of it--and therefore | if you become anything in respect to him, it can only be his mistress.” Constance made no reply. She deliberated with herself how to act, but could settle upon nothing. At length she said, “ Mother, give me one week— or only three days if you will—to reflect upon : vou have been saying.” “Ah! then you cannot decide at once? out you opportunity with any of the servants, lest you should make them your emissaries or your “Mother,” asked Constance, now deadly pale, “do you wish to destroy all love and respect in m) heart P” “I care not,” ejaculated Lady Sexondale pas- sionately. “As for love and respect, you have none: they are mere words—not feelings. You are like your brother and your sister. But depend upon it I will save you in spite of yourself.” “And what if I insist upon leaving the house ?*” exclaimed Constance, with a deeper irritation of spirit than she had ever yet known, much lees ever before displayed. “I will stop you,” was Lady Saxondale’s per- emptory and imperious answer. “During your brother’s minority, this bouse is mine—and now as they are hired and paid by me. I will do as I think fit in my own house, and my domestics shall obey me. Do you understand me? will you drive me to extremes P” “I am to understand,” said Constance, pale, trembling, and agitated, “that 1 am a prisoner here ?” “You ere,” was her mother’s firm and decisive reply. “If you attempt to go forth unaccompanied may act at once: and it is precisely this that I am , by me, I shall be compelled to expose you before all resolved to frustrate. In a couple of days you will the servants, by ordering the hail-porter to lock accompany me into Lincolnshire: but ure we go I | the door, and by having every other issue properly wish to receive from your lips the solemn assurance that there is mo chanee of the Marquis being en- Constance burst into tears. She felt her spirit couraged to follow you down sveretly into that | fail her: sho was cowed—beaten—vanquished—al- neighbourhood. In short, there must be an answer | most crushed. Jady Saxondale saw the effect of ‘ given at once. Therefore,” added Lady Saxondale | the menaces she had held out, and inwardly gloried ' emphatically, “ will you give me that oath? or by re- 'm her triumph. Withdrawing from the immediate poyanjediypok santa aichon-tes 4 eiahaeamerlaeal vicinity of the sofa where Constance was seated, to my own course of P” j she placed as SEE a, Cheney CONIC OOOKS.EO