The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 263: what you’re looking at

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

263 THY MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. announes that it was in readiness. This mesmge; “Whenever it suits you to retire, Constance,” was borne by Mary-Anne; and having delivered it, | ead Lady Saxondale, a few minutes she lingered in the room with an evident anxiety to | “I am ready: but you can do exactly as you like. say something. Julians questioned her ; | If you choose to sit up till midnight, I am indif- and Mary-Anne, frankly confessing that she had | ferent.” listened at the door in consequence of observing how | “I will go at once,” replied Constance, wearied strange Miss Constance looked, told Juliana all that | 1m mind and in body: for the fatigue of the for- “Ah! is st oof” exclaimed Lady Saxondale’s energies. elder daughter. “ Woe must defeat this cruel scheme | Ledy Saxondele and Constance accordingly as- ef my mother’s. Hesten, Mary-Anne, to the Mar. | canded to the suite of chambers belonging to quis of Villebelle’s lodging—tell him what has oe- | the former: and declining any attendance of the eurred——-" i “I have already been, Mies,” responded the lady’s- | opportunity maid. “ZI went while you were at dinner. The Marquis wae terribly excited: but I soothed and |i eheered him by the assurance that something should be devised to help Miss Constance to freedom. He | Constance rising stealthily in the night and disco- will not stir out, but will wait at home all this even. | vering it. ing and all day to-morrow for amy message or tidings | On the following morming, when they arose, her that I may bring him. I suppose you know, Miss, | ladyship continued to exercise the same vigilance that the travelling-carriage is ordered to be sent to | over her younger daughter,—never losing sight of the coachmaker’s the first thing to-morrow, to be | her--scarcely even moving away from her side— put in good order and have the wheels looked to | and inwardly rejoicing at the idea that things still ready for a journey? It isto be sent back by to- | wore on thus without any explanation being gives morrow evening, so as to be in readiness for the | by Constance to Juliana. After breakfast, just os following morning.” the latter was rising from the table to leave the “Then her is te take us eff inte | room, Lady Saxondale anid in a cold voice, “ Mias Lincelnshire P* said Juliana. “Very wells we shall | Varefield, I am going into Lincolashire to-morrow, eee. The moment positive orders are given as to | Constance will accompany me. I presume that you the hour when the carriage is to start, let me hmow. | also will thither with us?” Mary-Anne promised obedience; and Juliana re- | London,” answered Juliana, ip a voiee ag glacial mained for a few minntes longer in her ehamber ere | 9% thst of her parent. she descended to the drawing-room. She then left the breakfast-parlour) and as she “ And so my mother proposes to take us into the | Wae passing across the hall to reach the staircase, solitude of that dull old castle?” she said to herself | Se perosived Edmund entering hy the front-door ab the moment. He had a very dissipated look— his garments were in disordes—and he seemed as if he had been up the whole night. “ Well, Julie,” be said, in his usual flippant manner, “how are youf I suppose you think [’'m @ perfect stranger ?”--and he gave a tipsy hiccup. “ Come this way, Edmund,” gaid his elder sister, beckoning him somewhat mysterioudly. “I want to speak to you.” They accordingly passed into the diniag-room, and Juliana, making « sign for ‘her brother to clase the door, said to him, “ Da you know that we “Who's going P” asked Edmund, with a yawn. “Not I, by Jove! that’s very certain. Our lady- mother and you two girls may go if you like: but I'll be hanged if Ido. J am my own master now, thank heaven! and I mean to let people see it. You don’t know what a jolly lark I’ve had during the past night. I and Harold pretty nearly killed a policeman between us: but I don't think that we wore knewn--end, ab all events, we got clear off.” “I suppose you have not been in bed all night P” eid Juliana, not witheut a look of disgust, for she now perceived that he was half-tipsy. “Not I: and so I was just going te lie down into her mournfal mood. The evening passed away | and have a three hours’ get up again as nap—then dreary enough: at half-past ten o'clock Juliana rose | fresh as a lark, and off to Emily——Oh! I mean from her seat, and observing to Constance that she | -——But no matter: —and sesing that he had com- was tired, quitted the room without taking the least ! mitted himself, he burst out laughing. notece of her mother. “ And pray who is Emily?” asked Juliana. ee ce ee CONIC OOOKS.EO