The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 285: what you’re looking at

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

a THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ng a eel (me a i a SE a i 274 completely to herlover. We have already asid that she was not eo depraved As to be able all in a mo- ment to make up her mind to accept the false and guilty position of a mistress, or to surrender her virtue in the intoxication of passion. Again and again therefore did she ask herself what she was to do; .and it was with the utmost diffioulty that the Marquis could succeed in tranquillizing her. He pleaded his love and his honourable inten- tions—deeply deplored that the latter should stand a chance of being frustrated by the threats of Sir | John Marston—bat besought that Constance would not think of leaving him. At the same time he declared his readiness to make any sacrifice iu order @ Qe has seen on former occasions, had a great deal of ready effrontery,—“ I suppove it was because I happened to be passing along the landing at the tine. Bat I did not condescend to give any answer to theaccnsation which that rude man had the impertinence to fling out against me.” “At all events,” said the Marquis, with a smile, ‘‘T think from what we have seen of you, if you had overheard anything, you would rather render us a service than do us an injury.” “I would—I would,” replied Kate, with a degree of emphasis that appeared also to have some deeper meaning in it. e She however immediately quittted the room, bot to insure her peace of wind; and he f‘aced his presently returned accom by one of her sis- destiny entirely in her own hands. There was «ters; and the two proceeded to lay the cloth for deep sincerity in his wcrds and an earnest tender! the repast that was now in readiness to be served g.es in his manner, that could not fail to make « up. The dinner was a good one; and although powerful impression upon Constance. She looked neither the Marquis nor Constance were much in- around, and read in Mary-Anne’s countenance the clined to do justice to it, yet this was not the case course which the abigail would have ber follow: : with Mary-Anne, who failed not to convince the namely, to persevere in accompanying the Marquis,: Miss Marshalls that she fully appreciated the and not for a moment think of retracing her way to culinary merits of the establishment. When she London. When a woman of no strong virtuous; had superintended the placing of the dessert upon principle, loves deeply, — passionately, adoringly, | table, Kate ascended to her little chamber to watch devotedly loves,—it requires no inordinate strength | f@ the arrival of the feathered messenger whom she of argument and no very miraculous combination with the response to the billet borne by of circumstances to induce her to consult her own | her own faithful and intelligent dove. happiness in preference to all other considerations:| The beautiful French time-piece on the chest of and Constance was not likely to prove an exception | drawers indicated that two hours and a half had to the rule. Still it was not however without many | elapsed since Kate despatched the billet,—when inward struggiee—many impassioned outbursts of | suddenly the little bell tinkled—the trap-door sank grief—many copious floods of teare—many sobs and | down—and the expected feathered messenger was many sighs, that sho at length made up her mind; | received on her outetretehed arm. It was not the =-—and throwing her arms around her lover’s neck, | same bird which she had sent off: that one had she murmured, “ Yes, I will be thine—thine under | been kept to repose iteelf at its place of destination ; any circumstances; thine now—end for ever !” —but this was of the same breed and as beautiful An hour had passed since Sir John Marston | ag her own. Caressing it fondly, she at once gave quitted the room; and Miss Constance Farefield | it water, and then proceeded to detach the little was at length comparatively tranquillised. She had billet which it bore beneath its wing. The contente principal cause of agitation. She had resigned her- interpreted :— self to the current of her destinies, and was there- fore no longer tortured with battlings and strug- glings against the whelming tide of passion which hurried her on. It is true that she had been com- pelled to stifle the last whisperings of virtuous compunction in her soul; and therefore if she were mot altogether satisfied with herself, but was forced t “ Dsanust Kars,—The of Villebelle has said nothing but the truth. I do not regard him es my husband. To the utmost of my power I emancipate him from all moral bonds, and would never appear against him to enforce legal ones. If Sir John Marston persists ia molesting the Marquis, let him but breathe the talis- manic words, ‘ L:dy Everton’ in the baronet’s ears, and to banish farther reflection from ber mind, she was 1 shall be moch astonished if they do not produce the at least composed, resolute, and determined. devired effect. “y Kate Marshall now made her appearance,—dis- = “RO” creetly knocking at the door, however, before she entered the apartmnent; for she naturally suspected | Having hastily perused this billet, Kate thrust it 4m her bosom, and then proceeded to adininister to that the scene with Sir John Marston could have produced no very agreeable effect upon the lovers, | food to the little messenger that had brought it. especially qn the young lady; and she did not wish | When she fancied the bird had eaten sufficiently, she to surprise them in the midst of tears and the | caressod and fondled it for several minutes; and pouring-forth of consolations. She was however | the intelligent little creature to | immediately bidden to enter; and ahe was as much | nestlc in her bosom, and put up ité beak to her . Jation which be sent forth in respect to spies ?” pleased as surprised to observe the composed de- lips as if fully sensible that they were charming meanour of the young lady in whom she felt 00 kisses which came from that rich red mouth. Then considerable an interest. —. she iet the bird issue forth through the trap-door, She came to ask if they were ready to huvedinner where it rested itself for some time in the litele cote served up; and the Marquis, having replied in the containing the saucers of food,—-ultimately fying affirmative, said, ‘‘ By the bye, can you tell me what away of its own accord. Sir John Marston meant just now by some ejaca-, Provided with the important intelligence she had received, Kate harried down stairs,—first of ali de- “ I suppose,” answered Kate, who, as the render sucuding to the room where her parents and sisters EO OO CO