The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 312: what you’re looking at

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

TZB YYSTERIZS OF THE COUR. volving another in his mind; But Lady Saxondale was too much sbeorbed in the ountemplation of her own perilous position, to notice his mood. They continued to walk together for a few minutes longer, until they heard the voices of Ju- hana and Florina at the extremity of the avenue; and then Harold quickly withdrew his arm from around the admirably modelled form of the superb Lady Saxondale. The night passed; and on the following morning sivas. pennebr tome iran did receive by the post a a friend in don. It was delivered required his speedy return to the metropolis; but he added that his abscnce would only last a few da at have the pleasure of joining the circle at Saxondale His aunt bade him not be so foolish After breakfast Florina and Juliana went out to- gether to walk in the warden; and Lady Macdonald sat horself down to read a new novel. Lady Saxon- dale whispered to Staunton to jom her ina few cordingly proceeded. “My dear Harold,” she said, “I thank you for this fulfilment of your promise. You know that I am now your’s as much as woman can be, short of the iage-ties. In surrendering myself to you this night past, I have descended for the first time from that pinnacle of honour which I have main- tained since my husband’s death nineteen years back! Oh! do you not confess that I deserve all you can do for me? But wherefore do you regard me In so singular a manner P’’—and Lady Saxondale felt suddenly frightened at the looks of her para- mour. “It is time that we should have further explana- tions,” was Staunton’s answer, delivered with the tone of a man who felt that he was exercising an authority which could not be disputed. “What mean you?” asked Lady Saxondale in a faint voice, and trembling all over; for she was smitten with a presentiment of evil. “ It will be your own fault,” Staunton went on to say, “if we do not settle matters very amicably indeed. You have already said that you are mine as far as woman can be where the marriage vows have not been pronounced. Wherefore should those Inarriage vows not pass between us?” Lady Saxondale was confounded and stricken speechless : she could scarcely believe her ears, and gezed in vacant bewilderment upon Lord Harold. “ Now, my dear Harriet,” he resumed, “ do not be childish—for we must talk seriously. You as- sured me last night, with a sincerity which I could not doubt, that your life bad been pure and spot- less, and that the moment of weakness in which you had given enco | I confess that it would not be very agreeable to me t to Deverill was the one; | instance : but as that led to no result, we ! may as well pass it over as nothing at all. Now,as/| 801 or the smile of supercilionsness upon the lips of those who had previously been her paramours, I should not have thought of seeking you as a wife if it had not been for that solemn assurance. You have a handsome jointure of your own; besides which, you have a good sum of ready money which you have saved. All this I know, of course, from Edmund. It is true that there is the disparity of a few years between your age and mine : but then I look older than I am, and you look much younger than you are; and therefore the match will not be so incon- sistent after all. Besides, without any flattery, you are of a beauty so splendid that it seams to defy the ravages of Time. Altogether, therefore, you will suit me as a wife better than any lady of my aoc- quaintance—that is to say, better than any one who would be likely to have a man of no fortune such as I am.” “Is it possible that you are serious, Harold *” asked Lady Saxondale, who had listened in mute astonishment to this business-like and matter-of-fact speech, wherein however there was # certain per- vasive under-current of patrician levity. “ For if you be perpetrating a jest, it is cruel to joke with me under such circumstances.” “J never was more serious in my life,” rejoined Harold: “and I am convinced that when you come to reflect, you will see that it is the best thing I can do for myself: inasmuch as that old uncle of mine Lord does not seem at all inclined to die. I have had no letters and no remittances from him within the last two or three weoks, as I had expected; and at all events he could not possibly be offended with me for making such a match—he would regard it as a very excellent one.” “You must be mad, Harold!” exclaimed Lady Saxondale, stamping her foot with impatience. “If you marry me, how can Edmund marry your sister?” “ Permit me to take care of myself and think uf my sister afterwards. Do you not comprehend that if Edmund married Florina, it would prove of no pecuniary advantage to myself ?—for I could not spunge upon them—whereas by marrying you, I secure to myself a fine position at once. Of course the affair would be broken off between Edmund and Florma; and we should soon find another eligible match for the former, and a wealthy husband for the latter. Depend upon it, my dear Harriet, the echeme is admirable. I revolved it in my mind all the time I was conversing with you last evening: but I thought it better not to broach 1t until this morning —because I knew that in the interval you would become more truly mine than you were be- fore. Now we are husband and wife in all excopt the marriage ceremony ; and that may be solemnised in @ very short time.” ‘‘Do you mean me to understand,” asked Lady Saxondale, determined to come to the point at once, “that you are not making a mere proposal which I am at liberty to reject if I choose, but that you are dictating terms to which I am tw submit P” “Pray do not suffer aggravating language to pass between us,” rejoined Lord Harold: “or you will compel me to speak more candidly sti “Then speak candidly!” said her ladyship in @ decisive tone. “T will do so, since you require it. First of all, you enlisted me in your service to provoke Deveril | t marry a demirep and behold the laugh of scorn | to a duel, with the solemn understanding that if I eee ees cece i ive lenin cemeteries soem ts mints in — ~~ ee eee -_- NOOKS | CO