The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 346: what you’re looking at

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

THB MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. BRA | @ifi Goubls the amoaht of her demands when she Suds that‘ I yield two ‘het first stipulation? No—- Briily Archer «must be dealt with in some other way. And ‘nbw return to your chaise. I¢ is useless W frolony thé discourse at present.” “With these words Lédy Sexondale turned abriptly round, and began retracing her steps towatis the castle. Lord Harold Staunton stood irrvsolute for nearly a minate; and he was half inclined to rejoin her ladyship and seck an expla- nation of thoe: ominous words to which ehe had just given utterance. But with a cold ehudder he feared to have their meaning completely cleared up; and thetefore hurried back’ to the chaise, which quickly éonveyed hith on to the castle. As be alighted at the dntrance-gates, he met his eister Flora, who had discreetly lef Juliana and Mr. Hawkshaw to walk by themselves in the garden, knbwing that the latter was paying his éourt to the former. ( “Ah, Flo!” esid Harold, in the usual careless, indifferent manner with which he was accustomed to treag his aister. “Lounging about by yourself— eb?” “You have returned unexpectedly, have you not P” inquired Florina, with a look of somewhat anxious scrutiny at her brother’s appearance, which sufficientiy indicated that be had nut been in bed all night. “Oh ! I was desirous to get back,” be answered, assuming an off-hand manner. ‘‘ You know, when I went away I promised to rejom you as soon as possible. “But you look strange, FlorinaP Has anything happened? What is the matter P” * “Nothing, nothing,” replied the young dameel. “You seem as if required rest,—you have doubtless travelled all night——” “‘Yes—I shall go and lie down for an hour or two :”—and thus speaking, Lord Hareld Staunton lastened into the castie. “Ob, my poor unhappy brother!” murmured Florina to herself, ae she turned abruptly away and procesiied mong the bank of the river. “ What will become of you, if you are indeed, as I suspect, by some means ensnared in the meshes of Lady Saxondale?” Hours: passed away —- evening came—and the company at the castle assembled at the dinner-table. Mr. Hawkshaw tmd been invited to remain: and he of course sat next to Juliana, towards whom his attentions were s0 marked that Lord Harold Staun- ton had no difficulty in perceiving he was paying his court to her. ILady Saxon«lale did the honours of the table with her wonted display of good-breeding ; and it would heave been difficult for a casual observer to discern the agitation of a troubled soul beneath that external self-possession. Florina was silent and pensive: for not even Deveril’s parting injuno- tion, that she was to dissembie for a short periud the unpleasant thoughts which hie revelations had éxcited in her mimd, could lead the young damsel so far to play the hypocrite as to appear joyous or gay wLen sho was receiving the hospitality of a woman whom she alike dreaded and loathed, and while she was trembling for the welfare of a brother whom che knew tuo be ensnared in that devigning wuman’s trammels. After dinner the whole party desvended inte tic pe a couples — Jotiana and Mr. Hawkshaw pairing off int Ge avenas—-Laly Macdonald and Florina into another—and Lord Haruld Staunton remaining alone with Lady Saxondale. But scarcely had the two iast-mentioned thus found themeclves together —and ere « single dyllable of any consequence bad paseed between them—the sounds of a travellirse equipage dashing up to the castle, but ouncesled from their view by the trees, reached their ears. “This is doubtless the Opera-dancer,” said Lady Saxondale. “If #0, I shall see her alone. Do tot attempt to make your appearance: for after all you have told me, I question whether she would be over well pleased to meet you.” “But what course do you purpose to adopt ?” inquired Harold, gasing earnestly upon Lady Gaxz- undale’s countenance. “I must be entirely guided by circumstances,” rejoined her ladyship. A domestic now made his appearance, with the intimation that a lady, who had just arrived ins post-chaise, sought an immediate interview with the mistress of the castle. “Did she give her card or name?” asked Lady Saxondale, with periect self-possession. “No, my lady,” returned the domestic. ‘She said that as she was unknown to your ladyship, 1¢ was useless to do so.” “T will see her,” said Lady Saxondale: and she accordingly re-entered the castle, the fuutman ini:- cating the apartment to which the visitress had been shown. As the door was thrown open and Lady Saxondale crossed the threshold of that roum, she armed her- self with al) her patrician dignity—invested hersaif with all her haughty pride; and drawn up to her full height—stately as a queen, yet elegant and graceful in all her movements—she accusted the visitress, who rose from the seat which she had taken. At a glance Lady Saxondale scanned ber from bead to foot. She eaw that she was handsume —that she was dressed with more magnificence than taste—and likewise that she a hardihvod end an effrontery well oaloulated fur the business upon which she had come. Indeed, the epirit of the visitress was such as to prevent her from expe- riencing the slightest embarrassment on finding herself in the presence of the haughty and brilliant Lady Saxondale, whom however she regarded with some little degree of curiosity; for though she had oocasionally seen her in her box at the Opera, and aleo in ber carriage in the park, yet this was the first time that she had ever luoxed her fave to tuce. “Whom have I the pleasare uf audressiay ?”’ inquired her ladyship, with a ould pulitenesu, and seuaing as if she entertained not the slightest idea of who her visitress was. “Perhaps your ladyship may have heard. of Mademwvisvile D’Alembert ?” “No, never-—at least nut to my present recollec- tion,” responded Lady Saxondale, pretending to reflect, as it she were taxing:bor memury: and stall by remaining standing, she suuzht to keep the dang- suse standing hkowise. “And yet I have seen your ladyship at the Italian Opera,” resumed Miss Archer, wuvee pride was hurt at the thought of ber aame being eo utterly yy- cnuwn to Lady Sazondale, ap COMIC LOO pounds! and who ‘knows but that she, garden, where they soon divided themselves into ewwmeewm! wz ear ee eee ms =_—— —_—— = wees