The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 389: what you’re looking at

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378 ee rn AGS SC TDA THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. on a suitable apparei: for notwithstanding I now learnt that there was not the remotest degree of kinship between her and us, yet I thought that having so long regarded her in another light, it would have been but decent to exhibit a proper respect for her memory. Frank told me that a gentleman, whose name he did not know, had brought him to school; and it appeared that this gentleman—or rather ‘nobleman—took his deper- ture immediately, and did not ask to see me. “Frank likewise told me that about ten months back he had been taken to a large building in Lon- don, where he had seen that lady again; and that she was then in perfect health. On that occasion he had for the first time beheld the nobleman who afterwards brought him to school: for that he was a nybleman, could be conjectured from the circum- stance that he had worn a star upon his breast, when Frank saw him first of all. My brother like- wise told me that on the previous day—that before he arrived at the school, and which was ten months after his visit to the lady at the great building in London—this same nobleman, after posses- sion of Mrs. Burnaby’s papers and letters, had conducted him to the splendid mansion in the park, where he saw the lady a third time, and also those two young ladies previously mentioned. The lady whom he had been taken specially to see, wept over him, murmuring that perhaps she should never see him more; and sho cut off a lock of hie hair. He was then consigned to the charge of that noble- man who brought him to the school at Southampton. Such was the substance of the information which Frank gave me; and amidst my grief at the death of poor Mrs. Burnaby, it wee a source of comfort to have my brotber beneath the same roof with myself. * At the time of which I am now speaking, he was eight, and I was sixteen. He of course lived in the department of the establishment allotted to the boys—while I dwelt in that appropriated to thre female scholars. We however saw each otber for a short time every day, and for several hours on Sunday. I was therefore now much happier than I had been when at this school by myself; and I did my best to make my poor brother happy also. We were well provided with clothes by the master and mistress according as we wanted them: ‘ and we were likewise allowed a sufficiency of pocket-money. I think that Mr. and Mre. Jennings suspected there was some strange mystery connected with us—but they evidently were not acquainted with it—or at least not im all ite particulars: for Mrs. Jennings | i frequently questioned me in respect to my former reminiscences. I used to answer her with frank- ness, in the hope that she would perhaps be led to tell me something. But she never did. “I must here observe that amongst the female. scholars at this school, there was one named Cathe- rine Marshall. She was four years younger than mwwyself—a fine, tall, well-made, and beautiful creature as ever I beheld. She was possessed of a merry and joyous disposition — i disliked learniny, I was wont to assist her with her lessons. She was a kind-hearted generous-minded girl; and I loved her dearly. I must add that her father Mr. Marshall kept a tavern at Dover; but being well off, he was enabled to give his daughters a good education. For Kate had two sisters younger than herself; and they were at echool, I believe, at Dover—the mother not liking to have them all sent away from home. “T have said that I was sixteen when my brother came to this school. About s year afterwards Mrs. Jennings told me that I was no longer to consider myself a scholar, but Wis to occupy the place of junior teacher, with the ultimate view of qualifying myself as a governess, by which profession I was to earn my bread. Thus time passed on; and when I was twenty, Mra. Jennings informed me that I was to make my preparations to enter, in the above needa arena Reareitan about to visit the Con- Kate at that time—ehe being sinteen—lof the @hool, We exchanged some little mementoes of our friendship; and she made me promise that if ever I had an opportunity, I would pay her a visit at Dover. But the most anguished seperation was from my dear brother Frank; and when the moment for parting came, we embraced again and again, unable to tear ourselves away from each other's arms. At length we did separate: and never shal] I forget the excruciating poignancy of my affliction at that moment! My boxes were con- veyed to the hotel where the family was stopping ; but before I took leave of Mr. and Mrs. Jennings, I besoulht them to treat my dear brother with all possible kindness, as I knew that he would be incon- solable at my loss. They promised that they would; and they showed some degree of feeling on parting from me. “The family into which J now entered was that of Sir John Marston. He was then about fifty years of age: Lady Marston was two years his junior. They had a niece with them—a Mrs. Lloyd—who was a widow, and had two children. She was about thirty years old; and her children—both girls—were respectively twelve and ten. It was these two chil- dren of whose education I was to take charge. As I have already said, this family was staying at an hotel; and from what I learnt, they had only arrived from London two days previously. How they heard of me—how I became engaged to enter into their of course I did not ask the question. “On the following day we embarked on board a steam-packet bound for Havre-de-Grace: and there I found that the Marstons had a house ready pro- vided to receive them, and where they had pre- viously been dwelling for some time. It was there that we accordingly took up our abode; and I entered upon my duties as governess to Mra Lioyd’s | children. Under no circumstances is the occupa- mischievous, if I tion of a teacher a very pleasurable one: but mine may use the term—and full of frolicsome gaicty. | was rendered doubly annoying by the disagreeable My spirite were naturally good, notwithstanding the | | temper of my two pupils, and by the difficulty I many depressing circumstances by which I was! surrounded. Kate and I soon formed a sincere experienced in giving Mre. Lloyd satiafnction. She was constantly interfering and finding fault. Her friendship for eaeh other. When the school walked | children were rude, pert, and forward when I com. out wo were always together; we sat together in | menced with them; and vainly did I endeavour to the school-room ; and as she was somewhat idle and | improve their manners and dispositions. If I spoke aren COMM NOOKS