The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 77: what you’re looking at

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64 THB MYSTERIZEA OF THB COURT. of Lords, and being asked whitber he was going, he would not immediately reply—it was possible he might be on his way to the one place or the other—but he would not pledge himself to the fact - he would rather not compromise himeelf-by the assurance that it was so—many things might happen in the interval. Indeed, Lord Petersfield had a holy abhorrence of all downright questions, and never could give a prompt or stmightforwerd anewer. He even once, when accosted at a party and asked if he were not Lord Petersfield, looked positively dismayed at such a pointed question, replying that he did not exactly know—he had not considered upon it—he would rather not com- promise himself—he might be Lord Petersfield— it was possible—but still no man ought to be called upon to answer in a hurry a query of such grave personal importance. Nay, it was even whispered that when his lordship (who married Iate in life, conducted his intended to the altar, and was asked “ whether he would take that womau to be his wife,” his countenance grew awfully grave and his looke profoundly solemn, while he assured the clenryman that he was not prepared to s;.cak decidedly upon the point—he did not like to compromise himself—and had a vory particular aversion to such pointed querfes. Sech was Lord Petersfield, one of Ledy Saxon- dale’s guests on the occasion of which we are writing. Mr. Marlow, Edmund's other guardian (of the firm of Marlow and Malton), was also invited; and a very different person he was from his colleague fn the trusteeship. For precisely as Lord Petersfield was slow, pompous, and heavy, was the solicitor quick in action, glib in speech, avd volatile in motion. When the door was thrown open and his name was announced, he rushed in allin a flurry, just ae if he were late for an important ¢ase coming on before the Judges at Westminster; and in the space of three minutes he would talk more than Lord Petersfield ever spoke in three years. A quick succession of guests soon followed the arrival of Lord Petersfield and Mr. Marlow,— —Lords and Ladies, Right Honourables and Ho- nourables—in short, a brilliant company to the numberof fifty: for this was a very grand dinner- party that Lady Saxondale was giving on the present occasfon. Lord Harold was amongst the guests: but it was not till the very last minute, and jast as Ledy Saxondale was beginning to despair, that Edmund made his appearance. It was now just five minutes seven o'clock, and Lady Saxondale, who liked to be very punctual, felt happy as she glanced around, and rapidly counted to herself all the guests who were present, saw that their number was con- plete. That elegant-looking page whom we have especially noticed in a preceding chapter, now en- tered the room, and gliding noiselessly over the thick carpet, approached his noble mistresa, who, fancying that he came merely to receive the usual order to serve dinner up at once, nodded in a significant manner to that effect. But it appeared that the page’s object {n accosting Lady Saxon- dale at the moment was of another kind: for he bent down and whispered, “Please, my lady, « woman is waiting in the hall to speak to your ladyship upon very important business.” “Did you not give her a anewer?” asked Lady Saxondale, in a low tone, but with Sees an angry look, as if she thought the page ied pot done his duty. “TI aesured the woman,” was the whispered response, “ that yuur ladysh{p would see no one now ; but she desired me to say that she must have an interview if only for a minate, without delay too, for she has got to be quite at the othe: end of London by nine o'clock. Please, my lady, those are the woman’s own words.” Lady Saxondale seemed struck by an astonish- inent not unmingled with dismay at this intelli- gence, and for a moment she hesitated how to act—wmurmuring to herself, “ Who can it possibly be?” Then suddenly making up het mind, she said, “Go aad show the woman into the parlour down staira, and I will come to her ina moment.” None of the guests overheard this rapid and brief colloquy between her ladyship and the page: nor was the emotion of the formor, on re- ceiving eo insolent a message, observed by any one present in the drawing-room, save her elder daughter Juliana—end this young lady's atten- tion was only drawn to the incident by the cir- ‘oumstance that from under her long eyo-lashes she was bending stealthy and slidelong glances towards the beautiful page the whole time that he wasin the room. Thus was it thet Jaliane was led to observe that something had traas- pired to vex and alarm her mother: but thaugh suddenly animated with « deep curiosity to leasa what it was, she did not dare follow her parent from the room for the purpose. Lady Saxondale, with a gracious apology to those guests who were seated near her for her being compelled to leave them for an instant, quitted the apartment, and down stairs to the room where the obtrusive visitress was waiting to see her. Her ladyship remained absent for about a quarter of an hour, during which in- tervel Juliana was pussling herself to conjecture what on earth it could be that had thus evidently tronbled her mother. Atthe expiration of that time Lady Saxondale returned to the drawing-room - and still from beneath her long dark leshes did Juliana intently watch her mother’s countenance She at once saw that it was pale and bore the traces of very recent agitation—an agitation, too, which was evidently. etill heaving within ber ladyship’s bosom, but all outward eppearance of which she was endeavouring with a mighty effort to conceal. Returning to ber seat, she at once entered with high-bred ease and gracefal courtesy into the topic of the conversation tliat wes going on around her; but in the tones of her mother’s vuice the Keen and cunning Juliana per- ceived the evidences of that inward trouble which abe had already observed reflected in her looks. Dimer was announced; and the aristocratic throng proceeded to the banquetting-room, which presented a magnificent appearance to the eyo. It wae comptetely flooded with thedazsling lightshed trom ¢wo lnstres each containing at least forty wax- candies; the table literally groaned beneath the massive services of plate; and twenty domestics in gorgeous liveries were in attendance. The dinner passed off asall such banquets in high life usually do—that is to say, heavily,—all real enthusiasm of feeling and true sense of enjoyment being weighed down and chilled by the petrifying influence of formality. Lord Petersfield was, if possible, more reserved, guarded, and cautious in all he said and CONNEC MOO SS COMM