The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

184 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. which he constantly though secretly cherished : namely, of introducing him thoroughly, and with- out any more cautious and guarded efforts, into the very best society. This was the real secret of the marriage so far as he himself was concerned —though the world suspected it not, because he had ever managed to conceal that one weakness which he possessed—we mean the yearning after patrician acquaintances. But as for his espousing so young a creature,—in the first place, the oppor- tunity presented itself, and he had seized upon it. Secondly, his moneyocratic pride had made him calculate that his wealth was a fair set-off against Lady Anastatis’s high birth—and that in return for the riches he could give, the borrowed lustre of her rank was a fair compensation. And then again, no matter how shrewd a man mey be in every other sort of calculation, yet in respect to matrimony he never thinks himself too old for a wife, however youthful: his vanity will hot per- mit him to recognise the disparity which others seo: he fiatters himself that he possesses every quality to command respect and secure esteem. Perhaps in reference to love, a person of Sir Frederick Latham’s disposition might have treated the idea somewhat scornfully,—looking upon it as @ mero piece of romance—well enough for echool- boys and puling misses to read about—but exist- ing as nothing which ought to enter into those calculations whereupon matrimony is based. Two years of wedded life had Anastatia thus experienced; and her lot did not appear to be an unhappy one: Those who had known her from her childhood, even went so far as to declare that she was perfectly happy. Very certain it was that she presided with the utmost amiability, as well as with cheerfulness, over the sumptuous entertain- ments which were so frequently given at Tudor House. There was always that interesting sweet- ness about her which, by a little stretch of senti- mentalism, might be taken fur an habitual pen- siveness, serene without being melancholy; and thus perhaps it was quite natural for some to suppose that she had either courageously or else meekly resigned herself to the lot which destiny, operating through the medium of family circum- stances and her parents’ will, had provided for her. There was no issue from this union; and Sir Frederick Latham was never heard to express a regret that he had no heir to his title and pro- perty. But because he said nothing, it was no reason that he felt nothing on the subject: he was a man who would never betray any cause of vexation—his pride would not permit him. He suffered himeelf not to be elated by joy, nor to be depressed by any circumstance calcalated to vex or afflict. It was his study ever to maintain that sort of cold equanimity which was habitual to him, and which indeed answered so many pur- se poses, alike in his business parsuite and in his intercourse with friends and acquaintances. Thus, even if he had longed with the deepest, deepest yearning for an heir, the world would not have known it. We must say a few more words in a descriptive sense before we resume the thread of that episode which we believe will not prove the least interest- ing in our narrative, The reader will doubtless be anxious to know upon what terms Sir Frederick oan eee eee and his wife lived together. As there was as- suredly no love on either side, there was no senti- mental display of affection between them. Sir Frederick was as kind as his habits and manner would allow him to be: while Anastatia strove to perform to her utmost all the duties of a wife. There was nothing fond nor caressing, much less playfal or uxorious, in Sir Frederick Latham’s eonduct towards his wife: but on the other hand, the kind courtesy with which he treated her, was never capriciously nor causelessly interrupted. He made her his companion, and in some respects his friend—but not wholly eo: for he never spoke to her on business-matters— never gave her the slightest insight into the extent of his wealth— merely proved to her by his deeds that he was wealthy, and considered that sufficient. In respect to the mansion and the grounds, he certainly con- sulted her taste at times on a few minor matters— but always in a way that seemed to indicate that his own opinion was already settled on the subject. Nevertheless, if Anastatia happened to express a desire that anything particular should be done, her husband said nothing to her at the time; but the mandate immediately went forth from his lips to those whom it concerned—and the thing was done. Towards Sir Frederick, Anastatia was mild and gentle—because this was her nature: she was sub- missive without being servile—duteous without losing sight of her own proper dignity as a wile. As to the society they kept and the acquaintances they cherished, there could be no posmble dispute between them,—inasmuch as none but men of known honour and probity were ever introduced by Sir Frederick, while Lady Anastatia courted only the pure and spotless of her own eex as her companions. We may now resume the thread of our narre tive. It was about three o’clock in the afternoon of that day of which we have been writing in the previous chapter; and Lady Anastatia Latham was seated by hersclf in a splendidly furnished apart- ment at Tudor House. Some visitresses had just taken their departure: and Anastatia was resuming some elegant fancy-work which she had temporarily laid aside. Presently the door opened; and a footman entered to present a note upon a mas- sive silver salver. “Please your ladyship,” said the footman, “ the person who delivered this, says that he will wait for your ladyship’s answer.” Anastatia opened the exquisitely folded, per- famed, pink-tinted billet which was thus handed to ar and she found the content to run as ial- W som Mr. Isaac Shadbolt, who is the bearer of this letter, end who will save her ladyahip the trouble of eending to Madame Angelique's villa at Brixton Hill, by personally waiting on Lady Anastatia Letham on the ecartiest eon- venient day which her ladyship may appoint.” * There must be some mistake here,” said Lady Anastatia, from whose cheeks the colour had flitted away for a moment, and to which the next instant it had come back with a deeper dyo: yet her voice GOnMIGOOOKS (CO