The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 347: what you’re looking at

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

liament: bat having been compelled to visit India, he had at the time given up his senatorial uties, and since his return from the East had nuptials of the young Duke were approaching— iod for mourning was expiring—there was gaicty at toe ducal country seat; and Stanley con- that it was no had ; and though as yet no reason to flatter himeelf that he any impression upon her heart, he never- theless imagined the field to be fairly open for an honourable courtship. He refleoted, however, that a lady of Christina’s rank—the sister of a Duke— might well aspire to a lofty alliance; and that both she and her brother might look forward to the time whey an aristocratic coronet might by mar- riage grace her brows. But on the other hand Robert Stanley likewise knew that Christine hed wo ambition; and that where she fixed her affeo- tions, she would bestow her hand. Hoe was like- wise aware that her brother would consult ber bap- piness rather than her interests in a more worldly sense; and thus he had no fear that his ae J would be repudiated on the Christine Vivian aimed af a lofti i It was on the second morning after the arrival of the party at Oaklands, that Obristina rose early and rambled forth by herself in the grounds. The spring season wae yielding to influence of summer: pature was all smiling around her : | to the results of which you have spoke the spacious gardene were embellished with the | me that you really did what you proclaim choicest floral beauties—the birds were carolling blithely in the trees—the fountains were catching in their erystal jets the beams of the orient sun. The dew was still upon the grass: there was a eweet freshness in the air; and the young lady felt ber spirits rise as she passed through those bean- teous grounds belonging to the immense domain ing beyond the gardens, she entered the fields—end _ ineensibly continued ber ramble farther than she had intended when first setting out. Presently she reached a stile, at which point she halted to survey the undulating landecape that lay beyond when all of a sudden so strange a figure emerged from behind the hedge that Lady Christina was This was a tall woman whose emaciated frame was wrapped in the rags of beggary. In reality she was not forty years of age: but she looked at least fifty—so terrible were the ravages which bouseless wanderings, care, misery, and privation bad made upon her. She was emaciated to such a degree that there seemed to be naught but skin upon her bones: her cheeks had fallen in—her eyes wore deeply set in their cavernous sockets— THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. appearance of this creature ; there was aleo a cer- tain wildness of look which bespoke incipient mad- nees or clse a reckless Buf there was still in her dark eyes a remnant of the light whieh when, on so suddenly starting up from behind the hedge, she flung ber glances on Christina, there was some- in them that to veil his | siderable distance from the a? Show a * Ah, I spoke foolishly !" ejaculated the women : “i¢ is not for me to tell you who lam. Bat by ones of this life. For months past I have endured eufiisiont misery to crush the very life out of me,— that owned the lordship of her brother. Proceed: |e misery so great that if ite amount were divided amongst a dosen different people, the proportion would still be intolerable for each! How often think you, young lady, that within those monthe of which I am speaking I have closed my eyes in rest beneath a ebeltering roof? How often, think you, that I have sunk down exhausted beneath hedges or haystacks—or dragged myself painfally through fields or along roads the live-long night ? And during the whole winter how mach frightful wretchedness do you think hes been mise? But no matter! You rich and great ones think little of the sufferings of your fellow-creatures——" - “This is not altogether true,” anewered Chris- tina, gently and compessionstely. “I can with- out the imputation of vanity or unmerited eslf. applause declare that never has either my brother oe myself become aware of a case of distress with- and her hair was grizslied. In respect to garments out alleviating it.” if mere rags could be sv denominated—they were | only just sufficient for the purposes of decency. ut there was not only misery expressed in the “Then give me that gold!” cried the woman sharply, —“ that gold which is in your purse! You mever knew a case of distress so bitter as mine! GOnMIGOOOKS (CO