The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 352: what you’re looking at

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

ae om om THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. decree that you should choose a husband from amidst the present circle of your acqusintance, your choice would fall upon Robert Stanley? Yes -—-you do not deny that it would be so! Let him therefore study to win your affections: let him not depart hence with the idea that there is no hope for him! Tell me, sweet Christina, that it shall be as I now suggest;—and if the result prove in accordance with my expectations, his sentiments towards you.” Christina reflected profoundly for some few moments; and then she said,—her countenance brightening up with the resolve at which she had arrived,—“I see, my beloved brother, that you wish me to pursue a particular course; and I will not throw a damp upon your own spirits by re- fasing compliance. When you entered this room just now, you found me thoughtful I was giving way to regret—I may even add to remorse— that a sentiment should have ever entered my “ Of that, dearest sister,” interrupted Christian, “we will speak no more! Bat on the other point, what is your decision ?” “ Oaptain Stanley,” replied Christine, “is all man'y and must be dealt with in the his mind, let him know the whole truth at once. But tell him, Ohristian—tell him,” added the young maiden, “that never did I willingly listen to the language of love from Lord Octavian’s lips -that the sense of duty was ever paramount in my mind—and that never for a single instant did he receive encouragement, by look, word, or deed, on my part. And now go to him at once !” The brother again embraced the sister; and he hurried from her boudoir. He sought "Captain Stanley: the explanations which be gave were frank and complete. The young officer now com- prehended wherefore Christina hed refused him without at the time entering into explanations of her own accord and with her own: lips: he under- stood likewise why Christian had himeelf appeared to hesitate when in the library his assent was asked that he (Stanley) might pay his addresses to his sister Every exulting hope was resuscitated in the heart of the young officer; and he warmly ex- his gratitude for Christian’s intervention on his behalf. The young Duke was not mistaken in the estimate he had formed of his friend’s cha- racter and disposition: for Robert Stanley expe- rienced no diminution of his love for Christina after all he had just heard. The young Duke re- turned to his sister, who had remained in her boudoir; and with joy expressed upon his coun- tenance, he exclaimed, “I have now every hope that I shall at no distant time behold you the bride of Robert Stanley !” same spirit. If a hope must be encouraged in | p CHAPTER CLI. ,_THB MAIDEN’S BRIDGE. [t is a long time since we spoke of the beantiful Isabella Vincent, otherwise than by casual mention of her name. We must now say a few words con- cerning her proceedings since she inherited the vast domains and riches of the Lescelles family. The reader cannot have forgotten how eminently she deserved that epithet beautiful which we have just applied to her—or how all worthy she was to become the bride of the youthful wearer of the Marehmont coronet. With a countenance that had exceeding sweetness of expression as well as fault- less regularity of features—with the deep blue eyes full of candour and innocence, and shaded by thickly fringing lashes—with the brilliant tran- eparency of her complexion, and the softest tint of the rose upon her cheeks—and with the rich abun- dance of the glossy dark brown bair showering ia myriad ringlets upon her shoulders, she was indeed a being whom it was bliss to contemplate. When first we introduced her-upon the stage of our story, there was a certain soft pensiveness and holy melancholy, so to speak, upon Isabella's coun- tenance: but this expression had now well nigh passed away—for naught had she to mar her hap- iness. In a worldly puint of view her's wasa FEE brilliant position; for she had domains and wealth of her own, and she was about to be allied to one who possessed atill larger domains and still greater wealth, and who could place a ducal coronet upon her brow. In the feelings of her own beart she was likewise blest: for she was to espouse him whom she had so fondly and faithfully loved; and she had the satisfaction of beholding the once ob- scure Christian Ashton now elevated to one of the loftiest pedestals to which human ambition could aspire to ascend. Looking back but for a com- paratively short space of time, Isabella beheld her- self a poor and humble dependant upon her uncle’s bounty, inhabiting an obscure lodging, and ap- perently without a friend in the whole world. Under such circumstances was it that she bad first known him whe was shortly to lead her to the altar. She had become rich before fortune smiled upon him; and her love had existed the same :—not for a single instant had she hesitated to assure the poor and dependent Christian thas her chiefest joy in inheriting wealth was that she might be en- abled to bestow it all upon him; and thus the deepest gratitude had become blended with the love which he experienced for her. Then when fortane suddenly showered ite choicest gifts upon Christian’s head, how rejoiced—Oh! how un- feignedly rejoiced was our young bero at his ability to prove that he was deserving of all that love which Isabella had cherished for him. Thus, never had the day fixed for tho bridal of any young couple approached under more auspicious ciroum- stances: but before we arrive at the description of that bridal, it is necessary to mention a few in- cidents of an anterior date. Isabella was at Ramsgate when tho intelligence reached her that the death of her cousin the young Earl of Lascelles and of her aunt, the Countess, had suddenly put her in possession of all the wealth of the family to which she belonged. She COUMIUC t aS (COO) PLS] NOG