The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 48: what you’re looking at

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

eae © — “Eire 64 eee. SHE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 37 “Such is the mutability of human affairs,” ob- served Mr. Redcliffe solemnly. “ But proceed, my dear Christian.” “It was originally arranged,” continued our young hero, “that I should remain at Verner House until this morning ; therefore, even if this morning’s post had not brought me your kind letter, I should have returned to the metropolis to- day. Rest assured, my dear sir, that I was most anxious to obey your summons with all possible despatch: but still I could not help halting for an hour by the way, to visit an unfortunate creature -——a victim of the Duke of Marchmont’s !” “Ah!” ejaculated Redcliffe; “when will this man’s crimes cease to display themselves to me at every step? when will his oareer of iniquity be ended P’” “ Never, I fear,” responded Christian, “ until his existence itaelf ceases.” Our hero then, at Mr. Redcliffe’s request, nar- rated everything he had beard from the lips of the unfortunate young woman—not even omitt'ng the painful episode in respect to her sister Marion. Mr. Redelffe listened with the deepest attention ; and when the youth’s narrative was brought to a termination, Mr. Redcliffe addressed him in the following manner :— ‘“* My dear Christian, from everything that you have told me, I deduce evidences of your right principles, the generosity of your disposition, and the intrinsic excellence of your character. At the very first I experienced such an interest in your behalf—indeed such an attachment towards your- self and your sister, that I should have at once proposed to place you in a condition of inde- pendence: but I felt how much better it was to leave you to eat the bread of industry for a time. I have kept my eye upon you; and I have also been aware that your sister was most comfurtably situated under the friendly care of the Princess of Inderabad. The period has now arrived when you must no longer be left to shift for yourself in the world. I am a lone man, Christian—this you already know——you may think too that my habite are peculiar, my manners eccentrio—and if for a single moment you doube whether you can be happy beneath the. same roof with myself, you shall be provided for elsewhere—until such time when ome? * Mr. Redcliffe hesitated for a few instante; and the expression of some strong emotion passed over his countenance. He then added, “Until such time that your beautiful Isabella’s period of mourning shall be ended and you may accompany her to the altar.” Again Mr. Redcliffe paused: he roee from his seat— paced twice to and fro in the apartment— and returning to his chair, said, “Think not, my dear Christian, that when the day of your mar- riage arrives, you will lead Miss Vincent to the altar as a dependant on ber own fortune. No!— you shall have wealth, Christian—rest assured that you shall have wealth—and at least as an equal eal you lead her to that altar. Perhaps—per- But Mr. Redcliffe stopped short; and our young hero, throwing himself at the feet of his benefactor, ‘took his hand and pressed it to his ips. Mr. Redcliffe, who was profoundly affected, smoothed down the curling masecs of Christian’s SEE SEY SSS eee cee eww ere oo oo wre egee ete re ew ee owe oS was = ime & «aw . a ° wt ~_ o." mt @ raven hair,—at the same time murmuring, “ Mg dear boy, there is nothing that I will not do for yourself and your sister !"” Christian hastened to assure his benefactor thas eo far from desiring to separate from him, or to live elsewhere, it would give him the utmost pleasure to dwell beneath the same roof. “So be it, for the present,” answered Mr. Red- cliffe. “As for Christina, let her remain where she is: it is impossible that she can be in better companionship, or with a kinder friend. I have long known the Princess Indora——But enough, Christian! Let your sister continue to dwell with her Highness—until——” And again Mr. Redcliffe stopped short, as if every inetant he were afraid that in the excite. ment of his feelings he should be betrayed into the utterance of something more than he might choose to reveal. But our young hero was himself too full of varied emotions to perceive, much less to suspect the precise nature of those that were agitating his benefactor ; and agein was his heart- felt gratitude poured forth to Mr. Redcliffe. This gentleman now said to our hero, “ Tell me, Christian, everything connected with your earlier years: reveal to me in fullest dotail all that re- gards youreelf and your sister, from your most infantile recollections down to the period when I firet became acquainted with you in London. Do not think it is mere idle curiosity on my part: but I feel so deep an interest in your amiable sister and yourself, that everything which in any way concerns you is of importance in my estima- tion.” Christian proceeded to comply with his bene- factor’s request: his narrative was however con- cise enough, and was speedily told. “To-morrow,” said Mr. Redcliffe, “ immediately after breakfast you shall go and fetch your sister to pass the day with us. I will give you a note for the Princess Indora, so that her assent shall at once be conceded. Ah! and request your sister, ny dear Ohristian, to bring with her those little relics to which you have just alluded in your narrative: for, as I have said, everything that re- gards you has an interest in my eyes———and— and I have a curiosity to see those cherished ob- jects which belonged to your deceased mother, and which your uncle Mr. Ashton placed in your hands when you were both old enough to ressive of them and to appreciate it.” We need not further extend the description of this touching and pathetically exciting scene which took place between Mr. Redcliffe and our hero. Suffice it to say that the remainder of the evening was passed in most friendly conversation on the part of the benefactor and the recipient of his bounties ; so that when Christian retired to his couch, he had every reason to felicitete himself upon this evening as being one of the happiest and most fortunate in his somewhat chequered existence. Immediately after breakfast in the morning, Christian repaired to the villa of the Princess Indora; and on arriving there, he was most fer- vently embraced by his loving and delighted sister. From the Princess he experienced a moet cordial welcome; and such was the state of his own feelings, with all his present prospects of hap- piness, that he did pof perceive how for a moment e = ieee ad e 4 oo * moe om ~ CONIC OOO <S co