The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 49: what you’re looking at

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

. we a= a ae © Din eee, ee! cE Rroart ge ———— - —=_ “hw eee OR oe SS fee nmeeweenw a =» $8 THE! MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Yndora trembled, and how the colour went and eame on her magnificent countenance, as he pre- sented to her Clement Redcliffe’s letter. She re- tired to another apartment to peruse it; and the twins were left alone together. Then Christian informed his sister of everything that had taken place between himself and Mr. Redcliffe on the preceding evening; and our amiable young hero- ine was infinitely rejoiced to hear that her beloved brother need no longer consider himself depen- dent on the precarious chances of employment for the means of subsistence. By the time Christian’s explanations were finished, the Princess of Inderabad returned to the room where she had left them together; and her Highness at once intimated to Christina that it was with infinite pleasure she granted the re- quest conveyed in Mr. Redcliffe’s note. But if the twins had been more accustomed to penetrate into the human heart—if they had more ouriosity in studying the looks of individuals —they might have suspected that there was more in Mr. Red. Redcliffe’s billet than a mere request that Christina might be spared for the day ; they would have fan- cied there was something which was of peculiar interest and importance to the Indian lacy likewise. While on their way in a hired vehicle from Bayswater to Mortimer Street, the twins had leisure for additional explanations. Christian made his delighted sister acquainted with the change that had taken place in respect to Isabella Vincent—how she had become possessed of an im- mense fortune—and how in her altered position she had renewed the assurances of love and con- stancy towards our hero. And then Christina re- cited, in fuller details than she had written to her brother when he was at Ramsgate, the particulars of the outrage she had undergone when she was forcibly carried off from the villa, and when she was rescued by Lord Octavian Meredith. The artless girl concealed nothing: she explained to ber brother all that had occurred between herself and the young nobleman; and while Christian ex- pressed his approval of the course she had adopted, he could not help saying to her in a low, tender, compassionating voice, “I am afraid, my sweet sister, that your affections are indeed more or less centred in Lord Octavian P” “Christian,” replied the weeping, blashing girl, “*T have striven—heaven alone can tell how I have striven—to banish that image from my mind; and I have not been able! Ihave prayed to God to succour and uphold mein my task: but my very prayers have seemed to impress that image all the more forcibly on the memory of your unhappy sister. I should deem myself very guilty, were it not that I know that we poor weak mortals have no power over volition—and all that we can do is to prevent such circumstances as these from leading us into error.” “Error, my dearest sister |” exclaimed Christian : “mention not that word in connexion with your own pure and virtuous self!” Christina pressed her brother’s hand in token of gratitude for the confidence he thus reposed in her, and of which she knew herself to be so com- pletely worthy; and then she said in a tremulous, hesitating voice, “ Must I to Mr. Redcliffe make pil these rovelations P” Christian did not immediately answer: he re- flected profoundly. At length he said, “No, my sweet sister—these are matters too sacred to be discussed save and except with a very near and dear relative. Mr. Redcliffe is my benefactor,—~ and nothing more. I love him—we must both love him: and if he should demand your fullest confidence in all and every respect, even to your most secret thoughts — then must you speak frankly. But not of your own accord, dear Chris- tina, need you volunteer explanations: it would be with unnecessary spontaneousness inflicting pain upon yourself. Ah! I recollect, in reference to that outrage which made my blood boil, dearest Obristina—I wrote to Mr. Redcliffe from Rams- gate, telling him what had happened, immediately after the receipt of your letter describing the cir- cumstances : for I have constantly been in the habi¢ of thus communicating with him who has now proved so generous a benefactor. He asssured me last night that he is not ignorant who the vile authoress of the outrage was, and that she will be punished for that and other offences which have come to his knowledge.” The vehicle now stopped at Mrs. Macaulay's house; and that female herself came forth to wel- come Christina. “Dear me, Miss Ashton!” exclaimed the gar- rulous landlady, “how wonderfully you have im- proved since last I saw you! I was telling your brother yesterday that he too had improved: but really in respect to yourself 7 “My dear Mrs. Macaulay,” said Christina, smiling and blushing, “ you are pleased to compli- ment me: but I can assure you ad “Oh, no compliment at all!” interjected the garralous landlady: “vou are the most beautiful creature that ever honoured the threshold of my house by crossing it. Ah! and there is that odious Mrs. Sifkin looking out of her parlour-window— and she will be ready to eat her own head off with spite at seeing such an elegant young gentleman and such a charming young lady entering at my door.” “Rather an impossible feat for Mrs. Sifkin to perform—is it not, Mrs. Macaulay?” obeerved Christian, smiling good-naturedly; “and certainly one far transcending the importance of the ovon- sion.” . “Ob, you know not the spite of that odious woman !”’ exclaimed Mrs. Macaulay. “ It was bat the other day she told Mrs. Bunkley, which does my mangling——Ah! I forgot,” ejaculated the worthy woman, suddenly interrupting herself, “T have such news for you! Only look here—in yesterday's paper, amongst the list of Bankrupte -—~Mr. Samuel Emmanuel of the great Clothing Emporium! Gone all to smashes—and serve him right! That great coarse vulgar-looking wife of his won't be hang with massive gold chains any more, like a turkey with sausages at Christmas. Bat I see that you are in a hurry; and Mr. Redcliffe is waiting anxiously for you both.” Mrs. Macaulay—who had hitherto barred the way in the passage, that she might indulge in her garrulous propensities and have this little chat with the twins—now stepped aside; and they were ena- bled to pass her. They ascended to Mr. Redoliffe’s sitting-apartment, where Christina experienced the kindest welcome from that gentleman. After a little conversation Mr. Redcliffe inquired whether ECOMmiclooolkks