The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 93: what you’re looking at

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

Se THE MYSTERIRS OF THE COURT. to—his eyes were bent down—and his ‘yes were bent down—and his whole de- | the appointment of the rooms thus rendered habit- de- meanour indicated a deep pre-occupation of the thoughts. If out of respect the rustics eluted him as they passed, he would jast acknowledge the compliment with a cold courtesy, in which how- ever nothing of pride seemed blended : but he never stopped to exchange a syllable of conversation. When indoors, he was principally occupied in 4 little room which he had fitted up as a study or library, and the shelves of which contained a few books—but these of a sterling description. Th consisted chiefly of scientific works, voyages, 8 the appointment of the rooms thus rendered habit- able, they were nevertheless replete with every coniforf. The Volneys received no society and coutted none: thus the few genteel families who tesided im the neighbourhood, had abstained from ealling upon them, inasmuch as they afforded no - indications that such visits would be acceptable. We should howevér make an exception in favour of the village priest—a man well stricken in years, nofed for his benevolence of disposition and the purity of his life; and this worthy minister of the Gospel was the only visitor from amidst the in- . travels, with a small sprinkling of the best French | habitants of the neighbourhood. The reader may poets. There, in that study, M. Volney woul marvel what the old Chateau in the south of pass hours together: always reading, or whether he were much of that time communing with hi# own parnful thoughts, was scarcely known even to his own daughter. Thielady was, at the period whet we propose to introduce her to our readers, about two and twenty years of age. She wad not Above fhe middle stature—eomewhat full in figure, bat of good symmetry. She was neither handsome fot Beauti- ful: but at the samé fime she might be pronounced good-looking. A frofusion of dark brown hair— brows somewhat tron oy Per pencilled—large hazel eyes—lips that wera pouting, but not coarse—together with & splendid set of teeth,— these may be rapidly sutoincd up as hér leading pet- sonal characteristics. Her nose Was not perfectly straight: it had & af'ght, but very slight down- ward inflexion, though nofé f the extcfit that warranted the application of fhe French term re- trousséo. Her counfendnce was the least thing too much rognded to be consonant with perfect beauty; and theté Was even something sensuous in the configuration of the chin dé well & in the formation of the moath. Yet dich w#2 not the impression that would remain tpon the mind of an observer in respect to her character; inasmuch as her éyes beamed only with innocence — her manners wefte modest and retiring—and her bear- ing wat replete with a becoming ladv-like dignity. Such was Clirine Volney, & the age of twenty. two. The female tervant who originally accompanied the father and daughter to that neighbourhood, was a middle-aged woman, of respectable and matronly appearance. She had evidently been long in the fathily ; for she regarded Clarine with that degree of affection which is shown by faithful domestics who have known young zeeple from their birth, and in their childhood have nursed them upon their knees. In the presence of M. Volney, guerifoa—which was the fentale servant’s name— was careful to address the young lady as Made- moiselle: bat when they wete alone together, she allowed herself the liberty of calling her Olarine. And Ofariné herself displayed much attachment towards Matgierite, and never issued orders as if conscions of speaking to 4n inferior. We should observe that immediately after taking the Chateau, M. Volney hiréd a second female-servant, and also @ gardener; so that his domestic establishment consisted of three persondé. A sufficient number of rooms in the central part of the building had been fitted up for the use of the family. At the nearest town M. Volney had purchased such furniture as be required; and though whether he were | France and the Volney family can have to do with the progress of our tale: we may therefore at once proceed to state that if any interest be felt in the amiable and beautiful Zoe, the wife of Lord Octa- vian Meredith, she must now be sought within the walls of that Chateau. Some explanations are requisite to show how this came about. We have already said that the Volney family had thhabited the Chateau—or rather a portion of it, for about five years previous to the time when we now introduce them upon the stage of our narrative. To say that M. Volney was an affectionate father, would be to imply that towards his daughter he unbent in a way of which his frigid demeanour seemed perfcctly incapable. Nor did he. He was kind in his manner—and nothing more. Every morning, when entering the breakfast- parlour, Clarine imprinted a kiss on her father’s cheek—the same at evening ere retiring to her chamber : but he merely received these filial saluta- tions—he gave them not back in the form of paternal caresses. He never displayed any fondness towards her—much less lavished endearmente: but on the other hand his demeanour was always of a uniform kindness—never capricious, and never finding un- necessary fault. Clarine was so accustomed to this demeanour on her father’s part that she did not mise a fondness she had never experienced, and she had not to deplore the loss of a more tender love —for she had never known it. Her mother had died in her infancy: her father was always towards her what wo now describe him; and never for a single instant had it occurred to Clarine that there was aught deficient of a parent's true tenderness and affection on his part. Five years had Clarine passed in the comparative solitude of that Chateau without a single lady- acquaintance, and with only the occasional visite of 1| the pricat to break in upon the monotony of this mode of life. During all that while it never seemed to have struck her father that he was keeping her out of that society which one of her years might naturally be supposed to crave. But all of a sudden he one day asked her whether she felt her mode of existence lonely? She replied in the negative: and she spoke the truth—she had grown accustomed to it. He nevertheless hinted at his intention to pro- cure her some suitable female companionship; and he even went so far as to express a regret that he had not doné so before. This was saying a great deal for M. Volney—and Clarine, so little accus- tomed to such expressions from her father’s lips, reyarded the observation as one indicative of the utmost love and kindness. Several weeks went by after that little conversa- though thero was nothing clegant nor luxurious in ' tion, the subject of which appeared to have totally ECOMmiclooolkks