The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 99: what you’re looking at

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

88 that Clarine thus spoke,—just as young and inex- perienced minds are wont to give expression to any passing whim or phantasy. Zoo at once secretly resolved to purchase the piano for her friend, and to avail herself of the first opportunity to come alone to the village for this purpose. But as they turned away from the shop-window, they perceived M. Volney standing behind them. His countenance was coldly calm and melancholy as usual: he did not appear to have the intention of taking his daughter and Zoe by surprise ; nor did he seem to notice the sudden start which was given by both—especially by Clarine—as they thus found themselves face to face with him. “If you wish for that piano, Clarine,” said M. Volney, in his wonted glacial monotony of tone, “you shall have it.” Then, without another word, he entered the shop—looked at the card labelling the piano, to ascertain its price—and bade the tradesman send the instrument at his earliest leisure to the Cha- teau, where the amount should be promptly paid. The arrangement was concluded in half-a-dozen words: there was no haggling on M. Vulney’s part—he asked not the tradesman to abate a single frano of the price marked upon the card; and when the matter was settled, M. Volney lifted his hat to Zoe, and passed on his way. CHAPTER OL THE STUDY. Craninm was perfectly astonished at her father’s liberality. The sum he had just agreed to pay on her behalf, was a large one; and, as we have seen, eho had previously fancied it to be totally incom- patible with his means. She could not rightly comprehend whether he were stretching a point in @ pecuniary sense for the purpose of affording her pleasure—or whether he were in reality better off than she had hitherto supposed him. She expressed herself in this uncertain manner to Lady Octavian Meredith, as they slowly retraced their way from the village to the Chateau. “Your father,” said Zoe, “has just done you a great kindness in his own peculiar way. He used as fow words as possible; but I have no doubt that in his heart he was rejoiced at being enabled to afford you pleasure.” ‘My father is always kind to me,” answered Clarine, who sincerely believed what she was say- ing; “and I am convinced that he loves mo dearly. I do not remember for years past that he has spoken a harsh word to me.” “Has your mother long been dead?” inquired Lady Octavian Meredith. “ Ever since I was a child,” responded Clarine ; “and I have no recollection of her. I think that my father must have loved her very, very dearly; because he cannot bear to speak of her. I re- member that when I was a girl I used sometimes to ask him about my mother: but he invariably besought me not to mention her name. And then, too, I recollect he would turn aside abruptly, and would press his hand to his brow and seem deeply affected. Of late years I have never alluded to my departed mother: for I have been afraid of giving my father pain. You see that he is afflicted with some secret care—I do not think it is through the an of property, as some persons have sup- a? Your father, then, has been richer than he now is?’ said Lady Octavian inquiringly. “We used to live at a beautiful country-seat in the neighbourhood of Fontainebleau,” answered Clarine. “It was not large, nor was the annexed estate spacious: but the house was commodious, and very handsomely furnished in a somewhat antique style. We had eight or nine servantse— for my father kept his carriage then: but still we saw very little company—my father never was fond of mingling with society—at least not within my recollection. He was always accustomed to be much alone, and to shut himself up for hours to- gether in his own apartment. I remember too that he always had the habit of taking his long solitary walks as he does: now. These circum- stances make me think that it cannot be the loses of property which is preying upon his mind—be- cause he was the same at our beautiful abode near Fontainebleau as he has been ever since we have dwelt in this Chateau.” “How was it that M. Volney lost his pro- porty P” asked Zoe. “Tam not even sure that he lost it at all,” replied Clarine; “I only surmise so. It was a little more than five years ago that be one day told me we were going to remove to some other place; and on the very same day a post-chaise bore us off from that beautifal country-seat. Of all the servants old Marguerite alone accompanied us.” “And was the house shué up?” asked Lady Octavian. “I do not know,” responded Clarine. “We left it just as it was, with all the other servants in it: but whether my father, previous to our de- parture, made any arrangement in respect to the house and the domestics, [am unable tosay. Ho has never spoken on the subject; and old Mar- guerite is really ignorant upon the point—or else she has always pretended to be. She nursed me in my infancy; and to a certain extent supplied the place of the mother whom I lost. This is why I love and revere her; and this is also the reason why, when my father is not present, she allows herself to address me in terms of endearing fami- liarity.” “And from that beautiful country-sceat you came direct to this Chateau P” said Lady Octavian interrogatively. “Yes: but Tam convinced that when we left that country-seat my father had no fixed idea where he was about to settle his future abode. I¢ was not his intention to remain in the village—nor near it. According to the few words he let fall upon the subject at the time, I have reason to believe that he thought of passing into Spain. It was only after an accidental visit to the Chateau during one of his rambles, that he suddenly took it into his head to settle himself there. You see, my dear Zoe, I have no reason for believing that my father lost any of his property beyond the simple fact of his abandoning such a beautiful residence in order to shut himse:f up in this old place.” . “ Perhaps, after all,” suggested Lady Octavian, “MM. Volney is as rich as ever he was; but inas- GDoo <S ee EN —e THR MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. co