The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 314: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERT ES. 209 The young girl had not retired to rest. Seated at a table, on which her elbow rested—and with her brad supported languidly upon her hand—she had s book before her: but, though her eyes were fixed upea it, she evideatly was ngs reading. Her entire attitude as well as the expression of her countenance dencied deep thought. She was plunged ina pro- found reverie: and the subject of her meditations was netof a joyous deseription—for on each pale eheek a tear glistened in the feeble rusblight. Sbe had not as yet made the slightest preparation fer retiring to rest. Her hair was still in the graceful bands in which she wore it, and in which arrange- ment it eet off her intellectually beautiful and susetly pensive couatenance. Wer deep mourning dress displayed the dazzling fairness of her com- plexion to ite greatest advantage, and likewise de- wioped the perfect symmetry of her sy)phide form. Ber eaveral minutes did the royal veluptuary con- template his intended victim by means of the key- bole; and the longer he gazed upon her, the more andently did he burn to possess her. And that she would become his prey beyond all pomibabity of salvation or rescue, he did not doubt: for well aware was he that every chamber in this de- partment of the milliner’s establishment was so skil- fully and artfully arranged that no screams to which the tongue might give vent in one room could' be heard in another. Besides, even if it were not so, the inmates of Mrs. Brace’s abode were not of a cha- tacter likely to afford the suceour which even the acutest lamentation or the most rending entreaties wight implore. Aad with tenth did we observe that the reverie ef Camila Morton was far from felicitous: for she ded endertain suspicions not ouly with regard to the sespestability of Mrs. Braex's establishment, but likewise concerning the good faith and sincerity @ the milliner herself. The incidents of the pre- eeding Sunday evening had opened the eyes of the young girl, artless and confiding as she was. The atiempt of the guest, whom she only knew as Mir. Marley, to kiss her hand had shocked her for the Moment; and the indignant gianee which she threw upon him expressed all the dignity of her maidenhood smarting under an insult. But on re- tring to hee own chamber, the suspicion already engendered in her mind kindled into the worst Gears; and her sleepless pillow was moistened with the orphan’s bitter weeping. No wonder was it, then, that Mra. Brace had since observed an al- teration in her manner ;—and now—on this Wed- Ales! alas !——now is ié ¢hat the poor girl expe- siences all the loneliness of her position in the Her parents have been snatched away from her: sho has nota relative, to her knowledge, spon the face of the earth. Like the keen and Cutting blast of December blowing spon the naked ef the shivering mendicant, comes the piercing icy eénse of her utter isolation to the heart of the young orphan girl. in Mrs. Brace she had hoped to find a mother. Pure, innocent, unsuspicious, and confiding, she beheld @ matronly kindness in the woman’s man- ser which speedily won her natarally warm and in- experienced heart. The rigid decorum whieh oxt- wardly reigned amongst the young ladies led her to regard them with a sisterly affection. She was therefore at first completely happy—or rather as happy as a meiden who had so recently lost her parents could possibly hope to be. But saddeyly the film fell from her eyes—the veil was torn rudely away—and one little incident threw ali her ideas and sentiments respecting tae house and its ia- mates into another channel, Beceiving as it were new intuitions, she now reecgaised the impropricty of Mrs. Brace’s conduet ia sending hér with a note to Lord Florimel: gnd she remembesed how in- tently the eyes of Mr. Hariey were fixed upoa her at supper on the Sunday evening. In spite of her purity—in spite of her artlessness—ia spite of her ignorance on many matters, the melden had ob- tained a glimmering of the trath; and the exercise of her reason soon developed her comprehensive faculties to an extent sufficient to prodace the can- viction that the milliner meditated auythiog rather than a mother’s part towards her. , Behold her, thea, seated in the sojitade of her chamber and at this midnight hour, revolving in her imagination the best means of quitting Mrs. Brace’s establishment as soon as poasible. Sho did not like to reveal with abruptness the mative which prompted her to take so decisive a step; for she thought within herself that if her suspivions should happen to be unfounded in respect to the milliner, how grieved she wonld be at having pro- claimed them. And yet she must make up ker mind speedily—it was a matter admitting not of delay—and all timidity or hesitation muss be con- quered in order to accomplish a duty. CamiHa, then, determined to quit the house on the ensuing morning: already had she acted with weakness in remaining there three whole days after tho inci- dent of Sunday evening! Such were the thoughts ogoupying ber imagina- tion, when a sound, as if the handle of the door were turning, fell upon her ears. She started from her seat—tke door opened— and Mr. Harley stood before her | A scream burst from the maiden’s lips: then, the firat feeling of terror passing away ia a moment, the warm blood of indiguation surged up to her cheeks—her brow—her very ears! “ Adorable girl,” exclaimed the Prince, extend- ing his arms towards her,—“look not thus angrily upon me! Blame not me—blame your beauty which possesses irresiatible fascinations.” The temporary courage with which aager had armed the orphan, abandoned her suddenly as these words fell upon her ears with the effect of a shock; and sinking upon a seat, she burst into tears. “ My dearest Camilla.” exclaimed the Prince, closing the door behind him,—* this is bnt a sorry reception which you give me. Hear me, my angel —hear me declare that I adore you—that I will never cease to love you—that I will do all I ean to render you happy. Come—permit me to kiss away the tears fruin those beauteous eyes ——” “Begone, sir!” ejaculated the maiden, & barning sense of outrage restoring to her the covrage which she had lost. “Begone, sir!” she oried, starting from the chair and pointing towards the door. “ One word, Camilla—only one word!” said the Prince, quite prepared for this opposition to his desires. COMGROO S COMM