The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 172: what you’re looking at

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THE which she experienced when she beheld her sister leaning on the arm of Lord Florimel, as they took their places in the same quadrille. But almost im- mediately the music commenced; and, feeling con- vinced that Florimel was a man of honour who would not betray her secret, Octavia recovered her self-possession and yielded herself up to the pleasing excitement of the dance. “At length we meet again, dear Pauline,” said Lord Florimel in a low tone to his beautiful partner, when the arrangements of the quadrille allowed them leisure to converse. “I have been anxiously seeking the means of obtaining an introduction to your father: but your cousin [Eaton was too unwell to Jeave home—and Lord Marchmont has been so solicitous on account of his son’s health, that I found myself completely baffled.” “ Were they aware that your lordship desired to be presented to us?” asked Pauline, casting down her eyes and blushing beneath the tender looks which her partner threw upon her. “ No—assuredly not,” was his instantaneous reply. “They would naturally have imagined that I must | have some hidden motive in requesting their agency to introduce meto you. SButif I had been able to induce one of them to walk or ride out with me, I should have managed the matter in some way or another. However, we have met at last—I am now formally presented to you—and that is the essential. But tell me, dearest Pauline—are you pleased, on your side, that this has happened ?” “Did I appear very much annoyed when I saw your lordship approaching with Mr. Eaton just now?”’ said Pauline, raising her head and meeting his eyes with a smiling countenance. “ But wherefore do you call me by the cold title of lordship ?” asked Florimel. _ “Were we alone together—or at a greater distance | from those who might now overhear us—I should call you Gabriel,” answered Pauline. “I am not fickle nor capricious,” she added, in a low tone; “and you will not find me to-morrow different from what I am to-night. Am I to hope that it is the same with you?” she said, again bending upon him a look which, though almost immediately averted again, was eloquent with the silent language of love. “Did I not assure you, ere we parted on that me- morable night to which for many reasons | blush to allude, and upon which I must nevertheless always _restrospect with pleasure, inasmuch as it not only _made me acquainted with you, but gave me in a few hours a deeper insight into your character than years of ordinary friendship could have afforded,— did I not then assure you, dearest Pauline,” de- manded the young nobleman, “‘that you had worked a great and signal change within me ?—did I not de- clare that I had suddenly learnt to love you with an affection unknown to me before?” “Yes,” murmured the maiden: “and have you not once repented of those assurances during the interval which has elapsed since they were given ?” “ Not once —I solemnly assure yon, Pauline,” answered Lord Florimel, in atone of profound sin- | cerity. “Can you not believeme? Perhaps you have | heard that I am wild and fickle; but is there not a _ period in every man’s life when circumstances stamp his character with stability ?—and young as I am | may not that hour have been proclaimed by the _ time-piece of my destiny 2” “T hope and believe so,” answered Pauline: “ other- SN eeeeEEE———EeE — ee MYSTERIES. 17 wise we should not now be conversing thus fa- miliarly.” “And thus tenderly,” rejoined Florimel, as he took her hand to lead her again into the maze of the dance. The figure of the quadrille now compelled the young nobleman and his partner to pass near the spot where Octavia stood: but he did not seem to recognise her—for inasmuch as, to all appearances, he had only that evening been introduced for the first time to Pauline, it would have seemed strange were he to acknowledge her sister as a previous ac- quaintance. For Arthur Eaton was seated at a short distance, watching the dancers: and Lord Marchmont and Mr. Clarendon were standing on the threshold of the room, conversing together, and like- wise regarding the progress of the quadrille. But when the dance was over, and Florimel had conducted Pauline to a seat, Octavia was escorted back by her own partner to her sister’s side: and then the young nobleman requested the honour of Octavia’s hand for the next quadrille. Both the young ladies appreciated all the delicacy and good taste which thus characterised Florimel’s conduct; and while the elder darted upon him a look of grate- ful acknowledgment, the younger felt that she loved him more, if possible, than ever. During the time that Florimel and Octavia now danced together, not a word fell from his lips re- specting the past. He never once alluded to the in- cidents of that morning when he conducted her home to Paradise Villa: but he told her, ina cordial man- ner, “that he intended to become a frequent visitor in Cavendish Square, having already received the permission of Miss Pauline to that effect.” To this remark Octavia replied by an emphatic assurance that he would always be welcome; and thus was it that the young nobleman, by his considerate be- haviour, not only convinced the young lady that her secret was deemed by him to be inviolable, but that his sentiments towards her sister were of the most houourable character. In fact, throughout the entire evening, he paid a marked attention to Pauline. When the sisters were not engaged in the dance, he remained in conversa- tion with them; and it was a pleasing spectacle to behold that group consisting of two of the most | charming creatures on whom nature ever Javished | her choicest gifts, and that young man so faultless | in the femininely handsome cast of his features and | the delicate symmetry of his form. | When the supper-rooms were thrown open, the | Hon. Mr. Eaton escorted Octavia and Florimel gave | his arm to Pauline to the luxuriously spread | table; and when the hour of separation at length arrived, the sisters returned home delighted with the | attentions which they had received on the occasion | of their first appearance in the fashionable world. JULIA.—MR. GRUMLEY. It was about six o’clock in the evening of the day following the ball at Lord Marchmont’s residence, that Mrs. Page, dressed in very mean attire, entered Thacker’s Court, which was the name of that place where the house that she used to live in was situated. But instead of stopping at her own late abode, which , j CHAPTER XLVI. | | | | Com Clooolks.conn