The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 379: what you’re looking at

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364 when she found that the arrival was not the one | which she was evidently awaiting in deep suspense. Resuming her seat upon the sofa, the beauteous Pauline gave way to her sorrowful meditations: but from time to time she Jooked at her watch—that very watch which Lady Desborough had presented to her at the villa in the Edgeware Road. At length she observed that it was mid-day—and the excitement of suspense and impatience was be- coming intolerable. Drawing ferth a note from her bosom, she read it with attention; and the tears fell from her eyes, moistening the page with their pear.y shower. The contents of this letter were as follow :— “ Carlton House, Wednesday afternoon. “My Dear Miss PAULINE, “ T regret—deeply regret—to be compelled to address you upon a most unpleasant subject : but I implore you to tranquillise yourself and listen to the good counsel which Lord Florimel will give you. Poor Octavia called upon me just now. That she was about to take this step, you were doubtless aware. Need I assure you that I received her with kindness—and that I said all I could to console her? But her excitement grew alarming ; and she became very ill. Fortunately the Duchess of Devonshire arrived at the moment; and her Grace (with whom I am charmed to find that you are acquainted) volunteered to take charge of the dear girl. ‘To this proposal I readily assented, fearful that if Octavia were conveyed home immediately, your father would inevitably discover all! The Duchess of Devonshire has therefore | taken your dear sister to a secluded villa which her Grace possesses at a little distance from London; and there can be no doubt that in two or three days Octavia will be completely restored to health. The moment her Grace had departed with your sister, I sent fer Lord Florimel, to whom I candidly narrated what had oc- curred,—deeming him to be the most proper person to break the intelligence to you, and advise with you how to account to your father for Octavia’s temporary ab- sence from home. His lordship kindly and promptly undertook this task: but he requested me to pen a few lines to you, of which he offered to become the bearer. Hence this brief note. “T should add that her Grace of Devonshire has pro- mised to visit you on Saturday next, in the forenoon—so that she may either report to you the progress which your dear sister may be making towards complete con- valescence, or else have the pleasure of restoring Octavia altogether to your arms. “That this latter alternative may be the one which next Saturday morning will see accomplished, is a wish that comes from the heart of “ Your affectionate friend, “GEORGE P.” Such was the letter from the Prince cf Wales which Pauline Clarendon now read. As the reader may observe by the heading, it was written on the preceding Wednesday afternoon—a couple of hours after the terrible scene which occurred at Carlton House in respect to Octavia. And why did the young lady now refer to it again? Simply to assure herself that the visit of the Duchess of Devonshire was indeed promised for the forenoon of this Saturday on which we find her s0 anxiously awaiting the arrival of her Grace. Scarcely had she read the contents of that page which in a few moments became moistened with her tears, when a carriage stopped at the door. Thrust- ing the letter in her bosom, Pauline hurried to the window; anda faint smile of satisfaction appeared upon her lips, as she beheld her devoted lover Lord Florimel descend. Another minute—and she was clasped in his arms. —_~— eee ee ee ee es ——~ —— ~ THE MYSTERIES. . “What news of Octavia, my dearest Pauline?” ne demanded, leading her to a seat and placing him- self by her side: then, perceiving that her counte- nance bore traces of recent weeping, he exclaimed, ere she had time to reply, “ Alas! nothing satisfac- tory, I am afraid. But tell me, Pauline—has any additional intelligence reached you ?” “None, dear Gabriel,” was the answer. “ You are aware that the Duchess of Devonshire was to call this morning: but it is now past mid-day— and she has not yet made her appearance.” “Her Grace will be sure to come, beloved girl,” said Florimel, speaking in his most soothing tone and lavishing the tenderest caresses upon the charming creature on whom his affections were so devoutly fixed. “ Let us hope for the best.” “Oh! I am almost wearied of indulging in hope concerning this fatal amour of my unhappy sister with the Prince,’ exclaimed Pauline, reposing her beauteous head upon her Jover’s shoulder and press- ing her hand in both her own. “I tremble for the consequences, Gabriel. Whatcan I do, if her Grace should not come ?—or now am [I to act in the still more embarrassing position in which I shail be placed if Octavia do not return home well in health and comparatively tranquillised in mind? Must I not fly to her and offer the consolations of a sister? —and yet how can I leave my father unattended by either of his daughters? Moreover, such astep on my part would probably engender suspicions in his mind——” “But he is aware that Octavia is staying with the Duchess—is he not ?” inquired Florimel. “Yes,” was the answer. “ He does not however suspect that she is ill—much less that she has any- thing so very dreadful preying upon her mind. And I feel, Gabriel, as if I were playing a treache- rous and false part towards my father,” continued Pauline, in a tone of deep feeling and earnest sin- cerity : “it seems to me that [am culpable of great duplicity and falsehood in concealing from him the real truth. Nevertheless, that truth Ll dare not avow: for if my father’s suspicions were once excited, he would pursue his inquiries and investigation until he had fathomed the whole affair in all its lamen- table details. And there is another source of un- easiness which I experience,’ observed Pauline, after a few moments’ pause; “which is, that the real extent of Octavia’s illness was not made known to me. From the moment that you delivered the Prince’s letter into my hands last Wednesday after- noon, I have been tortured with misgivings to the effect that Octavia is worse than his Royal High- ness represented. What did he tell you, Gabriel? —do you really believe that his note contained the entire truth, and that nothing still more unfavour- able was concealed ?” “The Prince gave me precisely the same account which was contained in his letter, dear Pauline,’ answered Lord Florimel. “I repeated to you word for word all he said to me: butif you wish, I will tell it to you over again.” Atthis moment a loud double knock resounded through the house; and Pauline rushed to the window. A carriage, with a ducal coronet upon the panels, was standing at the door—and the Duchess of Devonshire immediately alighted. But she was alone—Octavia was not with her— and Pauline’s heart sank with a sickening sensation in her bosom. The Duchess was conducted to the drawing-room - ———— a ee eee eee (C(O) nn) (C 6)(0)() CSE (C(O)