The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 86: what you’re looking at

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

TIE MYSTERIES. 71 CHAPTER XXII. CAROLINE WALTERS. Ir will be remembered that Lord Florimel had by some means or other acquired the certainty that Octavia Clarendon would not return home until the morning, The fact was that when Mrs, Brace was occupied in dressing the young nobleman in the female attire suited to the evening’s adventure, she had said to him, “ You have now the whole night before you, Florimel: for Octavia’s lover ere now intimated to me his desire that she should sleep here with him—and as her timidity may perhaps engender some scruples on this score, measures will be taken to enforce her compliance with her gallant’s wishes. It is fortunate that the gentleman should have been seized with this caprice, inasmuch as it ensures your lordship an uninterrupted ¢éte-a- téte with the lovely Pauline.” It was this speech on the part of Mrs. Brace that gave the nobleman the certainty above re- ferred to. As soon as he had quitted Pall Mall in his fe- minine disguise, the milliner rang the bell; and her lady’s-maid—a handsome young woman of about twenty—answered the summons. “Harriet,” said Mrs. Brace, waiting ere she spoke until the dependant had closed the door, “I have some very particular instructions to give you. In the first place, Mr. Harley intends to remain here all night with Miss Clarendon; and he has com- manded supper to be served up at ten o’clock pre- cisely. You will of course order the cook to pro- yide the choicest delicacies; and you will wait at table yourself—receiving the dishes on the landing outside from the footman. Do you understand ?” “Perfectly, madam,’ was the respectful an- swer. “Now take this key,’ continued Mrs. Brace, handing to the lady’s-maid the object alluded to: “it belongs to the side-board in the room where Mr. Harley and Miss Clarendon now are; and at supper-time you will place upon the table, close to his right hand, the decanter of wine which you will find in that side-board. You comprehend ?” “ Certainly, madam,” again responded the lady’s- maid, “ Have you any farther commands.” “None. Oh! stay—I remember!” exclaimed Mrs. Brace, suddenly recollecting a little commis- sion which had been entrusted to her: and taking a letter from behind the ornaments on the mantel, she said, “ Mr. Harley wrote this just now and or- dered that it should be sent to Mr. Meagles’ lodg- ings in the course of the evening. You will direct the footman to take it forthwith up to Jermyn Street, “Yes, madam;’—and the abigail was about to withdraw, when Mrs. Brace again stopped her. “ You may tell Miss Walters that 1 am now ready to depart with her,” she said, glancing at the time- piece and observing that it was a quarter past six o'clock; “and she can bring me down my bonnet and cloak. You will likewise order a coach to be sent for.” “'To the shop-door, madam?” inquired Harriet. “Certainly!” ejaculated Mrs, Brace. “Am I in the habit of going out by the door in St. James’s Square?” she asked, somewhat petulantly. eee eee SS sss Se ee ee Eee “T bes your pardon, madam: but [ was not aware for whom the hackney-coach was intended.” Having thus respectfully apologized, the abigail quitted the room. A few minutes afterwards a very pretty girl of about sixteen, made her appearance. She was a brunette, with fine eyes, beautiful teeth, and rich red lips; and her black hair was as remarkable for its luxuriance as for its silken fineness. ‘Though short in stature, she was perfectly symmetrical in shape; and from beneath her long cloak peeped forth as delicate a foot and ankle as the most par- ticular connoisseur could wish to behold. But, alas! there was a cloud upon the beautiful face of this young creature ;—and it was not the shade of the neat gipsy-hat that was set so tastefully upon her well-formed head;—but it was thesombre gloom of a deep melancholy. Caroline Walters—for that was her name—car- ried in her hands a bonnet and cloak, which she assisted Mrs. Brace to put on; and, when the mil- liner was thus attired for going out, Harrietentered the room to announce that the hackney-coach was at the door. “You have got everything that you want, my dear Caroline?” said Mrs. Brace, speaking to Miss Walters in a tone of remarkable kindness, and even affection. “ Eyerything, madam — thank you,” responded the young creature; and she turned hastily aside to conceal the tears that were tracing each other down her cheeks: for though the establishment of Mrs. Brace could scarcely be called a home, yet it was the only home that this poor girl had known for two years past—and her heart was swelling ready to break at the idea of quitting it, and under such circumstances too! “Come, Caroline—dry those tears,” said Mrs. Brace, patting her upon the back in an endearing manner. “ You will receive every attention and enjoy every comfort where you are going—and [I shall pay you a visit as frequently as the numerous calls upon my time will permit. Besides, [ shall allow you plenty of pocket-money, Caroline te “Oh! my dear madam,” exclaimed the young girl, now bursting into a violent fit of weeping, “there are certain things which no money can pur- chase !” “Money can procure every source of happiness in this world, Caroline,” said Mrs. Brace, soothingly; “and you are wrong thus to give way to your grief,” “ Alas! money cannot purchase peace of mind nor restore lost innocence, madam,” returned Miss Walters, in a voice almost suffocated with profound sobs ;—“ neither can money procure oblivion for the past!” “This is childish, Caroline,” observed Mrs. Brace, but not speaking impatiently. “ Remember that L will always be a good friend to you fs “Forgive me, dear madam, for thus yielding to my grief,” said the orphan—for such indeed she was. “Iknow that you are my only friend, See, madam,” she continued, hastily wiping her eyes, and turning towards the milliner a countenance to which she endeavoured to coax up smiles: “Iam calm now—I am indeed—and I will not ery any more !” “There’s a good girl,’ exclaimed Mrs. Brace. “ All the tears in the world will not mend matters— 7 COLA Clooolkks. conn