The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 131: what you’re looking at

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

116 purer and chaster kind than that which could alone occupy the heart of the elder young lady. While their mother was paying her visit to Lady Macdonald, Juliana and Constance, each dressed in an elerant negligée, were seated together, as already described, in the apartment where their mornings were generally passed: for although it was now really the afternoon so far as the proper divisions of time went, yet it is always morning in the fashion- able world until the dinner-hour, even though this should be as late as six or seven o’clock. The two sisters had been conversing on the incident of the previous day: namely, the story which their mother had told them relative to William Deveril; and by a not unnatural transition they were led on to topics of a more tender, intimate, and secret cha- racter. “T know that you have something in your mind, dear Juliana,” said Constance, pursuing the strain into which the discourse had gradually glided; “and though I have noticed it for some few months past, and have often been going to question you on the subject, yet I did not like to do so.” “ And why not?” asked Juliana, the rich blood mantling upon her cheeks. “ Do you think that I should have refused you my confidence? No: I should have been pleased if you had sought it. But it involves a secret which I could not bring myself to confess of my own accord. It is a revelation which one shrinks from making willingly, and which rust be asked for before it can be breathed even in the ears of a sister.” “‘T have not questioned you before, Juliana,” was the reply given by Constance, “because you are sometimes so impetuous and hasty ? “Ah! but in this respect I should not have been so,” interrupted the elder sister. “And beside, you have a perfect right to seek my fullest confidence. Have you not given me your own? am I not ac- quainted with the secret of your love?” “Oh! then,” exclaimed the blushing Constance, “Tam to understand that the confession you are now about to make is of the same tender character ! Iam glad of it—I am delighted at the idea that you yourself also cherish an affection of the heart: for I have sometimes felt uneasy—I know not why —at the thought of being alone as it were es ‘In experiencing the bliss of love?” added Ju- liana with an arch smile upon her lip, but still with a blush upon her cheeks: then as her fine bust heaved with a profound sigh, she added in a low and almost mournful voice, ““I am afraid, Constance, that we can scarcely congratulate each other upon the objects in whom our affections are respectively centred.” “ What!” exclaimed Constance: “do you mean to share my mother’s prejudice against Villebelle? Ah! this has been the source of my uneasiness, when I have reflected that I loved so fondly, and that you being ignorant of what love is, could not enter into the spirit of all I experience, and would thus sooner or later be led to view this love of mine with suspicion and displeasure.” “But I hope, my dear Constance, that you have never feared I should betray you?P” said Juliana, with a reproachful look. “‘Oh—betray me—no! I was well aware that 1 CL LL i th ns THE MYSTERIES OF THE COTRT. of rny enthusiasm in respect to the Marquis of Villebelle, might endeayour to wean me from that devoted love with which I regard him—might re- monstrate against the impropriety of our clandes- tine meetings—and might eves be cold to him when you were present at our interviews. All this havel apprehended : “ But have your fears been realized?” interrupted Juliana. ‘On the contrary, have I not assisted you in those meetings? have I not even kept watch when the Marquis, stealthily entering the garden, has encountered you there? was it not I who en- listed our maid Mary-Anne in your interest, and induced her to become the bearer of your notes ?” “ Yes—all this is true, dearest Juliana; and I was wrong ever to entertain the slightest misgiving in respect to your kindness. But now tell me,” con- tinued Constance, “ who is the object of this love which your heart cherishes?—for that you do love, your lips have admitted—yes, and your looks have confirmed the avowal!” “No, no, Constance—I cannot tell you,” mur- mured Juliana. “I am fearful that you will ridi- cule—you will despise me!” * Impossible, dearest sister!” said Constance. “For all the reasons that you yourself have just given when enumerating the services you have ren- dered me, am I bound not merely to pay your feel- ings as much respect as I claim for my own, but likewise to give you such succour as may lie in my power.” “* But in this case there are no such aids requisite,” responded Juliana, evidently approaching with reluctance the full revelation of her secret, and therefore gradually preparing her sister for the final avowal by means of hints and allusions. “ In my case, Constance, there need be no interchange of letters—no clandestine meetings in the garden—no scaling of the walls—no posting some one to keep watch—no entrusting the seeret to a maid——” *T cannot understand you,’ observed Constance, gazing upon her sister with surprise and bewilder- ment. “If all these accessories and aids are not required, it must be because the object of your love would not be distasteful to our mother, our rela- tives, and our friends.” “ Here again you are wrong, Constance,” inter- rupted Juliana. ‘“ Listen! ‘When our mother first perceived, a few months ago, that the Marquis of Villebelle began to pay you some attention and that you appeared pleased with his*tourtesies and his assiduities, she purposely insulted him, though in her own dignified and coldly serene manner; and this was done deliberately in order to convince him that his suit for your hand would never receive a sanction from her lips. The result of that insult was that the Marquis found himself compelled te abstain from visiting at the house. But still our mother was not satisfied with having thus excluded him from the mansion, She sought to poison your mind against him, so as effectually to raise up a barrier between yuurselves. This she did, not point- edly as if she really believed you loved him—but by inuendo and by casual remark, always in your pre- sence, but not as if her words were expressly spoken for you, and for you alone. She could not deny that he was really what he represented himself— ap were incapable of such perfidy towards me. | that he was well connected—and that he belonged ut I trembled lest you, dear Juliana, sharing none! to one of the oldest families in France: but she ee GomiGodooks (€©)