The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 138: what you’re looking at

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

a a —_— er OO ese See YHE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. & tone and manner of greater poaheened that he thus resumed his narrative :— “Tf any doubt had previously existed in my mind in respect to St. James’s Palace being the place where I had seen that lady whom I always think of as my mother, it was now cleared up. But who. was she? who could she have been? Some one of no mean rank: for on two occasions had I seen elegantly dressed ladies with her, apparently in attendance upon her, and treating her with de- ference and respect. Moreover, that nobleman with a star upon his breast—was he not in some way elosely connected with that lady or with her secret ? —for that there was a secret, and that this mystery regarded my sister and myself, it was impossible to doubt. However, I will not dwell upon all-the ideas which suggested themselves—all the conjec- tures that I formed; because they led to nothing. Let me continue my narrative. Weeks:and months passed away; and never amidst the crowd of titled dames who visited at the palace, did I catch a | him. 125 the recital of his history had corlinnedin up, he felt soothed and consoled by her kind words and her tender sympathy : so that bending down as he stood by her chair, he kissed her unasked. She embraced him with glowing ardour; and after this inter- change of caresses, he resumed his narrative. “T have already said that weeks and months passed ayay, and gradually the hope of meeting that lady whom I so much longed to see, died within me. At length I was one day startled by encountering in the great hall of Buckingham Palace that nobleman whom I have so often men- tioned in my narrative—the one whom I saw first with a star upon his breast, and who had subse- quently placed me at the boarding-school at South- ampton. Though nine years had elapsed since last I beheld him—and though he looked very much older, and was even much altered, yet was I con- vinced that it was he. Obeying a natural impulse, I hastened forward and presented myself before ‘My lord, I said, without then knowing his glimpse of that one countenance which above all | name, but merely being aware of his rank, T aun others I would have given worlds to behold!” Francis Paton !—Conceive my astonishment when “ And should you recollect it now, if you beheld surveying me with cold and inscrutable look, he that countenance, Frank ?” inquired Juliana, more | answered, ‘Well, my lad, and who is Francis and more interested in the youth’s strange and | Paton?—I said that [ was astonished—I might romantic story. “ Recollect it, Miss?” he exclaimed. were impossible to forget it! Even if I had never seen that lady but once—and even if it were only on that first occasion when I was but six years old— her image would have remained indelibly impressed upon my mind. But recollect, Miss Farefield, that on two subsequent uccasions did I behold that lady at about a year’s interval each time, and that on the lust occasion I was eight years old. At this age the mind is callous and insensible to many things, but equ lly susceptible and sensitive in other things. Amidst the Alpine forests there is a tree which if, | when a tender sapling, have added that I was astounded—dismayed ; and “ Oh! it | for the instant it really struck me that I must have made a mistake. But another and still more scrutinizing survey of that nobleman convinced me that I had not: I would have staked my soul upon the issue, could the matter have been put to the test.—* My lord, I exclaimed, with an indignation which I could not control, ‘I am that Francis Paton whom you took from the cottage where Mrs. Bur- naby died, to a mansion in the country where I saw a lady whom I had seen before and whom I would give worlds to see again. Iam he also whom your lordship placed at a seminary in Southampton; ane it, will, as it grows with the progress of years, retain : | ship that I am indebted for the bread of ede the inscription thus made; and while increasing in bulk and height, it still preserves the name in- dented upon its rind—and the larger it becomes the deeper, the wider, and the more palpable grows the inscription also. So it is with certain images which are | engraven upon the youthful heart. The human sap- ling grows up to man’s estate, and time instead of ob- literating the inscription, deepens it, makes it spread uver a wider space of the heart, and allows it not to be effaced.” “Frank,” murmured Juliana, gazing upon thie youth in mingled astonishment and adoration, “ it is something ineffably sweet, though mournful and touching, to hear you talk thus. Oh, if my image could only be imprinted thus indelibly upon your heart, how happy should I be! But ere now you addressed me as Miss Farefield. When we are alone together, let there hencetorth be no ceremony between us. Away, away,” cried the impassioned young lady, “with all ¢old formalities! To me you are Hrank—and to youl am Juliana!” The youth, who in his inexperience of the humau heart mistook this gush of impassioned feelings for the purest and chastest love —a mistake which Juliaua herself also made in respect to her own emo- tions~-was enraptured by the language, the looks, and the caresses of that splendid patrician lady ; and amidst all the mournful reminiscences which | tinued cold—unmoved—inscrutable. played any emotion at all, it was an affectation of | which I now eat.’ ” “You spoke with Frank,” observed Juliana. “The last portion of my speech was uttered with bitterness and reproach,” exclaimed the youth. ‘But it was without effect. The nobleman con- Tf he dis- spirit, surprise, as he said, ‘ Young man, you are talking in enigmas. I know nothing of the incidents to which you allude; and they are evidently secrets into which I have no right to pry. But as you have made such a mistake without sinister design, I will not chide. On the contrary, [ am rather in- clined to take an interest in you; and therefore if ever you need a friend, do not hesitate to apply to me.’—‘ Oh, my lord,’ I exclaimed, ‘ torture me not wilh this assumed ignorance of the past; but tell me who and where is the lady that I long to claim as my mother!’—‘ Young man,’ responded the nobleman, ‘it is useless for you to address we in this manner. Let it be sufficient tor you that the romantic singularity of the present occurrence whicn has led you to mistake me for another, has so far enlisted my sympathy that I will prove your friend.’ —He then passed rapidly on through the hall; but ere he issued forth from the palace, I inquired of a fellow-page who wade his appearance there at tl — ee eee ——— a - — nn GoOnGsdooks (CO)