The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 141: what you’re looking at

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126 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. variety of occupation and grade, you might single | at which she stopped short, amd beyond which it out Mary-Anne as the abigail of aristocratic mis- | would be very difficult to induce her to take a false tresses. Nor was this all. A close observer could not fail to perceive that she was a confidential maid —deep in the secrets of the young ladies whom she served. Yet be it parenthetically remarked that she was not initiated in that particular secret which involved Juliana’s attachment for the young page. In order to render this portrait as complete as possible, we must observe that Mary-Anne possessed a very fine pair of dark hazel eyes, which she could use with no small effect when she chose, but all the glances of which were so tutored and disciplined as to be completely under her own control. Thus, in the presence of Lady Saxondale she appeared sedate and respectful, almost to demureness: with her young mistresses there was a more joyous and genial light dancing in her eyes, indicating that she felt herself the petted and favourite confidante, but still so far subdued as likewise to show that she knew her place too well to take any advantage of the confi- dence she thus enjoyed. Indeed, there was never anything like undue familiarity in her look, her words, or her manner. The brows that set off those fine eyes were darkly pencilled and splendidly arched; and the lashes which served as a screen for her looks when she chose thus to veil them, were of a darker shade still and resembled thick silken fringes. Her nose was straight—her mouth small and pouting, the lips being of a rich redness and always of a delicious moisture: they were lips that seemed to invite kisses, and appeared fully capable of giving them back again with additional sweets. The expression of her countenance, though naturally a mixture of good-humour, archness, and roguish- ness, was variable ; because, as we have already stated, she had the faculty of tutoring it to assume any look that suited the circumstances of the mo- ment. Although so remarkably handsome, and thé. etore exposed to many temptations, especially on the part of the profligate Lord Saxondale,—and though by no means of a cold temperament, but on the con- trary, with the rich warm blood of youth glowing in her veins,—Miss Mary-Anne was notwithstand- ing unquestionably virtuous. She could flirt with handsome valets and the upper class of male domestics—she could even smile mischievously and display her fine white teeth when any aristocratic young exquisite, visiting at the mansion, paid her @ passing compliment if they chanced to meet upon the stairs;—but if any improper overtures were made to Miss Mary-Anne she knew how to resent them in a manner that would most likely silence for ever him who insulted her with such proposals. We do not know that it can be exactly said she was virtuous from principle: indeed it would be wrong to make any such assertion. But she was a saving and prudent young woman in money-matters—had | thorough respectable notions with regard to her character—and looked forward to a good marriage | with some deserving and eligible person in her own | sphere of life. Thus, though Mary-Anne could | smile roguishly—assist in a luvo-intrigue carried on by others—and deliver a billet-dowa with all the slyness and discretion imaginablp,—and though on occasions she could not merely flirt but even romp with the domestics in the servants’ hall, on a Christmas or New Year's eve,—yet there was a line | ———— ee gl el step. Such was the lady’s-maid who possessed the oon- fidence of her two young mistresses generally, but of Constance especially ; and she had proved herself a most efficient auxiliary in enabling this latter la ly to carry on her secret interviews with the Marquis of Villebelle. She was therefore now on the alert to watch for the return of Lady Saxondale, or the presence of any other person who might interrupt the meeting of the lovers in the garden. We should observe that of all the splendid © mansions in Park Lane, not one possessed so large a piece of ground in the rear as Saxondale House. Not that this was very large either; and for a garden in the country it would have been riti- culously small; but for a town-residence, it was the very reverse. Being crowded with evergreens, which had grown to a considerable size and formed shady walks,—indeed, embowering some spots so completely as to shut out the view from all the ad- jacent windows,—this garden was well adapted for — the meeting of lovers. may ask, that Constance could not devise opportu- nities of seeing the Marquis of Villebelle in places where they might be still less liable to interruption ? Those who are acquainted with the routine of fashionable life, must be aware how difficult it is for young unmarried ladies to find such occasions. | If the Miss Farefields went out to walk, they had a tall footman watt at a short distance; and if they went out in thé carriage, it was impossible to alight and leave the equipage for any length of time, unattended and alone, without incurring the risk of gossipping observations on the part of the servants. If they went shopping they were certain to ineet so many of their acquaintances that it would be dangerous to seek such opportunities for the inter- views of love; and inasmuch as the Marquis of Villebelle had for some months ceased to visit at Saxondale House, the only way in which Constance could contrive to pass an hour alone with him, was by these clandestine meetings in the garden. The servants, generally, thought that the young lady buried herself for an occasional hour in the umbra- But how was it, the reader | geous recesses of the garden for the purpose of © practising on her guitar ; and thus when the sounds of that instrument were heard emanating from amidst the evergreens at the extremity of the en- closure, none of the domestics would venture to pene- trate thither. A side-door, of which it was easy for Mary-Anne to obtain the key, was wont to afford admission to the Marquis of Villebelle: but on three or four occasions when a half-hour’s interview was to be stolen after dusk, and when the key was not immediately forthcoming, the intrepid French- man had not hesitated to scale the boundary-wall. Let us now introduce this foreign nobleman te our readers. He was about twenty-eight years of avge—remarkably handsome—with a somewhat pen- sive andeven melancholy expression of countenance. Tall and well formed, his figure combined dignity and elegance. He had dark hair, clustering ia natural waves above a forehead of noble height. His eyes were large and black, and with a peculiar softness of look. There was a very pleasing ex- pression about his lips; and his teeth were white and faultlessly even. He spoke the English lan- — 2 ECORNICLOO <=) (€@)