The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 199: what you’re looking at

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184 being overheard at other windews or by the neigh- bours; but so clear was his voice in its masculine melody, and .so earnest were his accents in their manly pleading, that not a syllable was lost to Lady . | Florina’s ears, although the baleony w which she | stood was a considerable height from the ground. Tiien too, as she gazed down upon that young man whose personal beauty was of so fascinating a cha- racter, and whose form was so perfect in its statue- like symmetry—the music of his voice, too, flowing with such tender earnestness upon the evening zephyr, as if the melody of the human soul mingled with the perfumes which the flowers sent forth,— Lady Florina felt all her stern resolves thawing away, aud the hostile feelings which had frozen in ice round her heart melting beneath the influence of reviving tenderness. Still she answered not im- mediately, but with a softening and mouraful look gazed down upon him whom she had loved so ten- derly and so well, and whom she would give the world to be able to love again! “ Ah! I see that you have believed the tale which has reached your ears,” resumed Deveril as he anxiously watched her looks and thought that he understood all that was passing in her mind: “ but now that you see me you can believe it no longer! Lady Florina, will you descend for a few minutes into the garden? or will you tell me how I may forward a letter to you? I have longed—Oh! I have longed to write, but was fearful of com- mitting an indiscretion—afraid of compromising you——”’ ‘ “Compromising me!” echoed Florina, with an access of scornful feeling, a sudden and total change taking place within her all in a moment, effected by that talismanic werd which he had so unfortunately uttered: for she felt that she had indeed been compromised by having been beguiled into an avowal of love to that young man who dwelt pri- vately with an opera-dancer. ‘ Compromised!’’ she repeated bitterly ; “Oh, you have already com- promised me too much with myself!—and I know not how it is that I have so far forgotten all the proper pride of my position and my sex, to lin- ger here even for the few moments that I have suffered you to address me.” Another instant, and Florina had disappeared ‘from the balcony! She flitted away like an ap- parition—thus abruptly retreating into her apart- ment; and it seemed as if by magic that she had gone so suddenly. The casement was immediately closed; and Deveril, almost stargered by the blow, felt as if hope had suddenly perished within him. “Good heavens!” he murmured bitterly, ‘“ has Lady Saxondale so successfully spread the venom of her calumny ?” He lingered for a few moments, gazing up at _ that balcony where the bright and beautiful object of his adoration had just before stood, and whence she had vanishéd as swiftly as hope also had van- ished from his own heart. All in an instant he felt that he should be wrong to remain any longer there; and with a deep sigh he turned away. But as he issued forth from the garden-gate, he came in somewhat violent contact with an individual who was about to enter. ment. ————— ——— — — —————C—(<C— > ————_——— Tr rr erro ee —— They both retreated a step or | THE MYSTEKIES OF THE COURT. “ Lord Harold Staunton” And then there was a pause, during which the young nobleman looked strangely upon the youth- ful artist—while the latter had some difficulty iu recovering from the confusion into which this most disagreeable and unexpected encounter had tbrown him, “ May I inquire, sir,’ at length said Lord Harold sternly, “ what you are doing here ?” “T came,” at once responded William Deveril, “to give certain explanations which I have sought to give by all legitimate means 4 “T understand from my aunt, Lady Macdonald,” interrupted Lord Harold Staunton, “ that she has forbidden you the house, and that you have been persecuting her with calls and letters. I presume therefore that you have now been endeavouring te force your way into my aunt’s presence—or tliat you penetrated hither for that purpose, but think- better of it, were beating a precipitate retreat——” * Your lordship must put what construction you will apon my conduct,” returned Deveril, mildly but firmly: and he was determined to say nothinz that should compromise Florina. “ What! you dare treat the matter thus coolly ? exclaimed Lord Harold. “ Kuow you not, sir, that a nephew is bound to protect his aunt against sucl. intrusion, or attempted intrusion as this ?” “ Tam well aware that my conduct must seem suspicious,” replied Deveril, still calm and unexcited —and he was inwardly rejoiced to perceive that Lord Harold Staunton entertained not the slightest suspicion that it was to seek an interview with his sister and not with his aunt, that he (Deveril) had come thither. . “ Suspicious indeed!” exclaimed the young noble. man, working himself up intoa rage. “It is more than suspicious, sir—it is downright impudent—in short, it is conduct which deserves personal chastise- Pity it is that no lacquey was at hand to kick you out of the premises into which you have dared intrude.” “‘ My lord,” said’ Deveril, his cheeks now redden- ing, “it would grieve me sorely to aggravate the impropriety of my conduct by saying anything harsh to you: but I must beg to remind your Jord- ship that you are using language which I cannot listen to without indignation. Iam well aware that I have been indiscreet in entering Lady Mac- donald’s premises in a surreptitious manner: but I have not done so without some excuse. Vilely ca- lumniated, I was refused admittance at her lady- ship’s front-door—my letters were returned un- opened—and not choosing to incur her ladyship’s evil opinion without giving explanations on my own part to vindicate my character, I certainly sourlt admittance into her dwelling.” “ You have beén expelled her front door, and your letters have been returned unopened?” ex. claimed Harold Staunton, repeating Deveril’s words ina taunting manner. “Surely those indications were sufficient to convince you that your presence could be dispensed with; and any attempt te in- trude again becomes an acf of the grossest rudeness and most flagrant indecency. We will not however discuss the question farther. You must give me two, and their lips gave ejaculatory utterance te | satisfaction, sir, for your impertinence.” each other’s names. “Ah! William Dever !” i (E() “My lord,” replied Deveril, mow assuming 2 haughty dignity, which, as he was no aristocrat, was ECOMMICLOOKS