The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 209: what you’re looking at

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194 giving flavour to the rich juice of the grape: — and Lord Harold Staunton laughed wildly, almost with a maniac laugh, as he thus spoke. * Now let this interview end,” said Lady Saxon- dale, rising from the sofa: and despite the calm and dignified reserve, mingled with a slight expres- sion of pity, which she wore outwardly, she was evidently not free from alarm within. “Ts it possible that you are serious and sternly resolved in treating me thus ?” cried Lord Harold, in a wild mournful voice. ‘ Woman, I have become a murderer for your sake! Yes—lI tell you again that I knew it was you the instant I received the letter containing the name yesterday morning. And know- ing it to be you, I did not to-day engage your son as my second—lI did not even communicate to him the fact that a duel was pending. See, then, all the consideration I have manifested, in addition to the crime which I have perpetrated on your behalf! And now——” “Tsay, my lord,” interrupted Lady Saxondale, “that this inverview must end!” “‘ No—the interview cannot end: but the foolish and insensate portion of it shall!’ exclaimed Lord Harold: and with wide-extended arms, he sprang forward to clasp Lady Saxondale in his embrace. A half-suppressed shriek escaped her lips as she retreated to the bell-pull: but at that very instant the dour flew open, and in rushed Mabel the house- keeper, her countenance purple with rage. ‘** Save me—save me, Mabel, from this maniac!” erled Lady Saxondale, as if joyously catching at the circumstance of the woman’s opportune appearance, and not choosing to notice her wrathful looks. “ Hh—what?” screamed forth Mabel. ‘“ Lord Harold, who killed Deveril this morning! He here !” —and the woman looked unfeignedly astonished. Lord Harold’s extended arms dropped to his sides as if paralysed. He stood confounded for a few moments, uncertain how to act. He dared not pur- sue his present object any farther: for all m an instant it flashed to him that if a disturbance were created in the house, it might end by his falling into the hands of justice—and he by no means relished the idea of being committed to Newgate to take his trial for the disastrous issue of the duel. He therefore saw the necessity of yielding to cir- cumstances; and advancing towards Lady Saxon- dale, he said in a quick hoarse whisper, “ We shall speedily meet again:’—then rushing past Mabel, he quitted the room, and soon afterwards the house. ‘“Your coming was most fortunate,” said Lady Saxondale, endeavouring to make the incident itself available for the use of language to propitiate the woman. “I do most sincerely thank you.” “Thank me, indeed! there’s nothing to thank me for,” cried Mabel. ‘“ I didn’t come for that: how did I know what was going on? And really,” she added, with a sneer, “your ladyship seems to ke very unfortunate just at present: everybody is per- secuting you with love-overtures. First poor De- veril, who has been killed: secondly, this Staunton, who killed him! It’s really a strange coincidence ! But it wasn’t for that I came: ’twas to tell you that things are getting every day worse and worse with me. The conduct of the servants is unbearable.” ‘What has happened now, Mabel?” asked Lady Saxondale. *“ What’s Lappened? Why, that hussey the ee TS ASS | THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. laundry-maid says she isn’t to take her orders from me; and there’s the butler just refused me a bottle of cordial, saying I must get your order. Of course they are encouraged to do this. They see how that jackanapes Edmund treats me—how that minx Juliana behaves to me but I won’t put up with it; and now I am going to have things settled.” “In what way, Mabel? in what way?” asked Lady Saxondale, gradually becoming deeply grave and ominously reflective. “Oh! I will soon tell you what I mean,” re- joined the housekeeper insolently. “I will have you summon the whole of the servants up into this room within the hour that’s passing——yes, this night I mean—and you will tell them all that you insist upon their obeying me just as they do your- self. Now, that’s what I will have done without any more delay.” “ Well, Mabel, whatever you desire shall be dune,” answered Lady Saxondale in a deeper and more subdued tone than she was wont to adopt. “ But allow me to suggest that it will be more dignified on your part if you appear quite cool and collected in the presence of the assembled servants.” “Oh! then you don’t object to what I propose?” said the housekeeper, considerably mollified by Lady Saxondale’s conciliatory words. “All I want is to be put on a proper footing Z * And so you shall be, Mabel,” at once replied her ladyship. “I do indeed perceive now that your authority is not sufficiently established. I will call all the servants together, and give them such in- structions as shall satisfy you for the future. But when I think of it,” she added, glancing towards the time-piece on the mantel, “it is somewhat late to take such an important step to-night. It is half- past eleven. Some of the servants may already be in bed—those who get up earliest in the morning. Suppose I do what you wish immediately after breakfast ? That is the better time for settling do- mestic matters.” “ Well, since your ladyship takes such a just and proper view of the matter,” observed Mabel, now completely appeased, “ I think it would be better to wait till the morning ” “ And I tell you what you shall do, Mabel,” con- tinued Lady Saxondale. “In order to give greater effect to the proceeding, it shall appear as if you had really been making serious complaints to me; and I will read the whole of the servants such a humiliat- ing lecture in your presence, that they shall never dare dispute your authority again.” “ T waz always sure that you would not see your faithful servant ill-treated,”’ rejoined Mabel, who began to feel all the love of former days revive to- wards her mistress. “I shall now sleep comfort- ably to-night—which I have not done for a very long time. Good night, my lady—God bless your ladyship !” “ Good night, Mabel—I hope you will sleep com- fortably.” The housekeeper left the room; and as the door closed behind her, a gloomy look gradually settled upon the countenance of Lady Saxondale—a look as ominous in its expression as that which she wore on the last occasion of her quarrel with Mabel, and which was related in a recent chapter. It was past midnight when the carriage returned with Juliana and Constance, who had been to @ GomiGcdooks (€©)