The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 252: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 237 live with my mother. It was a beautiful place— such a fine large house, and such numbers of ser- vants! There were carriages, and horses, and everything in grand style. Oh! it was a dreadful change to be taken and shut up in that vile place from which you delivered me!” “But,” said Lady Bess, “it surely was not with your mother’s consent that you were thus taken away P” *¢ God forbid that I should think so: for my poor mother seemed to love me dearly. I do not think she was happy—I often saw her cry, particularly when my cruel uncle called at the Park. They used to talk together in whispers; and he must have said very harsh things to her, for I recollect that it was always then she cried most and seemed ' sounhappy. No—I cannot believe that she let me be carried off in that manner. It was in the middle of the night when it happened; and though I cried very much and thought that my uncle was going to do me some harm, he would not let me see my mother before I was hurried away.” “And you say that your father was in India at the time and was coming home? JDo you not re- collect your father ?”’ “Not in the least. He went out to India soon after I was born. I know that he was a great General as well as a Lord, and went to India to command the armies there.” “ And from the moment that you were taken to Beech-Tree Lodge sixteen years ago, you never saw your mother?” asked Lady Bess. “Never,” was the reply. “I used to cry very much for her, and asked Mr. Bellamy and Mrs. Martin to take me to her: but they always told me to hold my tongue—and they even threatened to kill me if I ever spoke about her to any of the servants of Beech-Tree Lodge. very, very miserable at the Lodge, all by myself in a@ room with iron bars at the windows, and the door constantly locked. I used to think that I should go mad; and sometimes it appeared to me as if I awoke from a very long dream, scarcely able to recollect what I had been thinking of. Indeed,” he added slowly and with a deep seriousness of countenance, ‘‘I do think that there were intervals when I forgot all that was happening—where I was—everything connected with the past-——in short, I am afraid that there were times when I was really mad.” “Do not think of those bad times any longer,” said Lady Bess in a soothing tone. “No doubt your captivity has done you a great deal of harm: but you will get well soon, and be happy and com- fortable again—because no unkindness will be shown to you here, and I will not allow any one to come to take you away. Indeed; your cruel uncle does not know where you are at present; and if he be searching for you, his search will assuredly be in vain. Of course you know that your father is dead ?” ““Yes—because Mr. Bellamy and Mrs. Martin were both talking of it one day when they had me out in the garden walking with them. That was soon after I was taken to Beech-Tree Lodge. They did not think that I was listening at the time; but I overheard what they said, and asked them about it. I cried very much; for I had hoped that when Ah! I have been . “ Oh! it was at Everton Park, where I used to | my father came back to England, he would take me away from Beech-Tree Lodge and punish my cruc] uncle for keeping me there. I used to be told et Everton Park that when my father came back from the East Indies he would be so glad to see his Adolphus 4a Lady Bess. “Yes: I was named after my father—his name was Adolphus also. But do you think that Hen- rietta will come to see us?” asked the invalid, his ideas suddenly changing with feverish eccentricity ‘into another channel. “I must tell you something about her. I used to think to myself latterly when I was at Beech-Tree Lodge, that if I could only | manage to open the door of my room, I should be able to escape and get back to my poor mother. So I used to pass hours in examining the lock: but I could not open it. At last one day, when I was _taken down to walk in the garden with that man Bellamy—s cruel, wicked man —I saw a rusty key lying on one of the borders. I picked it up unseen by him, and kept it. Several times did I try to open my chamber-door with it: I found that it turned in the lock—but still the door kept shut—and then I recollected that it was bolted on the outside. But one night—it must have been in the middle of the night, when I could not sleep—I thought to myself ‘that if by any accident the person who had been _last with me had not bolted the door I might get out. And sure enough, when I unlocked the door i with my rusty key, it did open. I stole out of the | room and descended the stairs all in the dark. I had to feel my way along the wall of the passage tu reach the next staircase; and in so doing, my hand encountered something that seemed to be a knob in the wall. I don’t know how it was, but by just touching that knob, a door seemed to open sud- denly. I was at first very much frightened ; but when I saw the moonlight shining in throurh a window facing the open door, I thought that this would perhaps be some avenue of escape. I stole in, and found myself in a bedroom. The curtains were closed at the foot of the bed; and I @tood wondering whether anybody was in that couch. Perhaps it was my cruel uncle—perhaps it was Bellamy—perhaps it was Mrs. Martin? I was much frightened, and stood still listening to ascer- tain if I could hear any one breathe. I did—and it | was the breathing of some person who was evidently | | “Then your Christian name is Adolphus?” said asleep. Still I remained quiet, not knowing what te do: then the breathing ceased—and feeling great curiosity, I peeped through the curtains at the foot of the bed. By the light of the moon and stars I saw such a beautiful face upon the pillow: the eyes were looking at me—and I at once perceived that I was causing a terrible affright. I heard the sweet creature moan with a sort of horror; and much terrified myself, lest she should alarm the house, I retreated rapidly—~shut the door behind me—and ran back to my own chamber. There I locked myself in again; and I do not know what more I thought of that night.” “T suppose that the occupant of the chamber you had thus entered was Henrietta?” said Lady Bess. “ Wait and you shall hear,’ resumed Adolphus, now appearing to have more command over hus thoughts and reollections than he had hitherto pos -— e—_—_—- — "= S Go JOO (CO)