The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 265: what you’re looking at

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

250 ———s THE MYS&TERTES OF THE COURT, - +e ——_ door, to leave it ajar: for her curiosity was excited | “Mother,” exclaimed Constanee, now feeling that -she was most anxious to know what was passing she had no alternative but to show her spirit and between the mother and daughter—and from the assume a firm mien, “ you are threatening me— sign Constance had made her, she understood that | you are using strange language 8 Yady Saxondale might every moment be expected | ‘‘Say then at once you refuse to take the oath to return into that room which she herself had just because you are confident of breaking it. Now, quitted. : Constance,” continued Lady Saxondale, rising from Meanwhile Constance, having instantaneously re- | her seat, “it seems as if it were to become a strug- cognized the handwriting of the Marquis of Ville- | gle between you and me who is to be the mistress. belle, tore open the letter, and ran her eye over its | False girl that you are! ere now you were embrac- contents. It was to the effect that his expectations | ing me and weeping—ere now you affected to be had been realized—that he had that morning re- | touched by my complaints against your rebellious ceived from the French Government the notification | brother and sister: and at present you are becoming of his appointment as Secretary to the Embassy at | rebellious in your turn! Take the oath—swear to the Court of Madrid—that he was to leave London me that you will not abandon yourself to this in four days—and that it therefore became abso- | French adventurer: or I vow——”’ lutely necessary for him to see Constance assoonas| ‘‘ Mother, you dare not call him an adventurer ” possible, that they might make prompt arrange- | exclaimed Constance, the flush of indignation ap- ments for their marriage, which must immediately pearing upon her features: “he is an honourable take place. man——” A sensation of joy thrilled through every vein and | ‘Oh! since you are so vehement in his defence,” fibre of the young lady’s form as she read these interrupted Lady Saxondale, “it is another proof lines; and she forgot for the moment that her | that you think more of him than you just now led mother would re-appear in a minute or two to exact ,me to suppose. But listen! The day after to- the oath. As this recollection however flashed back ' morrow you will accompany me into Lincolnshire, to her memory, she thrust the letter into her bosom . In the meantime I will wateh you with an unceas- with the deep resolve that, happen what might, she ing vigilance. Whithersoever you go I will follow would neither prove unfaithful to the promise she ' you: at night you shall sleep with me in my own — are had given her lover nor hostile to what she conceived to be her happiness. Scarcely had she thus disposed of the note,—and while the flush of joy was still lingering upon her countenance like the last tint of ' the setting sun upon the western sky,—Lady Saxon- dale re-entered the room. Approaching the sofa, she resumed her seat thereon; and then taking her daughter’s hand, said, ‘‘ Now, Constance, are you | prepared to give me this proof of filial love which I require P” ‘Why should you put so little faith in me that you exact an oath ?” asked Constance. “‘ Because a mere pledge given is often broken, where an oath would be valued. And now let me ask why you hesitate to take this oath ? Constance, it is for your own welfare that I am adopting so serious a course. Do not let me think that you ere | now spoke falsely, and that you have really been maintaining a secret correspondence with the Mar- | chamber: you shall not even send out a letter to the post without first showing it to me: nor shall you have an opportunity of communicating alone with,any of the servants, lest you should make them your emissaries or your go-betweens.” “Mother,” asked Constance, now deadly pale, “do you wish to destroy all love and respect in m3 heart P” “I care not,” ejaculated Lady Saxonelale pas- sionately. “As for love and respect, you have none: they are mere words—not feelings. You are like your brother and your sister. But depend upon it I will save you in spite of yourself.” “ And what if I insist upon leaving the house ?” exclaimed Constance, with a deeper irritation of spirit than she had ever yet known, much less ever before displayed. “T will stop you,” was Lady Saxondale’s per- emptory and imperious answer. “During your quis of Villebelle. I now tell you plainly, as I have brother’s minority, this house is mine—and now as often before hinted, that the Marquis is married. | well as afterwards, all these servants are mine— I have the positive assurance of it—and therefore they are hired and paid by me. I will do as I think if you become anything in respect to him, it can! fit in my own house, and my domestics shall obey only be his mistress.” me. Do you understand me? will you drive me to Constance made no reply. She deliberated with | extremes ?” * herself how to act, but could settle upon nothing.! “I am to understand,’ said Constance, pale, At length she said, “ Mother, give me one week— trembling, and agitated, “that I am @ prisoner or only three days if. you will—to reflect upon all here?” vou have been saying.” | “You are,” was her mother’s firm and decisive “Ah! then youcannot decide at once? But you may act at once: and it is precisely this that I am resolved to frustrate. Ina couple of days you will accompany me into Lincolnshire: but ere we go I wish to receive from your lips the solemn assurance | reply. “If you attempt to go forth unaccompanied by me, I shall be compelled to expose you before all the servants, by ordering the hall-porter to lock the door, and by having every other issue properly guarded.” Reenter SE ie that there is no chance of-the Marquis being en- | Constance burst into tears. She felt her spirit couraged to follow you down secretly into that fail her: she was cowed—beaten—vanquished—al- neighbourhood. In short, there must be an answer ‘most crushed. Lady Saxondale saw the effect of given at once. Therefore,” added Lady Saxondale the menaces she had held out, and inwardly gloried emphatically, “ will you give me that oath? or by re- in her triumph. Withdrawing from the immediate fusing it, will you leave me to my own surmises and vicinity of the sofa where Constance was seated, to my own course of proceeding P” | she placed herself on another at the farther ex- = 2 — ~ = —— — = - ——— oe ee ae owes LL EL EE TE ee GomiGcdooks (€©)