The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 314: what you’re looking at

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

— THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 299 They were welcomed with every appearance of cor- | imagine that they are not sufficient to subdue any diality by Lady Saxondale, and with a real sincerity | rancour which I may have experienced in respect by Juliana, who was exceedingly glad to have com- | to what is past. I have been vindictive—terribly pany at the Castle, which to her was dull enough, | vindictive; and perhaps I even went too far in re- although Mr. Hawkshaw had called on each of the | vealing everything to Edmund. But you must two mornings since the ball. make allowances for the state of mind into whick The quick eye of Lady Saxondale discovered at | I was thrown. Consider what I had done for you. the first glance that Florina was unhappy and de- | I had risked my own life—and I had nearly taken sponding in reality, and that the gaiety she assumed | the life of another!” was only forced. Her ladyship therefore saw that | ‘ Would that you had effectually done so!” ejacu- Florina still pined on Deveril’s account; and the | lated Lady Saxondale bitterly. pain of her fair young rival was a joy and atriumph| ‘“ Have you still cause to be so vindictive against to the heart of that vindictive and jealous woman. | Deveril?” inquired Staunton. “Of course I have While alone with Lady Macdonald for a few mo- | been at no loss to comprehend how he merited your ments before dinner, Lady Saxondale took the op-|anger. For a woman of such grand and magni- portunity of inquiring, apparently in a casual and | ficent beauty as you possess, and who condescended indifferent manner, if Mr. Deveril had made any | to fix her thoughts upon a miserable obscure artist, further attempts to renew his acquaintance at |—for such a woman, I say, to experience a rebuff, Cavendish Square since the duel? and she was in- | was provoking indeed.” formed that he had not. “Do not allude to it any more,” interrupted As a matter of course Lady Saxondale did not Lady Saxonduale, impatiently: for she of course openly testify the spite which she cherished against , knew that it was usc.ess to contradict the story to Florina, but treated her with her wonted affability, | one who had every reason to understand it so tho. and as her future daughter-in-law. For it was a roughly. source of infinite satisfaction to the vindictive lady | ‘Pardon me, dear Lady Saxondale,” he replied, to think that Florina, though attached to Deveril, | “if I dwell upon that topic for a moment; because should be sacrificed to her own profligate and worth- | I wish you to understand me well. I am not sv less son Edmund. | insensate nor go vain as to believe that you are in But how had Lady Saxondale and Harold Staun- love with me. I know very well that after having ton met? With the well-bred ease of persons in so recently set your mind upon Deveril, you car their station of life, and to all outward appearance scarcely, even in the mere caprice of woman, snatch, as if nothing unpleasant had ever occurred between me up to supply his place. Therefore you have them. But as Lady Saxondale had given him her some motive in effecting a reconciliation with me. hand on his arrival, the quick glances of deep Do be candid, and explain what that motive is.” meaning which they exchanged, showed that they! “You will not, then, give me credit for any kind thoroughly understood each other. On the one or generous feelings towards you?” said Lady Sax- hand Harold Staunton comprehended that the ondale: “but you think that even in this recon- circumstance of his being includcd in the invitation ciliation I am selfish?” sent to his aunt and sister, was a proof that Lady; “I cannot think that you entertain the slightest Saxondale purposed to seek a reconciliation with tenderness towards me—particularly after the dread- him: and upon what termscould such reconciliation ful scene which took place between us at your be effected, save and except on his own conditions? house. I can therefore only attribute your present On the other hand, her ladyship perceived that he conduct to one of two alternatives; and if it were was quite willing to accept such reconciliation; and only for curiosity’s sake, I should like to know she had therefore no doubt of securing him entirely which it is.” to her own interest. «“ And those alternatives?” said Lady Saxondale The dinner was served up at about seven o’clock; inquiringly. and when the dessert was over a little after eight,' “The first is, that you seek a paramour, and have the party descended into the gardens to walk—fur perhaps thought that you might as well take me the evening was serenely beautiful. Lady Mac- irito your favour in that light; and the second is, donald, fatigued with the day’s travelling, soon re- that you again wish to avail yourself of my services turned into the Castle. Florina and Juliana kept and do not regard the sacrifice you must make to together—while Lady Saxondale and Harold were obtain them.” thus left to themselves. | “ Now tell me, Lord Harold Staunton,” said Lady “ Have I rightly understood your ladyship’s kind- Saxondale, stopping short and looking him full in ness?” asked Staunton, gently placing her arm the face,—“do you take me for a worman who is in his own, and leading her into a secluded avenue. | privately profligate, though before the world pos- “Tell me what you understand by the term sessing an untarnished reputation ?” kindsiess,” responded her ladyship, but with a “T candidly confess that until quite recently I smile which gave him every encouragement to pro- believed you to be a woman of the strictest prudence ceed. and propriety: but you yourself will allow that I “T can only conclude that you would not haye have no great reason to flatter rayself now that I invited me hither,” returned Harold, “unless you shall be the first on whom yor Aive bestowed your had made up your mind to atone for your past favours since your husband s ¢eath.” —— a cruelty.” | On my soul, I swear to you, Harold,” replied “Then it is not too late to offer such atone- Lady Saxondale, “that you wrong me! It was a ment?” said Lady Saxondale in a subdued voice. moment of weakness that led me to make overtures “You must indeed have but a poor opinion of to Deveril and place myself in his power. Now, your own charms,” “rejoined Staunton, “if you will you not believe me? IL have no object in des ee. ee ee a meee — — mae td + - —_ ee ee - ee _— ' TTT GoOnniGoaooks (CO)