The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 348: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 333 Some more conversation took place between him- _self and Mrs. Broughton, but which we need not See etE yy) DX lay before the reader. In half-an-hour the medi- =pyR pITLED LADY AND THE OPERA-DANCER. eine for which he had sent, was brought : but in the meantime the delirium of the Countess had broken IT was about noon—on the day following the evens forth anew—and it was with some difficulty that she ing of Harold Staunton’s interview with Emily could be forced to take the composing draught. At Archer at Evergreen Villa—that Lady Saxondale length however it was poured down her throat ; and was walking by herself along the bank of the Trent in a few minutes its effects became visible in thelull ata short distance from the castle. She was pon- of her excited mind which followed. dering upon many subjects, few if any of which were The physician remained with her ladyship for very pleasurable—and least of all the one for which another half-hour, and having given Mrs. Broughton she had specially despatched Lord Harold Staunton certain requisite instructions, he quitted the sick to London. Her ladyship could not blind her eyes chamber, promising to return again by noon. He to the fact that within the last few weeks the then descended to the drawing-room, where he had aspect of her affairs had become most threatening : left the Earl of Castiemaine, and whom he found thesky of her destiny had grown suddenly overcast walking to and fro, with his arms folded across his —and from every quarter did the storm of calami- chest, and his looks bent down. He did not imme- ties threaten to burst forth. Within this interval a diately perceive the physician: for the room was new crime had been perpetrated, which weighed spacious, and the door opened noiselessly. The upon her conscience notwithstanding that iron doctor accosted him; and the Earl, stopping sud- resolution of soul which she possessed, and which denly short, bent upon him a look which, with all often rose superior even to the qualms of the secret the power of his piercing dark eyes, seemed to monitor within. And then, too, she had fallen frem search into his very soul. that pedestal of female honour and chastity upon “Dr. Ferney, what is the matter with her lady- which, since her husband’s death nineteen years ship?” he demanded, in a deep hollow voice—so back, she had stood so proudly. Yes—she had fallen changed indeed from its natural tones. that if the in a manner but little calculated to mitigate the physician had heard it in the dark, he would not ' sense of self degradation! Had she fallen to throw have recognized it. herself into the arms of him whoin she loved—th “Her ladyship is exceedingly ill,” was the re- arms of William Deveril—it would have been diffe1 sponse rendered by Ferney; “and must be kept as ent: but she had fallen, only to sink into the em- quiet as possible. I have given Mrs. Broughton | brace of one whom she hated — Lord Harold Staun- the fullest instructions . j ton! This was a fall, therefore, accompanied by “But what is it?” exclaimed ‘the Earl, now utter humiliation; and though she was inspired not manifesting impatience. | by any true principle of virtue, yet her pride was “TI hope and trust,” answered the physician, | deeply wounded. She felt that she was sacrificed to “that her ladyship will in a few hours become com- | terrorism, and not to love: she had yielded herself posed and regain the powers of her intellect. But | | up to expediency, and not to passion; and these I charge your lordship to avoid anything that may | ' reflections were accompanied by a profound sense of excite her. If this advice be not attended to, I will self-loathing. not answer for her reason—no, nor yet for her life.| And now, too, she asked herself if Lord Harcld’s She is in amore dangerous state than your lordship | mission should fail, what course was she to adopt? ere now appeared to imagine.” It was but too evident that Mr. Gunthorpe was “ But what is it, I again ask P” ejaculated the resolved, on Deveril’s part, to pursue extreme mea- Earl; and an indescribable expression, which had _ sures. Oh! how she hated that Mr. Gunthorpe. something demoniac in it, passed convulsively over | how bitterly—deeply—cordially, did she hate him! his dark countenance. How she would have rejoiced to be enabled to in- “Her ladyship,” responded the physician, who flict upon him some direful vengeance! Again, too, | evidently trembled lest the announcement he had she could not help thinking that there had been & make should not be a pleasant on—or rather he’ something singular in Florina’ s conduct towards oad the certainty that it would not,—“ her ladyship | her for the last two or three days :—nothing very is in a way to become a mother.” pointed—no overt display of aversion or pique—but “Ah, I thought so! Wnough, ductor :’—and the a certain cold reserve, the cause of which her lady- Karl of Castlemaine instantaneously became sternly ship could not conjecture. Nay, more the ex- and unnaturally cold. ‘Of course you will come perienced eye of Lady Sixondale had even discerned and see her soon again ?” -an inward struggling on Florina’s part, to conceal, | “T have intimated to Mrs. Broughton that I shall if not to conquer, that coldness—but without sue- return about noon: but if any thr eatening symp- cess. It was evident therefore that the young _ toms should arise, I must at once be sent for. : damsel had learnt something concerning her: or | “No doubt, doctor,” responded the Earl, who was was it mere vexation, because Lady Saxondale had gtill cold, severe, and ominously implacable. “I exposed William Deveril amongst all her fashionable have ordered my carriage to wait to convey you acquaintances? No: this could scarceiy be the home.” solution of Florina’s coldness: for the young Dr. Ferney then took his leave; and entering the maiden’s demeanour towards her ladyship, had not vehicle, was speedily whirled back to his own man- been that of an uniform reserve ever since the first sion. But during the ride thither, he reflected sor- day when Lady Saxondale told her story of Deveril’s rowfully and with apprehension, upon the cireum- alleyed impropriety: but it was a change of eonduct stances of the case which had thus required his that Florina had manifested only within the past presence, | two or three days. —— eee _ = —— -——————— — — a ee, COnlulCcoOoKS.cO