The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 349: what you’re looking at

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

334 Altogether, Lady Saxondale’s reflections were very far from being of an agreeable character, as she took her rambles along the bank of the river. She had come forth alone, for the purpose of com- muning with herself. Mr. Hawkshaw was with Juliana and Florina in the garden: Lady Mac- | donald had remained in-doors to read her books or amuse herself with her knitting: and thus there was no one to intrade upon her ladyship’s solitary walk. | It was noon, we said; and the patrician lady had rambled to a distance of about a mile from the — castle, when she was suddenly aroused from her | reverie by the noise of an approaching equipage; and looking towards the road, she perceived a post-chaise hastening in the direction of the man- sion. It was evident that she herself was observed aud recognized by the occupant of that chaise, who thrusting his head out of the window, ordered the _ postilion to stop. He then quickly alighted; and THE MYSTERIES | OF THE COURT, received fresh remittances from me?” demanded Lady Saxondale impatiently. “The girl showed a spirit for which I was not pre- pared—and she demanded no less a sum than—— But I shall frighten you with the amount.” “ Name it—name it!” cried her ladyship. “Ten thousand pounds.” Lady Saxondale stopped short in the stupor of amazement. “ Yes—such is her exorbitance,” continued Lord Harold: then in a tone of increased vexation, he added, “ Altogether my visit to her was an unfortu- nate one. She would not negotiate with me, but declared that she would come direct to you. I thought that if I could procure possession of the masquerade-dress we might defy her—or at least bring her more easily to terms. I accordingly con- trived to steal up to her chamber, where I searched for the dress. Iwas unsuccessful. By some means or another, Edmund’s suspicions were excited that Lady Saxondale at once saw that it was Lord | there was a rival in the house; and he discovered Harold Staunton Her first. thought was one of joy and satisfaction, -—believing that he had successfully accomplished his mission: but her second reflection was the very reverse—for it struck her that as he approached, there was nothing reassuring upon his countenance. * Have you succeeded ?” she at once said, without a single word of prefatory greeting: “tell me, have you suecceded ?” “Tam compelled to say that I have not,” he re- plied. “I have travelled post since the middle of the night i ‘Then you have very disagreeable intelligence | for me?” interrupted her ladyship, becoming pale, | and gazing fixedly and searchingly upon Harold’s countenance. “Speak !—yvu must of course per- ceive how uscless—indeed, how worse than useless it will be to mislead me.” “IT have no such intention,” responded Staunton, somewhat sharply. ‘ Dues not the speed with which I have travelled sufficiently prove that I con- sider your interests identical with my own P” “Then, without more words, explain what has happened.” ig) “You may expect a visit from Emily dAr- cher——” “The dancing-girl—Edmund’s mistress !” ejacu- lated Lady Saxundale, with mingled excitement and disdain. “Yes: and if I mistake not, she will be here this me in that chamber. quarrel——” “Ah! you have quarrelled with Edmund ?” said Lady Saxondale. | “Yes—and he bade me observe that for decency’s sake I was never again to set foot within either the town-mansion or the Lincolnshire castle. And now you know everything.” Lady Saxondale made no immediate response, but reflected deep!y for several minutes. If the as- pect of her affairs had seemed perplexing previous to Lord Harold’s return, it now appeared ten thou- sand times more threatening. What was she to do? how was she to act? The circumstances in which she was placed required leisure for the most serious meditation. “You had better return to the chaise and pro- ceed on to the castle,” she at length said to her companion. “No one there need know that you alighted to speak to me; and when we meet pre- sently, it will be as if I were previously unaware of your return.” “Perhaps we shall not have another opportunity of conversing alone together, ere you receive Emily Archer’s threatened visit.” “We can decide upon nothing till I have seen her,” rejommed Lady Saxondale. “It will be time enough then to deliberate upon the course that is to be pursued.” “ You are cold—distant—reserved, Harriet,” said There was an explosion—a evening But rest assured, Harriet,” continued | Staunton. Staunton, “that it is through no understanding with me nor any arrangement on my part, that she is Cui 1? “Then you must have managed matters very badly,” rejoined Lady Saxondale; “ and the pro- mises you held out of settling this business, have— proved delusive enough.” | “I could not foresee the turn that things would — ““ How would you have me be towards you ?” de- manded Lady Saxondale, still speaking in a glacial voice: then, as her tones suddenly changed into mocking accents, and as a smile of withering irony writhed her lips, she said, “ I imagine that if the exposure which we have been trying to ward off, should take. place—if William Deveril and Mr. Guathorpe should pursue their law-process and take,” answered Staunton. “I did my best. Of overwhelin me with shame and dishonour,—I sup- Alfred, my valet, we can make sure ; and there is one thing satisfactory in respect to Emily Archer— that she has not gossipped upon the subject. But | she is mercenary as a Jewess, and is resolved to ex- pose, Lord Harold, that you will not then be so very anxious to accompany me to the altar?” “What have you to fear if Emily Archer can be silenced?” asked Staunton, not giving a direct tort a much larger sum than I could possibly have reply to the question so homely put. anticipated.” “And wherefore could you not write to me upon “But think you that I will submit to the ex- tortions of that woman?” exclaimed her ladyship, bhe subject? why not keep her in London uutil you , with fire flashing from her eyes. “What? tep re ee ee COMMUNE VNOOLKS (E)