The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 391: what you’re looking at

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378 WHE MYSTERIES elderly lady named Mrs. Burnaby, whom I was taught to regard as my grandmother. She was moderately off, and kept one servant. She herself instructed me in the rudiments of education: I was fond of learning, and progressed rapidly under her supervision. She was indeed very kind to me— behaving with all the affection of a near and fond relative. When I was about eight years old—I rernember the incident as well as if it had only occurred yesterday—Mrs. Burnaby told me that she was going upon a little journey, that she might be absent a couple of days, and that I was to be a very good girl and mind what the female-servant said during her absence. She did remain away two days: and it was late in the evening when she re- turned. She was accompanied by a nurse carrying a little baby; and she told me that this little baby was my brother. I was too young to reflect upon such matters at that time; and therefore I did not think it at all extraordinary. Indeed, all my feelings were those of an enthusiastic joy at having this little brother. It was a wet-nurse who had charge of him; and I was told that his name was Francis. At the expiration of some months—lI suppose nine or ten—the wet-nurse went away; and a girl from the neighbourhood was hired to take charge of little Frank. He throve apace; and when he was able to run alone he became a companion for me. Full well do I remember the childish delizht with which I used to lead him when we walked out with Mrs. Burnaby or the nurse- maid; and as years went by and he became more companionable for me still, I loved him with the sincerest affection. He was not a strong nor healthy evild, but delicate and interesting—endowed with that remarkable beauty which has accompanied his growth and which characterizes him now. I myself, on the other hand, was a strong vigorous girl—tall OF ‘THR COURT. Through this park did the carriage proceed, until it drove up to the entrance of the mansion, where it stopped. Mrs. Burnaby alighted with us: an elderly female, locking like a housekeeper, re- ceived us as we descended from the vehicle: and a kind greeting took place between her and Mrs. Burnaby. They were evidently old acquaint- ances. The housekeeper—for so I shall call her— bestowed great attention on Frank and me, and seemed surprised that I should have grown sucha tall girl. Perhaps she paid me some little com- pliments with an admiring good-nature: but these I pass over. We were conducted up a magnificent staircase, to a bed-chamber, where a lady lay ill in the couch. She was very beautiful, though pale with sickness: she appeared to be about thirty-three years of age. There were two other ladies with her, much younger than herself—one being but little past twenty, ond the other nineteen. I do not think they were sisters—for although they were both very beautiful, there was no family resemblance between them. Nor do I think they were any re- lation to the lady who was ill—at least so far as I could judge by the way in which they addressed her. I must however observe that neither the in- valid lady nor these two younger ones called each other by any name the whole time that Frank and I were there—this reserve being doubtless a neces- sary but melancholy precaution to prevent us from obtaining any clue as to who they were. ‘“‘The sick lady embraced me and Frank with the utmost tenderness, and wept over us. She contem- plated us with a look which I can never forget—a look of mournful fondness and sorrowing love—a_ look which, ycung though I was, nevertheless made me think that there must be some secret tie con- necting my brother and myself with this lady. After remaining upwards of an hour with her, she for my age—and totally unacquainted with even a | bade us a most affectionate farewell. She gaye me day’s indisposition. When Frank was old enough to commence learning, Mrs. Burnaby instructed him as she did me; and it gave me the sincerest delight to assist my little brother in his lessons. ‘Time wore on—and the incident I am about to relate happened in the year 1832. Iwas then four- teen, and Frank was six. One morning Mrs. Burnaby told us that we were to be dressed in our Sunday apparel, and accompany her on a little journey. Presently a vehicle, which had been ordered from Edmonton, drove up to the door: we entered it, and proceeded to some village about ten miles distant—but I did not know the name. There we stopped at a tavern, where a splendid car- riage, attended by servants in a gorgeous livery, was waiting. Mrs. Burnaby, myself, and Frank took our places in this carriage; and it drove away. Speedily turning out of the main road, it entered a bye-one, running through some beautiful sylvan scenery. At the expiration of an hour a superb mansion appeared at a little distance. It was situated upon a gentle eminence, in the middle of a park, where numerous deer were frisking about. It was a beautiful day in the middle of summer: the trees and fields were of the liveliest green—the ornamental waters in that park reflected the un- clouded blue of heaven—and swans were floating in stately gracefulness upon the limpid lake. Al- together it was a scene which delighted me at the some advice as to my future conduct, and hinted that I was shortly to be removed from Mrs. Bur- naby’s and placed at school: but she assured me that I had friends in the world who would ever be watchful over my interests. Again and again did she press me and Frank to her bosom; and although I have no doubt she exerted all her energies to re- . strain her emotions as much as possible, yet she could not prevent them from finding an issue. Mrs. Barnaby and the housekeeeper conducted us back to the carriage; and the latter female kissed us both most kindly at parting. I should observe that the two young ladies already mentioned, had like- wise lavished affectionate endearments upon us. The handsome carriage took us back to the village, where we entered the hired vehicle and were borne home to the cottage. : “On the following day preparations were com- menced towards fitting me out for a bvarding- school. I grieved sadly when I found that I was to be separated from my dearly beloved brother: but Mrs. Burnaby consoled me with the assurance that when he was old enough he should join me in | the same establishment. At the expiration of eight or ten days, the housekeeper from that splendid mansion arrived at the cottage. The moment of parting had now come; and full well do I remem- ber the bitter, bitter tears I shed when separating from Frank and Mrs. Burnaby. The housekeeper (ime, and made an indelible impression upon me. | took me into London in a hired vehicle; and thenee ECOMICLOOKS (€@)