The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 393: what you’re looking at

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

en rr etm a a ETE 378 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. —_— —sms ee yn a suitable apparei: for totwithstanding 14 uow ! disliked learning, I was wont to assist her with her learnt that there was not the remotest degree of lessons, She was a kind-hearted generous-minded kinship between her and us, yet I thought that girl; and I loved her dearly. I must add that her haviny so long regarded her in another light, it fatuer Mr. Marsi.all kept a tavern at Dover; but would have been but decent to exhibit a pro,er | being well off, he was enabled to give his daughtere respect for her memory. Frank told me that a a good education. For Kate had two sisters younges geutleman, whose name he did not know, had than herself; and they were at school, I believe, at brought tim to school; and it appeared that this Dover—the mother not liking to have them all sent gentleman—or rather nubleman—took his depar- away from home. turc immediately, and did not ask to see me. “I have said that I was sixteen when my brothet “Frank likewise told me that about ten months came to this school. About a year afterwards Mra. back he had been taken to a large building in Lon- Jennings told me that I was no longer to consider don, where he had seen that lady again; and that myself a scholar, but was to occupy the place of she was then in perfect health. On that occasion junior teacher, with the ultimate view of qualifying he had for the first time beheld the noblemau who myself as a governess, by which profession I was afterwards brought him to school: for that he was to earn my bread. Thus time passed on; and when a nobleman, could be conjectured from the circum- I was twenty, Mrs. Jennings informed me that I stance that he had worn a star upon his breast, was to make my preparations to enter, in the above when Frank saw him first of all. My brother like- | capacity, a family that was about to visit the Con- wise told me that on the previous day—that before tinent. Kate Marshall at that time—she being he arrived at the school, and which was ten months sixteen—left the school. We exchanged some little after his visit to the lady at the great building in mementoes of our friendship; and she made me London—this same nobleman, after taking posses- ' promise that if ever I had an opportunity, I would sion of Mrs. Burnaby’s papers aud letters, had pay her a visit at Dover. But the most anguished conducted him to the splendid mansion in the park, | separation was from my dear brother Frank; and where he saw the lady a third fime, and also those | when the moment for parting came, we embraced two young ladies previously mentioned. The lady | again and again, unable to tear ourselves away from whom he had been taken specially to see, wept | each other’s arms. At length we did separate: and over him, murmuring that perhaps she should never | never shall I forget the excruciating poignancy of see him more; and she cut off a lock of his hair. | my affliction at that moment! My boxes were con- He was then consigned to the charge of that noble- | veyed to the hotel where the family was stoppir¢: man who brought him to the schocl at Southamptcn, , but before I took leave of Mr. and Mrs Jou », Gnich wag che substance cf the information waiok I besuight them to treat my dear brother with all WTuak gayo me; and amidst my grief at the death | possible kindness, as 1 knew that he would be incon- of poor Mrs. Burnaby, it was a source of comfort to | solable at my loss. They promised that they would; have my brother beneath the same roof with myself. | and they showed some degree of feeling oa parting ‘“‘ At the time of which I am now speaking, he | from me. was cight, and I was sixteen. He of course lived} ‘The family into which I now entered was thaé of m the department of the establishment allotted to | Sir John Marston. He was then about fifty years of the boys—while I dwelt in that appropriated to the | age: Lady Marston was two years his junior. They female scholars. We however saw each other for | had a niece with them—a Mrs. Lloyd—who was a short time every day, and for several hours on | a widow, and had two childrea. She was about Sunday. I was therefore now much happier than | thirty years old; and her children—both girls—were { had been when at this school by myself; and I | respectively twelve and ten. It was these two chil- did my best to make my poor brother happy also. |} dren of whose education I was to take charge. As We were well provided with clothes by the master | I have already said, this family was staying at aa and mistress according as we wanted them: and we | hotel; and from what I learnt, they had only arrived were likewise allowed a sufficiency of pocket-money. | from London two days previously. How they heard I think that Mr. and Mrs. Jennings suspected there | of me-—how I became engaged to enter into their was some strange mystery connected with us—but | service—how long the negotiation had been carried they evidently were not acquainted with it—or at on—-in short, all circumstances leading to my entrance least not in all its particulars: for Mrs, Jennings into this family, were totally unknown to me; and frequently questioned me in respect to my former of course I did not ask the question. reminiscences. I used to answer her with frank-| “On the following day we embarked on board a ness, in the hope that she would perhaps be led to steam-packet bound fur Havre-de-Grace: and there tell me something. But she never did. ‘I found that the Marstons had a house ready pro- “T must here observe that amongst the female- | vided to receive them, and where they had pre. scholars at this school, there was one named Cathe- | viously been dwelling for some time. It was there rine Marshall. She was four years younger than that we accordingly took up our abode; and IL myself—a fine, tall, well-made, and beautiful creature | entered upon my duties as governess to Mrs. Lloyd’s as ever I beheld. She was possessed of a merryand children. Under no circumstances is the ocecupa- joyous disposition — innocently mischievous, if I tion of a teacher a very pleasurable one: but mine may use the term—and full of frolicsome gaiety. | was rendered doubly annoying by the disagreeable My spirits were naturally good, notwithstanding the temper of my two pupils, and by the ditticulty I many depressing circumstances by which I was experienced in giving Mrs. Lloyd satisfaction. She surrounced. Kate and I soon formed a sincere was constantly interfering and finding fault. Her friendship tur each other. When the school walked children were rude, pert, and forward when I com- out we were always together; we sat together in menced with them; and vainly did I endeareur to the school-room ; and as she was somewhat idle and improve their manners and dispusitions, Lt I spoke —_—_ a a ee -—-_ me 8 oe LS e+ CORMICOOOKS.e@)