The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 206: what you’re looking at

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

192 ~~ THE MYSTERIES OF THER COURT the truth flashed to Jocelyn’s mind—once more he started abruptly—and the second temptress as abruptly shrank back into her own corner, com- plaining of the ruggedness of the road and the jolting of the carriage. Almost immediately afterwards the vehicle en= tered Abbeville: and in the bustle occasioned by the examination of the passports at the town- gates—the arrival at the hotel—the handing the ladies out of the carriage—the duty of looking after their luggage and his own—and then the task of giving orders to the waiters, &c.,—in the excite- ment of these manifold proceedings, we say, Jocelyn for the time lost sight of the previous topic of his unpleasant meditations. Almost immediately after their arrival at the inn, the ladies withdrew to the chambers prepared for them—and Loftus was equally ready to seek re- pose. Before he however fell asleep, the behaviour of the two eldest Misses Owen recurred to his me- mory; and it was while still perplexing himself with arguments for and against a deliberate inten- tion on their part, that slumber visited his eyes. When the travellers were reunited in the morn- ing at the breakfast table, neither Agatha nor Emma appeared in any way confused on meeting his locks—nor was their behaviour at all changed towards him, unless indeed it were that their tone and manner increased in friendliness. But there was no evidence of humiliated feeling on their part, as if they were conscious of having made overtures wiich were met with a tacit rebuke, The journey was resumed,—Mrs. Ranger and the youngest girl occupying the same seat as be- fore, and Jocelyo being again placed between the two eldest sisters, with their backs to the horses. The young gentleman now endeavoured to turn the conversation upon the Princess of Wales,— observing how harshly she had been treated by her royal husband, the Prince Kegent—and re- gretting, if it were only for the sake of their child, the Princess Charlotte, that they did not effect a reconciliation and live together. But he found the three sisters very guarded in their replies and still more sparing in their comments—while Mrs. Ranger, who had passed a bad night, dozed in her corner of the carriage. At length Agatha, with an appearance of natural liveliness and versatility of disposition, exclaimed, “ Let us talk of some- thing else—for this is an old and hackneyed topic amongst us :’—and Loftus was accordingly com- pelled to turn the discourse into another chanel, He found the three sisters well-informed, ac- complished, and intelligent: their good-humour was patent beyond the possibility of affectation ;—- they did not indulge in scandal, nor frivolous dis- quisitions on dress—nor were they at all vain of the intimacy which they had enjoyed with the Royal Princes. They possessed many excellent qualities, it was clear: but how far their morals had been depraved and their principles under- mined, Jocelyn trembled to conjecture. When, however, he thought of the admirable purposes to which their minds and their dispositions might have been trained under proper tutelage,— and when he reflected that whatever might be their failings and faults, these poor girls could scarcely be held responsible for them,—his heart was moved to the deepest commiseration, and he felt that it would be a glorious triumph to reague them ee ee from the evil influences that were hurrying them on to destruction. The party stopped to dine at Beauvais in the afternoon—and in the evening at Beaumont, to take an early supper. The journey was then speedily continued: and once more did the shades of night envelop the landscape in ebscurity, and plunge the interior of the carriage into almost utter darkness. Jocelyn actually drew himself into as small a compass as possible, so as not to encroach in the slightest degree upon the space allotted to his fair companions on the same seat: but he soon became aware of certain little tacit overtures from either side—a pressure of the knee against his own, or the heaving of a bosom against his shoulder. He felt that his position was alike false and ridiculous: and he became dispirited, and even gloomy. He was surrounded by tempta- tions which he had ample strength of mind and rectitude of principle to resist: and yet he had embarked ia an enterprise which compelled him to remain in this very position and subject to these temptations. That the little overtures,—sly, artfal, and tacit as they were,—were intentional and deli- berate, he could no longer doubt: and it became a ——— eee question whether he was not compromising himself — too far, and entering upon the verge of outrage against the pure love which he felt for Louisa Stanley, by remaining any longer in the company of these syrens whose temperaments were evidently sO warm and whose morals were becoming every instant more open to the gravest suspicion. Finding that they received no encouragement from the young gentleman, Agatha and Emma presently desisted from their tacit approaches and silent demonstrations of tenderness towards him. The discourse grew languid, and soon dropped alto- gether—every one, save Jocelyn, falling off into a doze. But he himself continued to meditate upon the perplexing situation in which he was placed: and there were but two alternatives for him to choose between. He must either withdraw himself from the company of the syren sisters, and thus break the promise he had pledged to Mary that he would endeavour to rescue them from their present career: or he must remain with them, even at the risk of encountering overtures which pained, in- sulted, and shocked him. In the former case, he would have nothing more to do than hasten on to Italy and give the necessary warning to the Princess, leaving the three sisters to fulfil their ignoble destiny: in the latter case, he might per- haps find speedy opportunities of conversing with each one alone and separately, and thence judge whether the work of reform were really practicable in reference to them, or whether they were tram- melled and ensnared by circumstances and influ- ences beyond all hope of redemption. Jocelyn decided upon the adoption of the latter alternative of the two which we have named: at all events he determined to see what results the couple of days’ sojourn together in Paris would pro- duce. It was eleven o'clock when the post-chaise entered the French capital: and it proceeded straight to Meurice’s Hotel, which was in those times situated es eee in the Rue St. Honoré, Wearied and exhausted — with the long journey of two days, Mrs. Ranger and © the three sisters lost no time in seeking repose: but exe Jocelyn retired to rest, he sate down and penned al GOmiGcdoo (C S) (<0)