The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. the drawing-room, closing the door behind her. The smiles, which had for a moment fled on hear- ing that Mrs. Arbuthnot was not at home, now returned to her countenance ;—and advancing towards the mirror, she surveyed herself with looks of joyous triumph. But suddenly altering the ex- pression of her features, she assumed an air of haughty indignation—then of proud defiance—and then of cold contempt. Nothing could be more perfect than the manner in which she thus tutored her charming countenance to put on each succes- sive look—especially as there was no ostensible cause to excite the feelings which those looks ex- pressed. Nor indeed did she experience any such sentiments at the moment: for suddenly bursting into a melodious laugh, which rang merrily through the room, she flung herself upon a sofa, exclaim- ing, “ What an excellent actress I should make !” When her mirth had subsided, Venetia rose and advanced near one of the caseients looking upon the street—or rather the Knightsbridge road: and concealing herself behind the curtain in such a manner that although she was able to see she could not herself be seen from without, she re- mained gazing from the ecaseinent for some mi- nutes. But presently abandcming this position, she crossed the room and apyproached one of the open windows facing the park. Here she began to caressa beautiful parrot which stood upona perch: and she likewise spol:e playfully to a cou- ple of canary-birds that were making the air tune- ful from their gilt cages. While thus occupied, Venetia observed thata gentleman had halted in the park, near the boun- dary-wall of her garden, an: was gazing intently upon her, A sudden flush s wept over her counte- nance as she thus caught sight of him: but without moving froin the wint low—and indeed, with- out appearing to notice him at all—she continued to amuse herself with the peirrot and the canaries. Nevertheless, the veiled and sidelong glance which she from time to time flung, with rapid fur- tiveness, towards him, enabl :d her to perceive that he was a fine, tall, handsome man, of dark com- plexion, and apparently abo: at thirty years of age. Although this gentleman \ who was thus admiring her so steadfastly, was near enough to observe that she was of ravishing beauty’, and even to form a very good idea of the parti cular style of this in- comparable beauty, suppo: sing him not to have been previously acquainted with it—yet was he too far off to notice either that transient flush which Swept over Venetia’s coun tenance, or the stolen looks which she ever and anon directed towards him. There he however s tood, gazing up at her —while she, affecting to be utterly unconscious of the circumstance, rei nained at the window, toying most charmingly w ith her birds. For the gentleman in tl ie park there was some- thing captivating andencl ,anting to a degree in the scene which that open ¢: ’sement presented to his view. ‘The golden air wh ich appeared to surround jhat beauteous woman as with a halo,—the bright flowers that bloomed in ; gaud and grandeur on the window-ledge,—the refle ction of the powerfullight in the handsome gilt ca ges of the birds,—and the roseate back-ground fc wmed by the pink drapery showing through the m aslin curtains that likewise formed part of the he mgings,—all these details made up a picture so s unny, warm, and glowing, al —_——_—_ -_—— 15 that the spectator felt every pulse thrilling with a beatific ecstacy and his heart throbbing with the bliss of ravished emotions. But, ah! all onasudden an ejaculation of dis- may bursts from the lips of Venetia Trelawney— and the cause is at the same instant rendered apparent by the flight of her green and golden favourite from its superb cage. ‘The parrot has escaped some how or other—and the whirr of his wings sounds through the sultry, heavy air. But, behold! the fugitive alights upon the garden-wall —the gentleman springs forward—and the next moment the bird is safe in his custody. Then, as he holds it gently but securely in both hands, he glances up at the window; anda gracious saluta- tion rewards him for the deed which he has so triumphantly accomplished. “Tt would almost appear asif some good genius had thus furnished me with an opportunity to ob- tain access to the fair one!” said the gentleman to himself, as he hastened round to the front door of Acacia Cottage: and still he could scarcely be- lieve the evidence of his own senses, so providen- tial appeared the accident which all in a moment bridged the gulf that an instant before had yawned between himself and Venetia. The front door was already opened by the time the hero of this little incident reached it—and a livery-servant, both old and ugly, was standing there to receive the parrot. But the gentleman was not to be thus stayed on the threshold of that fairy-land of which he had hitherto obtained only far-off glimpses, but which he had now acquired a sort of right to enter. “Having had the good fortune to catch the bird,” he said to the footman, “you will permit me the happiness of restoring it with my own hands to its charming mistress.” The domestic bowed an assent, as if at once struck by the reasonable nature of the demand; and, without uttering a word, he led the way up a handsome staircase to the drawing-room, And as the gentleman, still holding the parrot with a tender care in his delicately gloved hands, followed the stately domestic, he said to himself with a feel- ing of satisfaction, “ Venetia is at all events re- solved that no opportunity shall be afforded for scandal by the presence of a young or good-look- ing footman in her establishment.” By the time he had made this reflection, the landing was gained: and as the domestic placed his hand upon the drawing-room door, he turned to ask, “Whom shall {have the honour to an- nounce ?” The visitor mentioned his name; and the foot- man immediately threw open the door, exclaiming, “The Earl of Curzon !” _—_ CHAPTER III. MONDAY: OR, THE FIRST SUITOR, Miss TRELAWNEY advanced to meet the nobleman with a slight flush upon her cheek and a soft tre- mulousness throughout her entire form: but the first passed immediately away—and the latter was imperceptible. It therefore seemed as if she were influenced by no particular emotions, unless they ca were such as were natural und G@Venik@l oxen: C(O)