The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 302: what you’re looking at

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

eS LL A OL LLL OO L AA 295 “ Nothing—absolutely nothing,” returned Lady Ernestina, “but the loss of 4 young man who appears to be utterly unworthy of the love you bestowed upon him.” ‘Oh! treat not the circumstance so lightly !” exclaimed Louisa, both shocked and amazed at the remark: for all Ernestina’s previous allusions to the subject had been expressive of a tender condolence and delicate sympathy. ‘Dearest Louisa,” cried the artful patrician, “ not for a moment did I mean to vex or startle you: but I was merely about to introduce a truth which you yourself will recognise sooner or later—namely, that the self-styled Jocelyn Loftus is not the only hand- some, intelligent, and fascinating young gentleman in the world.” “© Lady Ernestina! if a stranger had made that observation to me,” exclaimed Louisa, now more painfully surprised and deeply shocked than at first, “T should have regarded it either as an insult or else as a sign of unfeeling thoughtlessness! ’’ “T am addressing you, my dear young friend,” said Ernestina, “as a woman of the world should address a young and inexperienced girl.” “Ah! lady,” said Louisa, with a look of angelic frankness,—‘‘ never, never shall I obey the dictates of any influence save the natural impulses of my own heart. I have loved Jocelyn tenderly and well: and, Oh! despite his deep, deep criminality, f love him—yes, love him as tenderly and devotedly still! But there is within me, lady, a feeling superior evea to that fond and now hopeless love of mine; and this feeling is a sense of duty which tells me that henceforth Jocelyn must ever remain a stranger to me in the world, no matter how fondly his image may be cherished in my heart!” “ This is the way young maidens aiways talk when disappointed in their first love,’’ said Ernestina, watching Louisa’s countenance attentively to see how she took the remark, and whether it would be prudent to venture any farther at present: then per- ceiving that the damsel became thoughtful, as if weighing the matter seriously in her mind, Ernes- tina continued to observe, “ If you were to remain long with us in London you would soon perceive that what you call dove performs but a very second- ary part in genteel marriages. I will give you an example. It is not two months since the beauty of the fashionable world, Venetia Trelawney, married a very handsome, intelligent, and fascinating young gentleman, named Horace Sackville. ‘heir honey- moon was short indeed; and at its expiration they were suddenly created Lurd and Lady Sackville. But that was not all. His lordship was at the same time nominated to a high official situation in the household of the Prince Regent: and accordingly, the newly-married couple gave up their beautiful villa at Knightsbridge and took possession of a suite of apartments in Carlton House. Now Carlton House, my dear Louisa, is the Prince Regent’s Palace; aud perhaps you may have heard that the Prince Re- gent himself is a very naughty wicked man, and much too fond of the ladies. But, in plain terms, the reason why Lord and Lady Sacxville thus took up their abode at Carlton House, was in order that her ladyship might be under the same roof with the Prince whose favourite she has become. Thus, you see, although it is most probable that Lord and Lady Sackville married in the first instance for what is called love, they hesitated not to make the sacrifice of that feeling when titles, pensions, and places were offered them. Asa matter of course, then, this Ve- netia of whom I am speaking to you, is the mistress of the Prince——’’ “Enough! enough!” exclaimed Louisa, the colour mounting to her cheeks as her pure soul revolted from the narrative the main point of which had only just that instant flashed to her compre- hension. “On! if such detestable creatures as this Venetia constitute the charm, the glory, and the worship of your fashionable world of London, how little do I envy the rich and the great ones of this metropolis! Better, better far is my own humble cottage situated in a retired suburb of Canterbury !—and more welcome to me would prove a chaplet of the roses that bloom in summer over that cottage portico, than the most brilliaut coronet glittering upon the brow of your titled lady of the metropolis \” Ernestina was about to respond to these obser- vations, when the door opened and the Marquis of Leveson entered the room. “What tidings, my lord?” exclaimed Louisa, springing from her seat and boundiag towards him with the most eager curiosity. “ Patience, patience, young lady,” answered the nobleman, assumivg a playful manner. “ Your sister Clara does indeed reside at the address you mentioned in Stratton Street, and also with those worthy people, Mr. and Mrs. Beckford, whom you named.” As the Marquis thus spoke, Lady Eruestina contemplated him with the profoundest astonisli- ment, which was not however observed by Louisa, Who was gazing intently upon the nobleman, but with her suspense now relieved by a gradually expanding gleam of pleasure. “ Yes,” continued the Marquis, in a tone which seemed candid and frank enough to Louisa, but which nevertheless now satisfied Ernestina that he was practising some artifice upon the maiden,— “ves, my dear girl,” he continued, “I am delighted to have ascertained for your sake that there really is no error in your sister’s address; but 1 am sorry to inform you that she is out of town with Mr. and Mrs. Beckford for a few days—possibly a week.” “ Oh! how unfortunate I am,” ejaculated Louisa, a sudden cloud lowering upon her lovely counte- nance, and the tears starting forth upon her long lashes. “But are they gone far from London ?— can I not hasten after them? Oh! I feel con- vinced that my sister will be so rejoiced to see “ Unfortunately,” said the Marquis, “the ser- vants in Stratton Street are not aware whither their master and mistress, together with Miss Stanley, are gone. It is however certain that they will all return home again in a week or ten days z “Oh! did I not say that I was unfortunate?” ex- claimed Louisa, clasping her hands together and now bursting forth into a flood of tears. “I dare not—must not remain away from Canterbury: 1 have already deserted my poor sfilicted aunt too long! The thought of thus abandoning her fills me with remorse; and therefore I must hasten back home, and postpone the hope of an interview with my sister until some more auspicious occasion.” “You have already admitted, my dear young lady,” said the Marquis of Leveson, “that I have ed eh fy Pa ee Ya Sete oo ae EE ee eee ~_—-— a - - = ——__— . THE MYSTERIES OF TNE COURT. -—— eee a COL (C VDOOKS CO)