The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 308: what you’re looking at

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294 f a a THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. beheld the countenance of her sister at one of the casements of the drawing-room. In another minute Louisa was clasped—firmly, fondly clasped—in the embrace of that affectionate sister: and not only their kisses, but also their tears were mingled! arate +: CHAPTER LXXVIIL THE SISTERS. Tor drawing-room where the sisters thus met, was very handsomely furnished, and bore all the evidences of arcfine : female taste. It was the same room where Jocelyn Loftus had seen Clara Stanley on the occasion of his visit to London, and where she had given her approval of his suit in respect to Lou sa. The sisters were now alone together;—for Sir Douglas Huntingdon had not followed our heroine up into that room, but remained in an ap irtment below. When the first effusion of joy was over, and the first transports of delight at this meeting were somewhat subsided, Clara and Louisa sate down side by side vpon the sofa,and began to contemplate each other with the deepest, tenderest interest. On the one hand, Clara beheld her younger sister beautiful as ever, and with all that ineffable sweetness of look and innocence of mien which in- dicated the stainless purity of her soul: she saw her, too, at great advantage—for the pallor and the pensiveness previously occasioned by Jocelyn’s supposed perfidy, had now yielded to the roseate tinge of joy and the brightness of look which re- flected the heart’s holiest satisfaction. Clara therefore beheld her sister lovely and loveable as she was when they parted,—one of the chastest and most charming ornaments which the sex ever bestowed upon this world—an incarnation of all the sweetest, truest, and most ethereal attributes which piety or poesy ascribes unto anrels! On the other hand, Louisa beheld her sister more grandly beautiful, more superbly handsome than when they parted under the rose-covered portico of their Kentish cottage. She saw in Clara a magnificent woman the glory of whose charms seemed to have expanded into a finer and more dazzling bloom in the hot-house of London fashion. Nor less did it strike Louisa that every- thing at all girlish which might have lingered in the manners or looks of Clara some months back, had now totally departed. The finest gloss of courtly elegance seemed to rest upon her like a charm and hang about her like a spell: there was a grandeur in every movement—a brilliancy in every gesture, softened and subdued only by the polish of an exquisite refinement, and more so by the tenderness of feeling which she now expe- rienced at this meeting with her sister. In a word, our fair young heroine, although she had ever been accustomed to look up to Clara as an elder sister, now regarded her with the deference that mingles in the affection which a daughter expe- riences fora mother. For Louisa still felt herself a mere gitl; whereas Clara looked in every re- spect, not only the brilliant woman, but also the great lady. ‘hus Louisa, with her nineteen years and a half, felt as if slic were a miss of fifteen or —_ se > ’ — sixteen in the presence of this elder sister,—who, though only twenty-one and a half, possessed all the worldly demeanour as well as the luxuriance of charms which characterise the superb matron of at least five or six years older. Such were the impressions respectively made by this meeting of the sisters; and when they had gazed long and with earnest fondness upon each other, Louisa suddenly exclaimed, “O Ciara! are you angry with me for having abandoned my home —for having gone to Paris—and now for haying come up to London ?” “Do not talk of anger, dearest gir!,” said Clara, “while our hearts are yet throbbing with all the first transports of joy at this meeting. Angry with you, dearest Louisa! No, no—it were impossible! Not for worlds would I bring a tear into your eyes or change into gloom those smiles which now gleam so sweetly upon your lips! Ah! dearest Louisa, it is as if I were tny mother instead of thy sister that I am now talking to thee: and it is with such a feeling that I rejoice—Oh! L rejoice unfeignedly, to be enabled to pour balm into thy wouuded heart !” “Oh! dearest Clara,” interrupted Louisa, sur- veying her sister with mingled amazement and suspeuse,—* to what do you allude? Alas! you eannot as yet know my sorrows; because, when I sate down in Paris to commit them to paper and send you an account of all that had occurred, the pen dropped from my hands! Yes—vainly did I commence letter after letter: each fresh attempt only rendered my heart’s-wounds more paiuful— it was like pouring molten lead upon the seared and lacerated flesh! Pardon me, therefore, dear sister, fur having thus preserved a silence which may seem unkind—nay, even improper vi * Bnough—enough! dearest Louisa,” exclaimed Clara, throwing her arms round her young sister's neck and drawing down that innocent head until it reposed upon her bosom: “irom your lips Ll need no apology — no excuse, — especially as I am well acquainted with wuch that has occurred. And to keep you no longer in suspense, let me assure you that Jocelyn is innocent!” “Innocent!” echoed Louisa, her own sweet lips thus repeating in ecstatic joy an assurance which other sweet lips had just breathed in tenderness: “innocent!” she repeated, raising her head sud- denly from her sister's bosom, her looks beaming and vlittering with ming ed joy, hope, and suspense, “Oh! if this were true—if this were true !’—and she clasped her hands with a gesture expressive of ineffable emotions. “Ttisas I assure you, my beloved sister,” re- joined Clara Stauley. “L would not deceive you for a moment in such a case: no—not for worlds would I deceive you where your heart’s best and purest affections are engaged.” “Qh! this is happiness—this is happiness in- deed!” murmured Louisa: and flinging herself into her sister’s arms, she wept tears of love, and gratitude, and joy, upon her bosom, * Dear Louisa, this is the sweetest moment that 1 have experienced for months past,” murmured Clara, in a voice that was tremulous and low. And then ske also wept: but we cannot say whether the tears that now streamed dowa her cheeks, welled forth from feelings as uvalloyed with pain and as unmixed with self-reproach as those —-— —------ = ee a ee ll ee —— ~o + ee ee ee Gomicdoo (C Ss com