The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 313: what you’re looking at

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

See a a a a ec a a Yes—a roseate atmosphere now appears to lours. surround me, displacing the murky mist in which 1 have been living, breathing, moving, and also losing myself as it were, for the last fortnight. Tell me, then, that you are happy, dearest Clara: and that assurance, coming from your lips, will en- hance—Oh! unspeakably enhance—the joy which I myself now feel. Yes—and I shall be the more happy, too, if it be possible, because such assurance will convince me that you, my dearest sister, have pot experienced the blighting, withering influence of that atmosphere of fashion in which you have been moving.” “ What mean you, Louisa?” asked Clara, gazing upon her sister with so singular an expression that had the young maiden been more experienced in the world’s ways, and more deeply read in the science of the human heart, she would immediately have felt uneasy—perhaps dismayed—by that look which Clara fixed upon her. “JT mean,” responded the artless, innocent, un- suspecting sin), “that Lady Ernestina Dysart drew ere now such a shocking picture of fashionable life, that she made me shudder.” * Ah! what did she fell you?” inquired Clara. “ Ob! it was indeed very shocking,’ answered Louisa, “and filled me with a sudden aversion for what is called the fashionable world. Lady Ernes- tina spoke to me of a certain celebrated beauty— I forget her name at this moment——” “Try and remember,” said Clara, throwing her arm in such a way round Louisa’s neck that she drew the young virgin’s beauteous head down upon her own fine bust. “Oh! I recollect now,” Venetia Trelawney.” “ Ah!” said Clara. ‘“ And what did Lady Ernes- tina tell you about her?” ‘‘ That she was as depraved as she was beauti- ful,” replied Louisa, whose cheek still remained pillowed against Clara’s bosom. ‘“ But doubtless you are acquainted with everything regarding this Venetia, since her story appears to be the topic of the fashionable world. Only conceive such dread- ful depravity as to marry a young, handsome, and clever man, and immediately after the honeymoon lend a willing ear to the improper overtures of that wicked, wicked man the Prince Regent! O Clara, if you ever meet this Venetia—or Lady Sackville, as L believe she is now called—I do sincerely hope you will never speak to her. It positively makes my cheeks glow with indignation and also with shame, when I think that the entire sex to some extent shares in the infamy of such creatures, Ah! and your cheeks glow also, my beloved Clara,” exclaimed the beauteous girl, suddenly raising her head and observing the deep carnation which overspread her sister’s countenance. “Oh! I was well aware that your noble heart would feel as indignant and also as humiliated as I, to think that the name of Woman should be disgraced by such a shameless profligate as that Venetia.” “Let us talk no more of this,” said Clara, the deep carnation hue suddenly sweeping away from her cheeks and leaving them very pale. ‘“Yes— yes—the atmosphere of London is indeed unfitted for a flower of innocence and purity such as thou —and therefore must we part soon, dear sister, and you must lose no time in returning to Canter. bury. Sir Douglas Huntingdon’s carriage will cried Louisa: “it was ee eee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 299 take you to Blackheath or Dartford, where you can obtain a post-chaise: and as it is now but two o'clock, you will reach Canterbury to-night ere it be very late.” “You seem, dear Clara, as if you wished to | hurry me suddenly away?” said Louisa, the tears rolling down her cheeks. “No—do not think me unkind, my sweet sister,” returned Clara: “but I feel that London is not fitted for you—Oh! no, it is not fitted for you— and God in his mercy forbid that it ever should be,” added Clara, with a strong emphasis. * Well, dear sister,” observed the younger girl, as she wiped away her tears, “I will do as you desire. But recollect that you have not as yet told me one word relative to yourself: and you ere now led me to believe that you had many things to tell me—yes, even secrets, which you had not chosen to commit to paper, but for which you awaited the opportunity of our meeting.” “Oh! I have nothing to tell you of such great importance as you seem to imagine,” said Clara, with a smile, which did not however appear to take its inspiration from the full glow of a heart’s un- alloyed happiness. ‘ You know that fond, loving, and affectionate sisters such as we are, always have a hundred little trifles and sweet nothings to tell each other, and which they treasure up for the day of meeting va “Then you have really nothing of importance to tell me?” said Louisa, with a tone and look of disappointment. “I thought you were perhaps going to reveal to me some matters indicative of your own complete and consummate happiness, ” “ No—that is to say—I mean yes,” ejaculated Clara, somewhat falteringly: then in a hurried tone, she added, “ But I have already told you, by the bye, in my letters, that my dear kind friends, the Beckfords, have adopted me as their danghter, and intend to leave me all their fortune.” “ Yes—you have already told me this,” said Louisa; “and I have congratulated you in return: for of Combes you are well aware, Clara, that your happiness is as dear to me as my own—or even dearer : for I would endure anything sooner than be compelled to hear that you were unhappy.” “Dear Louisa—dear, dear girl,” cried Clara, embracing her fervidly and fondly: “and be as- sured—QOh ! be assured, that I entertain precisely the same feeling for you! But we must now part, Louisa—we must indeed: for it is time that you should return homeward; and I am also compelled to leave town again immediately to rejoin Mr. and Mrs. Beekford—otherwise I would accompany you part of the distance. But I repeat, Sir Douglas Huntingdon will escort you in his carriage as far as Blackheath—or perhaps Dartford—where he will see you safe in a post-chaise.” The sisters now separated with many reiterated embraces, and also with many, many tears: and once more was Louisa consigned to the care of Sir Douglas Huntingdon. We need only add that the Baronet fulfilled his mission with delicacy and fidelity. He escorted her to Dartford, where he procured a post-chaise for her accommodation ; and on parting from the lovely girl he experienced a sensation of ineffable joy to think that he had never once regarded her otherwise than with the utmost respect. ’Tis said that the lion crouches at the feet of a spotless maiden: and assuredly | a ee eee, pada: viaw Ge | | | ] | RR RR a a ECORNICLOO (Cc S (CO)