The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 328: what you’re looking at

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OOO THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 314 . in the evening. Now, Mrs. Baines, pen, ink, and paper, if you please, and draw the curtain a little.” The housekeeper hastened to obey these in- structions; and Doctor Copperas proceeded to write the prescription, observing as he did so, “that he felt convinced he was about to adopt the very same treatment which that eminent and re- markable man Doctor Thurston would have re- commended had he been called in,” Having concluded his Esculapian hieroglyphics, he turned towards the bed, saying in a bland tone of inquiry, “ And now, what is the name of my interesting patient 2?” At the instant that the doctor began the first words of his question, the damsel’s cheeks were colourless as alabaster: but scarcely had the final syllables fallen from his lips, when all the blood in her veins seemed to rush to her countenance, suf- fusing it with the deepest crimson. “Ah! my dear child,” cried Mrs, Baines, “ if the Doctor has said anything indiscreet, do not annoy yourself. God knows you can bear no more excitement! JI am sure when you were brought home here at three o’clock this morning, in such a State of exhaustion that you could not speak, and your very reason seemed to be abandoning you But, heavens!” ejaculated the housekeeper, suddenly interrupting herself as a fresh torrent of tears now gushed out from the poor girl’s eyes: “what ails you, my dear child— what ails you?” The damsel could however give no response, even if she wished to do so: her voice was lost in deep aud suffocating sobs ;—but looking up with an expression of ineffable gratitude upon her coun- tenance, she took Mrs. Baines’s hand and pressed it to her lips. : “There, there,” said Doctor Copperas, “ I am afraid I said something indiscreet: but I would not wound the poor girl's feelings for the world. As for the prescription, I have made it out in the name of Miss Smith, which by the bye is the name that in similar circumstanees is invariably adopted by that ornament of the profession, Doctor Thurs- ton.” Doctor Copperas now took his leave; and when he was gone Mrs. Baines addressed the invalid in the kindest and most endearing manner that she could possibly adopt: for the housekeeper was indeed an excellent-hearted and worthy woman; and though in the service of a master renowned for his dissipated habits and rakish conduct, she herself was of unimpeachable respectability. “Now, my dear girl,” she said, bending over the couch and whispering with soothing softness of tone in the invalid’s ear, “you have some secret grief which is gnawing at your very heart’s core. I do not ask you to tell me what it is: but I do ask you to tell me if there is anything that can be done to alleviate it. Should you choose to trust me, you would find that I would go fifty miles to serve you, but not raise a finger to injure you. I saw plain enough that you did not like to mention your name; but I am sure that if there is any harm attached thereto, it is not you yourself who have brought the stain upon it. No—there is in- nocence in your looks—the candour of purity upon your brow—Ah! and the manner in which you now regard me proves that I am right in believ- ing you tobe the dear good girl I hoped and wished the first instant I saw you. But even if you had done anything wrong, there is forgiveness to be obtained. Oh! now I see again, by that deprecating look so softly earnest, that it is not so. No—you are all that is good—I am certain youare. ‘Tell me, then, dear child, what can be done for you: and recollect that my master owes youso deep a debt of gratitude, there is no trouble he would shun and no expense he would spare to render you a service and lighten your heart of the load of affliction.” “My kindest, best friend,” exclaimed the in- valid, throwing her arms around the neck of the good housekeeper, “I will tell you everything. Yes—I will tell youall: and then you will com- prehend wherefore i am unhappy—why I am tor- tured with a devouring suspense—and also why L hesitated to mention a name which nevertheless, God knows, has never been disgraced by me. But Oh! before Il commence my narrative—iet me beg of you--let me implore you to grant me a boon——” “Speak, dear child!” exclaimed the housekeeper: “what is it?” | “ Will you procure me a newspaper of to-day ?” said the fair stranger in a low soft tone, as if she even hesitated to solicit so trifling a favour. “Jn amoment,” cried Mrs. Baines: and disap- pearing from the room for a short time, she re- turned with a morning journal, saying, “Sir Dou- glas always takes this newspaper; and therefore it was handy in the house at the moment.” But while she was thus speaking, tae invalid, with a sudden access of frenzicd excitement, had snatched—or indeed, rather torn the journal from the matron’s hand ; and sitting up in the bed, as if that feverish excitement had nerved her with sudden strength, she ran her eye over the columns with the breathless suspense and excruciating un- certainty of one who is about to behold the clear- ing up ofa matter of life or death. » “Thank God!’ she exclaimed, “he is safe !” Then, as if this sudden acquirement of a cer- tainty and abrupt term to a harrowing sus- pense, were to be followed by a re-action propor- tionately strong and painful, she fell back ina state of utter prostration alike of mind and body. Mrs. Baines hastened to administer a cordial and apply other restoratives: but hours elapsed, and evening was drawing its veil of obscurity over the hemisphere, before the invalid had so far re- covered as to be enabled to converseagain. Then with only a few brief words of preface, to the effect that she yearned to unbosom the secrets that lay heavy upon her soul, the poor girl poured forth her revelatians to the friendiy ear of the matron, * of * aS * a * * 2K * * Two hours later—indeed, at about nine o’clock that same evening—Mrs. Baines and Sir Douglas Huntingdon were closetted together in earnest de- liberation. ** Ariadne Varian,” said the Baronet, repeating the words several times. “ How prettily the name sounds: it is really most appropriate for such a charming creature. Do you know, Mrs. Baines, that [ reaily feel But no matter,” he exclaimed, suddenly interrupting himseif, * Ah! sir, 1 know what you were going to say,” observed the housekeeper: “and realiy if you ee ee ee ee ee | eae re GOmiiGbdooks (€@)