The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 105: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. give “ao.if, for a moment I have alluded to such 33 matters as recommendations and so forth “Tt is necessary, my lady—and it is better,” replied Christina. “If I have the good fortune to please your ladyship, I should wish to enter your house in the fullest confidence that you are satisfied with me.’ “Tam already satisfied, from everything which you have told me,” rejoined Lady Octavian Mere- dith ; “and I will request my husband to use his interest to procure some suitable situation for your brother. I can understand, from all you have said, that it would be painful for you to separate from that brother; but you have my free permission to receive him as often as he may choose to call upon you—the oftener the better: for it will do me good to behold you happy and contented. I am already much interested in you, Miss Ashton ; and I am grateful that Mrs. Giles should have counselled you to visit my house to-day.” Christina expressed her warmest thanks for all these kind assurances ; and Lady Octavian Mere: dith proceeded, in the most delicate and consi- derate manner, to intimate the terms which she proposed to offer any young lady whom she might select as her friend. In a word, the compact was formed; and Christina promised to remoye to her ladyship’s house on the morrow. “I shall take the liberty of requesting Mrs. Giles,” said Christina, when rising to depart, “to call upon your ladyship in the course of the day, that she may confirm, so far as she knows me, the representations that I have made; and as she is acquainted with my former landlady, she can give your ladyship such assurances as Mrs. Macaulay herself would impart if referred to.” “Tt is by no means necessary,’-answered Zoe: * but inasmuch as I see that it will satisfy you, Miss Ashton, you can bid Mrs. Giles call upon me presently,”’ Zoe rose from her seat, and extended her hand with sweetest affability to Christina—who, with renewed thanks and with joy in her heart, took her leave. Thus, while Christina was retracing her way across the Regent’s Park — Christian, having alighted from the omnibus, was speeding along Albany Street, also in a homeward direction. Neither had the faintest suspicion of the good fortune which had suddenly smiled upon the other: each heart was full of joy on the other’s account. But that of Christina was somewhat shaded, he- cause in hey ease it was settled that she must separate from her brother; whereas in Christian’s case if had been left by the Duke of Marchmont to his own option as to whether he ghould live at the mansion in Belgrave Square, or still continue to reside with his sister. Christina reached the lodging first, and at once informed Mrs. Giles of the success of her visit to Lady Octavian Meredith. She likewise requested the worthy woman to call upon her ladyship in the course of the day. “That I shall do with pleasure,” was the re- sponse cheerfully given: “indeed I shall set off at once—and you may depend upon it, my dear young lady, I shall say everything in your favour which you so fully deserve.” Christina hastened up-stairs—and scarcely had she put off her walking apparel, when Christian came rushing up as if he were wild. He burst 99 into the room; and folding his sister in-a warm embrace, cried, “Joy, joy, darling Christina! I have succeeded at length.” “And I too, my beloved brother, have succeeded in something,’ she responded, with an almost equal exultation. Christian contemplated her with surprise; and mutual explanations were speedily given. But Christian was now saddened at the idea of separat- ing from his sister. ‘His Grace,” he said mournfully, “left it to me to decide whether I would live at his mansion, or continue to dwell with you; and I had arranged in my mind such a nice little plan of removing into the neighbourhood of Belgrave Square, so that we might be together f “But my dear brother,” interrupted Christina, though with tears in her eyes, “we must resign ourselves togthis separation. From what you have told me, the Duke of Marchmont offers you fifty guineas a-year—a most liberal sum if you dwell in his mansion—but it would instantly become a small one if you resided in lodgings and had to support me. Lady Octavian Meredith offers me sixty guineas a-year; and I am to dwell with her. We can both save considerably from our incomes ; and perhaps, my dear brother, in the course of time our economies will enable us to reside toge- ther again. Besides, Lady Octavian assures me that the oftener you call upon me the better she shall be pleased; and the Duke of Marchmont has informed you that’ you will have plenty of time at your own disposal. We may see each other daily, or nearly every day: we may walk out together Oh! indeed, dear Christian, we shall make ourselves happy! And re- member what a change these few brief hours have suddenly worked for us. Last night we ate the bread of bitterness: to-day we shall eat the bread of happiness... This morning we rose in mournful- ness from our respeetive beds: to-night we shall lay ourselves upen our pillows with hope, consola- tion, and thankfulness in our hearts. We shall close our eyes in slumber without the dread of the morrow’s awakening,” Christian could offer no remonstrances against this reasoning on his sister’s part; and the ar- rangements were therefore to the effect that he should return in the course of the day to the Duke of Marchmont to state the decision to which he had come—so that on the morrow he might remove to his Grace’smansion, atthesame time that his sister took up her residence with Lady Octavian Meredith. In the course of a couple of hours Mrs. Giles returned from her visit to Zoe; and she now learnt the good fortune which had simultaneously overtaken Christian. She congratulated the twins with the most genuine sincerity; and placing an envelope in Christina’s hand, said, “ Lady Octa- yian Meredith is already so deeply interested in you, and is so fearful of losing you, that she has desired me to tender you this as a ratification of the compact.” Mrs. Giles then: hastened from the room; and Christina, on opening the envelope, found that it contained a bank-note for twenty pounds. The orphans were deeply touched by this proof of Lady Octavian’s generosity and kindness—and all the more so on account of the delicate manner in which the succour was conveyed. LE PLL Lt CONMMUCLIOOLK<S (E) 7m