The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 230: what you’re looking at

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224: Zoe were flung out violently; and they both lay senseless, “My God, my God!” cried Octavian, in @ voice of the wildest agony: “ they are killed !”—and he bounded forward to raise one up in his arms—and that one was Christina: then from his lips came ejaculations similar to those which he had uttered on the previous occasion:—“ Oh, speak to me! speak to me! for heaven’s sake speak to me! Would that I had died instead of you!” And Christina slowly opened her soft dark eyes; and Octavian, as frenzied now with joy as he was a moment before with terrible affliction, exclaimed, “Thank God, she lives! she lives! O Chris- tina !” He was straining her in his arms, when she, awaking to full consciousness, extricated herself from his embrace with an abruptness that under any other circumstances would have been un- gracious indeed—but which was now the result of the sudden conviction that swept in unto her soul that he was paying her an attention to which his own wife had the prior claim, though that wife was left neglected upon the ground! And there Zoe still lay, with her eyes closed—although at the first instant that Christina’s glances were flung upon her, it struck her that those eyes were half open. The next instant however she supposed it to be mere fancy on her part. Octavian raised Zoe in his arms: he inquired kindly enough if she were injured:—to do him justice too, he also appeared much distressed :— but there were none of those same wildiy vehe- ment and thrillingly impassioned ejaculations which had burst from his lips in respect to Christina. Zoe appeared to be entirely deprived of consciousness: she lay along, half supported in her husband’s arms, her head resting upon his shoulder—and he continuing to inquire whether she were hurt ? “Oh, for assistance!’ exclaimed Christina, wringing her hands in utter bewilderment: “ what can I do? whither can I goP My benefactress! my friend!—Oh, dearest, dearest Zoe!”—and the young damsel, now throwing herself upon her knees, in a gush of uncontrollable emotion seized Lady Octavian’s form from Meredith’s arms, and locked it in her own fervid embrace. She felt Zoe’s bosom heaving against her own, as if with the prolonged sigh of returning life: then suddenly the tears deluged forth from the lady’s eyes—and flinging her arms round Chris- tina’s neck, she wept convulsively. Our young heroine breathed the most tender and soothing words in her ears,—again addressing her as a benefactress and a friend—beseeching her to com- pose herself, and give not way to this outburst, which she naturally supposed to be purely hys- terical—the effects of the accident which had just occurred. But Zoe only appeared to cling all the more tenaciously to her affectionate friend’s neck, —until seeming suddenly to recollect that her husband was present, she started to her feet and flung herself into his arms. She now grew com- posed; and Octavian, hastily inquiring of them both whether they felt much injured, was assured that beyond a few bruises neither of the ladies had received any physical hurt. But now what was to be doneP The horses, as if satisfied with upsetting the chaise, had stood a ee Pe I OE a a aa TS RTL TT SET TESSSSES TENET TESTES Te THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, still: but the vehicle was much injured ; aud more- over it was impossible to think of trusting their lives again to the vicious runaways. Fortunately at this moment a carriage drove up to the spot : it contained only a gentleman—and he at once proffered any assistance that he might be enabled to afford. A footman in attendance upon his car. riage was accordingly commissioned to take charge of the phaeton, and drive it back to the Regent’s Park; while Lord Octavian, Zoe, and Christina took their seats inside the carriage. During the drive to London, Christina manifested the ten- derest solicitude towards Zoe, who continued deadly pale, and appeared to have received a more powerful shock than she chose to confess. Her voice was low and plaintive, but marked by an ineffable sweetness; and from time to time she hurriedly raised her kerchief to her face as if wiping away tears. Christina and Octavian were therefore confirmed in the opinion which they had both alike formed; namely, that Zoe had ex- perienced hysterical results from the accident. The gentleman to whom the carriage belonged, kindly took his companions to their residence in the Regent’s Park, although his own destina- tion was in the first instance quite at another point of the metropolis. When once more at home, Zoe sought her couch,—by the side of which Christina declared her intention to remain. Lady Octavian besought her to retire to her own room and rest herself likewise: but our young heroine, experiencing now only very partial effects from the accident, would not listen to the entreaty. Oc- tavian sent for a physician, who prescribed what he thought requisite for Zoe; and agreeing with the others that she was somewhat hysterical, he ordered her to be kept extremely quiet. The medicament he administered doubtless contained some opiate: for shortly after it was taken, Zoe sank into a profound slumber—and Christina re- mained watching by her side. And now we have some leisure to speak of Christina’s thoughts. A portion of the ejacula- tions which burst from Octavian’s lips, as he held her in his arms on the scene of the accident, had fallen upon her ears. Besides, had she not the fact present and patent to her knowledge, that Octavian had shown the jirst solicitude on her behalf, instead of flying to the succour of the one who had the prior claim? However uncertain she might before have been as to Lord Octavian’s sentiments, she could doubt them no longer now. And, alas too! she could not conceal from herself that she on her own side felt not as her sense of duty told her that she ought to feel. On the contrary, there was for an instant a soft thrill of pleasure in her soul as she recalled to mind that ejaculation—*“ O Christina!” There was a world of avowal in that ejaculation: it was unmis- takable—it was more than the eloquence of ten thousand tongues—it was the very heart itself laid bare ! Thus reflected Christina: but now her mind was made up how to act; and this resolve being taken, she felt more at ease. When it was an- nounced to her that dinner was served up in the dining-room, she requested that a morsel of food might be brought to her in Lady Octavian’s chamber, where she was resolved to remain. Zoe slept until the evening; and when she awoke and —— on Eo na —* ee <a — 4 — at ANSE MICLOOO) (C (©) Cc KS (CGO) im