The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXXY., THE DENOUEMENT. For some weeks the Earl of Winterton remained npon a couch of sickness, suspended between life and death, his brain wandering, and his senses only re- called at intervals by the sound of some familiar voice. Tho first visitor that he could recognise was Lord Walsingham, who, having overtaken his fugi- tive relative and her husband—for they had availed themselves of the earliest opportunity to Hnk their fortunes together—had prevailed upon them to ac- company him back, and now he volunteered to be their mediator with the earl. As soon, therefore, as the convalescence of the nobleman permitted such an interview, Walsingham presented himself in the chamber of the invalid, and explained the mission with which he was entrusted, He had not himself expressed any objection to the alliance as soon as he discovered that Fitzroy Greene was the nephew of the earl; and he now earnestly besought the patrician to forgive the elopement on account of the causes that had led to it taking place. | acted. He urged the youth of Lady Adeline in extenuation of the fault, and intimated that the persuasive ad- dresses of a younger admirer would have soon impelled her to break a contract in which love had no share. She had never analysed her own feelings, and she had mistaken the generous emotions of friendship which the earl had inspired for a warmer sentiment. As the day drew nearer for their marriage, the real state of her mind became more and more apparent, and she shrank from forming a solemn union with one whom she felt might be deeply esteemed and respected as a friend, but never loved as a husband. It was this and the earnest persuasions of Greene, whom she had known, it appeared, for some time pre- viously, that influenced the step she had taken; and she had given her hand where she had already be- stowed her heart. Although the original motive that had urged him to win the affections of Lady Adeline could not be defended, it was yet the wish of Ureene to retrieve his character by pursuing a more honour- able career for the future; and it was with those in- tentions that he now solicited the earl’s forgiveness for what had transpired. Smitten by the reflections that had occurred to him during his intervals of consciousness, and impelled by that forgiving temperament for which a long ill- ness had prepared his mind, smvothing away those animosities that had embittered his previous exist- ence, the earl not only consented to receive his nephew, but even offered him the only reeompense that was in” his power, the half of that property to which he would have been entitled by the heritage of his late father, the legal possessor. This, however, Greene declined, and contented himself with a trifling annuity which the sale of the Bradley estate produced. The rupture of his alliance with Lady Adeline Temple he regarded with feelings of neither wounded vanity nor useless regret. “It is better,” he said to his now re- claimed nephew, as he called him to his bedside, “ far better as itis. It was not to a young wife that I should have looked for a comfort in my declining years. Lad Heaven blest me with a child, I should have been spared much affliction, for it is the want of s0me congenlal sympathy that has made me what I am, a hopeless hypochondriac.” His wishes were, however, not so far off from being fultilied as he imagined. Sir John Barrington, hear- es -oe wn THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, er ‘long rambling rooms had undergone vast alterations ing that the Earl of Winterton was recovering from his recent indisposition, was his next visitor, brought him truly the tidiags of conselation, — The disclosures made by a dying man, who had been rescued, though fatally injured, from a late fire, 1: papers that were entrusted to Barri pose, the earl learned that he was not fair Gianella, over whose memary mourned, had died in giving birth to a daughter, that daughter was Celestine, who, watched from infancy by the two decoyed her from the asylum where received as an orphan, had crowned attempting to trade upon the compassion her pee beauty had excited. With these documents given, by the repentant wretch Bazzini, such nations as fully exonerated her from having had participation in the robbery at Lord W ; villa, and at the same time fully | apparently suspicious manner in which she EES? As soon as these particulars were made known to both, the utmost exertions were used to discover the place of her retirement; and guided by the directions of Madame Romani, Walsingham was soon successful in his search. The meeting that took place — was one of mingled smiles and tears, The Earl of } Winterton, overjoyed at finding that the secret promptings of his heart had not been crn directed, clasped, with all the ardour of a fond | the child of wayward destiny to his bosom. purity was still inviolate; and W Er, s diflerent footing thi, peotamedtoal et iaek previously made, was proud to acknowledge her as his wedded bride. The health of the earl was almost magically restored with the discovery of his daughter, and fer some weeks the festivities at the earl’s man- sion, arising from the double marriages in the same family, and which were now publicly acknowledged, formed a fertile topic of convorsation in the fashion- able world, and were duly chronicled, with a re | list of the guests attending, in the public prints of the day Turn we now to the little village of Bradley, which — had again become the scene of numberless | smiling faces, and exhibited all the pleasant signs of reviving industry, The hall, instead of being the dull and gloomy mansion which it appeared at a former period of our story, was gay and brilliant with — the change of ownership that had taken place. The He and improvements. Upholsterers had been sent for from London to redecorate the apartments, the land was under good and skilful cultivation, and the’ honest labourers, who were selected from the most in- dustrious in the village, were in the receipt of liberal’ wages, regularly and cheerfully paid, Wandering about the grounds, and busily uel tending the various arrangements, was seén Jacob Randall, the bird-fancier, and who now, as steward to the estate, an appointment which he had iV : from his unknown patron, who can however be no stranger to the reader, was at last happy and etn: tented in his responsible vocation. He had himself chosen to derive his suk from an employment of this kind in preference ti remaining a dependant on the bounty of his danghtetd and as the place was familiar te him from boy! “0 4 —e + 6c eo —— m Ehboo S «om