The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 90: what you’re looking at

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

‘“ - ss ls sls SST ES NE EE — - ——g = — a? —<—- —— _— = - - S4 scene-shifters were hurrying to and fro with the enormous sides of framed canvass that fermed the scenic adjuncts; the ladies of the ballet, decked in full costume, were practising at the wings, or scandalising their more fortunate sisters who were basking in the uncertain sunshine of patrician favour; musicians were hurrying back into the orchestra ; the numberless hands that are required to complete the arrangements requisite for a large establishment were each busy at their respective callings; and in short, in every de- partment of that vast temple devoted to the arts of music and of dancing, the incessant stir of activity that had prevailed during the evening seemed at that moment to have attained its climax, Celestine had attired herself in the fanciful robe which she had selected for the character to be sus- tained in the new ballet, and in that charming dress her beauty of features and symmetry of figure re- vealed themselves to tho utmost advantage. She was to personate the Daughter of the Elements, and her form was enshrined in a light fabric of gauzy texture, that was emblazoned with the symbols of the four. There was, however, little necessity for the dress to be so distinguished, since in her own person she displayed the chief emblems ofeach; and in these might have been traced the mingling of her own natural graces. There was fire in the impulsive flash of her deep thrilling eye, air in the buoyant step with which she moved, the crystal element in the silent tear that now glistened in her long dark lashes, and only the attributes of earth were wanting. There was nothing that was suggestive ofthe gross and pon- derous globe, and her light and sylph-like figure seemed as if a breath would speed it onward. She had just concluded her toilet, when a familiar knock was heard at the door of her dressing-room, and Madame Romani entered. “ Ah, my dear Celestine,” exclaimed the songstress as she fouad the opera-dancer was now alone, * you are determined, I see, to make a conquest of the whole kingdom. That dress becomes you divinely—it is the eweetest fancy of the kind I ever saw.” “ You would be vexed with me, then, to learn how utterly indifferent I am to the impression it may create,” murmured the bewitching danseuse, turning round to her companion with a half smile. “ You forget that two circumstances of a very opposite ten- dency, but to me of a very great importance, are this night to be decided.” “Can I forget it?—do you deem it possible?” re- turned Madame Romani, with a reproachful look; “I who am so intimately associated with both.” “ Here lies my little floral telegraph,” cried Celes- tine, playfully, taking up a red rose that was placed upon her dressing-table, and, rather coquettishly, trying its probable effect when placed in juxta- position with her countenance ;—* shall I wear it, or shall I not?—for, upon my word, it seems to me as if it made my cheek all the paler for the contrast.,”’ “Then to prevent any further doubt upon the point, my dear child,” said the vocalist, “I must inform you that the flower you are now twirling through your fingers with such wavering uncertainty has a double signification this evening, and it is especially desirable for that reason it should be worn.” “ A double signification! In what way?” “It was the plan arranged between myself and Lord Walsingham that such an ornament in your hair should be regarded as the token that you were not unfavourable to his offer. Impatient to learn your aequiescence—for he dared not thinak of refusal—he 8 ET e- —— ee Se —— oro THE MYSTERIES OF LONDON, —— eS ee ——_ ——_— eee Oe eee ————_—— li -—<-- would not suffer me to leave him this afternoon until 1 had promised that you should signalise by such a method your acceptance of his proposal.” “ Romani, have | again to chide you for this impru- dence?” exclaimed Celestine, with a look of reproach that appeared half in earnest and half in playful re- monstrance. “ Well, perhaps a white rose will be more becoming after all,” added the prima-donna, with a significant smile?” “How can you thus take a delight in tormenting me? You know that I am all anxiety to learn the communication which my mysterious has to make, and that on this condition it depends, “ And for your own welfare, Celestine, have I urged you by the same means to adopt the symbol that shall ensure you the protection of one so distinguished as Lord Walsingham. You love him—nay, spare your blushes ; I need not even the confession from your lips to assure myself that he is not indifferent to you; and, to be candid, I am now really anxious that you yourself of the brilliant chances of this connection. You are menaced by a danger that may require the assistance of a powerful friend to protect you. I have introduced you to one who will be your lover as well as friend, and prudencéd should not suffer you to let so excellent an opportunity escape. Thetimorous nature of your disposition, and the uniform rejection of all your previous admirers, induced me to adopt this stratagem to secure your compliance with my wishes; for your interest is ever nearest to my heart, and I feel that in acting as I have done I have best consulted “7? “Then I perceive that you have already divined the principal cause of my uneasiness, and that, like myself, you have concladed that he who has thus so closely followed on my footsteps must be the one who tore me from the asylum where I was placed, and who hopes to establish that power again over me of which he has been deprived through your intercessions.” «“ And should this night discover that there exists a close relationship between you?” suggested the song- stress, looking earnestly upon her. “A relationship!” exclaimed Celestine ; “ you alarm me; to what can you refer? Surely you do not suspect this man can claim affinity with me—that we have sprung from the same family—that there can be any ties of kindred between us?” and as the possibility vf such a circumstance occurred to her, her voice grew dense and tremuleus with the apprehen- sions that were excited. “Yes, Celestine,” resumed Madame Romani, im- pressively taking the hand of the young opera-dancer, and speaking with a more serious and portentous tone, “J should not again have ventured to distress your mind by alluding to the subject, had I not been desirous of at once persuading yeu to favour Lord Walsing- ham’s advances, and in se doing prepare you for a scene that may lead to a painful discovery.” “You terrify me by these words,” said the dan- seuse. “ What horrible revelation have I to appre- hend ?—without, indeed,” she added, with a shudder- ing gesture, “this man may have been the mendicant who was the companion of my youth, and who traded on the compassion bestowed on helpless childhood, It | is possible, indeed, that he should turn out to be the — same individual who has ceaselessly followed my pro- gress, and who, raised by some means above his former condition, should now have unfortunately ascertained — I was the orphan whom he first lured away, and so — desire to regain the ascendancy he has lost,” in Micooo » a RE 6