The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 178: what you’re looking at

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

gee ee RE eee: een ee en ne — ee tere —- ae ee } een? ene @ - = - _ ~~ © ¢ THE MYSTEMIES OF eee Se The right of bliss had passed; and, wearied with lave’s dalliance, they’ had fallen into a deep shunber, the dreams of which were soft and voluptuous, and gave no forewarning of a coming storm. Tho Jong, luxuriant, deep brown hair of Perdita flawed over the snowy whiteness of the pillow; and the dark, thick, slightly curling fringes of the closed eve-lids reposed on cheeks flushed with the ecstatic nature of her visions. A gentle smile played upon her moist lips of richest ret—a smile that subdued the expression of resclute- ness which her countenance was wont to wear, and gave an indescribable charm of serenity and swect- ness to features usually indicative of tach strong passions and such fierce desircs. But tho:e passions were now lulled ta rest: those desires were for the time assuaed;—and happiness filled the coul of the sleeping woman. One fine, white, and rubust arm Jay oulside the coverlid: the other supported the head, or rather hall embraccd the neck of her young and handsome husband. The sunbeams seemed to kiss her flowing, hair,— r-cemed to play with the exquisitely modelled arm that lay completely exp sed,—seemed alsy to revel in the freacures of her naked bosom, £9 firm, so rounded, ant so rezularly heaving. Stocn lihewic> sealed the eves of Charict Hatfield: rmiles Wiewise played upen his lps;—and luc counte- appear La perfect specimen of go l-lilie beauty incarnate in man. Yer: they were a handsome pairs—and so far duere weearcmarkable fitne: oo their union—butin neught bei te! In perfect happiness had they sunk into the profuind slumber which still cnwrappel them ;—tor, on the one side, Charles Hatfield Lad become posse ed of that svoman of glorious loveliness who had enchanted— captivated—cnthralled his very soulj—and, on the other, Pentita believed herclf todiave caincd the (ithe of Fieountere Marston already, and to have that of Counter: of Eilinghans in perspective. Ie was nine o'clock in the morming—the morning sucsecding the bridal nights and thus were the gewly- we ted pair still sleeping in the nuptial couch, Presently the door op ned, and Ro-alie entered the rovny—Ho_slie, naturally so cay, blyuie, ard fall of evrits—but now with a cloud upun her brow, and evi lent anxiety in her manner. Advancing towards the bed, she paused —gazed fora few th inentoupontherleepers—and murmured toherself in French, “dTow handsome and how serenely happy they appear to be! What a pity it is to awake them)” then, after another short pauce, che stid hurriedly, “And vet it mut be—for the etranger 13 imperative.” Thas cpeaking, she touched Charles Hattield gently on the arm; and he woke up, with astart. But Ro- ealic immediately put her Guger to her lip to enjoin rlenees and the young man, now completely areu ed, surveycd her with mingled eurprice and anger——'ur- price at her mysterious behavionr, and anger at her intritsion. “Yueh!” she cai, in a low but emphatic tone. «A pentleman inzisi3 upon reeing you—and, as his manner i3 £0 curious, I thought I had better awake you firet, sir,’ she added, glancing: significantly to- yrards her mistress, who still slept on. «A gentleman!” repeated Charles, a suspicion—al- rocat n certainty of the real truth flashing to his mind: “ge-enbe Lim!'—and he also epoke in & whisper, though with emphasis. a nance ose + eo 171 Rosalie gave a hurricd sketch of the individual whe 50 impcriously demanded an immediate interview with her master; and Charles found that his conjecture was correct—too correct, indeed ! “Go to him—and say that [ shall bo with him fu five minutes,” he observed, in a tone expressive of leep vexation sand Rosalie retired. Charles immediately rose from the couch, but with- out awaking Perdita; and, having hastily slipped on some clothing, he proceeded to tho sitting-room be- longing to the suite of apartments which he had hired at the hotel, Ne now found himself face to face with his father! Mr. Hatfield was pacing the parlour in an agitated manner, when the voung man entered ;—his counte- nance was very pale, and were an expression of deep eare: indeed, Charles was shocked when his parent, turning round to accost him, thus presented to his view an aspect sv profoundly wretched—so eloquently woe-bezone. : The young man, during tho few minutes which had intervened from the time that Nosalic quitted his bed- chamber until the instant when he repaired to the sitting-rouin, hal nerved himself with all his energy braced hhimeelf with all bis courage—mustered all his resolution, to und) rzo what he knew must prove a painful trials for he expected accusations of disobedi- ence and angratitude—reproachcs for unmanly conduct towards Lady Prance3 [ilingham,—in fine, a repeti- tion of thoes scones which had latterly occurred at the Farl's mantion im Pall Mall, and which, characterised by coomuch misconception as they had been, had ma- ternally tended to dimmish the authority of the father and the respect of the son. Yes: he had made up his mind to bear upbraidings and encounter the moat painfal remonstranees ;—ho hat even resolve | te recriminate in the old style— reproaching his father forthe wrongs which he ima- gined himeclfte have sustaincd at Lis hands relative to the secrets attendant upen hit birth and socia, poition, But when he bebehl the 2xpres-ion of deep care and the ahy pallor which sate upon that father's comnrenance, has rebellivuus luart coftened—his stern revolves gave way—his better feclings onco mora etirred within him;—and all on a sudden it struck him that there must be tome reason for his parent's altercd app: arance, of a nature more grave—tmure suri ous, than the mere grief which (his runaway match could po-sitly occasion. The thought that evil had happened to his mother Anched to his minds—and in an instant all his image nary wrongs were forgotten. . “PFather—dear father,” he exclaimed, in a tone of earnest appeal; keep me not in ruspense! My mother— " “I. agwell, Lhope, a7 under circumstances she can possibly be,” interrupted Mr. Hattield, ann hallow and combre tone. “Thank God!” crisd Chartes, fervently. “i, i¢ possible that you stil love your mother?” demanded Mr. Tatth td, who ¢ countenance brightened upin the faintest degree, but in a manner ay sickly as if the gleam of a dying .amp fell upon the rigid features of a corpre. “Ts it povible that you car ash me the question?” exclaimed the young man. “Ob! you know that | love my mother—my dear mother,” he repeated, as a thousand proofs of her affuction for him suddenly rose up in his mind—rapidly as the epell of an enchenter might cause flowers to appear upon the surface of a LONDON. mee re ee ot eee - - - — — ~=~ = 2° =~ ee ee ° ——= awe — me eee —_— = NN ee a (C(O) DOO (SO)