The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 30: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES. 16 | a ne ge . id eonchement, Mr. Thurston had returned home af ghout twe o’olock in the morning;,and during his absence an earnest and most sqrjoys consultation ead: been held by the young mother and her friend Mra. Smith, relative to the disposal of the babe. At length they resolved that certain proposals should be sppeared shorty afer eight o'clos Mrs. Smith appeared y . o’clog ra. Sml aough. at opportunity of speaking with him alone in a room adjoining the chamber of the invalid. “ Mr. Thurston,” she said, “I wish to submit to your consideration s matter. of vital importance— and yet I know not how to open the subject.” “ Perhaps, madam,” returned the medical man, “it will eave you some embarrassment if I asgure you that I have already formed a conjecture relative to the aim which you have in view.” “ Indeed, six!” ejaculated the lady, amazed at his ceenness of perception. “You can guess, then that-—— , “ That it 1a respecting the child,” he added, fixing nis dark eyes significantly upon her. “ Be not afraid madam, to explain your views: I eam a man of honour!” | . “Then ] can no longer hesitate to address you apon this delicate—most delicate aubject,” reaumed Mra, Smith, encouraged by the surgeon’s words. “ You doubtless observed that there was no wedding- | ring upon the hand of my unhappy friend—and J need scarcely tell you that she has become a mother without being a wife! Oh! sir—the honour of an illustrious ily is menaced — terribly me- naced——” “There are ways and means of covering female frailty with an impenetrable veil,” interrupted the surgeon, in an emphatic tone. “Ah! now I am still farther encouraged to pro- ceed,” exclaimed the lady ; then, after a short pause she said, “ Will you take charge of that hapless babe, Mr. Thurston ?’—your recompense shall far exceed your most sanguine expectations.” | “T will, madam,” waa the answer, instantaneously and unhesitatingly given. “But as this must be cegarded as a mére matter of businesse—a negotiation to be conducted with the utmost circumspection and prudence—pardon, me if J inquire what guarantee you can offer me for the fulfilment of any conditions that may be settled between us?” ; _ “ Listen attentively, sir,” replied Mrs. Smith ; “and ponder well upon all J am about to say. Upon receiving into your house that hapless child whom a mother’s frailty com her to disowi, you must consider that it henceforth belongs to you. Adopt it as your own son if you please—or bestow upon it any aame you may think fit,—and devise any tale which may appear to you most suitable to account to your friends for the fact of its being thrown upon your hands,—arrange all these details in your own way,— but pledge yourself solemnly and sacredly never to take any steps to discover its parents. On these con- ditions the sum of ten’ thousand pounds——”’ _ “Ten thousand pounds!” gjaculated Thurston, startled from his habitual equanimity and self-pos- eession by the mention of such a princely amount, and half-fearful lest his eara should have deceived “ Yes — ten, thousand pounds,” repeated Mrs. Smith “ wil that sum siftioe rm | | ' ©] accept-the proposal, with all the conditions you may annex to it,” sald Mr. Thurston, recovering his qutward composure, although his heart was elate with an indescribablejoy. = «You will undertaké, then, to preservé an invid- lable secrecy regarding what little you already know or what more you may suspect in reference to the mother of that child,” resumed Mra Smith: “I mean that should you meet her hereafter, you will not attempt to recognise her, wherever that encounter may take place and under whatever circumstances,” “I assent to all this,” said the surgeon; “ and I ewear most solemnly to observe the compact.” “The same condition which I last stipitlated, ap- plies to myself,” continued Mrs. Smith. “ Wherever and whenéver you may fiapfien to meet me, we niust be strangers—total strangers to each other.” All shall bo as you propose, madam,” returned Mr, Thurston. ‘Have yon any farther instruo- tions *” “None, replied the lady. . This evening the money shall be paid to youn—and at any risk to her- self I must remove my unhappy friend to-morrow.” “To-morrow! exclaimed the surgeon. “Con- sider, madam—the weather is inclement—It is in the depth of winter——” “But the case is urgent, sir,” interrupted Bfrs. Smith, in a tone which cut shor aif farther remon- strance on the paft of the medical mat. Thus terminated the colloquy ; and when they re- traced their way to the bed-chamber, Mrs. Mordaunt instantaneously perceived by her friend's counte- nance that she had effected an arrangement with the surgeon. After breakfast Mrs. Smith obtamned writing-ma- terials from the sisters and immediately penned the foHowing letter :— “ _———Wes prematurely deivered of a male child last night. The infant lives, and is pronoenoced by the medical man to be healthy. Arrangements have been made in a satisfactory way relative to the disposal of the babe. Circumstances, which I cannot possibly pause te detail, favoured the secrecy of alf that has occurred: and is ap well and in as good spirits as can beax- pected, [ will write again Ina dy cot two. We shall remove to-morrow to my seat in Herts, é . #K. D.” This letter was addressed to General Barth, Post- office, Weymouth ; and, having carefully folded and sealed it, Mrs. Swnith took {t herself to a recoiving- house in Oxford Street. Thence she proceeded in s hackney-coach to a banker's at the West End; and having there obtained a large sum of money, she visited a jeweller's shop at which she purchased two handsome lady’s watches and several other articles for the embellishment of the female toilette, the total cost amounting to about a hundred guineas. Mrs. Smith then returned to Paradise Villas, and presented the jewellery to Octavia and Pauline. The young ladies, though much delighted with the gifts, which were at onve tasteful, elegant, and hand- some, at rat objected tu receive them on the ground that it appeared as if any litte service which they had rendered might appear mereepary: but Mrs. Smith succeeded in over-rulivg their scruples, by assuring them that the “ trifles” she proffered were merely to be regarded as proofs of a sincere friend- ship. This matter being arranged, Mrs. Smith hinted in a delicate way taat, for certain reasons which sb) oousidered it unvecessary to explain, it woau he a a ee _ —— COMIC OOOKS. Com