The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 43: what you’re looking at

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

ais THER MYeTERIEA. fasion was such as to be likely to attract the notice £ Pauline: “at least, I hope that my valet Edwards id not omit to mention the fact the I knew an wwology to be necessary for my abrupt, unaccount- able, and apparently rude departure the night before tast.’’ “Your domestic obeyed your orders with exac- ‘titude Mr. Harley,” said Octavia, now recovering her eelf-possession: “but we require no explana- 1 tion—deing well aware,” she added, timidly, “ that vou are incapable of acting with intentional rade- ress.” “A thousand thanks, Miss Clarendon—dear Miss Slarendon—for your kind opinion of me,” exclaimed Mir. Harley, fixing upon her a look of indescribable -enderness, which she involuntarily returned—for -he was not mistress of her actions, much less of wr emotions. “I must, however, in justice to my- self as well as from respect to you, explain the - -easons of my precipitate disappearance. But first ermit me to ask whether those ladies happened to aention to you who they were ———” “Qne was a Mrs. Mordaunt—and the other a drs. Smith,” answered Pauline: “but Octavia and ( bad our suspicions on that head,” she added, wehly. “ Indeed ejaculated Mr. Harley, darting a keen ad searching look upon the younger sister: “and rhat might those suspicions be, Miss Pauline 7” “Oh! we thought it very probable that they ught be great ladies travelling incognito,” returned he laughing girl, aa she desisted for a moment from er occupation of pouring out the tea. “ Not unlikely,” observed Mr. Harley, with a pe- uliar dryness of manner which might have been ‘ vea taken for covert satire had the sisters been xperienced enough thus to comprehend it: then, wtantly resuming his usual bland, affable, and «culiarly gentlemanly tone and deportment, he aid, “J presume that Mrs. Smith and Mrs. Mor- aunt did not make any allusion to me ?” f None,” replied Pauline. “ But did you happen --¢ know those ladies, then? I should scarcely : eiok so—or else yon would not have run away so , agallantly,” added the young maiden ia a playful ANDEN *“Ah! now you remind me that I have yet to : dve you a certain explanation,” said Mr. Harley : ‘and I will delay it no longer. The truth is, then, ' hat in those ladies belonging to the broken chariot, : recognised near relatives of the ungrateful friend -vhao had placed me in a temporary embarrassment; smd so irritated became my feelings at the time shat I knew not what I did. Acting withoat the ‘east forethought, and only in obedience to the -mpulse of the moment, I hurried away in order to woid the necessity of even exchanging a word with chose whose presence awoke such painful remini- “Then you were acquainted with the two ladies” «aid Octavia; “and you can inform us whether they gave their real names, or whether the romantic no- «ion of my sister Pauline be correct ” “Yes—dear Miss Clarendon—they did not de- -2eave you in respect to their names,” answered Mr. darley: “as who indeed would deceive you in any- ching ?” he added, sinking his voice to the lowest ‘whisper and availing himself of the opportunity af- ‘orded by Pauline’s turning aside for the moment to ‘at up a cake. The tea was now served round—end not did Mr. Harley force himself to swallow two of a beverage which he in reality detested, but also paratively homely habits; and thus by the time that the old char-woman was summoned to clear the table, he had as it were insinuated himself inte @ position of as friendly an intimacy as if they had known him for a dozen years. But then his manners were so fascinating—his conversation so delightfnl—end his attentions so constant, and yet so delicate. Without an effort and also without affectation, he displayed a perfect acquaintance with the literature of the country— made striking comments upon the passing events of the day—and related several amusing anecdotes relative to those great men of the age whose names were in every body’s mouth ;—then, with an casy and apparently quite natural transition, he slided glibly into a critique upon the last new dramas pro- duced at the national theatres, and by a few rapid remarks on the musical talent in vogue at the time, proved his exquisite taste and delicate perception in respect to the divine art. In this manner the time passed rapidly away: minutes flew by with silent wings, until they accu- mulated into hours; and when the clock struck ten, Pauline quitted the room in order to give directions for supper. The moment Octavia found herself alone with Mr. Harley, a species of tremor came over her—not of pain, nor yet altogether of pleasure,—but a strange commingling of the two, such as when hope and fear retain the soul in the excitement of “Oh! what happiness have I expevsienced this evening !” exclaimed Harley, turning towards the blushing, trembling maiden, and bending upon her a look full of the most melting fondness. “The few hours that I have pgesed with you, lovely Octavia, . have appeared to me an elysian felicity—en interval so full of heavenly bliss, that it were worth while to give the ten best years of one’s existence to enjoy it again! Yes, adorable girl,” he continued, his tone becoming more fervent and his manner more impas- sioned,—* I loved you the first moment that I beheld you—and ever since you have not once been absent from my thoughts! I have cherished your image—I shall ever cherish it,” he exclaimed, seising her hand and pressing it to his lips in rapture. “Mr. Harley—I implore you—oh! I conjure you —nay, I command you — release me,” faltered Octavia, a deeper blush suffusing her countenance while her eyes appeared to swim in a liquid langour and her bosom palpitated with a variety of conflict- ing emotions, joy and fear preponderating, * Nay—do not seek to deprive me of this fair hand, - Octavia!” said Mr. Harley, throwing himself on his knees before her, and gluing his lips to the hand which he still retained in his own and which the bewildered girl exerted herself but feebly to withdraw “do not dash away the cup of happiness and hope which you have raised to my lips! I love you, Octavia—I adore you,—for you are all that is beav- tiful, and good, and excellent to be beloved! Ané¢ believe me, sweet girl, when I take heaven to witness that never until now have I known whet true love is G@inn JOOWC<SHE®