The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 270: what you’re looking at

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TRE. MUSTER) ES. | 259 | something of a nature which she wauld fajn opnceal | though. from such widely. different cangea—tinged end which. she -tresabled te have- made knowp.. “Yous ladyehip, eces that I canngt entar iate par-. ticylass here, nex at preasnt,” sehumed. Mra. Brace: thea, pausing as if to reflect upep what qonree i weoakl be better ta pureve, and. in gnothar. momen seenmng te be. inspired wih ap ides, abe apid, “ At midnight precisely yan cep steal from, the ball- TOONI6~-0n any .pretence+-7RD OMe. will perppive you: and if yous ladyship wil) then: repair-to the.qutramity of the leng: peseage leading-from ‘the greet sading, k.wild bo thems, Bat come alone; fer ta bal euly-must I beeathe the communisation which I thave to make” “T will be there—at midnight—punctually, *. malt mured Hheaner, her vai0e hearee and: thick. * Give me a glass of wates.” The .milliner hastened ‘to comply with this de- qamand; and the iimpid element aent hinging down ‘the pesched throat of the Countess-of “Te your ladyship better ¢” inquized Mas, Brace, as che veesi ved back the glass. “ ¥es—I thank you,” -responded leaner; end, by deaperate eGort, she overeame hes emotionn “At ali events. you easure me,” ahe whispered mpidiy to the millines, * that the.evil-~whatever &% ia—oan be averted” “ Franquillies yourself completely on, that head, my lady,” aud Mra. Brace. “J will—I must,” observed the Countesn, “ At «nidnight.-punetually.”” And heving darted « siguificant look upon the déntliner, whoen smeerity she no ieager thought of eabting, Eleanos turned ta rejoin Pauline Claren- dee. Thie young lady's. hair had required seme little adjustment, which bad just eagaged the threp on fen | <ninutes oecupiead by the abeve rapidly whispered dialegue between the Countesa and Mrs. Brgor- It was now for the first time thas the millipex.eb- J served that Edeaner’acompanion was, naneother than Pauline Clarendon; for when the «wo ladies bad entered: the room, Mrs. Brace. was a0 intent upon affording the Conntesa ber afficioug aid that she had mot even thought of darting a glance.at the beauseous | Hi exeatuve who was vath her. But naw Mre,.Baace gecognised Pauline immadiately-—netonly-qnaqeennt | of her marvellous likeness te hey sieher Octavia, but alse frem the:fact of having seen them tegether on that moming-when Camilla Morton had delivered the note at the heuse of Lord Flesimel, On thus seoognising the younger Miss Clarendon, a painful conviction instantly sprang.up.in. the uail- tner’s mind-that something was wrong, and that the -plet, as Florimel's letter -had warned her, was indeed. thickening. Dut what eould shedo? Nothing:.—- snatters must take their ehance;--and, howaver great ‘her anxiety and suspense now were, there.waa.no alternative but te await the gvadual development of etroumatances as they should ocenr. Ia the meantime,— while the hawildered Mra Brace was thas giving way to her hurried and agi- tated refiections, Eleanor and Pauline bad issued from the toilette-chamber and rejoined the Earl: thep, the former leaning on bik right arva, and the latter on hie left, they crossed the Janding ta the mag- \ mificent saloons frem the open partels of -which étreamed the warm-and perfumed atmosphere their cheeks with a roseate hue, which set off in mace darsling contraat the fairer and softer tints But Bleanor’s olive complexion logked rich and glowing, thangh of transparent purity, with her own t| heightened cqlour aod-in that blaze of golden lustre; while nothing could be biter or more polished in e shape of living flesh than the Syrehead, neck, and pnem, of Miss.Clarendon. How ayperb was Eleanor in her beauty—how fas- gmating was Pauline in her.loveliness! The former seemed ag if she were able to ravish a heart with one glance af her splendid black eyes-+the other to steal ub away wath her agft and witching looks. And now, as they entered those rooms where all was m blaze of attractions.and en, assemblage of charms, ~wyat were they not lost in the bright galaxy: but they stood aut from the radiant sphere ag stars of an equa) glory with nis Fitgherbert, the Duchess ef Devonghine, or the Princess Sophia, ray CHAIER LARIV. TER RALIGEOQN. Tz was.te,the Pcincess Sophia that the Earl of Des bornugh,.the Countess,.and Miss Pauling Clarendon, fir paid their homage Her Beyal Mizhness secaved Eleangr with a siatexly cordiality, and gave a mast kind and flatter- we welcpme tq Pauline. Indeed, the, ladies and nables assembled in that apartment were, astonished at, the extreme ajr of friendliness and even fami- liarity with which the Princess proffered her hand to Miga Clarendon; gpd whjsperingly they asked each other Who.ahe wag. This avery Was g09n angwered by some young nobleman who had seen and admired her at Lord Maxchmont's bal]; and a genera] apxiety prevailed to hecame acquainted with a young rw who ap- os te enjoy the highest favour mith er Royal ighness the Princess Sophia. Gard Florime), who had already arrived, was now speedily by the side of Pauline: but she was not as yet able.ta take. his arrp, inasmuch as.it was neces- mary that she shauid remain with the Earl and Countess.of Desborgugh until after the presentation to the Prince of Wales, Florimel saw that, beneath an exterior apparently calm, a considerable agitation and excitement prexeiled in the bosom of the charm- ing ereature whom he loved so devotedly; and he aeized an opportunity to whisper a few reassuring words in her ears, “Be net uneagy on my account, dear Gabriel,” she hastilx but tenderly responded; “there will be no, acene-—no betsayal of anything extraordinary ;— — for I am already prepared to know the worst in re apect to my unfortunate sister.” Florimel threw upon her a look full of affection ; and Pauline rapidly returned it, as she again took the proffered arm of the Ear] of Desborough, who was now about to conduct herself and the Counteas inte-the presence of hia Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. Amidst the brilliant assemblage they passed ;—an ee eee Gloriously handseme appeared the Countess of} in.a few minutes they crossed the threshold of the ae Desborough -~ bewitehingly beautiful was Payline| folded partals leading into the room where the heir- Clarendon. The agitation whieh each expericnced— | apparent was conversing, as already described, with NOOK . COLMA