The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 287: what you’re looking at

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276 THE MYSTERIES, explanation respecting the motive which compels me to decline your flattering proposal.” “ Not for worlds, Octavia,” exclaimed the young man, “ would I say or do aught to give you pain. But, ere we take leave of this topic alto- gether, permit me to make one observation, which I hope you will treasure up in your memory.” “ Speak, Arthur,” said Miss Clarendon, grow- ing more composed. ‘It is that should you ever be placed in a position to require a friend, Octavia—a sincere friend,” repeated the Hon. Arthur Eaton,—*“ a friend in whom you might wish to put even more trust than in a brother,—hesitate not to send for me, and my actions shall prove the sincerity with which I am now uttering these words.” “Oh! the time may indeed come when I shall require such a friend as you,” murmured Octavia, taking the young gentleman's hand and pressing it with all the cordial fervour of an intense gra- titude. ‘‘ Be assured I will not hesitate to ad- dress myself to you, Arthur, in such a case. But even now—at once—this moment,” she ex- claimed, a sudden thought striking her—“ I am about to demand a favour at your hands.” “You have only to name it, Octavia,” said Arthur, who, perceiving that the beauteous crea- ture was unhappy, experienced a profound com- passion and a sincere sympathy in her behalf. ‘In what manner can I prove my friendship to you, dear cousin ¢” he inquired, seeing that she hesitated. “ T have confeased to you that I love another,” she responded at length, while casting down her looks and blushing deeply: ‘but I do not wish that my father should learn this secret.” ‘Not from my lips shall Mr. Clarendon re- ceive the slightest hint of the real motive which has led you to reject my proposal,” returned Arthur, emphatically. “I will seek him at once —I will tell him that you and I have had a long and serious conversation together, and that we have mutually arrived at the conclusion that our happiness would not be ensured by any closer alliance than that of friendship.” ‘‘T thank you sincerely, my dear cousin,” said the young lady, “ for this fresh proof of your goodness and generosity ¢owards me.” Arthur Eaton then took his leave of Octavia, and returned tothe library where Mr. Clarendon was building fine castles in the air on the strength of the belief which he entertained that his daugh- ter would cheerfully accept her cousin’s pro- 1. ee Well, my dear Arthur,” he exclaimed, the moment the young gentleman re-appeared in his presence; “J suppose that nothing remains but to fix the day——” ‘‘ Indeed, my dear sir,” interrupted Eaton, as- suming & serious air, ‘nought is settled ; nor is there ought now to settle.” “ What do you mean?” demanded Mr. Claren- don, in amazement. “] mean that Miss Octavia and myself have had a long and solemn discourse together,” an- swered the Hon. Mr. Eaton, “ and that we haye decided upon remaining excellent friends-———" ‘She has refused you, Arthur!” ejaculated Mr. Clarendon, his lips growing cold and quivering with rage. “Not so, my dear sir,” returned the young a eT a ttt UNRASENGEYS eet gentleman : “or rather, we have refused each other. But, if there be any preponderating fault on one aide, it is upon mine, and you must not therefore blame your daughter.”’ Having thus spoken, Arthur Eaton took his leave of Mr. Clarendon, who was scarcely able to conceal his vexation and disappointment until the door closed behind the young gentleman : and then, throwing himself back in his seat, he clutched the hair on each side of his head, mut- tering savagely between his teeth, “ Miserable wretch that Iam! was I not born to experience an incessant series of misfortunes 2” But suddenly the {mage of the veiled lady sprang up in his mind : and, recovering his com- posure, he began to reMect profoundly once more upon all she had that corning said to him. CHAPTER LXXIX. THE HEIR-APPAREST AND HIS FRIEND. WHILE these scenes were taking place at Mr. Clarendon's abode in Cavendish Square, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales awoke with a bad headache and in an execrable humour, in his sumptuous bed-chamber at Carlton House. We have already described this apartment in the sixteenth chapter of our narrative, to which the reader may refer if he be in any way anxious to refresh his memory concerning the luxurious manner of its fittings and appointments. Raising himself painfully in his couch, and giving vent to a bitter imprecation against the aching pangs which racked his head, the Prince sought relief in the cooling beverages afforded him by the table at his bed-side; and when the draught of hock and soda-water had gone hiss- ing down his parched throat, he threw himeelf back to enjoy the refreshing sensations which followed. Bat though the pain in the head soon under- went a partial mitigation, the train of thoughts which gradually passed through the mind of fhe hair-apparent was of no pleasurable description. Pauline had discovered his princely rank, and would of course communicate the circumstance to her sister. How Octavia would receive the ter- rible revelation,—whether she would be over- whelmed with grief or goaded to vengeance, —it was impossible to say. But certain it was that the secret of the Princess Sophia's frailty was in the keeping of those two young ladies; and his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales shuddered when he thought what use they might make of their knowledge of his sister’s shame. Even if he had nothing more than all this to vox him, it was quite enough. But there were other circumstances which forced themselves on his contemplation, in spite of his habitual anxiety to shut his mental eyes against all unpleasant objects. In the first place, he had not ‘only signally failed in his stratagem with regard to the Coun- tess of Desborough; but the incidents of the preceding evening had made her acquainted with a secret which so completely put him in her power that he would never again dare to spread the meshes of his intrigues at her feet. For she had learnt that Mrs. Fitzherbert was his own wedded wife ; and that fact, breathed to the public, would endanger his accession to the throne, inasmuch ai CONNEC OOO ‘SS CO