The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 387: what you’re looking at

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€78 TRE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ward, volatile, and perverse-tempered niece had thus settled herself in life and at all events formed an honourable connexion: and he could not help thinking that Arthur Eaton had experienced a somewhat fortunate escape in being refused by a young lady of so strange, wild, and self-willed a disposition. As for the Countess of Desborough— ahe was too much absorbed in her passion for Ram- sey to devote many minutes’ thought to Fernanda: and moreover on the Saturday evening when the tidings of the young lady’s marriage reached Berke- ley Square, Eleanor was completely wrapped up in the enjoyment of her lover's society after an ab- sence of three days on his part. For our readers will remember that on the pre- vious Thursdaf night Ramsey had appeared to Mr. and Mrs. Page in the library at Stamford Manor: and that visit to the neighbourhood of Aylesbury had certain objects which will transpire hereafter. On the Saturday evening he came back to Berkeley Square—his departure and his return both taking place at dusk, when his countenance might be effectually concealed by the shadow ef his hat and the collar of hiscloak. But need we say that in the meantime his absence had appeared an age to the enamoured Eleanor, and the three days had seemed as many centuries? All the next day she remained at home on purpose te enjoy his society— the excuses which he made for not going out, prov- ing quite satisfactory to herself, and eliciting no remark on the side of her husband. Indeed, the Earl of Desborough had sought the solitude of his library more than ever since the arrival of Ramsey at the mansion: and had Eleanor found leisure to obeerve her husband's manner or notice his personal appearance with any degree of attention, she would have perceived beneath an air of extreme kindness towards herself and of affability towards her lover, there was a profound melancholy devouring the nobleman’s very vitals,—and that his cheeks were growing pale, his form emaciated, and his brow farrowed, with s rapidity that was but too awfully perceptible to all about him save his own adulterous wife and ber upprincipled paramour. Having recorded these few necessary observa- tions, we now resume the thread of our narrative. It was on the Monday following the Saturday on which Ramsey had returned to his comfortable quarters in Berkeley Square; and at about three o'clock in the afternoon we find him seated in the drawing-room with the lovely and loving Countess of Desborough. Her ladyship had instructed the domestics that she was not “at home” to any visitors: and she was accordingly giving herself up to all the bland~ ishnients of a (éte-a-téte with him whom she called lier “dear Gustavus.” Her splendid eyes looked burning fondness and enthusiastic passion upon him; while his reflected the more sensual and fixed their gaze on her countenance with a fervour which she mistook for unalloyed affection as profound and intense as her own. | Never had she seemed more beautifal, nor he more handsome; and so far as personal appearance went, there was a remarkable fitness in this couple for each other. Their dark hair—olive complexions -—large black eyes—brilliant tecth—-and classical _ Cutline of feature, made them look like brother and sister: while the ardour of their temperament and the strength of the fires that burzed within their breasts, rendered them suitable partners in the dalliance of love. “ Tell me, my Gustavus—do you indeed enter- tain for me all the fondness which breathes in your words and gives a glory to your looks ?” asked Eleanor, in a tone that was low and tremulous Moe the soft feelings that prompted the ques- on. ‘* Can you doubt my love ?—do you suspect the truth of my vows ?” said Ramsey, modulating his own voice to the tender sensuousness of the scene : the hand of the Countess, he fastened his lips upon the warm, plump flesh which thrilled with the ecstatic fervour that animated her entire being. ‘Should not I rather question you, my beloved Eleanor,” he continued, “ respecting the permanence of that attachment which you now feel towards the friendless stranger ?” “‘ Ah! how can you speak in this mournfal, lees manner of yourself, Gustavus ?” exclaimed the Countess, darting upon him a look of mingled de- votedness and reproach. ‘‘ Wherefore use the word Srvendless ? Am notI your friend ?—would I not lay down my life to serve you? Oh! my beloved Gustavus, you had forgotten that there was such s being as myself in the world when you made that ‘‘ Pardon me, desrest—dearest Eleanor,” said the resuscitated criminal, folding that charming and elegant woman in his embrace and imprinting a thousand kisses upon her glowing, burning, blush- ing cheeks. “TI had not forgotten you,” he con- tinned in the murmuring tone which indicates the strength of sensual passion: “ no-—never, never can I forget you, my beloved—never can I cease to remember that you are the only being whom I ever truly adored and by whom I was ever loved so ten- Gerly in return. All my hopes of happiness are centred in thee, Eleanor: were I doomed to sepa- rate from thee, my well-beloved, I should end my days in the blood of a distracted suicide.” ‘Oh! apeak not in such dreadful terms as these [” whispered the Countess, her own voice being sub- dued and hushed by the power of ber passion : and, half-reclining in his arms, she gazed long and ar- dently upon the handsome countenance of her lover, while the beatings of her heart were plainly audible to the ears of both. ‘‘ Wherefore should you entertain an idea of even the possibility of our separation? Are you not happy benesth this roof ?—do you pant for change, Gustavus ?” “ No—no: ten thousand times no, my angel [* he responded, accompanying his words with fervid caresses. “How can I possibly pant fer change ? Oh,no!no! But ask yourself, dearest Eleanor whether this state of bliss can endure for ever ? Does it not appear like a dream which must in- avitably have a waking ? Your husband——” “Qh ! let us not talk of him I” exclaimed the Countess, with a movement of impatience. “Ever since I possessed your love, Gustavus, I have ex- perienced feelings amounting almost to a loathing and a bitter aversion in respect to him.” for a few moments. mean ?—can you not divine that I allude te possibility o. sur love being discovered ? day—each hour we begome less guarded : (1) COMM LOOKS .CGO cS, aS te