The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 271: what you’re looking at

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

| | | | 258 that she had previously been disguising that voice somewhat, or as if she were now purposely allowing it to resume its wonted intonation. “ The world will never kuow from my lips any thing that might be disagreeable or unpleasant,” observed Jocelyn, a vague feeling of uneasiness now coming over him as his suspicions relative to the voice grew stronger and stronger. Not that he could yet call to mind where he had ever heard that voice before, even if he had really ever heard it at all until this night: but he was full certain that it was uodergoing a gradual change from an assumed melody to its natural one. “Ah! you do not think, Mr. Loftus,” observed Laura, her voice becoming more tremulous, as if vibrating with some strong feeling or growing pas- sion,—* you do not think that the world would give us credit for being such a good girl and boy as we really are? You fancy that the world, like a too suspicious parent, would be certain to believe that we have deen naughty children ?” “Heavens, Miss Linden!” exclaimed Loftus, shocked at the gross indelicacy of the remark, and therefore speaking ina tone of unmistakable dis- pleasure, “let us not talk in this strain! Indeed, unless you compose yourself to sleep, you will be thoroughly exhausted with fatigue and totally unfit to excounter all that we may have to accomplish to-morrow night.” : “It is impossible to sleep with a strong current of air coming through this aperture,” said Leura: and Jocelyn could hear by the elastic bound of her feet alighting upon the floor, that she had Jeapt from the couch. “Permit me to do my bent to stop that aper- ture,” be said, ristog from his seat and slowly ad- vancing through the darkness towards the alcove. * Perhaps I can replace the panel of the wainscot in such & manner as to protect you from the dranght.” “TI do not believe it possible,” said Laura, in a tone which evidently came from lips that were pouting with subdued ill-humour at the moment. “ Then let us light a candle at any risk-——” “Ah! doubtless for you to see my face, now that you know the veil is off !” she cried, with a merry laugh. “TI can assure you, Miss Linden, tbat I have no impertinent curiosity of such a nature,” answered Jucelyn, in a voice coldly expressive of displeasure. “Qh! no, no,” ejaculated Laura, her humour sud- denly changing agaln—and this time into a bitter- nees which she did not attempt to conceal: “ you have no curiosity of any kind, Mr. Loftus—your heart is ice—ice to the very core! I declare that it is almost an insult to a yong and beautiful wo- man, as I am, that you have not spoken to nie g single word such as young gentlemen do speak to young ladies! There—you koow what I mean— bat 1 cannot explain myself any better. At all -events, I feel slighted—neglected! Why don’t you answer me, sir?” she exclaimed, with a petulance almost amounting to rage as she stamped her foot epon the floor. “ Heavens! what a little demoness,” thought Jo- oelyn within himself: but in « cold and apparently unmoved manner, he said, “ Miss Linden, you thanked me jast now for the brotherly kindness which, as you were pleased to observe, I manifested towards you when you felt unwell: and therefore = eee Oe eee o ee eo =— cae woe o pai... THE MYSTERIES OF THE OUOURT. you will perceive the inconsistency of at preseng accusing me of deiiberately slighting you.” “ Answer me one question, sir,” exclaimed Laura hastily and impetuously: “do you wish to escape hence ?” “ Most assuredly,” replied Loftua “ But where- fore a question, so singular under the circum- stances ft “ Because you cannot escape without m y assist- ance,” returned Laura: “and that assistance you are not so certain of having as you were just now.” “Good heavens!” exclaimed Loftus, bewildered and chagrined: “is it possible that I have really offended you ?” “I have.already told you,” said Laura, in a voice that again became low, deep, and tremulous,—but whether with real or affected emotion Jocel yon knew not—“I have already told you that men of the highest rank and most brilliant position have be- sieged me with their overtures—some upon honour- able terms, others upon dishonourable—aed while I have spurned the latter, I have steadily refused the former. But wherefore? Because in my own heart, I had already conjured up the ideal image of such a being as alone could win my love! To that idealism have I clung: it has been to mea dream and a worship—until at last I have felt that my very happiness depended upon its realization. I have pondered and pendered upon that image until I have led myself as it were to become desperately ensinoured of it—end I have vowed that never never, would I bestow my affections upon any one who did net realize in his person and his mind al! that waa beautiful, attractive, and endearing in that creation of my fancy. Conosive, then, my astonish- ment and my delight, when on passing ere now into this chamber, I beheld in you the personification of that delicious idealism! “Miss Linden, not another word—not another eyliabie in this strain, I conjure—I command you!” cried Loftus, in a tone but too plainly indicative of outraged feeling. “This acene reminds me of temptations, arts, and wiles to which I was exposed ere my captivity: and did I not believe that the three ladies to whom I now allude are far, far away from Paris, I should actually fancy that you were one of them,” he added vehemently. “ Therefore, Miss Linden, for heaven's sake, let us have no more of a scene which in truth is as derogatory to you as ft is painful and revolting to me !” “Mr. Loftus,” interrupted Laura, suddenly as- suming a tone of decision,—“I see that it is now necessary we should thoroughly understand each other: for you are more flinty-hearte:! than I had at first imagined.” “Yes — let us understand each other,” said Loftus,—“since it would seem that we had mis- taken each other's character,—I, in believing that you were a young lady of discretion as well es magnanimity—and you in supposing that I am unmindful of my duty alike to you and to my- self.” ° “Oh! that we had a light! exclaimed Laura Linden, sarcastically,—“so that I might see your contenance flushing with the virtuous indignation that is doubtless now reddening it.” “But for the explanations?” said Loftus, im- ously. @ “They will soon be given, so far as I am com cerned,” answered Laura, “Anxious and longing } _ que? 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