The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 351: what you’re looking at

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&38 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. stood gazing down upon that countenance so soft to the care of some kind-hearted lady; and being acquainted with Lady Ernestina Dysart, I thought it best to send the poor creature to her. Secondly, the Marquis of Leveson was unaware that you were the medical attendant———” “ Enough, enough!” ejaculated Doetor Cap- peras: ‘I am perfectly satisfied with what you have said, my dear Sir Douglas. But perhaps you will permit me to observe that in these cases of rapid sinking and speedy dissolution arising from fright, there are s0 Many curious phases and phe- nomena that they never ought to be lost sight of by the medical man in attendance at the time. Now I feel perfectly convinced that if that very remarkable authority Dr. Thurston had been called in on this occasion, he would have given to the world a most valuable treatise upon the éudject.” Bir Douglas Huntingdon was in no humodnr to «nverse with so tedious a personage as Doctor Vopperas: he accordingly fell into a deep abstrac- tion—and the physician, baving dilated for about twenty minutes upon the merits of Doctor Thurs- ton as a medical practitioner, and the learning of Doctor Thurston as a medical authority, took his leave. A couple of days passed; and the Baronet’s con- fidential domestio James returned from Dover. He had succeeded in finding Theodore Varian, and had delivered to him the messages and the purse of money sent by the Baronet, whose advice it ap- peared the young man had promptly followed by repairing to Calais. Indeed, James had seen hin embark on board the hoy; and thus was it clear chat he had quitted Engiand ere being overtaken by the messenger who bore his pardon. The next day Sir Douglas Huntingdon proceeded to Leveson House to inquire how the preparations proceeded for Ariadne’s funeral. The Marquis was not at home at the time; and Lady Ernestina Dysart, who detested the Baronet ever since his interference in the affair of Louisa Stanley, affected to be retained in her own reom by indisposition. The housekeeper accordingly took upon herself to answer the Baro- net’s queries; and she assured him that the most satisfactory preparations were being made. Sir Douglas Huntingdon desired the woman to conduct him to the chamber where Ariadne lay; for he ex- psrienced an irresistible longing to behold once more in death that sweet countenance which had made so deep an impression upon him in life. The housekeeper accordingly proceeded to what was believed to be the chamber of death; and the mo- ment the Baronet crossed the threshold a feeling of indescribable awe mingled with the profound mournfulnesas which already filled his heart. But when he beheld that wax-like countenance on which there was nothing of the ghastliness or loathsomenesa of death,—when he beheld it fresh and damask-like as it was in life,—the only ap- pearance of death being the utter absence of all vital tint,—he could not help exclaiming, ‘‘ Good xeavens! surely she does but sleep.” The housekeeper shook her head with an as- sumed melancholy, as she observed in a low tone, ‘When no positive disease or previous illness is the cause of death, the corpse frequently remains thus fresh and well preserved.” ‘‘ Death !—is this indeed death ? can it be death ?” mused the*Baronet, in a low tone to himself, as he in its very rigidity, so sweet in its immoveability, so full of ineffable expression in its utter stillness. “Tf this be death, then death is not terrible: no— ‘tis nothing but a slumber a little more profound than that into which we sink at night— only, only, to tis slumber A+re there is no awakening ! This is tM eternal night that on earth hath no dawn !” White thas musing, in a low tone, Sir Dougias Huntingdon Mad bent over the form of the young gitl who lay stfetched upon that couch; and a tear dropped froin fis eyelash upon her cheek. With his cambific handkerchief he gently wiped it away, murmurites Between his lips, ‘‘ Poor Ariadne—poor Ariadne! #f yoa had lived, the feeling which you had already inspired and which I experience now in my soul, would have expanded into the strongest and purest love-~anid you should have been my wife [” Then stooping down, be gently kissed her ala- baster forehead, and turning abruptly away, burried from the room, followed by the housekeeper. If anybody a few days previously had told Sir Dougias Huntingdon that within a week he was destized to be moved by such feelings as these— destined to experience the influence of such melt- ing, chastening, and reforming thoughts trooping through his mind—he would have ridiculed the prophecy and laughed at the propket. But no man can say how soon the sentiment of love may animate his breast, nor how quickly it may en- throne itself in the sanctuary of the heart! Tt was now the afternoon of the fourth day of Ariadne’s sapposed death; and during this period a profound stupor had entranced her thoughts at such frequent and for such long intervals that her soul, rent with a million tortares when awake, was thus refreshed and invigorated as it were by those periods when its agonies were muambed in syncope and its thoughts steeped in oblivion. But to de- scribe the reflections and the terrors which she experienced when awake, would be to recapitulate that delineation of the feelings which we have pre- viously attempted. We may however observe that occasionally did a gleam of hope penetrate through the murky clouds that girt her soul—a hope that she might yet be enabled to shake off the trammels of this tremendous spell which was upon her and give evidence of her vitality before being consigned to the coffin and buried alive ! She was awake—-and she was giving way to this hope at the moment when Sir Donglas Huntingdon paid that visit which has just been alluded to. She immediately recognised his voice as he stood speak - ing musingly by the side of the couch; and with that keenness of sense which has previously been mentioned, she could hear as plainly all that he said as if he were speaking in a much louder tone— whereas the housekeeper who stood close by, could not catch the meaning of his words. And by a sort of mesmeric influence, also, did Ariadne become aware that he was gazing down upon her. Yes; and it seemed as if through her closed eyelids she could even observe the nature of that look, so fall of a mournful tenderness: and then ineffable feel- ings sprang up in her heart—and when she heard him murmur those words avowing his love and de- ploring that she had not lived to become his wife, the poor girl felt for a moment as if she were boug sud- GOnMGOOOKS