The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 52: what you’re looking at

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

FIR MYBTHKIES OF THE COURT. gg “I do not, sir,” answered®Louisa: “ but I pre- | diynation: then, fixing his eyes upon Bernard game that you are a clergyman.” Audley with a deeper significancy than those luoks “You have doubtless heard of the Honourable | had even expres-ed at first he said in a low and and Reverend Bernard: Audley, one of the Minor | rapid whisper, “Remember the scene ju the clois- Canons of Canterbury Cathedral?’ said the cler. | ter—and beone ” gyman, giving utterance to his name and distinc-| A cloud, black as night, suddenly overspread the tions with the mea ured tone and deliberate manner | features of the Minor Canon of Canterbury Cathe- of one who felt conscious, or at least expected, that | dral: and darting a look of diabulical hatred upun they would make a due impression upon the mind | the young gentleman, he turned abrup:Jy away of the hearer. and disappeared behiud a group of treea forming “I have heard of you, sir,” replied Louisa, ex- | the angle of a gravel wulk that diverged trom the periencing that sensation of revereutial awe which _gieat central avenue. seizes upon the timid mind when saddenly made | aware of the presence of some great os dis- — tingraished personsge. | “And now, then, wil! you belicve that I am CHAPTER X. animated by the best and kindest. motives in prof- JOCELYN. fering you my cuuusel?” asked Mr. Audley, in his blandest tunes. Tne little cident which so promptly ag ' “I could not suppose that it was otherwise,” | rassed Louisa Stanley of the presence of Mr. enid the young maiden. “Bat you spoke of| nard Audley and left her in the company of dangers——" Loftus, searcely occapied a minute. But the “Tell me who ‘you are,” interrupted the Minor | wiole proceeding, brief as it was, naturally excited Canon. “Do you dwell in this neighbourhood— | the atinost wonderment on the part of the young with your pareits——” maiden. She did not however catch thowe las¢ “Alas! sir, I have no parents living,” returned | word. that had produced such sudden and talis- Looisa, in a tremulous tone: “ but I live at a short | manic effect upon the Canon by so forcibly re- distance hence—with an afHlicted relative, who has | minding him of some scene in the Cathedral lost the faculties of reason and speech: and an | cloister: but she saw enough to convince her at only sister, whom I dearly love, is now on a visit | the instant that Mr. Loftus exercised a potent to sume frieuds in London——* sway over the reverend gentleman. “And you are therefore alone with this afflicted Trembling aod almost sinking with the prolonged relative?” said Bernard Audley, as his eyes swept | excitement caused by the whole tenour of the with a sort of ravenous expression of desire over | Canon’s conduct towards her, and which had just the. beauteous form of the inriocent maiden. experienced so singular a termination, Louisa was “ Aloné—with my poor aunt,” murmuréd Loulka, | pale as death and looked as if she were abou: to with downceast looks and trembling voice: for the : faint. The young gentleman hastened to assist tary which the discourse had just taken, reminded | her to the bench where he himself had just before her of her lonely condition and revived her regrets | been seated: and remaining standing in her pre- at the absence of her sister. sénce, he besought her to calm her agitation. _ “Now tell me your name, young lady—and| There was something so touchingly kind—so where you live,” continued Mr. Audley: “and J| deeply sympathetio—ev tenderly reassuring in his will prove a friend to you.” voice and mauner, tht Louisa felt as if she were As he thas spoke, his eyes swept rapidly up and | being addressed by some tried, well known, and down the umbrageous avenue —and, observing no | valued friend: and raising her blue eyes, she one near, he took the maiden’s hand. But, with | looked up with all the eloquence of silent gratitude the instinctive impulse of virgin purity, she in-| beaming in her countenance. For she felt that utantaneously withdrew it—and at the same mo- | Mn. Loftus had done her some signal service by ment a young gentleman sprang up from a bench | ridding her of the presence of the Cauon—although which was deeply set as it were in the shade of| her ideas upon the subject were still confused, eome thick evergreens. vague, and undefined. His appearance was so sudden ahd was made with} The young gentleman was about two or three such startling abruptness, that a faint cry of min- | and twenty years of age, and remarkably hand. sled surprise and alarm fell from the lips of Louisa | some. His ‘complexion was 3 clear rich brown, Stanley—while the Canon gave vent to an ejacu- | with the glow of health npon the cheeks. His jet lation expressive not only of annoyance, but also | black hair, fine and glossy as that of a woman, was wf recognition with regard to the new-comer. worn long and curled naturally; and his large “Mr. Audley,” exclaimed the young gentleman, | dark eyes beamed with intelligence, while his lofty fixing bis eyes indignantly upon the Canon, and | forehead appeared the seat of the noblest thoughts. speaking in a voice that seemed to imply some | His profile was completely rectilinear and in the conscious power of command over the individual | purest style of Grecian manly beauty—the nose thus imperiously addre:sed.—* Mr. Addley, this | being perfectly straight, and the upper lip short lady cannot possibly be benefitted by your friend- | and curved, like those of the ancient statues of ship. You understand me, sir !” Apollo. In the expression of his countenance “But, my dear Mr. Loftus, you mistake me— | fraukness and candour were blended with intel- { can assure you that you aré doing me an injus- | lectuality and the light of genius: iudeed, nothing tice!” said the Minor Canon, in a tone that was | could be more prepossessing than the appearance alike ertreating and deprecatory. | uf Jocelyn Loftus. “Enough, sir! I understand yon bat too well,”| He was not particularly tall; but his slender tetarned the young gentleman, with haughty in- ' figure, upright as a dart, was modelled to the MOm i ee ED COMM GORMGOOOKXS