The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 55: what you’re looking at

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the interva! be short, yet it has proved quite long enough to make bim acquainted with all your good qualities, and convince him that he cannot be happy without you I have written him an answer by this same post, to the effect that I feel honoured by the compliment he has paid me in thus frankly and candidly explaining his social posi- tion and desiring my sanction to his suit ; and I have added that so far as lam concerned, it would afford me the ut- most happiness to behold my sister the wift of such a man. The matter, therefore, now rests with you, my Louisa— for 1 have do doubt that Jocelyn will immediately open his mind te you. ‘With regard to myself, [em happy and comfortable: but Mr. and Mru. Beckford will net part with me. Indeed, at present, I see no chance of their allowing me to return home. They talk of adopting me and leaving mé all their fortune—anéd as you, my dear Louisa, will scon be com- turtably settled and handsomely provided for, I must of cou reo look after myself Jocelyn tells me in his letter that <hould be be fortunate enongh to see his fondest hopes realiged by beeoming your husband, he will take you and aunt to a beaatiful house which he possesses in a northern country and where you shall still be enabled to continne your kind attentions towards our afflicted relative. In fact, his forethought is in every way most generous—most honcurable—most affectionate. ancerest congratulations of your loving sister, The reader has arrea@y been informed that the Canterbury postman was in the habit of passing the cottage at about ten o’clock;—and it was therefore at that hour, in the morning of the lith of September, that Louisa Stanley received her sister's long and interesting communication. And traly it revealed to her—or at all events gave her the fall explanation of the feeling which she cherished tn her heart relative to Jocelyn Loftas! Yes—she now knew that she loved him—the key to the solution of the mystery of her own sensa- tions had been afforded ber—and it was as if a light had suddenly biased up in her soul, illuminat.- ing that innermost sanctuary into whose depths her mental vision had been unable to penctrate before ! But we said that it was ten o'clock when she received her sister's letter—and in about a couple of hours Jocelyn would call. Unless indeed he should come even earlier than usual: and she fancied— yes, and secretly hoped—that he might. Then, as she felt herself thus hoping, she caught herself blushing ikewise at the same time;—aend from that instant she perceived that the sweetness of this nascent love of her’é was mingling with every thought—pene- trating every emotion—lending its inspiration as it were to every fealing—imparting radiance to every amile and tenderness to every sigh ! Oh! the exquisite bliss—the purity—the chastity of a young virgin’s lovel Calling forth all the music of her soul—teaching her that prefound and ineffable idolatry in which the youthfal heart only can be a worshipper—leading her to live amidst bright reslities and far brighter dreams—conjuring up those exquisite imaginings that tinge with sach roseate hues the pathway of the future—idealizing the most refined image of the heavenly passion— seeming boundtess, illimitable, infinite as a rich incense that fills the earth to the very vaults of heaven with its exquisite perfume—bathing all the eeness in a fount of bliss, till existence itself seems to melt away into oblivion,—each is the young maiden’s Grst love! Yes—and sf appears as if the spizit of a celestial = e@eyeiteees © © et © eee, © SPR te THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. melody poured its effluence into her soul, attuning all her feelinge—all her thoughts—all her emotions, to this passion so new to her! And within the final realms of the heart, aa the mental vision looks deeply inward, the image of the loved one is found impressed :—and the mind experiences bliss in the thought that it cherishes a deathiess sentiment. Oh! how the fancy disports and gambols, on un- wearied wing, in the paradise of its own creation f For such is Love, in the infancy of its passion: 'tis the golden-hued honey which Providence has placed upon the brims of life's bitter cup ;—and the heart feels as if it must perish were the spell that enthrals it to be no more! We said that Louisa—the young, the charming, the beanteous Louisa—both fancied and hoped that Jocelyn mighé come a little before his asual hour : and she was not disappointed. He had received Clara's letter—he had obtained the elder sister's sanction to his suit—and he felt assured that he should not have to plead in vain at the feet of the gentle Louisa. It wes not much past eleven in the forenoon when he arrived at the cottage. The maiden was in the garden—and she sped to open the wicket. But how her hand trembied and how sweetly con- fused did she look as she thus gave admittance to her admirer, whose handsome countenance was radiant with hope, and love, and triumph. For he saw by Louisa’s manner that Clara had communi- cated with her upon the one absorbing topic: and as this was his first love also, he experienced a joy ineffable, as the blush upon her damask cheek al- ready gave the answer to his suit! We shall not detail the conversation which now took place between them as they insensibly sought the shadiest part of the garden. Suffice it to say that Jocelyn Loftus toid his tale of love with all the eloquence which usually marks such tale, even though when told for the first time: and, animated with a blushing joy, did the young virgin listen in a confusion sweeter and more charming than any she had yet displayed. Then, on being pressed to give utterance to the response that was to confirm all the fond expectations and ratify the hopes of her lover, with downcast looks did she murmur the monosyllable which falls in such a case with so delicious a music upon the ear and sinks down with so exquisite a thrill of pleasure into the heart. Yeat The word was —nor did she wish it recalled. And now for the first time did Joce- lyn venture to glide his arm around that sylph-like form and press those lips that were until that mo- ment virgin of the kiss of man. Blushing and trembling, the maiden received the caress that ratified the vows plédged to her by the devoted amd adoring Jocelyn: and then how proud—oh! how proud did he feel in the consciousness that he owned the love and possessed the heart whose pure feelings now shone in sweet irradiation upon that angelic countenance ! For some hours did they rove together in the hours gliding away as if they were only minutes: and then they bat with smiles, because they knew that they should soon meet again. And on the morrow they thus met— and for the two or three days following in the same manner: and on the fourth day Jocelyn no longer refused to rewain and partake of the frugal repast GDoo <S co