The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 167: what you’re looking at

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156 guor and lassituie which secmed as if anything ng like an exertion were too much for his aristocratic con- stitution on a sultry day in the middle of summer, —when catching sight of Mr. Guathorpe, he in- stantly burst into an ironical laugh, exclaiming in his cracked voice, “Ah! my worthy friend of the Bell and Crown, what on earth has brought you from the vulgar regions of the City P You must feel terribly out of place in our fashionable at- ere.” Nothing could equal the look of mingled scorn and contempt which Mr. Gunthorpe bent upon Edmund SBaxondale, as the latter delivered himself of those flippant impertinences. The old gentleman wae at that instant neither comical nor common- looking: there was something exceedingly noble and dignified in his appearance, as if he felt in the ocpthe of his own heart that instead of standmg before a superior, it vas he himself who was gazing down from a higher pedestal than the concerted young coxcomb could ever dream of occupying, no matter what advantages he might possess in respect to birth, rank, riches, and honours. Lady Saxon- date herself, who possessed the nicest appreciation of everything that savoured of real dignity, was astonished at the superior look which Mr. Gunthorpe wore at that instant; and even Edmund was over- awed by the old gentleman’s appearance. His mind was not 20 completely perverted but he felt he deserved the overwhelming rebuke conveyed in Mr. Gunthorpe’s indignant glances ; and the rebuke too was more cutting and more searching a thousand times when thus conveyed than if it had been given ft) words. But still Edmund was not at all the young man to submit with a good grace to the oas- tigation; and i Pompey recovering his habiteal im- pertinence rd self-safficiency, he gave another affected langh, exclaiming, * Well done, old fellow! you look Sust as you did that day when you blew up the cabman in Jermyn Street. ~~ remember what T mean?” “Madam,” said Mr. Gunthorpe, turning Ins eyes Sowards Lady Saxondale and bending a eignificant Jobk pon ber, “T really pity you in the possession of such a von as this.” “You meolent old scoundrel!” ejeculated Ed- mund, becoming all im a moment livid with rage : and clenching his fist, he was about to rush toward the old gentieman, when the latter held up his gold- headed cane with a resolutences that made the coward youth fall back. ae en re ay & finger on me, my lord,” waid Mr. Gunthorpe, calmly, “I would inftiet that chastisement which yeu so richly deserve.” Thus speaking, he walked forth trom the apart- ment, while Lady Saxondale pulled the beil vio- ently. Acouple of footmen instantaneously rashed 40 the room ; and Ledy Saxondale exclaimed, “ Let that person be at once shown out of the house, and never admitted again !” “‘Yee—and let him be kicked out!” screamed forth the infuriate Edmund, as he rashed out upon the landing, and looking over the staircase gave this vert to his impotent rage against Mr. Gunthorpe. Bat the old gentioman descended the stairs as @olly and impertarbably as if he were merely retir- ing after having paid an erdinary visit of. courtesy, —while the ferule of his eane tapped apon every one of the marbie eteps as he continued his way. joining apartment overheard THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “ What did that old fool want hore?” demanded Lord Saxondale, as he sped back into the drawing- room, now intent upon venting his ill-humour upos his mother by seeking a quarrel with her. “ Rather let me ask,” returned her ladyship, who was in presisely a similar mood towards her son, “how you dare insult a visitor whom you find with me, and thus lead to a scene which is calculated te scandalise the entire household ?”’ “TI meuit him indeed!” ejaculated Edmund, now flinging himeelf lazily upon the éofa, as xf exhausted by the effort of even putting himself into a rage. “Why, I think you took it up pretty warmly too, by ringing the bell in that frantic manner and giv- ing sack orders to the servants. But I say, mother, what is this story that I hear running like wildfire all over London? Yeung William Deveril has been making love to you? Now you see what it is to have anything to do with such low fellows as these. I always disliked him, and was a deuced great mind to kick him out of the house.” But Lady Saxondale only threw a glance of sove- reign contempt upon her son, as if she knew him to be a coward in his heazt notwithstanding the ridicu- was | lous boast he had just made; and feeling the neces- sity of seeking the retirement of her own chamber in order to compose her agitated feelings and ponder well upon the particulars of her interview with Mr. she quitted the room. Meanwhile Juliana and Constance had in the ad- which had taken places. From the very first Juliana had never believed her mother’s story respecting Deverill; and the result of Mr. Gunthorpe’s visit was to confirm ber opinion of its complete and utter falaty. To the same condiusion was Constence necessitated to ar- rive, though more slowly, with far lees readinces to discredit her mother, and with feelings of regret to which Juliana was an entire stranger. Well indeed had Mr. on the demoralizing effect of such an example ect by a mother to her of this example was already felt—tittle did he ima- gine that even as he spoke his propetic words were receiving their falflment! And what was the pic- ture presented to the contemplation of these young ladies? That their mother, having cast her affec- tions upon an object whom the conventionahsms of society did not permit her to marry, even if he him- self were inclined to espouse her, had offered to take him as 6 throw herself into his arms as his mistress! For that Mr. Gunthorpe had only too fasthfully recited what had really passed between felt assured; and wew theretore they hal been brought to regard their own perent as a mere demi- rep m heart, wearing virtue as a mask, and concesi- ing a real depravity beneath that exterior of severo ments of Juliana and Constance, was now renderod all the more ly in the case of the former, whose hot blood literally boiled in her veins. All the iatent heat of her 1 ion was in & mo- ment fanned into a blaze—a veil appeared to have fallen from her eyese—end she rushed to the eonclu- gon that no women were really virtuous, but that all would seek the opportunity of gratifying their passions, trusting to conceal their frailty and thei COMM ElOOO (CO 4 ‘