The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 194: what you’re looking at

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

ane THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. plain and vindicate his conduct in respect to Lady Saxondale. But Lady Macdonald returned him his ' letter in a blank envelope. He wrote to her again ; and the second letter was returned unanswered. He called at the house once more, but was sternly denied an interview with her ladyship. Subse- quently he waited about in the neighbourhood, on various occasions, in the hope of sceing Florina: but in this expectation he was disappointed. Not for an instant suspecting that it was she whose voice he had heard under such mysterious circum- stances, that evening when she visited his villa- residence and when she had fled so precipitately, he of course knew not that she herself had any reason more than her aunt for ill of him; and in his own heart he hoped and believed that Fiorina had sot put faith in Lady Saxondale’s story. Thus Deveril buoyed himself up with the idea that Flo- rina herself had not turned against him, but at all events that if her suspicion or her jealousy had been excited, a word of explanation from his lips would clear up everything. He was therefore most anx- ious to find an opportunity of seeing her: but the whole week passed away without furnishing him such an ococasion. On her part Florina learnt from her aunt that he had called a second time and had also sent letters, but that his visit had been refused and his commu- nications returned to him. It was only jn a casual manner and in the course of conversation that Lady Macdonald mentioned these circumstances to her niece; for, as before stated, sho entertained not the slightest suspicion that the young lady experi- enced any degree of interest in William Deveril. But what did Florina think of the young man’s pertinacity in seeking to communicate with her aont ? She could only set it down to a brazen effrontery ; and her unfavourable opinion of him was thus materially enhanced. “ He knows not,” she said to herself, “ that it was I who was indiscrvet and imprudent enough to re- pair to his country-residence, and even penetrate up to the very threshold of his door, on that night when the fatal truth of his proiliyacy wa; made known to me. No—he could not suppose for an instant that I should have taken such a step—that I should have compromised myself in such a manner! He therefore fancies that the mode in which he is living is utterly unknown to me, and that therefore it is but Lady Saxondale’s story which he has to explain away. This he seeks to do through the medium of my aunt, in the hope that if he succeeded therein he would stand on the same footing as heretofore in respect to myself. Alas, alas! the «lceper the insizht I obtain into William Deveril’s character, the greater dues his duplicity appear. Ah! and I who would have trusted my happiness to such a man—Oh! what a wreck should I have made of it. Better, better far to become the wife of Edmund Saxondale, who simulates no vir- tues, and therefore in his vices is at least free from hypocrisy, than bestow my hand on William De- veril, who is all deceit, all falsehood. I must banish his inage from my ——would that I had not loved him as I have! But after all, the lesson is perhaps intended by heaven to render me obedient to the wishes of my relatives, and entrust my happi- ness to their guidance. Surely, surely, my aunt, who has been so kind and good to mz, can have but 183 one motive in wishing me to Saxondale?—and that motive is for the best. I will accept my destiny—and henceforth will be ruled by her who has supplied to me a mother’s place.” Such was the train of reflections into which Lady Florina Staunton fell one evening, at the expiration of the week which had elapsed since the discoveries male concerning Deveril. She was seated in an apartinent which looked upon the garden at the back of the house. The window was open—the bright groen foliage of the trees outside waved around the iron railings of the balcony—and the perfume of the flowers was wafted into the room. There was a gentle breeze fraught with a refreshing influence after the sickly warmth of a sultry day ; and Florina stepped forth upon the baleony to woo the cooli zephyr to her throbbing brows and flushed counte- nance. For her cheeks had a hectic red, and seemed, to burn with the fever-heat which was upon her and which had arisen from the troubled state of her mind. It has already been stated in a previous chap- ter that there was a means of egress from the premises at the back part of the house. This con- | sisted of a side-gate opening from the garden into & carriage-way that ran between Lady Macdonald's mansion and the adjoining one, the stables belong- ing to both being at the bottom. As Fiorina stepped forth on the balcony, from the height where she stood she could see over the enclosure-wall into the alley just spoken of, and it was with feclings which suddenly became strangely agitated and con- flicting that she beheld the object of her thoughtse— William Deveril ! Yes—there he was, standing in the lane, evidently watching for her appearance; and the ejaculation of joy which burst from his lips the moment she stepped forth upon the balcony, reached her ears in the stillness of evening. Her first impulse was to retreat: but a still more powerful feeling held her rivetted where she stood. What followod was the work of an instant. Deveril flew to the gate—tore it open—and rushed into the garden. There was something which struck Florina as ev audacious, so full of a matchless effrontery in this proceeding, that all her patrician dignity came to her aid in a mo- ment. Drawing herself up to her full height, she waved her hand, saying, “ Depart, sir—dare not to intrude yourself within the privacy of this garden !°’ Deveril stoppéd suddenly short beneath the bal- cony, and gased up with a look so full of astomsh- ment and mournful reproach—eo full of mingled tenderness and deprecating sorrow—that Fiorina felt a gush of ineffable emotions welling up from her heart, making her bosom throb, and producing a suffocating sensation in the throat,—eo that her whole appearance grew suddenly changed and she seemed melting, yielding, forgiving! “ Lady Florina,” said William Devenl, “I be- seech you to grant me a few minutes’ interview. It shall be to say that everything is at an end be- tween us, if you will—but let me not be discarded for ever from your beart in consequence of a vile calumny. After ing which has taken place between us, I have a right to expect the opportunity of giving an explanation—and you oan scarcely bo so cruel or unjust as to refuse me one.” The young man spoke in a subdued but earnest voice. He spoke thus in a low tone for fear of espouse Edmund ElOOO (CO