The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 195: what you’re looking at

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

£84 being overheard at other or wintows or by by the neigh- bours; but so clear was his voice in its masculine THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “ Lord Harold Staunton” And then there was a pause, during winch the melody, and so earnest were his accents in their ' young nobleman looked strangely upon the youth- p that not a syllable was lost to Lady Florina’s ears, although the balcony in which she stood was s considerable height from the ground. Then too, as she gased down upon that young maz | hi whose personal beauty was of so fascinating « cha- racter, and whese form was so perfect in its statue- like symmetry—the music of his voice, too, flowing with such tender earnestness upon the evening sephyr, as if the melody of the human soul mingled with the perfumes which the flowers sent forth,— Lady Florina felt all her stern resolves thawing away, and the hostile feelings which had frozen in ice round her heart melting beneath the influence of reviving tenderness. Still she answered not im- mediately, but with a softening and mournful look gazed down upon him whom she had loved so ten- derly and so well, and whom she would give the world to be able to love again ! “ Ah! I see that you have believed the tale which has reached your ears,” resumed Deveril as he anxiously watched her looks and thought that he understood all that was passing in her mind: “ but now that you see me you can believe it no longer! Lady Fiorina, will you descend fur a few minutes me!” echoed Florina, with an access of scornful feeling, a sudden and total change taking place within her all in e moment, effected by avowal of love to that young man who dwelt pri- vately with an opera-dancer. ‘‘ Compromised!” she repeated bitterly; “Oh, you have alréady com- ised me too much with myself!—end I know not how it is that I have eo far forgotten all the proper pride of my position and my sex, to lin- ger here even for the few moments that I have suffered you to address me.” Another instant, and Fiorina had disappeared from the baloony! She flitted away like an ap- parition—thus abruptly retreating into her apart- ment; and it seemed as if by magic that she had gone so suddenly. The casement was immediately closed; and Deveril, almost staggered by the blow, felt as if hope had suddenly perished within him. “Good heavens!” he murmured bitterly, “ has Lady Saxondale so successfully spread the venom of her calumny ?” He lingered for a few momenta, gazing up at that baloony where the bright and beautiful object of his adoration had just before stood, and whence she had vanished as swiftly as hope also had van- ished from his own heart. All in an instant he felt that be should be wrong to remain any longer there; and with a deep sigh he turned away. But as he issued forth from the garden-gate, he came in somewhat violent contact with an individual who was about to enter. They both retreated a step or two, and their lips gave ejaculatory utterance te each other’s names. “Ah! William Deveril !” ful artist—while the latter had some difficulty in recovering from the cunfusion into which this most aagrocable and unexpected encounter had thrown “May I inquire, sir,” at length said Lord Harold sternly, “ what you are doing here f”” “I came,” at once responded William Deveril, “to give certain explanations which I have sought to give by all legitimate means———” “T understand from my aunt, Lady interrupted Lord Harold Staunton, “ that she has forbidden you the house, and that you have been persecuting her with calls and letters. I therefure that you have now been endeavouring tu force your way into my aunt’s presence—or that you penetrated hither for that purpose, but think- better of it, were beating a precipitate retreat——<-” ‘Your lordship must put what construction you will upon my conduct,” returned Deveril, mildly but but fem and he was determined to say nothing that should compromise Florina. “ What! you dare treat the matter thus coolly P* exclaimed Lurd Harold. “Know you not, sir, that a nephew is bound to protect his aunt against such intrusion, or attempted intrusion as this P” “ T an well aware that my conduct must seem euspicious,” replied Deveril, still calm and unexcited —and he was inwardly rejoiced to perceive that Lord Harold Staunton entertained not the slightest suspicion that it was to seek an interview with his sister and not with his aunt, that he (Deveril) had come thither. “Suspicious indeed !* exclaimed the young noble, y man, working himself up into a rage. “It is more than suspicious, sir—it is downnght impudent—in short, it is conduct which deserves personal vhastise- ment. Pity it is that no lacquey was st hand to kick you out of the premises into which you have dared intrude.” “ My lord,” said Deveril, his cheeks now reclen- ing, “it would grieve me sorely to aggravate the impropriety of my conduct by saying anything harsh to you: but I must beg to remind your lord- chip that you are wang Moguage which I cannot listen to without indignation. I am well aware that I have been indiscreet in entering Lady Mac- donald’s premises in a surreptitious manner: but I have not done so without some excuse. Vilely ca- lumniated, I was refused admittance at her lady- ship’s front-door—my letters were returned un- opened—and not choosing to incur her ludyship’s evil opinion without giving explanations on my own part to vindicate my character, I certdinly sought admittance into her dwelling.” “You have been expelled her front door, and your letters have been returned ed?” ex- claimed Harold Staunton, repeating Deveril’s words in a taunting manner. “Surely those indications were sufficient to convince you that your presence could be dispensed with; and any attempt te in- trude again becomes an act of the grossest rudeness and most flagrant indecency. We will not however discuss the question farther. You must give me satisfaction, sir, for your im ‘My lord,” replied Deveril, now assuming a haughty dignity, which, as he was no aristoorat, ores (CO OOOIlK (CO