The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 234: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. “ Julians,” said Lady Saxondale, speedily recover- ing her presence of mind—or rather, we should aay, an unnatural degree of composure,—“ tell me, I conjure you—tell me, unhappy girl—am I to sup- pose the worst—the very worst ?” “You are to suppose, mother, exactly as much as you happen to know,” was the coldly insolent reply given by her daughter. ‘I presume you have been watching my chamber; and therefore it is use- less to deny anything, even did I consider it worth while to condescend to a denial.” “Qh! this is enough to drive me mad!” exclaimed Lady Saxondale, again losing all power of self- command and wringing her hands in mingled rage and anguish. “Good heavens! an intrigue with a menial——" “And why notI with a menial, as you con- y denominate him, as well as yourself with an artist ?’—and as Juliana thus spoke, she bent a look of the haughtiest deflance upon her smother * Ah! I understand,” muttered Lady Saxondale, with white and quivering lips. “I have been be- trayed :*"—and she alluded to Edmund, thinking so positively enjoined him to keep secret. “ For your sati and peace of mind in one respect,” said Juliana, “I can faithfully promise that no one has betrayed you; but I and Constance happened to overhear every word which took place the other day between yourself and Mr. Gunthorpe. And therefore I repeat, if a lady of quality can con- jend in dishonour and disgrace. 223 passion for her unhappy perent,—“my child, what has been done cannot be undone: but in the name of God! persevere not in a course which must O hoavens! I tremble to think of the uences !” “ Now, mother, listen,” said Juliana. “I really do not seek to wound your feelings unnocessarily : I would not have uttered a word respecting you end William Deveril, had it not been in solf-defence— that is to say, to ward off the explosion of your anger against myself. This course, you must under- stand, was natural enough. To be frank, I love this youth, all menial though he be, with a pas- sionate devotion. I knew that I could not marry him-even as you felt that you could not marry the young artist; and I did es you would have done-——~” “Enough! we must say no more upon the sub- ject,” interrupted Lady Saxondale, again recovering her cold and unnatural state of composure. “ It is too shocking! But henceforth, Julians, how can we look each other in the face P”’ “ We must dissemble, my dear mother,” re- in the art thereof, woman of the world as you are: and for my part, I am old enough to manage for myself. Letus go on very quietly, my dear mother, —you pursuing your own course and acting accord- ing to your own inclinations, but leaving me free to descend to offer herself as the paramour of an artist, | do the same. Those are the terms upon which we whose humble calling she affects to despise, there : ean be no harm in hor daughter taking a leaf out of the same book.” “Juliana,” exclaimed Lady Saxondale, stamping her foot upon the floor, “that I am as pure and 1mmaculate in respect to that young man to whom you have alluded——” “Yes, my dear mother; but it is not your own must henceforth live together.” Lady Saxondale was about to ssy more—perhaps to entreat her daughter to renounce her intrigue with the page and consent to his prompt removal | from the house; but if so, a second thought must have told her that Juliana possessed a spirit im- patient of dictation, and that at all events at the present moment she was in a mood to assert her in- merit that you are so,” responded Juliana, with a | dependence with the boldest effrontery. Her lady- contemptuous sneer. “ You must not tako to your- self the credit of a virtue which you do not possess: for if you did not throw yourself into William Deveril’s arms, it was for the simple reason that they were not open to receive you.” ship accordingly held her peace; and turning ab- ruptly round, quitted the room. There is no power of to describe the state of mind in which the unhappy mother found herself now. And well might she beso! All hee Lady Saxondale sank down upon a chair like one | children seemed not only inclined to rebel against annihilated. She felt all that was disgraceful, de- | against her, but to use such rebellion as the means moralizsing, and unnatural in this scene on the part of securing impunity for their own vieious courses. of a mother and her daughter. Hor veins appeared , Edmund had reduced her to submission and to his to run with molten lead—her brain was on fire. It own terms, that he might continue in a career of was a subduod frenzy that she expcrienced—a frenzy ' profligacy and extravagance :-——Juliana, beyond all all the torture of which was concentrated within | doubt fallen from the pedestal of virtuo, had like- and testified itself in no other external wildness | wise used coercion to prevent interference with her than the workings of her countenance. She | licentious amour :—and what bove had the mise- screanied not—she shrieked not—she did not dash | rable mother that Constance would prove more herself on the floor nor against the wall; but yet ; dutiful or more virtuous? Perhaps even she was for a few minutes she felt as if she were a prey toa already fallenf—for Lady Saxondale was not en- raging madness, tirely without her suspicions that her Juliana the while continued to dress her hair; | daughter still sustained a correspondence with the but she also felt that it would be an infinite relief Marquis of Villebelle. Lady Saxondale dared think when this scene was over, no matter how it should ny more upon the subject: she endeavoured to end. escape from thought as one would fling off the coils “ Juhana—my child,” said Lady Saxondale, at | of a hideous reptile, or flee from the spectres haunt- length slowly rising from her seat, and approaching ing one in a vision:—but the task was diffloult her daughter with a look so dismal, so dreary, so | indeed ! woe-begone that Juliana, who was not devoid of} After having passed & quarter of an hour in hee some generous feelings, was suddenly smitten with , own chamber to compose her feelings as well as she | OO ee RNR ae aS, 9 COMNMIC Sa CO