The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 265: what you’re looking at

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

254 THB MALSTRKLES OF THE COURT. in her behalf. But in what Juliane’s hope con-| “To be sure. I shan’t forget to do oo. But sisted—how she was working—or to what issue the | ebout the allowance ?” whole affair was by her interventiun tc be brought,; “Every arrangement I made with you will be the young lady could not possibly conjecture. duly carried out by the solicitors.” It was about nine o’clock in the evening—aefter | “All right,” exclaimed Lord Saxondale. “ And eoffes had been partaken of in the drawing-room sal ha I wish you all a pleasant journey.” -—that Juliana retired to her chamber to hold an-| Thus speaking, he waved his hand in a half- other consultation with herself what course she was | patronizing half-familiar fashion, and without offer- to pursue. She had not as yet succeeded in ascer- | ing to embrace either his mother or his sisters, taining at what hour the travelling-carriage was | lounged out of the room, to the great relief of Lady ordered for the morrow. Her mother had said pezondale, who was heartily glad to get rid of nothing upon the subject—and she was too proud | him. to ask the question: but without obtaining this “Did I understand my brother correctly P” asked particular information, she did not seo how it was | Juliana, after a pause, and addressing herself to her possible to render the woman whom she meant to | mother with frigid voice and look, “that it is your news, Miss,” the abigail.; ‘The first. I do not remember that you had “Her ladyship has this moment issued orders for | condescended to give me any information upon the the carriage to be ready at nine o'clock to-morrow | subject; and as for poor Constance, she seems to be morning.” ) overwhelmed by some melancholy which I caanot “This is just the information I required,” ex- | understand, but which at all events has the effect of claimed Juliana joyously. “Now, Mary-Anne, you | placing a seal upon her lips.” must proceed at once to the Marquis of Villebelle,| “It is my intention to leave London to-morrow,” and tell him to be in the immediate neighbourhood | said Lady Saxondale. with s carriage, post-chaise, or vehicle of some sort | “ Perhaps, then, you will have the goodness to in- by at least a quarter to nine in the morning. | form me at what hour you purpose to leave, Arrange with him where he will be thus waiting | tinued Juliana, as if previously altogether ignorant with the conveyance. The rest may be left to me. | on the subject, “so that I may make whatsoever pre And, Mary-Anne,” exclaimed Miss Farefield, as the | parations are necessary.” maid was about to quit the chamber, “you must; “I have not as yet decided upon the hoar,” re- procure for me by some means or another the key | turned Lady Saxondale, resolved to keep Constance of the side-gate, as I shall have to go out to- | as much in the dark as possible with respoct to her night.” arrangements, 90 that the abruptnese and the early “"You, Miss * cried Mary-Anne. hour of departure might take her by surprise, leav- “Yes: buat I cannot enter into explanations now. | ing no opportunity for escape ;—and though for « ‘You shall know everything hereafter. I have all moment she had fancied that Juliana might have my plans well settled and arranged in my mind. | heard something through the servants, she was now Of course you will accompeny my sister to-morrow, | well satisfied to the contrary. Thus the elder daugh- should she succeed in escaping from her ladyship | ter’s duplicity deceived the astute and keen-sighted and joining the Marquis of Villebelle. And now } mother. Se eEEEEO rE “If you are uncertain as to the hour of depar- ture,” said Miss Fairfield, “I had better commence "Mary-Anne sosordingly departed to execute thie my preparations to-night.” commission ; and Juliana descended once moreto{ lady Saxondale gave no answer, but affected te the drawing-room, where her mother and sister were return to the book which lay open on the table be- stall seated—-the one a vigilant sentinel, the other a | fore her. Juliana made another quick sign of intel- , Closely-guarded prisoner. Edmund,—who instead | ligence, indicative of hope, to Constance ; and bid- of his three hours’ nap, had been sleeping the whole | ding her good night—but without taking any fer- day in order to shake off the effects of the previous | ther notice of her mother—left the room. Ascending night's debauch,—now made his appearance; and | to her own chamber she whiled away half-an-hoer strolling with the half-careless half-languid air of a | in consulting a map of London, and in preparations dissipated rake into the room, with his hat and | for departure, the latter being made in case the gloves on, ready to sally forth again, he said, “ Well, journey should really take place, with or without mother, so I understand you are all going into the | Constance. At the expiration of that half-hour, eountry to-morrow P” Mary-Anne re-appeared. ° “Such is my intention,” was Lady Saxondale’s' “Everything is arranged with his lordship,” she cold reply. | said, alluding to the Marquis of Villebella “He “Well, I wish you luck. As for me, I would see | will have a carriage in waiting round the corner of the precious old castle burnt before 1 would go and the next stree ” ! bury myself in it.” | ” said Juliana. “ And now for the key of “No one asked for your company, sir,” replied the side door P’ ‘ Lady Saxondale ; “and therefore perhaps you will| “Here it is,” rep ieee Mary-Anne, “ Have you spare your comments. By the bye, I may as well any farther commands, Miss inform you that if you take that list of which you. “No: none at present. Does the Marquis coans recently spoke, to Marlow and Malten, they will in good spirits ?” attend to it. You understand me?’ | “He is full of hope, Miss, 1m consequence of the a CONIC OOOKS.EO