The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 309: what you’re looking at

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———— 208 item pn a bwight—the birdth tho melodiouth—quite chawm- | polished affability, assured the applicant that she did . ing, chawming.” “T have no doubt your lordship enjoyed your ride amazingly,” observed Juliana, glancing towards the spot where Hawkshaw stood. “TY bad my cweam-coloured horth—thuth a thplen- did eweature—and he wath tho frithky, Mith Fare- Gold. I thought he would wun over the common people in the woadth and fieldth—but he didn’t. Wathn’t it conthiderate on hith part? Ah! he’th thuth a thagathiouth animal. Do you wide, Mith Farefield >” “Oh! yes—occasionally,” was the response. “Chawming! chawming! I thall come and feth you thome mawning, if you are agweeable, to have a wun over the fieldth. I wode thwough a flock of geeth yethterday—and thuth a hithing, Mith Fare- field, you never heard. I thought there wath a thouthand thnaketh in the gwarth. It wath veway delithiouth—veway amuthing.” “Tt must have been,” said Juliana. In such edifying and delightful conversation as this did the intervals in the quadrille pass; and when it was over, Juliana, having promenaded two or three times round the room with her partner, was escorted by him back to her seat. Hoe then made his bow and retired in the usual manner; and the next instant Mr. Hawkshaw was by her side. ‘Why, where have you been ?” she said, as if sho had not been watching hia countunance almost the whole time that she was meandering with the grace of a Venus and the dignity of a Diana through the dance. “I really thought you had taken your de- parture, or that you were still with the gentlemen in the dining-room.” ) These words came for a moment like a shock upon Mr. Hawkshaw: for they appeared to bespeak the most perfect indifference on the part of Juliana —an indifference, however, which he himeelf was so far from reciprocating! Juliana saw the effect of her words; and as it was no part of her intention to throw cold water upon the flame she had already excited, but mercly to avoid having the appearance THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. not mean to dance any more that evening. He ae- cordingly bowed and retired. “Give me your arm,” she said to Mr. Hawkshaw, “and let us lounge into the card-room and see what is going on there.” Her companion wae delighted; and es her hand was gently laid upcy hie arm, even that soft feather-like touch appesred it send an unknown thrill of ecstacy through his entire form. They pro- ceeded to the card-room; and after ‘oitering round the tables, retired to an inner apartment, where portfolios of prints lay open upon a table for the inspection of those who thought fit to lounge there. Juliana seated herself near a console, upon which her arm rested; and Hawkshaw remained standing by her side. “It ia quite delightful to get away from those heated rooms,” said J uliana. “The air in the ball. room was quite oppressive,—ur rather the absence of it was intolerable. You, Mr. Hawkshaw, who are always accustomed. to the open air, with plenty of manly exercise,--I am almost astonished that yos can endure the stifling atmosphere of apartments crowded with gueste ?”’ “ At all events, on the present occasion,” he an- swered, in a low and somewhat hesitating voice, “ I am overjoyed that I came hither this evening.” “Indeed!” exclaimed Juliana, affecting not to understand him. “ And what particular inducement might you have had?” “None to bring me hither— but perhaps som to roaky mt cwmain later than I should otherwix have done :”—and he now lookad at hor with a rap- tare which he could not conceal, and which she could not have mistaken, even had she been ten thousand times less experienced than she was. “You are. speaking in enigmas,” she observed ; but slightly inclining her head, she appeared to be playing with her fan. At this moment three or four ladics trom the card-roum entered the apartment where the dialogue was taking place, and where it was su rapidly ap- proaching an interestiug crisis; and Juliana in- of Jaying herself out to ensnare him, she hastened | wardly wished all imayinable evils on the heads of to speak in other terms. “ At all events, I am glad you have found me out again,” she said, in a sort of confidential manner: “for I have been terribly fatigued by the dull plati- tudes of that silly young man who did me the honour of dancing with me; and I quite mussed the lively discourse you and I had at the dinner- table.” “ZY am rejoiced that you should feel yourself able to pay me such a compliment, Miss Farefieid,” said Mr. Hawkshaw, now full of rapture again. .“ But hither comes a gentleman who, I know, means to ask you to dance :”—and he looked annoyed. “Do yow not dance?” inquired Juliana, already well aware that ho did not. “Tam sorry to say,” was the response, “that I am not sufficiently a lady’s man.” “Well, after all,” observed Juliana, “it is very insipid: and to tell you the truth I care nothing about it.” At this ‘moment the gentleman alluded to, ad- vanced and solicited the honour of her hand in the mext quadrille for which she miz'it happen tg | disengaged: but Miss Farolield, vith the most those who had thue interrupted the téte-a-téte, Outwaruly, however, she did not display her vexa- tion: the discourse became general with those whe had just entered; and for the rest uf the evening there was no farther opportunity for Miss Farefield to Gruw her admirer out. On handing her and Lady Saxondale to their carriage, Mr. Hawkshaw could not help pressing “uliaoa’s hand; arid on returning to his own abode, it struck him to be so gloomy, lonely, and cheerless, that he would have folt quite in desponding spirits, had not the image of the beautiful and brilliant Miss Furetield been present in his mind to cheer him. CHAPTER LXIL HAROLD BIAUNTOR. Two days afterwards a travelling-carriage drove to the gate of Saxondale Castle, at about six o'olook in the evening; and Lady Macdonald, accompanied by Lord Marold Staunton and Lady Florins, alighted. mm eee GOnMGIOOKSEEON