The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 335: what you’re looking at

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

DN ee THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. te the propagation of Ledy Sexondale's calomny, F resolved that my sister should not form another en- | gagement at the expiration of her present one. With the two thousand which she will have yeosived by the time it is over, and with my own | maaq | forth P* exclaimed Emily. resources --——" “You thought you could live very comfortably indeed?” said Mr. Gunthorpe. “Well, we shall Perhaps I may be inclined to add a little to. your store: for of course you will not refuse to allow me to do exactly what I choose. I have not forgotten, William Deveril, that when I first knew | deserved so much goodness at your hands. But I hope you will not fancy thet I ever entertained any selfish views when profferiag you such little atten- tions as it was in my power to show ?”’ “Selfish views P--ridiculous !”’ ¢ the old “JI am not so blind to the true cha- racters of men. Bat here we are:’—and as he ti spoke, the carriage stopped in front of Deveril’s | things ue little villa. * You will come in and sup with us?’ said our hero. “ No—not to-night: it ie too late. Good bye, my Gear boy~—good bye:”—and Mr. Gusathorpe ' ws waste time: for I really have importeat things | to talk to you about. In the first place, Emily, do “youremember all that affeir I told you of con- Lady Saxondale P”’ “What! and the uerade dress, and so “To be eure, I do. Edmund and I often talk of it, and have a good laugh over it into the bargain. By the bye, Edmund seems to love hie mother amasingly—does ho not ?” “You of course mean the very reverse. But tell me, Emily—have you repeated those circusstances to anybody else? Have you gossipped concerning i tiem. “ No-—I have not—apon my honour I have not,” replied Emily. ‘I do not pretend to be of a very serious or prudent nature: but thoee were circum- stances which, coming to my knowledge in the way they did, I kept to myself.” “You ere sure of this? you are certain that you have not inadvertently let drop a word to a soul ?” “i more solemnly still if you wish it—-that I have not. I am sure that [ have not,” added the danseuse, emphatically. ‘“‘ Bat tell me— have you made it up with Lady Saxondale?—for Edmund informed me that you had gone suddenly off upon a visit to the Castle in Linoulnehire.” “Yes:—I have made it up with her—and all considered, I should be sorry to do her an injury,” observed Staunton. “Then I presume——” “Presume what you will, my dear girl,” intes- rupted Harold; “ but de not waste time in unneces- sary remarks. Where is that Spanish dress? You shook Deveril warmly by the hand as the latter | heve got it here—I wish you would give it to me.” alighted from the vehicle. “To-morrow morning I shal} come to you early, to make our arrangements | struck her: and then she “Ah!” Emily, as a thought to herself, “Tu about leaving for Lincolnshire. Once more good be sure: I have been e fool, with a knowledge of night.” CHAPTER LXVIL THE DABCER AND THE TWO LORDS. Av the same time that the preceding scene was | such a secret as this-——” “What are you saying to yourself?” demandod Harold, some alight misgiving springing up in hie min ‘I was thinking,” responded Mise Archer, “ that I would ratber not part with the dress for the | moment :"—and there was altogether a change in eee Places the following one was occurring else- | her manner and her looks, from a mixture of lang uoe tbe elegant dreving-roors the Seven Sisters’ Hoad was lighted by the superb and levity, to a mien of seriousness blended with of Evergreen Villa in | resolute decision. “Emily, I do not understand you!” ejaculated lastre euspended from the ceiling; and the beautiful | Harold. “You cannot refuse to do me such a Emily Archer was seated upon the sofa, with Lord | eifling favour? Consider on what terms we have Harold Staunton by her side. He had only been been-—how friendly—how intimate——” asnounced a few minutes ; and as yet the conversa: “Yes: but I must look out for my own interests,” tion had merely touched upon those ordinary fleet- responded Miss Archer. “You have made it up ing topics which are too trivial to be recorded here. with Lady Saxondale; and you have your own Marold had however learnt that Lord Sexondale purpose to serve in screening her reputation. It might be very shortly expected ; and therefore he never struck me until just now that by the pos- wes anxious to make the most of whatecever interval session of this secret I may serve my own purposes remained for him to be alone with Emily. | likewise.” “Mow, my dear girl,” he said, “ I wish to speak “To be sure!” said the young nobleman. “I to you very | did not for a moment think that you would give up “ What! ate you to make me an offer of the dress without some little consideration. Will marriage?” exclaimed Mies Archer, laughing eo as you allow me to present you with five hundred to display her brilliant testh. | “ Perhaps I might do a worse thing than thst,” ' “Abt” again smtiered Emily to herself: “the replied Harold, in order to flatter her. “But as thing is indeed serious in their eyee—very serious, you oay that Gaxcadale will soon return, do not let evidently.” a a DS aa i sg reise eens COM COMIC LOO