The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 361: what you’re looking at

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$50 THE MYSTERIES OF THE OOURT. ee thorpe’s decision; and he did’ so with the best pos- Devens I could have sworn that this Wiliam sible grace. Deveril was one of the finest young fellows in heart s ® e ® ° as well as in person, I had ever seen in my life; and * 6 * ° certainly if I could have got near him through the r e e ® ° crowded room, when he had given his testimony, I Mr. Hawkshaw, having called at Saxondale Castle | should have shaken hands with him. But, Ah! in the morning, to inquire after Lord Harold Staun- | here is another arrival at the castle! What a num- ton’s health, had intimated his intention of riding | ber of visitors her ladyship receives !” ncroes to Gainsborough to learn the fullest particu This remark was elicited by the sounds of a car- lars of ‘the terrible tragedy of the previous t. ' riage rolling up to the entrance of the castle: but He was present throughout a greater portion of the , Juliana, indifferent as to who the arrival might be, examination before the coroner; and when the in- | —end thinking only of rivetting the chains of her quest was over, he rode back to Saxondale Castle to fascinations still more strongly than ever around communicate all he had learnt. It was close upon. Mr. Hawkshaw’s heart,—tarned the conversation the dinner hour when he reached the baronial man- | away from its previous topie, and skilfully began sion; and he was of course invited to stay—an | touching on those themes connected with the sports invitation which he did not refuse, as the reader | of the field which were so dear to the Squire. eearcely requires to be informed. Meanwhile, who was it that had just arrived at “It would appear,” he said, when reciting the | the castle? We shall see. But first lot us observe particulars of the inquest to the ladies assembled in | that when the post-chaise—for such it was—drove the drawing-room, “that Mr. Gunthorpe and Mr. | up to the gate, Lady Saxondale was alone in the Deveril were on their way last night to the castle, | library, writing some letters. A domestic entered ; when they discovered the murder.” and handing a card upon a massive silver salver, “It may be so,” observed Lady Saxondale, draw- ead, “This gentleman requests to see your lady- ing herself up haughtily: “but they assuredly would | ship.” not have boen received by me.” The mistress of the mansion took thé card—~ Florina, who had started at Mr. Hawkshaw’s | glanced at it—and read the name of Dr. Ferney. announcement, now flung a quick glance of indig- nation at Lady Saxondale as she thus spoke—a« glance which her ladyship, however, affected not to CHAPTER LXXIV, e. “I must confess,” proceeded Mr. Hawkshaw, who THB PHYSICIAN AND THE LADY. could not understand why Lady Saxondale had spoken in such a manner of Mr. Gunthorpe and our hero—for the rumours and scandals of London life had not reached his ears in Lincolnshire, “that I was exceedingly prepossessed in favour of that Mr. Deveril. He gave his evidence in such a plain straightforward manly style—he is such a handsome youth too—and the coroner paid him the highest compliments.” Had Mr. Hawkshaw been looking at Florma at the time he thus spoke, he would have observed that her looks were fixed upon him with an expres- sion of gratitude which she herself could not at the moment possibly subdue. Oh! how she longed to start up and acouse Lady Saxondale of ail] the vile perfidy of which she had been guilty: but she dared mot. Deveril’s earnest injunctions to the contrary restrained her. At this crisis a footman entered to announce that dinner was served up; and the party accordingly descended tu the dining-room. After the banquet, Mr. Hawkshaw and Juliana walked out together as usual in the garden; and the moment they were alone, the Squire said, “ Pray tell me, Miss Farefield, was I indiscreet in mentioning the name of Mr. Deveril before your mother? I think that I was— For some few weeks past, misfortunes and threat- ening calamities had seemed to strike Lady Saxon- dale blow after blow: but as each fresh source of inquictude manifested iteelf, she had assumed new courage to encounter it. Before any of these menso- ing casualties first transpired, had it been suddenly foretold to her that so many perils were to rise up in rapid succession before her throughout a coming period of but a few weeks, she would have shrunk appalled from the idea of mesting them—she would have felt that they must prove overwhelming. Buf she had encountered them nevertheless: she had seen gulf after guif yawn at her fect—and in the endeavour to stop up one she had with her own hands digged others round about her. All these sources of terror and apprehension had been great ; but even as they had multiplied in her path, she had still boldly and resolutely pursued her way—quailng sometimes for a moment, it is true—bat plucking up her spirit again, and nerving herself with fresh resolution to encounter all obstacles and grapple with all ; Sach, up to this point, had been the history of the past few weeks with Lady Saxondale. But now a peril which she had least anticipated—which she I fear 20.” had flattered herself to be most remote of all dan- “To tell you the truth,” replied Juliana, “ that ' gors that she stood even the shadow of a chance of sarme Mr. Deveril has fallen into sad disgrace with | encountering,—this one had suddenly presented my mother: inasmuch as presuming on certain | itself before her! For she trembled to the very kindness which she showed him, he fancied that she | nethermost confines of her being at the bare thought was enamoured of him—and he was arrogant enough | of being known as Lady Sarondale to Dr. Ferney, -——But you understand me—I need say no more.” | —he who hitherto for long, long years, had unly “Ah! I regret that I should have alluded to known her as plain and simple Mrs. Smith. him in the eulogistio terms that I did,” observed | Was it any wonder, therefore, if the card dropped Mr. Hawkshaw. “ But I will be more guarded in from her hand as she took it off the silver salver and future. It only shows how one may be deceived in caught the name of Dr. Ferney? It did drop, as GORMIGOOOKS CO