The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 387: what you’re looking at

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376 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT: elderly lady named Mrs. Burnaby, ‘whom I was Through this perk did the carriage proceed, wotil it taught to regard as my grandmother. She was moderately off, and kept one servant. She herself instructed me in the rudiments of education: I was fond of learning, and progressed rapidly under her supervision. She was indeed very kind to me— behaving with all the affection of a near and fond relative. When I was about eight years old—I remember the incident as well as if it had only occurred yesterday—Mrs. Burnaby told me that she was going upon a little journey, that she might be absent a couple of days, and that I was to be a very good girl and mind what the female-servant said during her absence. She did remain away two daya: and it was late in the evening when she re- turned. She was by a nurse carrying a little baby; and she told me that this little baby was thy brother. I was too young to reflect upon such matters at that time; and therefore I did not think it at alf extraordinary. Indeed, all my feelings were those of an enthusiastic joy at having this little brother. It was a wet-nurse who had charge of him; and I was told that his name was Francis. At the expiration of some months—TI suppose nine or ten—the wet-nurse went away; and a girl from the neighbourhood was hired’ to take charge of little Frank. He throve apace; and when he was able to run alone he became a companiun for me. Full well do I remember the childish delight with which I used to lead him when we walked out with Mrs. Burnaby or the nurse- maid; and as years went by and he became more companionable for me still, I loved him with the sincerest affection. He was not a strong nor healthy child, but delicate and interesting—endowed with that remarkable beauty which has accompanied his growth and which characterizes him now. I myself, on the other hand, was a strong vigorous girl—tall for my age—and totally unacquainted with even a day’s indisposition. When Frank was old enough te commence learning; Mrs. Burnaby instructed him as she did me; and it gave me the sincerest delight to assist my little brother in his lessons. “Time wore on~—and the incident I am about to relate happened in the year 18332. I was then four- teen, and Frank was six. One Mrs. Burnaby told us that we were to be dressed in our Sunday apparel, and accompany her on a little journey. Presently a vehicle, whieh had been ordered from Edmonton, drove up to the door: we entered it, and proceeded to some village about ten miles distant—but I did not know the name. There we stopped at a tavern, where a splendid car- riage, attended by servants in a gorgeous livery, was waiting. Mrs. Burnaby, myself, and Frank took oir places in this carriage; and it drove away. Speedily turning out of the main road, it entered a bye-one, running through some beautiful sylvan scenery. At fhe expitation of an hour a superb mansion appeared at a little distance. It was situated upon a gentle eminence, in the middle of a park, where numerous deer were frisking about. It was a beautiful day in the middle of summer: the trees and fields were of the liveliest green—the ornamental watere in that park reflected the un- clouded blue of heaven—and swans were fivating in stately gracefulness upon the limpid lake. Al- together it was a scene which delighted me at the time, and made an indelible im»ression upon me. —=er drove up to the entrance of the mansion, where it stopped. Mrs. Barnaby alighted with us: as elderly fomale, lookmg lke a » Te ceived us as we flescended from the vehicle: and a kind greeting took piace between her and Mrs. Burnaby. They were evidently old acqusaint- ances. The housekeeper~for so I shail call her— bestowed attention on Frank and me, and seemed surprised that I should have grown sach a tall girl. Perhaps she paid me some hittle com- pliments with an admiring guod-nature: but these I pass over. We were condacted up & magnificent Frairoase, to a bed.chamber, where lay il ia the couch. ‘She was very beautiful, pale with sickness: she appeared to be about thirty-three years of age. There were two other ladite with her, much younger than herself—one being bat little past twenty, ond the other nineteon. I do not think they were sisters—for although they were both very beautifal, there was no family resemblance between them. Nor do I think they were any ro- Fation to the lady who was iil—at least sp far as I Could jadge by the way in which they addressed her. I must however observe that neither the in- valid lady nor these two younger ones called cach other by any mame the whole time that Frank and I were there—this reserve being doubtless a neces- sary but melancholy precaution to prevent us from obtaining any clue as to who they were. “The sick lady embraced me and Frank with the utmost tenderness, and wept over us. She contem- plated us with a look which I can never forget—a naby’s and placed at school: bat she aesured me that I had friends in the world who would ever be watchfal over my interests. Again and did she press me and Frank to her bosom; and al I hate no doubt she exerted al] her energies to strain her omotions as much as possible, yet could not prevent them from finding an issue. Mrs. uf The handsome where we entered the hired vehicle and were borne home to the cottage. “On the fullowing day preparations were com- mencell towards fitting me out for a buarding- echoul. I grieved sadly whon I found that I was to be separated from my dearly beloved brother : bat Mrs. Barnaby consoled me with the assurance that when he was old enough be shoald join me ia the same establishment. At the expiration of sight or ten days, the housekeeper from that ; mansion arrived at the The moment. of parting had now come; and full well do I remem- ber the bitter, bitter tears I shed when separating from Frank and Mrs. Burneby. The housekeeper | took me into London in a hired velucle; and thenes CN ee COUMIUC NOOK CO