The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 225: what you’re looking at

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a — a | } | j 210 She staggered a few paces and was on the point of failing: but in a moment she perceived the tre- mendous precipice oh which she stood—in an instant she saw the necessity of gathering all her courage and presence of mind to her aid, if she wished to relieve herself from a state of awful sus- pense and ascertain whether he had actually over- heard her conversation with the Duchess, or not. “ What! are you here?” she said, in a faint and faltering tone, advancing at the same time and laying her hand upon his shoulder. “ Ah!my dearest Eleanor,” he exclaimed, start- ing up: but it struck her that he was very pale ! “ Have you been here long ?” she asked, her tone becoming still more tremulous, and her entire frame quivering like an aspen leaf, * Yes-—that is, not many minutes,” he replied, in- stantly correcting his first monosyllabic answer. “J have been reading that book, and was so absorbed in its contents that I really forgot how long I could have been here.” And he smiled—but, as it struck her, with, a ghastly attempt to conceal horrible thoughts ! “ What book is it?” she inquired, hastily bending down her head to hide the shame which flushed her cheeks—and not shame only, but torturing terror of the most agonising nature. No pen can describe the exquisite acuteness to which her feelings were now wrought up, when she saw that the volume lying open on the table was upside down! ‘The barbed point of a lance thrust into her heart and then torn violently out again— supposing that it were possible to live through such an infernal process of cruelty—could not have been accompanied with an anguish more rending than that which the unhappy lady now felt. Her brain was on fire—molten lead was circulating in her veins—the tortures of hell were lacerating her soul. But suddenly it flashed to her imagination that her husband might have turned the book in this manner at the moment when he started from his seat at the words which she had addressed to him and on feeling her hand upon his shoulder. Revived by the hope, which was instantly followed by the thought that if he had overheard her conversation with the Duchess it would be impossible for him to appear even as cool and collected as he was, Eleanor raised her countenance again, saying, “ Were you not aware that an old friend of mine was with me just now? She would have been delighted to see you.” “ Yes—I understood that you had company—the Duchess of Devonshire, was it not?” observed the Earl, in a tone which struck the Countess to be ominously peculiar and unnatural. “ But I did not choose to disturb you,” he added, almost imme- diately: “ besides, I do not feel very well this after- noon.” “Has anything occurred to vex or annoy you, Francis?” inquired the Countess : and, as she spoke, she darted a rapid but searching—scrutinising— penetrating glance upon her husband’s countenance. * Annoy me! Oh! nothing—nothing, I can assure you, dear [leanor,” he exclaimed, taking her hand and carrying it to his lips: then, instantly dropping it—and, as she thought at least, with singular ab- ruptness, as if it had suddenly become loathsome to him after his mouth had thus touched it—he said, “No—I have nothing to annoy me—unless it be the perverse conduct of Fernanda, in so obstinately refusing the reparation which Arthur Eaton so — —_—— — THE MYSTERIES. honourably ofiered. to-day 2” “She has kept her room, as you know, almost ever since her return home a few days ago,” answered Eleanor, gradually becoming reassured, though still experiencing an oppressive uneasiness—for she could not subdue the idea that there was something re- markably strange, forced, and unnatural in her hus- band’s manner. At this moment a domestic entered to announce that dinner was served. The Earl instantly proffered Eleanor his arm; and, as he escorted her to the dining-room below, he turned the conversation on some leading topic of the day, and which was quite distinct from their own concerns: then, after they were seated at table, he continued to discourse in the same strain, and with a better flow of spirits than he was accustomed to enjoy. The result was that Eleanor’s apprehensions gradually subsided, until they passed away alto- gether ;—and, feeling convinced that her husband had noé overheard anything which oceurred between herself and the Duchess of Devonshire, she con- cluded that what she had fancied to be an ominous singularity of manner on his part was only the work of her own fevered imagination and guilty con- science. For Eleanor did look upon the revelation which she had made to the Duchess and the thoughts to which she had yielded subsequently, as crimes which she had committed ! Have you seen Fernanda CHAPTER LIX. THE COUNTESS AND THE MILLINER. BETWEEN eleven and twelve o’clock on the follow- ing morning, Mrs. Brace, attended by a young person dressed in mourning, alighted from a hackney-coach at the door of the Earl of Desborough’s mansion in Berkeley Square. The young person just alluded to, carried a large band-box in her hand: for, being the junior assist- ant in Mrs. Brace’s establishment, it was her duty to accompany her mistress on such occasions as the present. She however remained below in a species of waiting-room opening from the hall, while the milliner, taking the band-box, ascended to the bed- | chamber of the Countess. Eleanor, having passed a restless and feverish . . , | night, had not long risen from her couch. Dressed in a charming deshabillée, she was halt-reclining in a capacious arm-chair near the fire, and playing with | rather than partaking of the cup of chocolate which stood ona little table at her right hand. Her raven hair was negligently gathered up into bands, the rich masses of which framed with ebony | her spotless forehead: she was pale—and an appear- ance of languor was expressed on her countenance and pervaded her entire form. The lady’s-maid, having ushered in Mrs. Brace, | immediately retired ; and the milliner was lett alone with the Countess. “ T had really forgotten my appointment with you, this morning,” said the latter. “Tfit will suit your ladyship better, [ can easily | eall again,” answered Mrs. Brace, in her most dulcet | tones. “ No—I would not give you so much trouble, since GOMIGIOO Cc <SriGo