The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 25: what you’re looking at

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10 one of the Paradise Villas had they been located about eighteen months at the time when our tale opens. But Mr. Clarendon was not now athome. Years had elapsed since he had made any effort to be reconciled to his proud relations; and, at last— finding that his income was disproportionately small when compared with the claims that there were upon his means, especially with an augment. ing taxation and the increasing dearness of pro- visions—he had resolved to repair to Marchmont Castle in Derbyshire, and endeavour to seek an in- terview with his noble cousin, its owner. Consi- dering that his daughters had reached that age when they could take care of themselves during his temporary absence, Mr. Clarendon set out ac- cordingly; and only two days had elapsed since his departure, when the incidents which occupied our two first chapters took place. Before, however, we resume the thread of our narrative, we must pause for a few moments to de- scribe Octavia and Pauline Clarendon. They were both tall, elegantly shaped, and pos- sessing a maturity of charms which made them seem two or three years older than they really were: for at this time, Octavia was twenty-one, and Pauline a month or two past nineteen. Their style of loveliness was pretty nearly the same,— except that Octavia’s hair was a rich auburn, and her sister’s a dark brown: but their complexions were equally fair and beautiful—without spot or blemish, and reminding the beholder of the most delicate blending of the hues of the rose with the purity of the liiy. Their foreheads were high and open,—their mouths small, and with lips red and ripe as cherries —-and their teeth of pearly white- ness. Their eyes were of deep blue—large and rolling, and at fimes expressing an involuntary ten- derness that gave a voluptuous langour to the coun- tenances of these charming sisttrs. Octavia and Pauline were tall in stature, as we have already observed: but we might have stated that they were above the usual height of women. Indeed, they were fine-grown girls —and not merely beautiful but handsome. Whom to prefer of the two, on the score of loveliness, it would have been difficult to decide: for if there were something more subdued and retiring in the blushing charms of Pauline,—yet it was impossible to gaze without the tenderest emotions on the more imposing and queenly beauty of Octavia,—especially when the light, playing upon the rich redundancy of her au- burn hair, seemed to crown its glossy surface as with a glory! And Octavia knew that she was beautiful: her pait—her demeanour—her carriage, all denoted a consciousness that she was the object of admira- tion. Nor less was Pauline gifted with the same vanity ;—but it displayed itscif less—or rather, was more subdued by the bashfulness attendant on a tenderer age. The sisters were much attached to each other, and loved their father with the sincerest affection. Though a disappointed—crushed—and dispirited man, he had behaved kindly towards them; and they fully comprehended all the sacrifices he had made to rear them genteelly. They accordingly repaid him with the most solicitous attention to all his wants and wishes; and we must mention, as a good trait in their character, that they never sought THE MYSTERIES. to gratify their vanity by extravagance in dress. They moreover devoted so much eare to the do- mestic affairs, and managed with so much economy, that no regular servant was kept: the occasiona attendance of a char-woman was all that was needed to assist them in maintaining the little dwelling in the best possible order. We have enabled our readers to form a tolerably correct idea of the two young ladies who are destined to play no inconsiderable part in our narrative, of which we now resume the continuous thread. It was verging towards eleven o’clock on the evening of Mr. Page’s adventures, when a trades- man from the neighbourhood knocked at the door of the cottage inhabited by the Clarendon family ; and Octavia answered the summons. ‘The man leftsome article which had been ordered, and, having apolo- gised for calling so late, took his departure. The young lady then tripped lightly down the gravel- walk of the little garden in order to lock the front gate; and at that instant a gentleman in a cloak, who had just alighted from ahackney-coach precisely op- posite, hurried up to Miss Clarendon, saying, “ Per- mit me to step in and rest myself for a few minutes.” Had she paused for a single instant to reflect upon this request, she would have at once seen that it was of so extraordinary a nature, coming as it did from a perfect stranger and at such a time of night, that nothing but a prompt refusal could consistently and properly meet it:—but its very strangeness, and the abruptness with which it was made, so completely confused—or rather bewildered the young lady, that she held the gate open with her fair hand,—and the gentleman, taking this as a proof of assent, hurried into the house. Scarcely, however, had he thus glided past Octavia, when she was struck with the impropriety of which she had been guilty, and hastened after him. On entering the villa she mechanically closed the front door behind her; and as all this was the work of a few moments, the driver of the yellow coach did not in reality perceive which way the gentleman had so suddenly disappeared. Pauline was seated in the little front parlour, which was very neatly furnished, and lighted with a lamp; and the supper, consisting of a cold joint, was upon the table. The young lady was both astonished and alarmed when she heard the heavy steps of a man rush into the house; and she started from her chair, with an ejaculation of terror. The stranger entered the parlour and seemed im- mediately struck with the exquisite beauty of Pauline Clarendon ; and he had scarcely given utter- ance to a few words of apology for his abrupt intru- sion, when Octavia made her appearance. If the gentleman in the cloak had been seized with admiration of the younger sister, he was now positively amazed at the queen-like loveliness of the elder: but almost instantly perceiving the awkward position in which he stood with regard to these young ladies, aud the embarrassment which they expe- rienced at this adventure, he hastened to give some | explanation which might relieve them from so un- | pleasant a feeling. “ T am well aware, charming ladies,” he said, in a smooth and courteous tone and with a fascination of | manner which almost immediately disarmed them of any resentment which his intrusion had excited,— “T am well aware that my conduct must appear most . a * . rude—most ungentlemanly—most unjustifiable in— > = ars ea ey ———- (EloOOKS. COR COLMA