The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 28: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES. iz s cumstances, too—the least he could have done! his patient up-stairs, and he has written a short not would——” “ Would have been to wish us good bye,” observed Pauline, finishing the sentence for her sister ;—and the two handsome girls pouted their pretty lips,—lips on which an Anthony might have sealed the loss of the empire of a world! “But do notlet us think of Mr. Harley any longer,” suddenly exclaimed Octavia, proposing however some- _ thing to which she could not possibly settle her mind, ‘inasmuch as the handsome person, the elegant man- “ners, and the varied conversational powers of that gentleman had made a deep impression upon her. “ No—we will banish him from our memories,” observed Pauline. “ Indeed, we ought to think of the poor lady up-stairs, whom the accident to the barouche will perhaps render prematurely a mother.” “ And she is of course totally unprepared for such an event,” said Octavia. “I will steal gently up to the room—knock at the door—and inquire if we can possibly be of any service ——” “Do so, dear sister,” interrupted Pauline: “ for I can assure you that Mrs. Mordaunt’s beautiful countenance, though convulsed as it was with suffer- ing, completely prepossessed me in her favour These ladies are evidently rich:—did you observe what magnificent furs they wore—and what costly jewellery they had about their persons ?”’ “Yes—they are both handsomely dressed, and very superior in their manners,” said Octavia. “They more- over travelled in good style—a barouche and fov, with a valet and a lady’s-maid: and yet they could not be going to a great distance—for they do not appear to have had any boxes or portmanteaus with them.” “The same circumstance struck me just now,” remarked Pauline. “In my opinion they are people of rank travelling incognito. Such things are done, you know, dear sister. At all events, the ba- rouche was a plain one—without any arms upon the panels ——” “And the valet was not in livery,” added Octavia. “ But while we are wasting time by chatting in this manner, as if nothing unusual were going on in the house, the poor lady may require our services in some way or other.” Scarcely were these words uttered, when the door opened and Mrs. Smith made her appearance. “My dear young ladies,” she said, “ I know not how to thank you sufficiently for your kindness to- wards my bosom-friend Mrs. Mordaunt. I feel deeply all the generosity of your conduct; and—par- don me for making such an observation—but rest assured that it shall not go unrewarded.” “Oh! madam,” ejaculated Octavia, the blood rushing to her cheeks: “ though we are poor, we are | not mercenary ——” “T know it, my sweet girl,’ interrupted Mrs. | Smith, in a kind and conciliatory tone: “ neverthe- | which must be immediately forwarded to his wife, in order to procure certain little articles absolutely ne- cessary under present circumstances. But as Matilda is quite ignorant of this neighbourhood-— and as we cannot think of suffering you to go out any more alone at so late an hour ——” “T am ready, madam,” exclaimed the good-na- tured Octavia, hastily resuming her bonnet and thick shawl, which she had laid aside in the parlour on her return from the previous visit to the surgeon’s. The lady’s-maid was thereupon summoned; and Octavia, once again daring the piercing chill of the night, conducted the dependant to Mr. Thurston’s residence. Mrs. Thurston was in bed; but a servant speedily answered the door, and admitting Miss Clarendon and Matilda into a parlour, took the note up-stairs to her mistress. We should here observe that the surgeon and his wife were in the habit of recelving at their house ladies who were in a way to become mothers, and who had special reasons for retiring into a strict se- clusion during the period of their confinement. A good supply of baby-linen was therefore constantly kept ready by the thrifty and money-making Mrs. Thurston; and it was for articles of this kind that Matilda had been sent with the note. The surgeon’s wife, presuming from the nature of her husband’s note that he had in hand a case that was likely to prove lucrative, manifested no displeasure at being summoned from her warm couch, but rose imme- diately and packed up a quantity of baby-linen in the course of a very few minutes. The servant de- livered the parcel to Matilda, who, thus provided, returned with Octavia to the villa. The lady’s-maid was a shrewd, cautious, and re- served young woman, of about five-and-twenty. She was tolerably good-looking, well educated, and of superior manners for her position: in fact, She was the daughter of a poor curate in some remote dis- trict, and who having a large family to support upon ninety pounds a-year, while his rector had five thousand, was compelled to allow his eldest children to accept menial places in wealthy families. During the walk to and from the surgeon’s house, but a very few words were exchanged between Miss Clarendon and Matilda; and those were confined to observations of no particular interest. We must now introduce the reader to the chamber where Mrs. Mordaunt was lying in the pangs of maternity, with the surgeon on one side of the bed and Mrs. Smith on the other. The young lady who was thus about to become mother, was, as we have already stated, about eight- teen or nineteen years of age. She was tall and well formed,—with a full and rounded bust, volup- tuously developed,—a remarkably clear and beauti- ful complexion,—large blue eyes, with dark fringes A less there are means of proving one’s gratitude ina! and brows delicately pencilled,—lips that were the ) | substantial manner, and yet so delicately as to give | least thing coarse, but between which gleamed rows no offence. However—we will not say any more upon | of pearl,—and a nose and chin that were exqui- , that subject at present : for I have yet another favour | sitely chiselled in the purest classic style. Her | to solicit ‘ luxuriant light brown hair now flowed in rich, curled, “Speak, madam—speak,” cried Octavia: “any-| and wavy masses all over the pillow, and wantoned thing that we can do to serve yourself or your friend | upon the bosom that was palpitating with the throes Shall be done cheerfully.” of both bodily and mental agony. “My request is that you will show our female at- Mrs. Smith was likewise a handsome woman, of a tendant Matilda the way to the surgeon’s house,” | style of beauty contrasting altogether with that which answered the lady. ‘Mr. Thurston himself—for | we have just described: for her hair and eyes were such I understand to be his name—is unable to quit | back,—her complexion was of that clear olive, ¢ i ge -_——————_ -—-+—_ ---_ --_ -—-———_ CElooolks. (conn com