The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 326: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

THE MYSTERIES. 311 street, on the cold pavement,—yes—such a death were preferable to the loss of her honour! Alas! alas; poor orphan girl, deeply—deeply do |. we sympathise with thee—boundless is our com- passion, O persecuted virgin! But whither does she now fly so quickly ?—what new idea has seized upon her imagination ?—what sudden impulse is she obeying thus precipitately? She remembers that there.is such a person in the world as Meagles—she is hastening to Jermyn Street to ascertain whether it be really true that he has undertaken a journey to Scotland. For this purpose is she speeding on so franticly again—’tis her only hope—and her ardent longing to find it realized, lends wings to her feet. But a sudden vertigo seizes upon her—she stops short—her brain reels—she staggers forward a few paces, extending her arms as if to implore assistance —then sinks upon a door-step in that vile neighbour- hood near the Abbey. A moan of indescribable anguish escapes her lips —and her senses abandon her! CHAPTER LXXXVIII. MRS. FITZHERBERT AND TIM MEAGLES. In the splendidly-furnished drawing-room belonging to her own suite of apartments at Cariton House, Mrs. Fitzherbert was seated alone, in a pensive mood, upon a sofa placed near the fire which burnt in the grate as if with a cheerfulness that mocked her mournful aspect. Not only was she indignant and offended on ac- count of the scene which had occurred on the night of the ba!l: but there was likewise a presentiment of approaching evil weighing heavily upon her heart. For though this was by no means the only quarrel which she had ever experienced with the Prince of Wales, it was nevertheless the first that had lasted so long and that had led to no attempt at reconciliation on his part. What could this perseverance in maintaining a State of enmity mean?—what did it signify? Had her charms lost their spells—her witcheries their power—her manners their fascination? Or was his Royal Highness in reality so deeply attached to Lady Desborough that he not only pined on account of the disappointment he had experienced, but like- wise cherished an unforgiving rancour against her who had thus interposed between himself and the intended victim of his lust? The untoward incident had taken place on Mon- day night: it was now Thursday afternoon —and the Prince had not even sent to inquire concerning her health. Two mortal days had thus passed—a third was drawing to its close—and not a word nor a line from him who before God was her husband, though the detestable laws made by man forbade the connexion. At first the lady’s indignation and resentment sustained on her own side a feeling which would have made her decline any answer to a verbal message and send back a written one unopened: then, as her more angry sentiments gave way to the fondness which she really experienced for the Prince, her pride prompted her to shroud herself in a re- serve as gloomy as that in which he had shut him- self up ;—and thus from neither side had emanated the least overture towards a reconciliation. Though living beneath the same roof, this husband and wife had not seen each other for three whole days! Now therefore the lady’s pride was more than ever wounded; and indignation was again asserting its emovire in her breast. How haughty was now that curl on her exquisitely chiselled lip!—how menac- ing was the light which shone in her large blue eyes! —how nervously did her taper fingers play with the long, pale, glossy tresses which flowed down upon her plump shoulders of dazzling whiteness and the bosom of such luxurious proportions ! Should she await the royal pleasure of her hus- band to make up their serious differences? — or should she pen a line conveying the first overture to him ? ‘These were the questions which she asked herself in a moment of milder mood : and she was deliberat- ing the points within her own breast, when a servant threw open the door of the apartment, announcing Mr. Meagles. A glow of triumph and the animation of joy lighted up the splendid features of Mrs. Fitzherbert, as she rose to receive the guest: for it instantly struck her that he was come asa messenger of peace from his Royal Highness. Meagles, who was attired in a suit of black, but whose coat nevertheless had a certain sporting cut about it, endeavoured to assume a demureness of countenance which he deemed suitable to the task which he had taken in hand: and indeed, he did fee! dissatisfied and low-spirited concerning it—for, much as he really disliked Mrs. Fitzherbdert, he could not resist the painful reflection, now when matters were coming to a point, that it was a woman against whom he was about to wage war. Even at the last mo- ment would he have gladly retreated from any far- ther interference in the business: but interest — self-interest—egotism,—dhese prevailed with a man who was far from being deficient in qualities natu- rally generous and traits unquestionably amiable. With a greater courtesy than she had ever before manifested towards him, did Mrs. Fitzherbert proffer her hand to Mr. Meagles and request him to be seated: then, with the tact of that good breeding which affected to see in him only an ordinary visitor and not a messenger sent on a special errand, she began to converse on the current topics of the day with as much graceful ease and unpretending fluency as if she had naught weighing on her mind. Meagles was far more embarrassed than he thought he should be. Mrs. Fitzherbert’s cordiality of manner disarmed him of the rancour which he had cherished against her; and her extreme beauty touched his heart, enlisting his sympathies in spite of himself. He adored the fair sex—and it struck him as being something criminal to plunge into the deepest woe the superb creature whose eyes were now beaming kindly and whose lips were smiling upon him. But he thought of the dukedom which he hoped to gain eventually—and once more did egotism triumph ! Averting his head partially, so that the lady’s ar- tillery of charms and fascinations should not play with such powerful effect upon his looks, he availed himself of a momentary pause in the discourse to observe, “ Madam—your Royal Highness—I know not exactly which to call you——” “Ah! then at all events you are no stranger to the secret of my marriage with the Prince of Wales?” aa ee (C(O) nn) (€ 6)(0)©) KS (CO) ~”