The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 126: what you’re looking at

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

OO eee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. Wot for 2 moment did she anticipate a repulse. On the contrary, naturally judging from what she con- stantly beheld passing around her in the great world, she had expected that the humble artist would rejoice at being invited to become the para- mour of a lady of rank and riches. Great, then, was her rage—infinite her disap- pointment—and cruel her sexse of humiliation, at the rebuff she had experienced. That 1t was through any purely virtuous feeling on William Deveril’s part, she could scarcely imagine: but she believed it to be because he loved another, and was so in- fatuated with this love, that unlike the young men 111 “What! you, mother?” exclaimed Juliana “ From some old nobleman, I suppose ?” “The remark is scarcely respectful, Miss,” re- turned Lady Saxondale, now suddenly recovering her wonted dignity, blended with hauteur: “ for I presume you intended me to understand that only an old nobleman would be likely to seek my hand in marriage.” “Well, tell us this adventure of your’s then,” said Juliana, not in the most respectful tone: for the reader has already seen that this young lady was by no means the pattern of a dutiful daughter. “Yes—tell us what has happened, my dear of the aristocratic world, he would have considered _ mother?” asked Constance, who was far more affec- it a crime to prove unfaithful to it. therefore the object of this love might be, Lady Saxondale was fully prepared to regard and to treat her as a rival; and thus was this woman, naturally so proud, so strong-minded, and so dignified in her conduct, ready to descend to the meanness of | Whosoever tivnate and docile to her parent. “It is perfeetly true,” continued Lady Saxondale, addressing herself more to Constance than to Juliana, “ that I have received an offer’: but I think when I tell you from whom it came, you will say that I have even less reason to be proud of the pro- iealousy, the paltriness of envy, and the pettiness of , posal than if it had been made by some old noble- revenge, in a matter where after all she herself had - sustained no substantial nor real injury. But where a woman’s passion is concerned, her whole nature ‘ man such as Juliana has referred to.” “Who, then, was it ?” inquired Constance. “Your preceptor, Mr. Deveril!” responded Lady becomes warped according to circumstances and in- Saxondale. fluences. Ungencrous herself in the course which she was thus prepared to pursue, Lady Saxondale could not | An ejaculation of the most unfeigned surprise burst from the lips both of Juliana and Constance. “Tt is really the case,” continued their mother. help fancying that Deveril was equally likely to take | “ You know that you waited for him some little time fn ungenerous advantage of the scene which had placed her in his power. In short, she believed that he was likely, in consequence of her threats, to spread the story of her overtures and his refusal. At all events, she argued, if he did not do so at - once he would hereafter when he found that she had given utterance to no idle threats but was pursuing him and her rival whoever she might be, with her implacable resentment. Therefore she resolved to be beforehand with him in all respects, and by tell- ing the story herself, put upon it the complexion that would suit her own interests, and throw com- plete discredit on any counter-statement he might hereafter make. So soon as William Deveril had parted from Lady Saxondale in the manner described in the previous chapter, she promptly compused her feelings; and ringing tbe bell, inquired whether her daughters had returned from their ride in the carriage. She was answered in the negative; and she therefore waited patiently till they came back. On their ar- rival the young ladies, hearing that their mother had inquired for them, hastened to put off their bonnets and shawls, and then proceeded to the drawing-room where her ladyship was now seated. “My dear girls,” she said, in a far more caressing and lively anner than she was wont to adopt towards them, especially in respect to the eldest, ‘Juliana,—* you will never conjecture how sin- gular a scene has been taking place during your absence.” “At all events, my dear mother,’ answered Constance, ‘it was of no very serious character ; for you are gay over it: and therefore your words have caused me little uneasiness but much curi- osity.” “The scene was too ludicrous to be serious,” con- tinued Lady Saxondale. “What will you think when I tell you that I have hada deelaration of love and an offer of marriage ?” \ A | this afternoon ; and as he did not make his appear- ance you went out. But you left a message that if he called he was to be asked to come to-morrow. Now, as I always regarded him as a very civil, well- behaved, nice young man, I did not choose to mor- tify him by leaving that message to be delivered by the servants: so I allowed him to be shown up when he came; and having received his apology for the lateness of his arrival, I gave your message. I don’t know if I spoke in a more affable tone than usual ; but certain it is that he sat down and begay conversing in a way which I considered to be some- what familiar. I showed a little impatience at this; when he suddenly entered upon the most extrava- gant declarations I scarcely know how he began them, but I recollect that I was so taken with astonishment that I allowed him to proceed unin- teruptedly for some time. ‘To be brief, he flung himself at my feet—gave utterance to a thousand ridiculous things borrowed from the rhapsodies which lovers are made to utter in novels and ro- mances—besought me to have pity on him—and vowed if I did not, he should kill himself in de- spair.” “Ts this possible?” asked Juliana, eyeing her mother with something like doubt and suspicion in her looks. “Good heavens, what insolence!” cried the younger daughter, who on the other hand implicitly believed every word her ladyship uttered. ‘Insolence indeed !” echoed Lady Saxondale, not appearing to observe the manner in which Juliana surveyed her: “and yet I can scarcely call it inso- lence, because it was such pure unmitigated folly. However, I sent him away from my presence, and ordered him never to come to the house again.” “Tf am surprised at Mr. Deveril,” said Constance. “TI always thought he was an unassuming, well- behaved, and discreet young man,—a very superiog young man indeed—quite a gentleman——~” ee a a a ne Ee ECOMmMIiclboooks (CO)