The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 267: what you’re looking at

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252 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. announce that it wasin readiness. This message was borne by Mary-Anne; and having delivered it, she lingered in the room with an evident anxiety to say something. Juliana accordingly questioned her; and Mary-Anne, frankly con- fessing that she had listened at the door in consequence of observing how strange Miss Con- stance looked, told Juliana all that had passed. “Ah! is it sor” exclaimed Lady Saxondale’s elder daughter. ‘‘ We must defeat this scheme of my mother’s. Hasten, Mary-Anne, to the Mar- quis of Villebelle’s lodging—tell him what has oe- curred ——” ‘“‘T have already been, Miss,” responded the lady’s- raaid. “I went while you were at dinner. The ‘Marquis was terribly excited: but I soothed and cheered him by the assurance that something should be devised to help Miss Constance to freedom. He will not stir out, but will wait at home all this eyen- ing and all day to-morrow for any message or tidings that I may bring him. I suppose you know, Miss, that the travelling-carriage is ordered to be sent to the coachmaker’s the first thing to-morrow, to be put in good order and have the wheels looked to ready for a journey? Itis to be sent back by to- morrow evening, so as to be in readiness for the following morning.” : “Then her ladyship is going to take us off into Lincolnshire ?” said Juliana. “Very well: we shall gee. The moment positive orders are given as to the hour when the carriage is to start, let me know. I will then tell you how we shall act.” Mary-Anne promised obedience; and Juliana re- mained for a few minutes longer in her chamber ere ehe descended to the drawing-room. “‘ And so my mother proposes to take us into the golitude of that dull old castle?” she said to herself when Mary-Anne had retired, ‘She thinks that she will coerce Constance into accompanying her ; and she knows very well that for decency’s sake I must go also. She reasons that I dare not remain behind to inhabit this house by myself, while my mother and sister are elsewhere, And she reasons rightly. I must guard my reputation—I must en- deavour to settle myself in marriage—I must obtain an independent position in order to escape from the thraldom of this tyrant-parent. The first old peer or wealthy old commoner who may propose, shall be accepted: then will I find out my heloved Francis again, and secretly may we see each other. But in the meantime poor Constance must. be restored to freedom. There is now no alternative for her but to fly to the Marquis of Villebelle.” Having thus settled her plans, Miss Farefield descended to the drawing-room. Lady Saxondale took no notice of her; and therefore it was not dif- ficult for Juliana to make a rapid sign of intelli- gence to Constance,—a sign which seemed to be fraught with hope—but how or of what kind Con- stance for the life of her could not possibly conjec- ture. Another rapid sign made her comprehend the importance of preventing their mother from perceiving that this intelligence was passing between them ; and Constance accordingly appeared to relapse into her mournful mood. The evening passed away dreary enough: at half-past ten o’clock Juliana rose from her seat, and observing to Constance that she was tired, quitted the room without taking the least notice of her mother. EE ———————————————————— ** Whenever it suits you to retire, Constance,” said Lady Saxondale, a few minutes afterwards, “Tam ready: but you can do exactly as you like. If you choose to sit up till midnight, I am indifferent.” “IT will go at once,” replied Constance, wearied in mind and in body: for the fatigue of the former frequently operates thus upon the physical energies. Lady Saxondale and Constance accordingly as- cended to the suite of chambers belonging to the former: and declining any attendance of the lady’s-maids, for fear that Constance might find an opportunity of whispering something in the ear of any one of them, Lady Saxondale locked herself in with her daughter—taking good care to conceal the key in such a way that there was no chance of Constance rising stealthily in the night and disco- vering it. On the following morning, when they arose, her ladyship continued to exercise the same vigilance over her younger daughter,—never losing sight of her—scarcely even moving away from her side— and inwardly rejoicing at the idea that things still wore on thus without any explanation being given by Constance to Juliana. After breakfast, just as the latter was rising from the table to leave the room, Lady Saxondale said in a cold voice, “* Miss Farefield, I am going into Lincolnshire to-morrow, Constance will accompany me. I presume that you also will proceed thither with us?” “Tt suits me as well to be in Lincolnshire as in London,” answered Juliana, in a voice as glacial as that of her parent. She then left the breakfast-parlour; and as she was passing across the hall to reach the staircase, she perceived Edmund entering by the front-door at the moment. He had a very dissipated look— his garments were in disorder—and he seemed as if he had been up the whole night. “ Well, Julie,” he said, in his usual flippant manner, “how are you? I suppose you think I’m @ perfect stranger ?”—and he gave a tipsy hiccup. “ Come this way, Edmund,” said his elder sister, beckoning him somewhat mysteriously. “I want to speak to you.” They accordingly passed into the dining-room, and Juliana, making a sign for her brother to close the door, said to him, “ Do you know that we are all going into Lincolnshire to-morrow morning ?” “Who's going?” asked Edmund, with a yawn, “Not I, by Jove! that’s very certain. Our lady- mother and you two girls may go if you like: but I'll be hanged if Ido. J am my own master now, thank heaven! and I mean to let people see it. You don’t know what a jolly lark [ve had during the past night. I and Harold pretty nearly killed a policeman between us: but I don’t think that we were known—and, at all events, we got clear olf.” “T suppose you have not been in bed all night?” said Juliana, not without a look of disgust, for she now perceived that he was half-tipsy. “Not I: and so I was just going to lie down and have a three hours’ nap—then get up again as fresh as a lark, and off to Emily——Ohb! I mean But no matter :’—and seeing that he had com- mitted himself, he burst out laughing. “ And pray who is Hmily?” asked Juliana —— «—.__— . __—eL_s—szzszsszzszssezLrzzzzzizrzzmsuszzzzAzsuzzzzzzuzzzzzzzzzzzzzzlzzlzztttiattt ttt ttt tas ea ~~ ee eer ECORNICLO® CS (E()