The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 355: what you’re looking at

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

340 THER MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, balf raising himself, but apparently with great pain; sudden dizziness, or a loss of balance—or whether an then he sank back again. _ the horse shied at the moment-——” The gate was opened—and in a moment he was’ “No, that I can swear he didn’t!” exclaimed surrounded by all the party. He was very pale, Hawkshaw: “he never swerved a hair’s-breadth to aud looked up with anguish on his countenance. right or left, but went straight on as he always Florina threw herself upon her knees by his side, does. However, the harm’s done: and there is no while Mr. Hawkshaw assisted her to raise him. more use in talking about it. At the same time, Lady Macdonald was excessively alarmed—Lady my lord, I don’t think that your reputation need be | Saxondale seemed so—and Juliana was frightened considered damaged as a good equestrian: for you as much as it was in her nature to care for anybody. certainly took the gate gallantly, and there is no “Where are you hurt, Harold? For heaven’s mistake about that.” sake, speak!” cried his sister, fullof anguish. “Oh,| The party reached the castle; and Lord Harold do speak, Harold !—tell me where you are hurt.” | was conducted up to his chamber, where he got to “Tt is nothing —beyond a. mere fall—a few | bed, declaring his intention of remaining there for a bruises,” murmured Staunton, as if with difficulty day or two. The incident appeared to throw a giving utterance to the words. damp upon the spirits of every one—the gloom Mr. Hawkshaw ran his hands over Lord Harold’s _ being genuine in some respects, feigned no doubt arms and then his legs; and finding that he did not in others. Mr. Hawkshaw, who was a generous give veut to any expression of pain, the Squire at and frank-hearted man, expressed himself in the once concluded that no bones were broken. kindest terms relative to Harold; and two or three “Stand up, my lord—let us assist you to rise. | times in the course of the day he ascended to his There!” he exclaimed, as he and Florina together | lordship’s chamber to inquire how he felt. Florina helped Staunton to regain his feet. “How do you’ would have remained there altogether to attend feel now ?” upon her brother: but Harold preferred being left “ Better—much better: I am only bruised. Run | alone, as he said that the shock which he had sus- and get your horse, Hawkshaw: I can stand alone ‘tained had left an exceeding drowsiness behind it. now—or at least. supported on my sister’s arm. Mr. Hawkshaw stayed to dinner, which was served Thanks, dear Flo, for the kind interest you take in Up as usual between six and seven o’clock. He and me.” Juliana walked out together in the garden after- Mr. Hawkshaw, now perfectly assured that no- wards,—the other ladies remaining in-doors. Be- thing very serious was the matter with Lord Harold, tween eight and nine o'clock the Squire and Miss hastened in pursuit of the steed, which he soon | Farefield ascended to the drawing-room, where caught; and on leading it back to the spot where | Lady Saxondale, Lady Macdonald, and Florina were the accident had occurred, he found Staunton lean- | seated. ing against the gate surrounded by the ladies, who x How gets on the patient asked the Squire. were receiving his assurances that he only felt very | “ With your ladyship’s permission I will pay him much shaken, but that there was nothing serious to ; another visit; and then perhaps he will like to be apprehend. ‘Lo his sister’s proposal that medical | left quiet for the rest of the evening.” assistance should be sent fur, he gave a decisive “Do so,” responded Lady Saxondale, to whom negative,—declaring that he had experienced on | the remark was addressed. “I will accompany former occasions more severe falls than the present | Y si And, Florina—perhaps you will come with one. us P”’ “The best thing you can do, my lord,” said| The three accordingly proceeded to Staunton’s Hawkshaw, “is to get back to the castle and go to chamber; and in answer to their queries he said bed. You must lie up for two or three days, at | that he fett very stiff and sore—that he was much the end of which time you will be perfectly re- | bruised—and feared he should be unable to leave covered.” his chamber for some days. Florina again urged “ Decidedly I shall follow your advice,” responded | the necessity of having professional assistance: but Staunton. “Come, let me lean on your arm, Flo— | her brother said that it was useless—and Mr. Hawk- and your’s too, aunt: for 1 feel somewhat weak— | Shaw himself did not consider it to be by any means which is to be expected.” necessary, adding that a good night’s rest would do “God be thanked it is no worse!” said Lady | wonders for him. ' Macdonald, as she gave her nephew her arm,| “We will therefore leave his lordship to his re- while Florina fervently echoed her elderly relative’s | pose,” said Lady Saxondale. “The bell-pull is words. within your reach; and I have given orders that “I can’t fancy how the deuce you could have’ your slightest wants or wishes are to be attended managed it,” said Mr. Hawkshaw, leading his horse | to.” by the bridle, as the party moved slowly onward | ‘My grateful thanks are due to your ladyship,” towards the castle. “You cleared the gate in beau- replied Staunton, with as much respect as if not tiful style: nobody could have done it better, I the slightest improper intimacy had ever taken place watched you as‘narrowly as possible the whole time; between himself and the splendid mistress of the and it seemed to me that when landing on the op- castle. posite side, you were as firm in your saddle as at Her ladyship, Florina, and Mr. Hawkshaw wished the moment the horse made the spring. But all of Harold good night, and quitted the chamber,—re- a sudden you disappeared as if shot by some unseen turning to the drawing-room, where they reported hand.” 'to Lady Macdonald and Juliana how the patient “J myself can scarcely tell how it did occur,” re- | was getting on. plied Harold, speaking in a voice that seemed very’ “I must now leave you to amuse yourselves as feeble and weak. “I don’t know whether it was a best you ean for ten minutes or a quarter of an —— GomiGcsdooks (E()