The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 48: what you’re looking at

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i eee THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT dt Constance—retire! I must have some private conversation P : ‘t Private conversation indeed !”” echoed Mabel with increasing rage. “ What I wantis justice— and I mean to have it too. ‘To be bullied and badgered by that petty tyrant, is beyond all en- durance. I hate him—the whole household hates him—everybody hates him: he is a wretched eur !” ‘‘ Mother!” cried Juliana; “if you do not call the lacqueys to turn this woman out of the house e “Silence, miss!” ejaculated Lady Saxondale, stamping her foot with rage. ‘‘ Retire I say !” Constance, the younger girl, was already re- treating to the door, both frightened and amazed at this scene with the old housekeeper—a scene which, though not altogether new, was still far more serious than any displays of the kind that had ever previously taken place. Juliana, the eider young lady, flung a look of unmitigated contempt upon Mabel, and walked with all her mother’s stateliness and haughty grandeur out of the room, closing the door with some degree of violence behind her. What then took place between Lady Saxondale and her irate housekeeper, we know not. Suffice it to say that they remained alone together for nearly half-an-hour; and when the old woman enlerged from that room again, it was with the mingled sullenness and vixenish acerbity of countenance which plainly indicated that though she had suffered herself to be appeased somehow or another, yet that it was with a very bad grace she had received such satisfaction or apologies as might have been offered, and that in her heart the sense of insult was still rankling bitterly. Meanwhile, as they were ascending the stair- case to their own chamber, the sisters had en- countered. one of the pages of the household, whom we may at this moment introduce to our readers. He was a youth of about eighteen, and of the most extraordinary beauty. Not very tall, his figure was slight, but as perfectly symmetrical as that of a Grecian statue representing Apollo ; and the tasteful livery which he wore, consisting of a jacket tightly buttoned up to his throat, and trousers with two thin red stripes down each leg, set off his elegant shape to the utmost advantage. He had chesnut hair, which he wore long, and was naturally curling and wavy; his forehead was high and as whiteas that of a maiden; his brows were dark, pencilled in two thin arching lines; his eyes were of deep hazel, large and liquid, but bright as if with subdued fires. He had little colour upon the cheeks—no whiskers, nor beard upon his chin—buthe was suffering his moustache to grow, and which, delicately pencilled like his brows, relieved his countenance somewhat from its otherwise girlish appearance. His lips were somewhat full; and if they had belonged toa woman, would have been denominated pouting. Being slightly apart, they always affordedaglimpse of a most beautiful set of teeth. Though already described as not of tall stature, yet his graceful length of limb, set off by the becoming apparel wlrich he wore, made him appear taller than he really’was; and altogether there was a grace- fulness and a gentility about this youth which, when united with his extraordinary personal beauty, rendered him a being who though clad in & menial garb could not possibly fail to attract the notice of any one who passed him by. His nanie was Francis Paton—familiarly called Frank in the household; and he had been in Lady Saxon- dale’s service for about a year. Such was the youth whom the two sisters en- countered upon the stairs as they were ascending to their own chamber to talk over together the scenes which had just occurred in the room below. Constance, the fair-haired girl, who was proceed- ing first, passed him by with no more notice than a young lady in her position was likelv to take of one of the household domestics: but Juliana, the elder damsel, bent upon him for a moment the full power of her magnificent dark eyes; and though the youth immediately flung his own looks downwards and passed rapidly on, yet was the colour mantling upon his cheeks, and he seemed to be quivering with the excitement of the feelings which that rapid regard had so suddenly conjured up. The sisters ascended to their chamber, where they remained together for about an hour; at the expiration of which time one of their maids came to announce that Mr. Deveril was waiting below to give them their lesson in ivory-painting. OHAPTER VIII. MR. GUNTHORPE. In the evening of the same day, punctually at half-past six o’clock, a loud double-knock was given at the front door of the house in which Harold Staunton occupied handsome lodgings. He and his friend Lord Saxondale were together in the drawing-room; and at the sound of that _ knock they approached one of the windows. “AsI live!” cried Edmund, ‘‘ he has come in a Hansom Patent Cab!” and he turned away with a grimace expressive of immitigable disgust. “T wonder whether Alfred will be able to keep his countenance as he shows him up ?” observed Lord Harold: ‘‘I am sure I could not blame him if he did not. But then,” he immediately added, ‘ Alfred is so very discreet and prudent. But what on earth is the old fellow stopping to parley with the cabman for? I do believe he is disput- ing the fare. Good heavens! what will the people of the house think? what will the neigh- bours think? what ¥ “Yes—and now the quarrel is waxing warmer,” cried Saxondale, returning to the window and looking down into the street. ‘“ By jingo, this is devilish pleasant! A crowd is already collecting.” ‘* You are nothing better than a reg’lar old bilk,”’ were the words which, being vociferated forth by the indignant cabman, now reached the ears of the two young nobles who were gazing aghast from the fiyst-floor windows. “What do you think ?” pursued the cabman, turning round and appealing to those whom the disturbance had already collected: ‘this old fogy, with his great shirt-frill, wants me to take sixteen-pence for driving him from the Bell and Crown right away up in Holbors, down here to Jarmyn Street; and I say my fare’s two bob, and I won't bate a farden. Hle’s gived me eighteen-pence in silver, and de- mands tuppence change.” “ Yes—and I mean to have it too,” said Mr. ECOMICclHooks (CO)