The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 114: what you’re looking at

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Mi! ae cS 100 ee —_——- —-- ----- we ee ees THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT, ing into tears. “But, Oh! do not think ill of me —do not prejudge me, because you found me a friendless, homeless, unprotected wanderer! My story is a melancholy one—but it contains no nar- rative of guilt or frailty on my part——” “Do not distress yourself, I implore you,” ex- claimed Jocelyn, “by even fancying for a moment that these assurances are necessary to interest me in your behalf. Presently you shall have an op- portunity of giving me such explanations as you may volunteer: but remember that I seek them not as a right—much less as a condition of any service which I may have an opportunity of ren- dering you.” In this strain did the generous-hearted, noble- minded young man reassure and console the aficted young lady ; and by the time they reached the Piazza Hotel in Covent Garden, her agitation had completely subsided—a profound melancholy however succeeding it. The mistress of the establishment was a worthy matron to whom Jocelyn had no hesitation nor scru- ple in confiding his fair companion: then, having reiterated his promise to return in an hour or two, he directed the hackney-coach to be driven back to Piccadilly, and in due time was set down in Stratton Street. To his inquiry at the mansion which bore the number of 13 upon the front door, he was in- formed that Miss Clara Stanley was now at home; and he was immediately conducted into a handsome drawing-room, where he found himself in the pre- sence of a young lady of remarkable beauty, who rose from her seat and advanced with cordial man- ner to welcome him. The impression mutually made at this first meet- ing of Clara Stanley and her sister’s intended Lus- band, was unexceptionably favourable. Jocelyn be- held before him a Jady-like, charming, and unaffected being, who appeared to have acquired just a suffi- ciency of the polish of good society to supersede the awkwardness and embarrassment arising from a se- cluded life in the country, without any of the airs or artificial assumptions which too often accompany the refinement of what is called the fashionable world. On the other hand, Clara found herself in the presence of a handsome, elegant, and prepossess- ing young man, whose goodness of heart and in- tellectual superiority were plainly legible in his looks. They sate down and began to converse. Clara naturally asked a thousand questions relative to her sister, all of which denoted the deeply-seated affec- tion she experienced for that much-loved, amiable, gentle girl: she likewise spoke of her afflicted aunt~ aud then the tears for a few moments rained down her cheeks. Jocelyn, having responded to all her queries, proceeded to state that he had come up to London on purpose to arrange certain affairs pre- vious to his marriage with Louisa; and he expressed a hope that when the bridal day arrived, Miss Clara Stanley would be enabled to leave London and be present at Canterbury on the occasion. The young _ lady replied that nothing should prevent her from acting in accordance with Jocelyn’s and her sister’s _ desire in this respect: and she then proceeded to ex- press her regret that she could not have the pleasure of introducing Mr. Loftus to Mr. and Mrs. Beckford on the present occasion, as they were very old people and much fatigued with their excursion into the country op the preceding day. But she assured him that, through the attachment they had conceived for herself, they felt the liveliest interest in every- thing that concerned her sister, and would be happy to avail themselves of the earliest oppor- tunity in future to form the acquaintance both of Louisa and Jocelyn. Clara likewise observed she thought it more than possible, and indeed al- most certain, that Mr. and Mrs. Beckford would accompany her to Canterbury on the occasion of the approaching nuptials; and then, in allusion to herself, she remarked that the only manner in which she could testify her gratitude towards the kind benefactors who had adopted her as their daughter and intended to leave her all their for- tune, was by remaining constantly with them. It was this feeling, she added, which had prevented her from paying even the shortest and most hurried visit to Canterbury to see her sister; and Jocelyn readily appreciated and acknowledged the force of Clara’s observations in this respect. --- — - In this manner did Loftus and Miss Stanley | converse for upwards of an hour, the favourable impression mutually made at first being strength- | ened and confirmed by the protraction of the in- terview ; and when Jocelyn rose to take his leave, Clara begged him to become the bearer of a letter and a present which she had prepared for her | He of course assented: and she placed © in his hands a small packet, which he promised to | sister. deliver to Louisa on his return to Canterbury. | They then separated: but scarcely had the door closed behind the young gentleman, when Clara burst out into an agony of bitter weeping and con- vulsive sobs, as if her surcharged bosom were now enabled, the instant she was alone, to find a vent for the feelings which she had been forced not only to stifle, but even to mask beneath smiles and an unnatural composure during the interview with her sister’s intended husband. Onreturning to the Piazza Hotel, Jocelyn Loftus inquired of the landlady concerning the afflicted young creature whom he had entrusted to her charge; and, on ascertaining that she was now comparatively tranquillised, he repaired to the apartment in which she was seated. The moment he entered, she began to express, with tears in her eyes, all the gratitude she experienced for the generous kindnes he had manifested towards her; and she besought him to listen to those explana- tions upon which she now felt herself in a fitting frame of mind to enter. He accordingly took a seat near her; and she proceeded to address him in the following man- ner :— “ | have determined, Mr. Loftus,—for the mis- tress of this establishment has made me acquainted with your name,—to reveal to your ears all the dreadful secrets which now weigh upon my mind: for you have shown ime so much kindness, that I must tax your generosity still farther by imploring your best advice and counsel. Listen then, I beseech you, to the extraordinary narrative which I am about to unfold; and I feel convinced that you will not regret the kindness you have already shown to a being so aflicted—so wretched —and yet so innocent as I.” There was a sincerity in the young lady’s man- ner which confirmed the favourable opinion and strengthened the compassionate sympathy which Jocelyn had already experienced towards her; and | | i CONNICOOOKS: 5(E(0)