The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 58: what you’re looking at

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44 chased at some sacrifice of the better feelings which nature has implanted within us?” “It may be so,” observed Mary, her agitation sub- siding and yielding to thoughtfulness: then, after a long pause, she said, “I have no doubt that I shall soon think as you do: but at first it is painful—yes, very painful to receive such lessons and be enjoined to pursue such a course of training. Tis the same as if a beautiful picture on which the eye was gazing with rapturous admiration, suddenly changed into an assemblage of loathsome reptiles.” “And did you positively believe, Mary, that the world was so fair a scene?” inquired Agatha. “ How could I think otherwise?” asked the young girl, with a profound sigh. “ Mamma never opened her lips upon the subject until to-day—you were all three equally reserved is “ And you, Mary,” interrupted Agatha, “ were very ehort-sighted.” “ Yes—I was indeed !” said the young girl, mourn- fully. “But now my eyes are fully opened—and I perceive that for some time past I have been going through a course of preparatory training without sus- pecting it. In fact,” she added, with quivering lips and burning cheeks, “ the very sports and pastimes which I looked upon as so innocent, have been purposely in- tended to undermine all delicacy of feeling —all rectitude of principle——” « And now you are going to whine again and whim- per, like a great school-girl,” exclaimed Emma, sharply. “ Silly thing that you are!” added Julia, still more angrily. “You are wrong thus to upbraid poor Mary,” said Agatha, speaking to the two young ladies ina tone of rebuke. ‘Let us argue with her—and not scold. Remember, Miss Emma, that you were alarmed and frightened at first—and you, Miss Julia, were as much shocked as Mary is now nd “Well, Mary will forgive us for a momentary un- kindness,” exclaimed Emma and Julia, embracing their youngest sister, who threw her arms around their necks and sobbed and wept as she kissed them tenderly. “And now, my dear girl,” said Agatha,, ‘tell us all that our mother has been whispering in your ears, so that we may understand to what extent her ex- planations have gone.” “T do not know whether I can arrange all the de- tails of mamma’s discourse in consecutive order,” replied Mary, endeavouring to compose her feelings as well asshe was able: ‘‘ but the purport of it has neces- sarily made such an impression upon my mind, that I can never forget it. First, however, I should observe that it never struck me until this morning that there was anything remarkable or strange in the intimacy which subsists between the Princes and our family : I had never given the subject a thought. For the last three or four years I have been accustomed to see them visit the house and treat us all in the most friendly manner—and on no occasion did I think of asking myself the meaning of this intimacy. Then the pastimes and recreations—the blindman’s buff, hunt the slipper, and kiss-in-the-ring—all the fami- liarities, in fine——” “Were naturally looked upon by you as innocent and meaningless,” observed Agatha. “ Yes,” replied Mary: “ whereas the whole routine has been part and parcel of a means systematically adopted to inure our minds to every species of levity — THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. short of actual frailty,” added the young girl, her cheeks once more suffused with the burning blushes of shame. Agatha, Emma, and Julia exchanged rapid and significant looks;—and then the eldest again en- couraged Mary to proceed with her explanation of what had passed between Mrs. Owen and herself. ‘“‘Having hitherto entertained such innocent im- pressions relative to the visits of the Princes and the amusements in which we indulged with them,” con- tinued Mary, “I was astonished when I just now heard from mamma's lips that the whole was a de- liberate and preconceived system adopted for the pur- pose ef training our minds into a particular course. Nor Jess was I amazed and afflicted, when my own mother began to explain to me how the path to fortune lay through the realms of duplicity and deceit, and not through the regions of frankness and rectitude. Oh! to me these doctrines appeared detestable and abhorrent, especially when coming from the lips of amother! But, then, as she herself assured me, she is a woman of the world—and had she pursued a course perfectly consistent with the dictates of her conscience, she would be a pauper in a workhouse or a mendicant in the streets, with her four daughters famishing around her. She adopted another career—she sacrificed her better feelings—she yielded to circumstances—or rather she flung herself With complete abandonment upon the tide of events; —and the results may be recognised in the ease, com- fort, and even luxury in which she has lived and reared her children. The lessons whereia she has this day initiated me, have therefore been to the effect that wealth isthe grand aim which I must ever keep in view—and that in order to reach it, I must hesitate at no meanness, no selfishness, no falsehood, no du- plicity! Iam to bear in mind that it is better to be- come the mistress of a rich man than the wife of a poor one—that splendid guilt is not guilt at all, but that virtuous poverty is the greatest of crimes. I am to accustom myself to the familiarities, the caresses, and the toyings of the Princes, in order to be enabled to keep a constant control and mastery over my passions—so that by inuring myself to all that may excite the feelings and play upon the senses, I may with ease offer resistance when it does not suit my selfish interests to surrender my virtue. I am to be- come a thorough hypocrite in everything—to be ready in the adoption of any artifice that may serve my purposes—to be able to smile upon an enemy if need be—and to lavish the tenderest caresses upon any one whom it may suit metoruin. In fine, I am so to discipline all my passions, all my feelings, all my emotions, that they shall become my slaves and not my masters—that they shall be rendered subservient to my purposes, instead of exercising any influence over my destiny,—so that when I err, it may not be through weakness, but deliberately and intentionally on my side—and when I appear to be succumbing in the melting mood of woman’s natural tenderness, I shall in reality be only playing a part in which my passions have not the slightest sympathy. I am to resemble the proficient actress upon the stage, who can call up tears—wreathe her countenance into beaming smiles—bestow or receive the most pas- sionate caresses—burst inte sudden indignation—re- lapse into winning softness—faint, swoon—laugh or pray—and all this at a moment's warning and with- out an effort |” “ Such has been the substance of our mother’s leo- (EO) IOOKS AMC (E(@)