The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 72: what you’re looking at

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

ee tt, A LLL LLL ALLA LLL LLL ALT 58 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. a a eden a kindly, she knows full well that were she even to mention the name of her husband, her uncle would start up in a fury and overwhelm her with the bitterest reproaches. “Tam rejoiced to see you,” repeated the Mar- quis of Leveson, , “I am rejoiced to see you also, my dear uncie,” answered Ernestina, with a profound sigh. “ You are in good health—you look well——and—and you are happy ”” ‘J wish that you were happy also, Ernestina,” said the nobleman. ‘* But if there be anything that I can do to lighten your afflictions—and so long as it is for yourself alone, mind——” “Thank you, my dear unele—thank you!” ex- claimed Lady Ernestina Dysart, with a singular and enthusiastic fervour. “I told you in my brief note that L wished to speak to you upon a matter of importance—and it is only to beseech a favour at your hands,” ‘Name it, niece—name it,” said the Marquis, hurriedly. “But not a word upon a particular topic—not a syllable on behalf of a certain per- son J Wo: it is only for myself that I am about to solicit this favour, my dear uncle,” interrupted the lady, with a species of hysterical nervousness in her manner, and a painful excitement in her tone: then, with the evident trepidation and suspense of one who fears a refusal, she said, “ The boon that I crave at your hands, is money !” “1 thought so!” ejaculated the Marquis, his lips quivering. “But if it be to bestow upon one who will waste it at the gaming-table—and leave you to want or embarrassment——” * No, no—it shall not be disposed of thus!” ex- claimed Ernestina, with impassioned violence. “But I can assure you, my dear uncle, it will re- lieve me—yes, me—from cruel difficulties——” “Well, well—you shall have it, Ernestina,” in- terrupted the Marquis, pressing her hand as a fa- ther might do towards adaughter, “ How long do you remain in London ?” “in?” she ejaculated, as if startled by the ques- tion. “Oh! not another hour, provided you assist me inthis respect. I am going away—and—and it will perhaps be along time before you will see me again.” * A long time before I may see you again,” said the Marquis, echoing her words in a musing tone, as he revolved in his mind the amount of money he should bestowupon btr: then, taking a hint from her observation, he added, “ Well, if you are going away from London—ani\if LI shall not see you for a loug time—I must engare you against want and misery. Remain here fir a few minutes,” And the Marquis hurr ed from the room. Lepairing straight to iis own chamber, he took out a bundle of Bank-notes from the drawer which has already been mentioned; and selecting enough to make up two thousand guineas, he hastened back to the Crimson Drawing-Room. Why he pitched upon this precise sum, it is not easy to say. He assuredly had no particular motive in doing so: but perhaps it was because this amount was uppermost in his mind whenever he thought of money-matters at all—inasmuch as it was the sam he had engaged to pay for the res- toration of his pocket-book. Or else, as he had once before presented Ernestina with that amount, since her marriage, he was led to manifest an equal liberality on this occasion. . However,—be the influence which ruled him at the moment what it may,—such was the sum that he placed in her hands on his return to the Crimson Drawing-Room. “ Here are two thousand guineas, Ernestina,” he said: “and may they prove really and truly serviceable 1 But she cut short his words by throwing her- self into his arms—and laying her head on his shoulder, she sobbed aloud. “Come, my dear girl—come—cheer up,” he ex- claimed, considerably moved, if not deeply affected. “JT can understand your sorrows, although I do not choose to allude to them. Cheer up, I say ——” “Pardon this ebullition of grief, dear uncle,” said Ernestina, in a trembling tone: then, raising her head, she wiped away her tears and by a strong effort regained her composure. “Have you heard anything of Algernon lately?” she inquired. * Yes—read this note,” replied the Marquis, as he placed in her hands the letter which he had re- ceived from his nephew by the morning’s post. “ Ah! Algernon is in London—and he will eall upon you to-day ?” cried Ernestina. “I have not seen him now for more than a year,” she added, in a tone of profound melancholy: “and when last we met——” “You had words—and you parted in anger,” said the Marquis of Leveson. “I have not for- gotten that you told me this circumstance. In- deed, it was soon afterwards that Algernon adopted the singular—strange—mad—insulting resolution, which has so embittered me against him!” ‘‘ Alas! poor brother!” murmured Lady Ernestina Dysart, her fair bosom swelling with a painful sob. “JT dare not remain to meet him,” she added, ina musing tone, and forgetting that her words met her uncle’s ear. * Why should you not dare to meet him?” de- manded Lord Leveson, hastily. ‘ Was your quarrel of so serious a nature ?—for you will be pleased to remember that I am unacquainted with the parti- culars.” “Let us not dwell upon the subject, my dear uncle,” said Ernestina, in a tone of entreaty. “In- deed, I must take my leave of you—I must say farewell !”—and she rose from her seat. “ Farewell, niece—farewell, my dear Ernestina,” exclaimed the nobleman, pressing his lips once more to her forehead. “You know that I wish you all possible happiness—and if, now and then, you choose to write me a line——” J will, I will, dear uncle,” cried the lady, ina tone which expressed the joy she felt at the kind hint thus breathedin herears. “Once more fare- well!” And having embraced her uncle affectionately, Ernestina Dysart hurried from the room, Scarcely had the Marquis of Leveson recovered from the excitement produced by this interview with his niece, when the door of the Crimson Drawing-Room was again thrown open—and Lord Algernon Cavendish was announced, The Marquis gave a cold and scarcely percep- tible inclination of the head, in acknowledgment of the equally cold but somewhat more decided salu- COMMUCLIOONS (E(0)