The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 80: what you’re looking at

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66 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. about eight o’clock, they entered it and were driven to the residence of Lady Wenlock in the neighbourhood of Kew. Her Jadyship gave on this occasion an entertain- ment which she was pleased to denominate an autumnal féte. The mansion stood in the midst of spacious pleasure-grounds, consisting of gar- dens, shrubberies, shady avenues, and delicious arbours, Fountains and fish-ponds varied the pic- turesque scene; and conservatories of fruits and flowers were scattered about in all directions. The entire enclosure waS now one vast illumination, produced by myriads of variegated lamps ; so that in the deepest recesses of the bowers and in the vistas of the largest avenues, it was as light as day. The effect was brilliant and dazzling. The pools, in which the gold and silver fish disported, were penetrated with the living lustre: the con- servatories, all of glass, shone as if in a perfect blaze;—and the fountains scattered their myriads of drops as if the shining waters flung gems around in their ceaseless play. Lady Wenlock was a wealthy widow, about sixty years of age. and remarkable for the hospi- tality of her disposition and the brilliancy of her entertainments. Though well stricken in years, she loved to see young persons happy; and her greatest delight was in gathering around her a host of youthful guests who would lay aside all extreme formalities and indulge in the exuberance of inno- cent mirth. Though perfectly lady-like in her bearing and polished in her manners, there was no frigid reserve nor affectation about her: she was thoroughly open-hearted, frank, and good-natured —and everybody felt “at home” when partaking of her hospitality. With this excellent lady Mrs. Arbuthnot was well acquainted; and she had therefore easily pro- cured a card of invitation for Miss |Trelawney. The grounds were already thronged with guests when Venetia, her “companion,’’ and Penelope arrived at the mansion; and from Lady Wenlock did Miss Trelawney experience a cordial welcome. Her appearance in the gardens was moreover pro- ductive of a great sensation—for her extraordinary beauty was such that no man could gaze upon without emotion, and no female eye could con- template without admiration, tinged as this sen- timent might also be with envy. But scarcely had Venetia and the Arbuthnots thus made their appearance, when Colonel Mal- pas, who was one of the numerous guests al- ready arrived, hastened up to Lady Wenlock and begged her ladyship to introduce him to Miss Tre- lawney. “Oh! certainly,” said the good-natured hostess : “and as Miss Trelawney and her friends are unac- companied by any gentleman, I shall consign them, Colonel, to your especial care.” This arrangement was within the strictest rules of etiquette, and also of propriety—the more so as Malpas was a married man, although his wife was not present at the festival. Accompanying the Colonel to the spot where Venetia, Mrs. Arbuthnot, and Penelope were pausing to admire a beautiful fountain, Lady Wen- lock introduced him to the three ladies—observ- ing withthe good-natured smile and cordial manner 80 well becoming a hostess who knows how to do a the honours of her entertainments, “I haye con- signed you to the care of Colonel Malpas—and I shall be very angry with him indeed if he do not make himself agreeable.” “J can assure your ladyship,” said the Colonel, with his most approved drawing-room drawl, “that if I fail in this respect, it will not be for want of inclination.” “Tam certain of that, Colonel,” replied Lady Wenlock: and off she sped to greet some new arrivals. There was a slight deepening of the natural bloom on Venetia’s cheeks as she bowed to Colonel Malpas when the introduction took place: and for a moment—a single moment—there was a haughty curl of her beauteous lip as she beheld an expres- sion of mingled triumph and satisfaction sweep over the Colonel’s countenance, He offered her his arm, which she took: that is to say, she just laid her white-gloved fingers so lightly upon it that it was utterly impossible for him to feel the pressure of her hand atall. Mrs, Arbuthnot and Penelope walked together in front; and in this manner did the party enter one of the briJliantly-illuminated avenues. “This is a pleasure, Miss Trelawney,” said the Colonel, “which I did not expect—and—ahem !— which is the more delightful on account of being so completely unanticipated.” “JT never beheld so enchanting a domain,” ob- served Venetia, taking no notice of his clumsily- worded and awkwardly-delivered compliment. “It is a perfect paradise; and the beauty of all the arrangements is blended with the most exquisite taste.” * Beautiful beings are necessarily judges of beautiful things,” said the Colonel. “ Yes—I have no doubt that Lady Wenlock was very handsome in her youth,” returned Miss Tre- lawney, with an air of artless gaiety; “and there- fore, if there be any truth in your remark, it is not astonishing that her ladyship should have had her grounds laid out so handsomely.” There was a slight and scarcely perceptible tinge of irony in the latter portion of this sentence; and Colonel Malpas threw a piercing glance upon Venetia to ascertain if the suspicion which struck him to that effect was well founded. But the beauteous features expressed only the animation of gaiety; and the self-conceit of the gallant officer likewise tended to reassure him. “You did not exactly comprehend my meaning, Miss Trelawney,” he observed. ‘But no matter. I wish to speak to you upon another subject.” “The weather, doubtless?” said Venetia, with subdued archness, “Gentlemen in fashionable life invariably talk of the weather : “*Pon my honour, that’s excellent, Miss Tre- Jawney!” exclaimed the Colonel, with a laugh as elongated as his drawling habit of speech. “ You are really very severe upon us gentlemen. But no doubt we deserve it: for whenever we enter into conversation with a lady, we are sure to observe either what a fine day it is, or what a bad one. Ha! ha! you are quite a critic, Miss Trelawney.” “At all events you admit that I am a just one, Colonel Malpas,” she observed, scarcely able to conceal her disgust at his flippamcy aud cox- combry. “You are, Miss Trelawney. 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