The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 25: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. the remainder of that day she stayed in her boudoir, —sending a message by one of her maids to her hus- band, to the effect that she begged his kind consi- deration and wished to be alone. The Duke na- turally fancied—as indeed was but too terribly the case—that his wife had found in the contents of the desk something to make her thus court sol- tude; and he obtruded not his presence upon her. But on the following morning, when she descended to the breakfast-parlour, she expressed her grati- tude for all his goodness towards her; and when he saw how pale she was, he thought to himself that the documents she had found in the desk, must have revived all her bitterest affliction at her father’s loss. He however delicately and carefully abstained from breathing a word in allusion to the subject—much less to inquire what the contents of those papers might have been. From that day forth the sadness deepened upon Eliza’s counte- nance—but also blended with a sweeter and holier resionation: her tones acquired that soft plain- tiveness of harmony which characterizes the voice that is accustomed to keep down an ebullition of feeling : her cheeks remained pale—bui not with a sickly whiteness: it was the perfect transparency of the complexion which loses not its animation when the tint of the rose dies away. We should observe that Lord Clandon had left Oaklands almost immediately after Captain Lacey’s funeral—as did also Mrs. Bailey: the other guests who had been invited to stay there, had for deli- cacy’s sake taken their leave on the very morning after the demise of the Duchess’s father. The Duke of Marchmont,—thinking that change of scene would contribute to the restoration of his wife’s spirits, and that a southern clime during the approaching winter would benefit her health, —proposed a visit to Italy. liza, ever amiably ready to yield to her husband’s wishes in all things, gave her assent in that calmly serene manner, tinged with sadness, which had now be- come habitual to her:—and to Italy they accord- ingly went. The winter passed: spring revisited the earth, clothing the trees with a tender yverdure, and covering the boughs with blossoms. Summer followed, to expand that verdure into a more 19 _ splendour, elegance, and grace, blended with a touching interest as well as with a becoming dig- nity, rendered her a being of whom any husband might be proud. And the Duke of Marchmont was proud of his Eliza: he had seen her as much admired in Italy as she had been in England; and he now hoped that as England was reached again, she would mingle in the society which her rank and loveliness qualified her to adorn, and where she would shine as a star of matchless and sweet- est beauty. The Duke of Marchmont’s arrangements were that they should remain at Oaklands throughout | the autumn, until the Christmas season,—when | they would remove to the town-mansion. His Grace was accustomed to submit to his wife’s approval whatsdever he projected: for to her only = he neither proud nor autocratic;—and she on her side invariably gave her sweetly and softly expressed assent to all his proposals. But in order that the stay at Oaklands might not be dull nor monotonous,—and in order that Eliza might again gradually glide into the gaieties of society, after a year of mourning for her father,— the Duke suggested that they should entertain a select circle of friends. Accordingly invitations were sent to Mrs. Bailey, to the Lomax family, and to half-a-dozen other members, male and female, of the fashionable world. They came in due course; and though Eliza received them with her wonted affability, and did the honours of the mansion with a becoming grace and dignity, ske experienced no real relief in their society from any of the sorrows that lay deep in the immortal caverns of her heart. midland county, when the Duke and Duchess re- turned to England. On learning their arrival, he lost no time in writing a dutiful and affectionate letter to his uncle, expressing a hope that the amiable Duchess had recovered so far as could be expected from the shock of her father’s death. The Duke, flattered and gratified by this fresh testimonial of Hugh’s complete and generous de- ference to the head of the family, responded in cordial terms, and invited him to pay a visit to Oaklands. Lord Clandon was unmarried; and brilliant green, and to prepare the boughs for the | the Duke jocosely hinted in his letter that it was rich fruitage of autumn. It was in the beginning | high time Hugh should think of taking unto him- of September, 1829—exactly one year from the | self a partner for life—and that probably amongst Lord Clandon was at his shooting-box in a death of Captain Lacey—that the Duke and the lady-guests assembled at Oaklands, he might Duchess of Marchmont returned to Oaklands. The Duke had some reason to flatter himself that his hopes, when they set out upon their travels, had not been altogether unfulfilled. It was not that the colour had come back to Eliza’s cheeks —that appeared to have gone for ever: but as there was naught of insipid deadness in the purity of her complexion, her beauty was not marred — only rendered the more interesting. There are some forms which remain uninfluenced by the sorrow which lies deep in the heart: it is ever so when that sorrow exists always the same, —breaking not forth in sudden and violent ebul- litions, to be succeeded by periods of exhaustion. These cause the wear and tear of the frame: but it is the former state which shows itself but little outwardly ;—and so it was with the Duchess of Marchmont. Her figure retained all its rounded contours, its rich proportions, its flowing outlines: ——— Ss ree | find one who in personal and pecuniary points of view would prove an eligible match. The pecu- 'miary point of view was perhaps the more im- | portant for Lord Clandon’s consideration, inasmuch as he was far from rich: his income amounted to a bare two thousand a-year—little enough to sup- port his position as a Peer—and a mere trifle indeed for one whose habits were expensive and | extravagant. nephew was thus straitened in his means; and -in the same letter which conveyed the invitation _to Oaklands, he enclosed a cheque upon his banker for a handsome amount. Lord Clandon hastened to acknowledge the epistle and its enclosure,— expressing a fervid gratitude for his uncle’s con- _siderate kindness, and promising to be at Oaklands ; at the expiration of a week. | The same post which brought this letter from Hugh, brought one from another quarter—likewise The Duke well knew that his. LI LIE ALES LE LL LT ST EDS I FE IES SE ES ~I I ET S CO)