The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 381: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 379 ——————————— Ol ia now so different from those which a few minutes | re- back she had experienced. Mrs. Oxenden turned to the balecony—and said, * You are di- verted, Laura ?” “ Yes!” replied the young lady, scarcely able to repress a gush of emotions: “ more—much more than I could possibly have anticipated !” “Tam glad of it,’ said Mrs. Oxenden: “we will have these men again to-morrow.” Laura was about to give expression to a joyous affirmative, when she was struck by the impru- dence of displaying too much interest in these proceedines—and she accordingly held her peace. Her unprincipled sister summoned one of the itine- rants towards the balcony ; and this individual hap- pened to be the bearer of the letter—as indeed he was also the leader of the troop. “Do you purpose, my good man,” inquired Mrs. Oxenden “to remain in this neighbourhood for a day or two P” “Well, ma’am,” replied the fellow, with the ready-witted impudence which, harmless enough, characterizes his class,— we had a particular en- gagement to be at Canterbury to-morrow, to per- form in the presence of the Archbishop, his clergy, and all the surrounding nobility and gentry: but if it is your pleasure, ma’am, that we shall attend here again, I’m sure we would put off all the Arch- bishops in the world rather than disappoimt you and the young lady.” “In that case,” rejoined Mrs. Oxenden, smiling, “you must come hither again to-morrow at the same hour—and here is your retaining fee.” Another silver coin found its way to the hand of the mountebank; and he shortly afterwards de- parted with his comrades—of course including Baron Raggidbak. On their return into the town, the mountebank at once put off his professional costume—dressed himself in his plain clothes—and proceeded to the Royal Hotel, where Edgar Beverley and Christian were anxiously awaiting his arrival, He communicated to them the result of his mission—and gladdened them still more by the intellizence that circumstances were so far favouring their views that his mountebank troop had actually been engaged to return to perform in front of Verner House on the morrow. ‘The heart of Edgar Beverley was now elate with hope; and fervid indeed were his expressions of gratitude for the counsel and assistance afforded him by our young hero. The mountebank was liberally re- warded ; and he took his departure, promising to fulfil his engagement on the morrow. Lieutenant Beverley was careful to keep in-doors throughout that day, for fear lest the old Baronet or Mrs. Oxenden might happen to pay a visit to Ramsgate and encounter him in the streets if he were im- prudent enough to leave the hotel. Christian kept him company for the greater portion of the day— merely issuing out to take a walk for an hour or two: but during his ramble he saw nothing of either Sir John Steward or Mrs. Oxenden. The two young gentlemen dined together in the eyen- ing ; and the result of the morrow’s proceedings was awaited with some degree of suspense—in which however hope was predominant, CHAPTER LXXTEI. MRS. OXENDEN. IT was evening: and Laura had just retired to her own chamber, at ‘about half-past nine o’clock, under the plea of-a severe headache. Her real | motive was however to find an opportunity for penning an answer to Wdear Beverley’s note; and it was only by thus withdrawing at a somewhat early hour that she could hope to find such an oc: casion—for her chamber was an inner one opening from that occupied by her sister, who thus took care to act as the guardian by night of the young maiden, so as to prevent the possibility of escape. | Laura had read her lover’s billet: it had filled her with hope, and joy, and gratitude ; and though she had done her best to wear the same demeanour as before, yet she had not been altogether able to prevent herself from appearing to be in better spirits. On retiring to her room, she speedily dismissed the maid who came to attend upon her night- toilet; and she was about to sit down to pena hasty reply to Edgar’s note, when she heard the outer door open; and she had only just time to recover from her confusion and trepidation, when Mrs. Oxenden made her appearance. We ought perhaps to observe that Laura was entirely ignorant—and that the purity of her mind pre- vented her from suspecting—that her sister's an- tecedents were not the most correct in the world, and that she had been the kept mistress of several wealthy persons, amongst whom was Sir John Steward. Mrs. Oxenden, on entering her chamber, em- braced her sister with every appearance of the most affectionate cordiality ; and in a tone which seemed fraught with a corresponding sincerity, she said, “ Dearest Laura, you know not how happy L am to perceive that you are beginning to cheer up—or at all events that you are not quite so depressed as you have hitherto been. You may think, Laura, that I have played a harsh part towards you: but I was merely doing my duty as a sister whois so much older than your- self that you stand in the light of a daughter to- wards me.” Laura made no answer: she could scarcely be- lieve that her sister spoke in exact accordance with the truth; and yet it revolted against the nataral generosity of her nature to arrive at a contrary conclusion. “T am sure that you are making up your mind to be reasonable,” continued Mrs. Oxenden: “TI felt confident that when your mind became suffi- ciently calm for deliberate reflection, you would see how completely I have been studying your best interests. But you spoke to me this morn- ing in the drawing-room as if you fancied it was otherwise; and perhaps I answered you impae tiently, and even unkindly, when I appeared to upbraid you for compelling me to give the same explanations over and over again. I am sorry, dear Laura, if I did thus speak somewhat too hastily; and I was determined to take the first opportunity to remove that impression from your mind.” Laura gazed with her beautiful blue eyed tac tgtagnnaeceateces eA I SA GOmicdoo (C <S) CO)