The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 384: what you’re looking at

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

378 she said, “ Laura hag yielded finally and com- pletely, as J all along assured you that she would.” “Then the marriage may be celebrated by the priest to-morrow P” exclaimed Sir John, in a tone of hasty inquiry; “and we can set off immediately afterwards to haye the Protestant ceremony per- formed by special license in London, according to our original plan P” “T fear that it cannot be so,” answered Mrs. Oxenden: “for you know that the priest had scruples in pronouncing the nuptial blessing unless Laura gave her fullest and completest assent. This she has only just done: she will require to-morrow to think well over it—for I am as intimately ac- quainted with her disposition as it is possible to be. But the day after « “Ah, I understand you!” growled Sir John surlily. “You area woman of the world—and you will have all the settlements signed and sealed before you give me your sister. Do you think I shall fly from my word? do you suppose I am not sincere in disinheriting a younker for whom I have no more love nor affection than for the veriest stranger—but whom on the contrary I am inclined to hate because he shows his father’s independent spirit P or do you think that I shall fly away from the bargain which is to make over ten thousand pounds to you as the price for your charming sister P” “IT wish you would not use such coarse blunt language, Sir John,” observed Mrs. Oxenden, as a flush appeared upon her handsome counte- nance. “ Coarse language, indeed!” he ejaculated: and then he gave a still coarser laugh. “Why, look you, my dear friend !—let us not shut our eyes to the true nature of the transaction—because when we have to deliberate over it, it is inconvenient to blink the truth and go beating about the bush. Besides, you and I have known each other long enough and well enough to have no disguise be- tween us a “Well, my dear Sir John,” said Mrs. Oxenden deeming it expedient to cajole and conciliate the old man as much as possible; “have it entirely your own way—and put the matter in whatsoever light you may think fit.” “All I want is this,” continued the Baronet,— “that you shall not flatter yourself I am your dupe, or that you have caught me as a veritable dotard in your meshes.” “Good heavens, Sir John!” exclaimed Mrs. Oxenden, frightened lest things were about to take a turn but little in accordance with her hopes and views; “how can you think of talking in a strain so ungenerous—so unkind i ‘Well, well,’ interrupted the Baronet, who was really under the influence of this deep designing woman, but who wished to persuade himself that it was otherwise and that he was altogether inde- pendent in his own mode of action,—“ we will not get to angry words: but now that affairs are grow- ing towards a termination, it is just as well for us to understand each other. Look you—how rests the matter? I receiye communications from Brighton, from my nephew and yourself, to the effect that he has fallen desperately in love with your sister Laura. I at once send off for you to come to me and receive personal explanations; be- THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. cause I think they are due to you after all that in previous years had taken place betwixt you and me. You come accordingly—and I then tell you in confidence that I mean to disinherit my nephew, as I possess the power to do so—and that I mean to marry in the hope of having an heir. Then you draw me such a picture of your beautiful sister that you make the blood thrill in my veins a * But why this recapitulation,” exclaimed Mrs. Oxenden, “of all that is so well known to us both P” “Because I am resolved,” returned Sir John, somewhat gruffly, “that the matter shall be esta- blished clearly between us in all its details. Well, as [ was saying, you straightway drew me such a picture of your sister that I was quite ravished by it—and fancied myself altogether young again. Patience!—do not interrupt me. [I told you at the time that if the original proved only half as charming as the portraiture, I would gladly make her Lady Steward. Now, I do not hesitate to confess that skilful as you are in the art of word- painting, and vivid as your verbal delineation was of Laura’s charms, you adhered strictly to the truth—you did not exaggerate ? Well, I am glad to hear that my promises and your hopes were completely fulfilled,” interjected Mrs. Oxenden. . “Oh, yes!” ejaculated Sir John: “T freely ad- mit that such was the case. But in another sense you deceived me somewhat.” “ Deceived you ?” ejaculated Mrs, Oxenden. “Yes,” rejoined the Baronet: “but yet I do not think you did it wilfully. I fancied from what you said that I should find her less coy—or at all events more susceptible of kind assiduities and attentions a * You could scarcely expect, Sir John,” observed Mrs. Oxenden, “that a young maiden on being introduced to you for the first time ve “Yes, my dear friend,” interposed the Baronet : “but during your journey from Brighton to Rams- gate, you broke your mind to her—you told her that she must banish Edgar Beverley from her re- collection—and that she must prepare herself to look upon me as her future husband.” * All this I did, Sir John, as you are well aware,” answered Mrs. Oxenden impressively; “and though not remarkable for any peculiar nicety of feelings, I can assure you it was a task which I should by no means like to have to execute over again.” Well, well, I give you credit for all good in- tentions,” remarked Sir John: “but still you must allow that my first meeting with your sister was but little flattering to me. first she looked at me in a sort of wild bewilderment as if she had not rightly comprehended whom I was: and then, when you formally mentioned my name, she posi- tively gave a shriek i * But you should make allowances, Sir John, for the circumstances which attended our arrival. The breaking down of the postchaise—and then you will admit too that your costume was not precisely that which becomes you best.” “Ttigs the one though that I like the best!” answered the Baronet: “it leaves me comfortable and easy:’—and he stretched himself out upon the sofa; for he was still attired in the very same 0)(0)(O)} << OL