The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 396: what you’re looking at

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

Ss spencers pen SSS SSS 390 ” SHE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. her looks upon him again, she said with so peeuliar an expression of countenance that 16 well suited the words she uttered, “ Yes—I will leave you!— but it will be to quit the house hkewise—the sea flows at no great distance beneath the cliffs—and it is deep enough to engulph even a miserable woman who has no longer any reason to cumber this world with her presence !” “Wretched creature, what do you mean?” ex- claimed our hero, clutching her by the wrist as she appeared about to retreat precipitately from the chamber. “ Would you to your other misdeeds add the still greater one of suicide? would you crown all your past iniquities by so heinous a crime as this? No! rather study to repent of whatsoever evil you may have done; and at least by your future conduct make such atonement as lies in your power.” “But if every one looks coldly upon me—if every one seems to scorn and revile me,” exclaimed Mrs. Oxenden, with a tone and look that seemed to express mingled anguish and bitterness— ‘wherefore should I remain upon earth Fy “ That pereoys look coldly upon you,” replied Christian, “‘is scarcely to be wondered at, as your own conscience must but too faithfully tell you. But that you have been reviled, I do not be- lieve “Nevertheless it is true!’ interrupted Mrs, Oxenden vehemently. “The day which has just drawn to a close, has been for me one prolonged agony. If I haye encountered a domestic upon the stairs, he has flung at me some taunt—because they all look upon me as the instigatrix and the cause of the deceased Baronet’s conduct—a con- duct in which they were more or less implicated, and which they know full well will shortly lead to their dismissal. Just now the maid-servants whom 1 summoned to assist at my night toilet, flung insults at me ra “Can all this be indeed true ?” asked Christian, with mingled astonishment and indignation. “Tt is true!” responded Mrs. Oxenden, the tears trickling down her cheeks, and her half- naked bosom heaving with convulsing sobs. “ Oh, it is true !—and it is more than I can bear !” “But Sir Edgar Beverley,’ replied our hero quickly, “is ignorant of this—and not for a mo- ment would he permitit. Whatever you may have been—whatever you may have done—so long as by his sanction you remain beneath his roof it is not for these menials to insult or taunt you—they who were themselves the too ready in- struments of their vile master though heaven forgive me for speaking thus strongly against him now that he is gone !” “Can you wonder that I am excited? can you wonder that I am frenzied—that I am half mad ?” asked Mrs. Oxenden, speaking with vehement rapidity. “ My sister looks coldly upon me—Sir Edgar addresses me in monosyllables—you avoid me—Mr. Andrews displays a freezing politeness, which in itself is worse than downright rudeness— the domestics taunt me—and then this evening the maid-servants boldly refuse to obey me: so that well-nigh driven to madness, I resolyed to fly to you! And then too,” she added, in a tone that suddenly became soft and languishing, “ there was another reason Sq ‘ eis Gh = . Listen, Mrs. Oxenden!” interrupted our hero. ——— “ You are safe from fawther insult for the re- mainder of this night: I will take the earliest opportunity to-morrow morning to speak to Sir Edgar. And now leave me!” For an instant Mrs. Oxenden bit her lip with vexation. She had studiously arrayed herself in that meretricious manner in the hope of exercising the influence of her charms upon our hero’s pas- sions: she had succeeded in drawing him into con- versation, and in already remaining for ten minutes in his room, despite his first peremptory command that she should retire: it was true thathe hadspoken to her with averted countenance, and that not fora single instant had his eyes lingered upon her volup- tuously exposed charms: but still she had flattered herself that she had obtained a suflicient footing in that chamber to give promise of success in the de- sign which she had formed,—when all in a moment he had cut her short and once more peremptorily bidden her begone! Thus was it that for an in- stant she bit her lip with vexation: but the next moment regaining complete controul over herself, she resolved to return to her siege-batteries and play off the artillery of her charms and wiles on points which she hoped would be more yulner- able and sensitive. Her first aim had been to appeal to his magnanimous sympathy by an exag- geration of some few little slights which she had received at the hands of the domestics; and art- fully cunning as she was, she knew that, in ninety- nine cases out of a hundred, for a beautiful woman to engage a man’s compassion was already going far towards conquering him completely. “You bid me quit you chamber, Mr. Ashton,” she said, in a tone which corresponds but indif- ferently with the generosity of the remarks you had previously made, and with the magnanimity of the feeling you displayed towards me. You have heard me thus far: you must hear me on to the end!” “Mrs. Oxenden, I insist upon your leaving me!” exclaimed Christian, in whose mind suspi- cions of asinister purpose on her part were engen- dered by the pertinacity with which she lingered in his chamber. ‘This is most indecent—most indecorous! . If you have a woman’s shame or pride | “Oh, now yow revile and taunt me likewise— wretched, wretched woman that I am!’’—and weeping and sobbing as if her heart would break, she threw herself with every appearance of frantic distress upon the nearest chair. “Tentreat—I conjure that you will tranquil- lize yourself!” said Christian, bewildered whether to give her credit for the most genuine sincerity, or to behold in her conduct the confirmation of his former suspicion, ‘These sounds of afiliction will be heard—and what will be thought “Oh, speak not unkindly to me!” murmured the wily woman: and as if quite unconscious of of her actions, she still further disarranged her dress—so that all the voluptuous contours of her bust were completely exposed. “Madam,” said Christian indignantly, “leave me this moment—or I myself will seek another chamber—and to-morrow morning will proclaim wherefore I did so!” “Cruel, cruel!” murmured Mrs. Oxenden,— “and I who love you madly—I who have been smitten with an irresistible passion—I who, not- MMU MOOK a(EO (CC) 5