The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 75: what you’re looking at

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

wanting to sustain the impression of their twin- condition, an identity of name had been observed with regard to them so far as the difference of the sex would permit: for the brother was denomi- nated Christian, and the reader is already aware that the sister was called Christina. We introduce them in the afternoon of the day flowing Christina Ashton’s adventure in the Regent’s Park—and therefore the same on which the duel had been fought in the morning. Christina had of course told her brother every particular— for they had no secrets from each other; and now, when occasionally glancing up from his book, he perceived that she was evidently somewhat restless and uneasy, he could full well divine the cause thereof. At first he forbore allusion to it,—fearing to rivet her thoughts too completely upon the sub- ject: but when he observed her restlessness in- creasing, he laid down his book, and said in a plaintive voice, “I wish, dearest sister, that you were relieved from this anxiety.” ‘It is a dreadful thing, Christian,’ she responded mournfully, as the tears started into her beautiful dark eyes, “to reflect that lives have possibly been risked—and even lost—by this time, and entirely on my account.” “But did not Mr. Percival promise that you should be made acquainted with the result?” asked the brother: ‘and depend upon it, that if anything fatal had occurred we should know it by this time. Mr. Percival did not tell you where he resided, I think P—for if he had, I would go and make some inquiry in his neighbourhood.” No,’ responded Christina: “he suspected that I purposed to inform the authorities and pre- vent the duel.” “Ah, my dear sister,” exclaimed Christian, “it was the first time you ever went out alone during the whole six months we have been in London ; and it shall be the last !” ‘You were so occupied with your drawing, you know, Christian,” answered his sister, “ that I did not like to take you away from it; and as the Regent’s Park is so near, I thought there was no harm for me to go alone as far as Mr. Preston’s. Besides, you had forgotten that it was the day for receiving our monthly money; and so you were not ready dressed to go out. The hour had arrived when the money was to be called for ; and you are aware how severe and particular—indeed how cross and stern Mr. Preston is, and how particular he was in enjoining us always to come to the very day and to the very hour—otherwise he should be offended.” “Well, my dear sister, another time,” responded Christian, “I will be sure to recollect when pay- day comes round; and I will be ready to go out with you to the very hour. But 1 forgot to ask you—did Mr. Preston prove more communica- tive-——” “Than on former occasions?” asked Christina. “ No—not at all. He was abrupt and hurried as he always is—curt enough, without being abso- lutely rude. I lingered with the intention of asking him a few questions: but he quickly bowed me out—and the servant was in readiness to open the front door.” | “ How I dislike all this mystery!’ exclaimed Christian, the natural sweetness of his temper being for a moment ruffled by a vexation which THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. 69 may be understood from the remarks he went on tomake. “I cannot lead a life of idleness. I long to be placed in some position that will enable me to earn something. If it be charity we are dependent upon, the sooner we escape from such a humiliating position, the better: but if it be that our dear deceased uncle, on dying ao. sud- denly, left us some property, and that this Mr. Preston is his executor, and so to speak, cur guardian—I wish he would tell us exactly how we are situated and what we have to rely upon—much or little. Iam determined, Christina, that when the monthly pay-day comes round again, I will ask firmly—but of course respectfully—for some little information on these points.” “Yes—you shall do so, Christian,” was the sister’s response. “It was a year last Monday,” she added, with a sigh, “that our dear uncle was smitten with death in so shocking a manner—and only last Monday therefore that we put off the mourning we had worn for him.” “And during all this time,’ added Christian,, “we have learnt no more of the circumstances in which we were left by Mr. Ashton, than we knew on the very day of his demise—unless it be that Mr. Preston became in some way or another inte- rested in our behalf. Ah! I hoped when, six months back, he sent for us to come up from our own pleasant little village to this great metropolis, that it was to do something for me—to give me a profession or an employment—to put me in a way to carve out for myself some career suitable to my tastes. But no!—nothing of the sort! Here we have been six months in these lodgings; and I am no farther advanced in my hopes than I was on the day of our arrival. But, Ah! I must not re- pine: it is perhaps wicked in me to do so: for we have enough to support us comfortably—and our wants being limited, twelve guineas a month are a little fortune.” “T am not sorry, dearest brother, to hear you speak now and then in a way which proves that you possess proper manly aspirations:”—and as Christina uttered these words, her looks were bent with inexpressible fondness, mingled with a sisterly admiration, upon Christian. At this moment one of the servants of the household entered the room, and said, “Please, Miss, here’s a gentleman inquiring for you. He says he is Mr. Percival.” “Then he is safe !”? murmured Christina, with a look of profoynd thankfulness: while her brother bade the servant show the gentleman up. But while Lord Octavian Meredith is ascending the stairs, we must avail ourselves of the oppor- tunity to describe under what circumstances he still preserved his feigned name of Percival, and meant to retain it while visiting Christina. The reader already knows that he had all along been deeply enamoured of the young girl while she was still to him only “his fair unknown ”’—and that he had deluded himself in respect to the real nature of the sentiments which he experienced towards Zoe. That unexpected meeting with Christina in the Park, had torn the veil from his eyes, and had eleared his mental vision to the full perception of the grievous mistake he had made. In short, he could not conceal from himself that he was deeply attached to Christina Ashton— that he loved her with an enthusiasm it was im- ber” abating anette tana Se aga or omen Cerin TLC. 0.0) <SE ETO)