The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 35: what you’re looking at

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

with the members of the cabinet. partionlaae' G6 the 'peareny ancl hes’ post- her arrival in London, where she had “ come out’’ as acknowledged beauty to expect the homage of sub- missive suitors. ' Deprived of both her parents at an early age, and under the protective escort of her aunt, the Dowager- attention and admiration which her personal qualifi- cations commanded. From the circumstances to which reference has just been made, her character and dispo- sition were materially influenced; and from the same defects, even ‘whilst they were justifiably condemned: Never knowing the kindly correction of a father— never feeling the loving tenderness of a mother—Ade- line had been exclusively educated under the super™ vision of ber father’s sister, a woman whose mind, narrowed by the most unscrupulous selfishness, and tainted with the most baneful prejudices, was little calculated to impart correct principles of action, and foster those genial sympathies in another which she was unable herself to apprehend or appreciate. Alternately chided and petted in her youth, now scolded without a cause, and anon praised without a reason, the girl had gained maturity without aban- doning the thoughts/and habits of the child. Capricious in her desires, weak and vacillating in her decisions —at one time foolishly headstrong, and at another yielding, almost without knowing why, to the sug- gestionsof her advisers—it was difficult to arrive at a full comprehension of her character. She was vain, because admiration” pleased her; and the fulsome adulation that her charms provoked she regarded rather as a right than as a mere courtesy; but she was yet not proud, for the distinction of rank never , influenced her in the choice of her avquaintances. The comparatively small income she derived from her inheritance relieved her to some extent from the per- sécution of mere fortune-~hunters; but the same source of immunity on the one hand was the cause of in- mumerable annoyances on another, for the Dowager Gountess of Walsingham, anxious to secure a wealthy alliance for her niece, had not failed to so govern her introduction to society as to expose her to the endless persecution of those who had the requisite wealth to add lustre to a coronet. At last, what was considered likely to prove an eligible match was found. Taking advantage of some LIGHTS AND SHADOWS OF LONDON LIFE tary, finding that his presence was demanded else | c0 where, took his departure to engage in a consultation About the same time that this interview took place, its noble ‘ewner to the mansion of Lady Adeline Temple, in Portman Square. To avoid interrupting the progress of events, it will be better, perhaps, to anticipate his arrival by furnishing in this place some Preliminary This fair patrician, with whom the earl sought a tender alliance, was the last remaining member of a noble family connected with the Irish peerage, and the belle of the season afew years before, had been the signal for a crowd of eager worshippers to throw themselves at her feet as the first offering of that mighty metropolis to which she had come prepared for-a long career of conquest, and taught from her just returned from a continental tour of some duration» Countess of Walsingham, Adeline had been ushered inte the world of fashion a complete stranger; and the excitement which her débit occasioned was not so much owing to the introduction of her relative the countess, who officiated as her chaperone, as to the cause a generous spirit might have palliated their 27 ———— complimentary attentions paid | by the Earl of Winter- tom one evening at a soirée given at her own residence the dowager impressed upon Adeline the advantages to be derived from encouraging his addresses; and, acceding with passive indifference to the wishes of her relative, she had listened to the formal protestations of the earl without passion, as she had received his previous advances without pleasure. This business-like love-match had so far proceeded as to give rise to those anticipative paragraphs in the fashionable prints where the public were informed that “ an alliance was on the tapis between the noble and distinguished Earl of —— and the beautiful and accomplished Lady T——-;” and in the circles of the bon-ton the expected event had been long critically discussed and commented upon. All that was now wanticg, therefore, to maintain the interest that had been excited, was for the day to be named on which the earl would accompany his affianced bride to the altar. Having thus alluded to the position in which they were naturally placed, let us now follow the earl to the residence of her whose only gratification from the proposed union was that linked with the assump- tion of a higher title. Young, for she had hardly seen her three-and- twentieth summer, and endowed with all the accom- plishments suitable to her station, the Lady Adeline was indeed superlatively beautiful; but it was the beauty of the statue or the picture; it wanted soul to make the loveliness complete. The glance of her bright dark eye—no paradox, though it sounds like one—would have sent a thrill through the heart of the most cold and unimpassioned; but it would make . conquests, not captives. One day you would be spell- bound by its influence, and the next the impression would be forgotten. The classically formed outline of the features, with the complexion exquisitely trans- parent, and the delicate roseate tints of the cheek softening down to the white and spotless purity of the neck beneath, extorted admiration from the beholder, but exhibited little of that play of expres- sion which, to the plainest face, gives interest, and to the more bewitching half their natural charm. It was like a landscape in which the eye of the spec- tator finds an enchanting combination of objects to delight his vision, but misses the ray of sunlight that Would animate and vivify the whole. Her figure was rather slender, but symmetrical, and of that pleasing medium stature that most advantageously sets off the contour of the female form. Such was the youthful betrothed of the earl, who had already been regarded by her more with the feeling of respect due toa father than with the warm glow of affection given to a lover who was se soon to enjoy a nearer and dearer claim. Finding that Adeline was alene, tte Earl of Win- terton dispensed with the offieious ceremony of the domestic, and ascended to the drawing-room, where, warned of his arrival by the sound of the carriage, she was waiting expectantly to receive him. “ Did you peruse my note this morning ?” asked the earl, as soon as the customary salutations had been exchanged. “T only returned from the hall last even- ing, or I should bave been earlier in paying my visit; as it was, I was naturally anxious to apprise you of my. arrival as soon as possible.” “The consideration evinced by your lordship has, I assure you, been fully appreciated,” replied Adeline; “but I am confident vou will excuse my referring farther to so delicate a point until I have consulted the Countess of Walsingham upon the subject.” SR im Ss (E©) CORNICLOO