The Mysteries of London; or, Lights and Shadows of London Life — page 94: what you’re looking at

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

88 THE sider such a . course e advisable, I shall relinguish the pursuit that I have chosen.” “ Be i€ so; a8 your own mistress, it is but right that you should act in accordance with your inclinations. Besides, having attained the zenith of popularity, I am nt surprised that you should deecend your throne when there are no more worlds to conquer.” “Secondly, as on you, my lord, I shall bestow the ardour of a first affection, 1 shall have the presump- tion to exact with jealous watchfulness the most con- stant attentions from yourself in return,” “T need not assure you, Celestine, that in this respect you have nothing to fear; my heart is wholly in your keeping, and she is safe from rivalry who can never be excelled.” “Lastly, my lord,” continued the opera-dancer, heedless of the compliment conveyed, “ I shall expect that the love you profess for me shall not be the mere passion of a brief period, but that it shall be as per- manent and immutable on your part as it will. become on mine.’ “These are indeed chains of roses with which you would bind me,”’ cried Lord Walsingham; “and willingly do I submit to be thus fettered, My con- stancy shall equal the ardour of my devotion.” “ Then, my lord, to.you I surrender my heart, my- self, my reputation!” exclaimed the opera-daucer, with a bashfal and yet ingenuous air; and resigning herself to the impetuous caresses of the nobleman, her flushed cheek and heaving bosom manifested her con- sciousness of the irrevocable sacrifiee she had made. “And now, my own admirable Celestine,” said Walsingham, when the first words were interchanged after this avowal of their mutual passien, “to you I yield the entire control of my establishment. My villa at Fulham is your own; and as a place of re- sidence I do not think you will consider it unworthy of you. To-morrow your engagement at the Opera, I presume, expires, as it will be the last night of the season, and on the following day I venture to hope that in your new abode will bs commenced the hap- piest period of my existence, and not the least delight- ful of your own.” “J have sufficiont faith in your lordship’s kindness and generosity to believe that the last wish you havo expressed will be realised,” rejoined Celestine; ‘‘ and I am grateful for the arrangements you have sug- gested. But again, my lord, I must impress upon you —and this is more needed since you have yourself alluded to the subject—that I desire no other prepa- rations to be made than those that are absolutely necessary for my reception. I care not for splendour ; and all that I would solicit is, that I may live in that mansion with as much privacy as possible.” “ And you are really serious in this resolve to with~- draw yourself from the gay scenes of life—you that I fancied would be ever regretting the absence of an excitement which only a profession like your own could farnish ?” “So seriously am I resolved upon this point, that I can assure your lordship it is with a view of escaping from this wearisome round of frivolous attentions t’at I have been partly induced to accept your offer.’” “And the glew of emulation that animated your exertions, and the proud consciousness of triumph which must have been their most welcome reward, are these to be entirely resigned without regret?” “ Alas!” sighed the opera-dancer, “you know not, my dear Lord Walsingham, the horrible feeling of depression that has invariably followed the most tri- umphant of my assempti ns; and the incessant and eee a ee ee — MYSTE RIES OF LONDON. unvaried ovations which I am constantly forced to undergo are at last proving distasteful tome. The very language of praise now sounds harshly in my ear; and ungrateful as it may seem to the public, who have 80 liberally showered down upon me the floral gifts that custom has taught them to award their favourites, I now shrink from the ordeal of an ance before them with as much dread as though I anticipated the most cruel and em treatment at their hands. In a word, I shall take my leave of the profession with the most ‘a exemplary resignation. “Strange girl!” rejoined Walsingham; “ you have given me another reason for in myself in your favour, When there are so g forward with envy to we) pretend a errere cette you have attained, it is to me how you can descend without a murmur of regret from the pedestal of your glory.” se erhaps,” added Celestine, more earnestly, «there may be a secret associated with this seemingly un- accountable determination, with which you ma Me come one day acquainted. “But aaa Poe change | subject.” * Willingly, fer I have no taste for ! and to this your story seems tending. ‘Do you know that you have a very great olcapier: in the person of the Earl of Winterton?” beast oth “T! impossible! Z ‘ain not svubiieiasn Shanthi seen him more than once, and that was on the day before yesterday, when I accompanied Madame aca mani to your lordship’s villa.” it spree “Then it must have been at that time he fell ‘a victim to your fascinations,” said W fully ; “he has done nothing but speak of you ever since, It would appear that you are like some lady whom he formerly knew.” “Then that explains the interest he seemed to take mae in me,” returned the opera-dancer; “ but did inform me he was about to be united to a of yours?” “Yes,” rejoined Walsingham ; “on eisai my cousin, the Lady Adeline Temple will change . name and rank, and make the earl a bappy man. am afraid there is more respectful veneration than love on her side ; and on his, the anxiety to perpetuate his title has made him overlook the disparity of 5 between them. However, it will be an ex match for Adeline; and the earl is a most estimable man for a husband. So that, whatever people may choose to say about the prudence of the alliance, no — fault can be found with the individuals, By the way, that reminds me I must call on the earl this very afternoon.” > “And can you be cruel eneugh to announce so abruptly your intention of leaving me already?” appealed Celestine with one of her most winning smiles, “And is it really the earl that you are so anxious to meet ?” she added, in an arch tone of inquiry; “or am I to suppose that some brighter eye allures you to the presenev of another?” ei y the singularity of'the business on which he asks 1 opinion is the more remarkable, since in some Earl of Winterton !—you astonish me.”’ “I should astonish you still more if I were tor the whole story,” pursued Lord W. “but you promise to keep secret what I tell you, I y make you acquainted with it.” ee Gomichook com