Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 247: what you’re looking at

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

934 ANGELINA; OR, ‘s ¥ shall not tire yeur patience with a long detail of what feelings of trans- port filled the bosom of the fond mother upon this discovery ; imagination may picture them, but the tongue cannot describe them. it was agreed that An- gelina (which was the name the child af terwards received,) should remain with its present affectionate nurse, and Matilda could never sufficiently retura her thanks to Heaven for the miraculous way in whigh it had been restored te her, and for her own wonderful preservation from a dreadfal death; but, alas: what was to become of her now she was at liberty ?=-She had not any money, or means of supporting herself, and from becoming a burthen upon those poor people, as weil as her child, she revolted. But, alas! she had no other aiter- native, wotil such time as she obtained retribution for the wrongs she had s8s- tained from the baron. But, then, her personal security would be at risk 5 for a leng time she racked her brain to no purpose ; at length, an idea strack her. The ruins of St. Mark’s Abbey had long been deserted, and reported to be haunted, and Matilda, who believed not the ridiculous stories that were circulated concerning it, knew that there were many parts of it that were not only habitable, but in a very good condition. In this venerable abbey, then, did Matilda resolve to take up her future residence, feeliog assured that the wild superstition connected with it, would be her best security.—Mere, a& I have before stated, we met. The resolution of Matilda pleased me, and was exactly in accordance with the state of my mind. I was tired of the world, aad was resolved, therefore, to become her com paniou, and, in future, to exert rve to bring about that retribution for our wrongs, and destruction upon our enemies, we both were so anxious to ebtain. 1 had money, and, therefore, we could put such a plan into execution without any. inconvenience. In a few days, Captain Clifford returned, stopping at the abbey, and I had then once more the delight of clasping my child to my hosom. Mr. Clifford was astonished and enraged when I related to him the particulars of the wrongs I had endured, and the sufferings of my unfortunate cousin; yet he, at first, was opposed to the singular resolution had formed, but yielded at last to my arguments, and insisted upon becoming the protector of my boy, whom he put under the care of a nurse, in a place so adjacent, that I could see him every day. Behold me, then, as Wild Kate of the Ruins, which was the character I thought proper to assume, while Matilda acted the part of the spirit which was suppesed to haunt this ancient fabric. We were not long, Eustace, in disco- vering where you resided, but still we determined net to reveal ourselves, until such time as Providence should be pleased, in Its own infinite wisdom, to bring about our restoration to that rank and reputation in society, of which we bave been so unjustly deprived, and likewise to place us in a fair sitdation of gaining a just retribution upon the heads of our oppressors. The idea of committing Angelina to your care, and endeavouring to make you believe she was my daughter, was mine,—for { felt firmly convinced, Eustace, that how- ever you might condemn me, you would not act otherwise than as a parent to- wards my offspring ; and, therefore, Matilda readily yielded her consent to the arrangement, more especially, as Ellenor, the mother of Bridget, was attacked with a severe fit of illness, and was, consequently, unable to attend upon it with that care which she had hitherto done. Besides, under your pro- tection, we both considered that Angelina would be more secure, and, there- fore, without any farther hesitation, we decided upon the plan, whieh you every ne COMIC OOOKS. EO