Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 42: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSIERY OF ST. MARK'S ABBEY. , 29 ‘You had better obey me,” returned the woman, of you may repent that you did not avail yourself of the information I can give you, when it is too late.” *¢. Why not impart what you have to say. here?’ asked Mr. Woodfield. “ I have told you; there are listeners.” ‘s But they will retire.” oo ‘‘ That matters not ; the walls have ears.” ‘“ Whither would you I should attend you ?” “© the wood.” ‘s At such an hour, with a stranger, and alone P”’ ‘S$ Are you afraid that @ woman will harm you, Mr. Woodfield F But I pro- gise you that there shall be nothing wrong.” Mr. Woodfield paused and hesitated) The request was a singular one, and especially when tt was made by a complete stranger, the ambiguity of whose appearance and behaviour were sufficient of themselves to create doubt and oR icion, anda sentiment very nearly allied to fear., Mrs. Woodfield and Laura who had been trembling with congternation all the time the woman had been speaking, looked at him with @ significant expression, which was meant to per- guade him not to comply; but after few moments deliberation, his curiosity overcame his doubts, and he told the woman he would attend her. The woman smiled, and made a motion with her hand towards the wood, and Mr, Woodfield having put on bis hat, and taken with him his stout cudgel in case of danger, left the cottage, and they were both soon hidden from the view. For several moments after Mr. Woodfield had departed, the three females were so confused and, amazed that they could not speak, but Laura having at length got once more the free use of that garrulous member, ber tongue, expressed her firm belief that her poor father would never return again, and that she was confident he would be spirited away by the awful looking being who had so much alarmed them, and who she was certain did not belong to this world. In this sensible opinion she was backed by ber mother, who wrung her hands, and a thousand times denounced the folly and impradence of ber husband, whom she never expected to see again. Angelina endeavoured to quiet her apprehensions, though she scarcely knew what to think herself; she was in a state of inconceivable suspense and wonder till be returned. More than half an hour bad elapsed before Mr. Woodfield again appeared to the anxious eyes of the party in the cottage. His countenance was palo; his lips quivered, and his whole frame evinced the most violent emotion. ‘¢Geod gracious, Arthur > erled Mrs. Woodfield, alarmed at his manner, ‘s+ @hat is the matter with you, and what hae occurred to agitate you thus?” “¢ Question me not,” replied Mr, Woodfied, in g tone of asperity the good dame had seldom before heard him assume; “let us retire to rest immediately, it is late. Seeing the agitation of her husband, Mrs. Woodfield did not for the present venture to question him further, and tho-three females in vain tried to conjee- ture what could have been the nature of the mysterious woman's communication to bim, which had so unusually excited and alarmed hime . When Angelina retired to her chamber, ghe ruminated for some time over the singular events of the day, her adventure in the Abbey ruins; her rencountor with the Baron de Morton ; the appearance of the mysterious woman at the cottage, and what could have been the purport of her secret communion with cCoMmmicaooks (CO)