Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 61: what you’re looking at

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

43 ANGELINA; OR, a hollow sound against its sides. A lamp was burning on the table, aad standing by her side, and who had doubtless been applying proper remedies td restore her, was a middie-aged woman, whose countenance was far from being an unpre poseessing one. - Angelina started from the piace on which she had been reclined, and starin wildly around her, she exclaimed .— “© Merciful God !—where am I? and why am I brought hither? Oh! tell me, I beseech you, for what purpose am I thus clandestinely torn from my friends and my home ?” - “ Be silent, young lady!’ said the woman, in an under tone, and with a look expressive of compassion, which emboldened our heroine. ‘* You are on board a shiy, bot any outcry on your part would be useless, and might be attended by the most dreadful consequences, for you are surrounded by wretches who would not hesitate a moment to steep their hands in your blood, should you arouse their anger.” -* But what is their purpose with me?” demanded the distracted damsel. ‘Oh! why am I, who know no one that I have offended, or ever injured by word or deed, exposed to this painfal trial ?” The woman shook her head, and answered in a whisper— ““ Indeed £ know not, or I—but I dare not answer your questions; should we be overheard, both our lives would be the forfeit.’’ ‘* Bat who is my persecutor? Surely these men do not act upon their own responsibility ®?” observed our heroine, wringing her hands with the intensity of her anguish, and looking into the countenance of the woman with the most earnest supplication. . ** I dare not—must not answer your enquiries,” said the latter, “ but pray endeavour to appease. your anxiety, and rest assured that no harm will come to you. All that I can do for your comfort I will. Come, come, be com- posed ;—you need refreshment ; take a glass of wine.” ** Oh, no, no,” exclaimed Angelina, “ 1 cannot, cannot. Merciful God! for what am I reserved? Alas! my dearest friends, what is now your misery-—— your anguish ?” , Her feelings now choaked her further utterance, and in a paroxysm of grief she covered her face with her hands, and sobbed convulsively. The woman seemed much moved by her sufferings, and endeavoured several, tmmes to southe her, with words that shewed she was not that depraved being which her apparent association with the wretches who held her (Angelina) in their power, might have led any person to suppose. : ‘* IT must leave you for the present,” said the woman, as she kindly took the hand of our heroine, and pressed it in token of her commiseration 3; ** but do not give way to despair—no harm can come to you here; and’’—she added in a low tone—* there is no knowing what may occur to release you altogether, and restore you to those friends from whom you have been so cruelly and unjustly torn !” | **-As you hope for mercy,” implored Angelina, grasping both the hands of the woman in her's, and fixing her tearful eyes with ardent entreaty upon her countenance; ‘* your heart does not seem callous to humanity and pity; ohy tell me then, who has caused this outrage, and whither are they taking me ?’’ COMIC OOOlKS.€O