The Young Duchess; or, Memoirs of a Lady of Quality — page 295: what you’re looking at

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

THE YOUNG DUCHESS; OR, MEMOIRS OF A LADY OF QUALITY. u —perhaps he may have quitted the establishment, thoroughly lost instead of reformed—contaminated instead of purified —mingling perchance with the low thieves of London, and steeped to the very brim of his youthful lips in vices and profligacies, But still a man may never fall so utterly low as 3 woman You know what I mean. Well then, debased though he may be, yet shonld I feel ashamed to appear before him: for whatever abyss he may have sunk into, I have fallen into a still lower one. On the other hand, his condition may be altogether different. He may have found friends — he may have made them by his pleasing man- ners, his intelligence, and the natural frankness of his disposition—his good principles may have sur- vived all contaminating influences—he may now be eating the bread of honest industry—he may be thriving—he may be on the high road to pros- perity. Heaven grant that it may beso! And if it be, how could I ever dare think of throwing No. 36.—Tae Youne Ducuess 281 i “Te ATTA wit iif TATE at ALL aT av an ge UMTS GN wali Pye iF SE Et a Ma l OO saat . i { Seer STOO i Pd AG TR Ta i ni mt Ae Ce 2 ada ul ig { { S myself in his way? Oh, if he be now well to do in the world, he will not be regarded as a lost creature on account of that one fault committed under such circumstances! But I—I—am lost beyond redemption—irreclaimably! Therefore,” added Hester, in a voice which sank to so low a tone that it was poe | audible, ‘‘ under no cir- cumstances can I ever dare inquire after him of whom I have been speaking.” There was another pause, which was at length broken by Ponchard, who inquired, “Do you think that the policemen wilfully misrepresented the young lad when before the magistrate ?” “T am now certain that they did,” answered Hester vehemently. ‘‘ I was in doubt on the point at the time, because [ could scarcely conceive that there was so much wickedness in human nature. But Ah! that ignorance of the world was quickly succeded by the knowledge of experience—a hor- rible clearness, which brings the most fearful ob- COMMIGIOO SS a nA f = ow 6 Colin