The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

ey THE 3YSYTERIES OF LONDON, ———— mere oe sour confidant, I implore you! If I can aid you, f ekall rejoice indeed to have the opportunity of proving my gratitude for all the kindness I have received at your hands; and if I cannot assist, I may at least bo able to console you Y—* Dearest Julia, I do indeed require a friend at this moment; for surely never was wretched woman in such dreadful embarrassment as myself! For the last few weeks I have lived only like one distracted— keeping my chamber, and affecting an illness, though steadily refusing to receive the advice of the family physician! And now, fortunately my mother has gone on a visit fora few days to some friends in the country; and my own maid is in my confidence and is trustworthy. ‘Thus my absence from home will not be suspected; and in this is now my only hope! O Julia, Julia—can you not understand my meaning ?’—then, casting herself at the feet of the young milliner, the almost heart- broken Lady Caroline exclaimed, in the wildest paroxysm of bitter, bitter grief, as she joined her handsimploringly, ‘Save my honour, Julia—save my reputation,—and by so doing you savo my life: for I would perish by my own hand rather than endure exposure !’—* My God ! dearest lady, what do you mean? demanded Julia, fearful lest her friend’s senses were leaving her, and that she was uttering meaningless phrases in the incipient aberration of the intellect: ‘tell me, how can I save youin any way? for you know that you may depend upon me to the utmost !’—‘ How can you save me? repeated the agonising young lady, in a yoico of tho most plaintive appeal: ¢ Oh! do you not comprehend my condition, Julia? And yet [am about to become a mothor \’ “hese words fell with stupefsing, astounding effect upon the ears of Julian Murray: indeed, she could scarecly belicvo that she had rightly inter- preted their meaning. The unhappy Caroline mis- took the cause of the young milliner’s silence and amazement; and, rising from her suppliant posture, she exclaimed, while the proud patrician blood rushed to her cheeks, ‘I understand you, Miss: you are shocked at the announcement I have made, and you aro indignant that I should apply to you to screen me. I will drag myself away from your house, therefore; imploring you only to keep the secret which I have been so foolish, so inconsiderate to reveal to you’—‘ Just heaven! what do I hear ? reproaches from your lips! cried Julia; and em- bracing the unhappy lady with sisterly warmth, she said, “No, no: you have misunderstood me! Grief and surprise for a moment sealed my lips: but you find mo ready to succour you, dearest benefactress, to tho utmost of my power!’—‘ Thank you, kind friend,’ murmured Lady Carolino, falling back ex- bausted into her seat; for tho agitated state of her feolings, and the harrowing emotions which the dread of Julia’s coldness had just caused her to ex- perience, produced effects of a most perilous nature. Tho young milliner knew not how to act: she was bewildered; and, wringing her hands, exclaimed, ‘Oh! what shall I do? how can I aid her ?’—Lady Carolino partially recovered her presence of mind as these words fell upon her ears; and giving a few hasty instructions, these wero instantly obeyed. Julia conducted, or rather supported: her to her own bed-chamber; and then, throwing on her bon- net and shawl, hurried away to fetch the nearest ‘he medical man whom she sought was surgeon. t 135 at home; and he accompanied the milliner to tho house, where he arrived just at the moment that his services were required. In a word, Lady Caro- line Jerningham that night became the mother of a fine boy, although tho birth was premature by nearly a month, and she had risked much by tho necessity of adopting tho indispensable means in re- regard to dress to conceal her situation for many weeks past. “The surgeon, who had every reason to be satis- fied with the liberality of Julia on behalf of her un- happy friend, and who was moreover a discrect man, perceived that his patient was a young lady of superior grade in socicty, and therefore volunteered his aid in ensuring the concealment of the affair. In fact, ho stated that he was acquainted with a poor woman in the neighbourhood, who, having just lost her own infant, would be delighted to take charge of the newly-born babe. Lady Caroline was so far recovered as to be able to take part in this conference; and, without suffering the slightest hint to transpire as to who she was, she neverthe- less intimated her readiness and ability to remune~ rate in the most liberal mannor those who might be instrumental in comploting the arrangement sug- gested. The surgeon accordingly undertook the settlement of the business; and, after an hour’s absence, he returned, accompanied by a young, good-looking, healthy woman, who was willing to embrace the proposal that had been mado to ler. She was married to a Jabouring man; her name was Porter; and she lived at the distance of about half a mile from Julia’s house. Lady Caroline had a well-filied purse; but even if the contrary had been tho case, hor friend the milliner could have sup- plied the funds required. As it was, the young mother gave Mrs. Porter twenty pounds in advance; and having mentioned a feigned name and address, when questioned on that point, Lady Carolino parted with her babe—though not without many a bitter pang and a torrent of heart-wrung tears + “ Phat was a wretched night for poor Julia Mur- ray. Inthe warmth of her gratitude and friendship, she had become an accomplice in what she fancied, when sho had leisure for sober reflection, to bo some- thing bordering upon tho nature of a crime. Her pure sol shrank from the idea of the unnatural} abandonment by a mother of her child to the mercy ofa stranger, rondered necessary even though the proceeding were by the peculiar circumstances in which that mother was placed. Moreover, the rea- diness with which Lady Carolino had given a false name and address had somewhat shocked the truth- loving Julia;—and then she feared lest the whole matter should by any possibility become known, and compromise her own reputation. All these thoughts and apprehensions swept across her mind, after tho surgeon and Mrs. Porter had taken their departure, and while Lady Caroline slept. But tho generous girl strove to banish from her mind reflections which tended to diminish hor respect for the patrician lady who had manifested so much kindness towards her: morcover, the natural feelings of a woman towards one of her own sex placed in such interesting though ombarrassing, not to say alarming circumstances,— the sentiments of commiseration, deep sympathy, and tender friendship, soon triumphed over all other considerations ;—and when Caroline awoke, just as the grey dawn of morning was breaking into the chamber, she found the young milliner watching by re ee ee eee ee = (C(O) (C DOO <S LL (SO)