The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 315: what you’re looking at

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os = 310. some houses on one side, and an enclosure of ver- dant shrubs and plants on the other. “Thistig not Stamford Street, madam,” she said to Mrs, Mortimer. “No, my dear child,” was tho almost whispercé reply: “ but it isa place of safety to which T have brought you. Do you imagine that J, who have saved your life this night, could intend you an) barm? Wherefore be thus over suspicious respect- ing your best friends ¢” These words not only reassured Agnes, but made her blush at what she deemed to be her ingratitude towards her deliverer ;—and, pressing the old wo- man’s hand fervently, she murmured, “ Forgive mec, J implore you 1” © Think no more of it, my love,” said Mrs. Mor- timer, as she alighted from the vehiclo: then, turning towards the maiden, shoe added, “ Remain in your place for a few minutes until I have aroused the people of tho house: the chill air of the carly morning will give you cold, lightly clad as you are,” Agnes signified an assent; and the old woman hastened up to the front door of the houseat which they had stopped. She knocked and rang: but somo timo elapsed ere the summons was answered. At length a domestic, who had huddled on some clothing, made his appearance; and, to Mrs, Morti- mer’s query whethor his master were at home, an affirmative reply was given. “Mhoen hesitate uot to arouse him—for I have called npon a matter of great importance to his lordship,” said the old woman, Certainly I will do so, madom,” returned the domestic; “since you assure inc that your business is pressing. But will you not walk inand await his lordship’s readiness to receive you £” “Yes,” replied Mrs, Mortimer; ‘and I have a person with mo who must accompany me. But listen to something that I lave to urge upon vou, You will conduct us both, as 2 matter of course, into the same room: but when your master is ready to receive me, take care that I obtain an in- terviow alone with him in the first instance. It is of the highest consequence that these instructions should be fully attended to.” * You shall be obeyed, madam,” said tho servant. Mrs. Mortimer now fetched Agnes from the vehicle, which ehe ordored to bo hept waiting for herself ; and tho two females were conducted by tho domestic into a handsomo apartment, where, having lighted the wax-candles, he left them. CHAPTER CLAXX. AGNES AND TREVELYAN, In spito of her anxiety to place confidence in Mrs. Mortimer—in spite of the deep obligation under which she believed herself to bo lying towards her, Agnes could not subduo a partial feeling of uncasi- ness when sho found that she was in a strange house, evidently the abode of a rich person. Sho gazed round tho walls covered with splendid picturcs—on tho chandelier suspended to the ceiling —on tho clogant and costly furniture—the superb mantel-ornamonts—and down upon tho luxurious carpet, so thick that her tiny fect wero almost im- bedded in it, as if sho were walking In snow. THE ALYSTORIES OF LONDON. Whose dwelling could it bo? Assuredly not Mrs Mortimer’s—for she was only treated as a visitress, At longth, after the lapse of 2 few minutes, the young maiden ventured to ask, “ Who are the friends, madam, with whom you propose to leave mo?” **Does not that very question, Agnes, imply a suspicion injurious to me?” said Mrs. Mortimer, evasively. “Oh! no—no!” exclaimed Miss Vernon, in a melt: ing tone of the profoundest sincerity. “ But may I not ask so simple a question without being liable tc such a distressing imputation 2?” ‘Can you not leave yourself in the hands of ore who has saved your life and who wishes you well ?’ said the old woman, speaking in a yoico of mingled reproach and conciliation. ; ** Yes—cortainly, madam,” was the immadiato answer: “but you yourself are not going to romain hero—inasmuch as you have ordered the cabriolet to wait for you.” “True, Agues: because I havo business of im portance to transact at an early hour this morning avd at a considerablo distanco hence. Reassura yourself, ny darling girl,” continued the iniquitous hav: “you will bo delighted to meet the person whom you will presently seo. Indeed, it is onlya little surprise which I am preparing for you—and, after all I havo done for you, you surely will not deny mo the pleasure which I promiso mysolf in beholding tho interview between yourself and tho owner of this splendid mansion.” By degrees, as Mrs. Mortimer spoke, the counte- nance of Agnes brightened up; for it otruck the young meiden that it was her mother whom sho was now to meet—and this idea grow into a positivo conviction by tho time the old woman had uttered the last words of her sentence. She was accord ingly about to express renewed pratitude for the happy surprise thus reserved for her, when tho door opened and the domestic returned to tho apartment. “ Madam, will you follow moe?” he said, address ing himself to Mrs, Mortimer. “My dear child,” observed the old woman, turning towards Agnes and patting her face with a show of affection, “you will remain here for a fow minutes —n very fow minutos; and then,” shoe added, with a sly smile, which meant as much as to intimate that sho read the hopo entertained by Agnes, and should speedily have tho pleasure of gratifying it,— and thon, my love, you will not scold me for having kept you a little In suspense.” Tears of gratitude tremblod upon the long dark lashes of the beautoous maiden, although her lips were wroathed in smiles :—but when Nature melts into April softness, ’tis with mingled rain and sun- shine, While Agnes remained alone in the handsome par lour, cradling herself in the hope that the lapso of a fow minutes would seo her ombraced in the arms of her mother, Mrs. Mortimer was conductod into anothe!” apartinent, where she found herself in the presence of Lord William Trevelyan, who had dressed him- self with as much despatch as possible. “Well, madam,’’ he said, in a hasty and even anxious tone, “what has brought you hither at this unseasonable hour?—whom have you with you ?—and whereforo this desire, as expressed to my domestic, to see me alone in the first instance?” “My lord, it is Agnes Vernon who has accome EConnicloooks (SO)