The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 157: what you’re looking at

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aE 146 move your heart, you will not reveal to him that dreadful secret which ——” “To you consider me to be so weak—so insane ?” demanded the patrician. “Hush!—I have a better opinion of you,” re- turned Mrs. Lindley, who nevertheless trembled all over. “ But pray forgive me for reminding you chat a single suspicion engendered in the breast of shat young man, may cost both you and me our very lives!” she added in a tone scarcely audible, out with a terrible emphasis. * Seatter all apprehensions to the winds,” an- swered the invalid. “ You know that my resolution s indomitable—that my heart is of steel ——” “ Otherwise I should never have been induced to | .2ssist you as I have done,” observed the midwife. ‘And now compose yourself, dear lady—for in a ew minutes the Countess will be im your presence.” “It is for you to tranquillise yourself, my good _friend,” was the response, accompanied by a reassur- ng smile: “for your lips quiver—and you seem to oe in a nervous tremor.” “ Now that I am certain you will behave with pru- dence,” added Mra. Lindley, “I shall appear both Girm and collected. But, remember,” she whispered, as she stooped down until her lips touched the lady’s ear,—“remember that the child was stili-born—and that it was buried the next day in Lambeth church- yard, no funeral service being necessary.” @}F understand you And now leave ma—or they iil wonder at your protracted absence.” Mrs. Lindley accordingly quitted the chamber, to which the Countess of Desborough ascended almost mumediately afterwards. aaa. beni CHAPTER XALIL ‘THE MYSTERIES OF THE BOOK-CASE.— FERNANDA AND ARTKE=R. *Tue Hon. Mr. Eaton remained in the parlour down- -atairs with the midwife, while Lady Desborough undertook to prepare the way for an interview be- tween himself and Fernanda Aylmer—for the reader nas doubtless already seen that the Earl's niece and ‘he young patrician lodger in Mra. Lindley’s esta- alishment are one and the same person. The midwife seated herself beside the fire — caressed fer great cat—and then threw a furtive glance upon Arthur Eaton ;—and an icy chill shot to her heart when she observed his eyes fixed upon her as if to cead what was passing in her mind. But this was cnly imagination on her part—the effect of a guilty eoul: for the young gentleman was merely indulging e listless curiosity when he thus surveyed the for- bidding countenance of the old harridan to whose care Fernanda had been consigned by her noble ancle. “The child was still-born, Mrs. Lindley—eh f” he said at length, by way of saying something. * Yes, sir—and no one can regret it, under all cir- cumstances,” responded the midwife. “Did she suffer much?” was Eaton’s next in- « Hush! not so loud—walis have ears f” whispered the midwife, placing her finger upon her thin lip ag she gave utterance to her favourite axiom. “Yes— THR MYETERILA. it took place—and the wind was roaring dreadfully It drowned her screams effectually.” Mr. Eaton shuddered, he scarcely knew why; an¢ a long silence folluwed. “ How was it that the Earl became acquainted witb your establishment?” inquired Mr. Eaton, again breaking a silence which had something awful in it: for he felt growing upon him the superstitious but | irresistible idea that he was in the presence of some: oid witch intimately acquainted with the dread and | forbidden secrets of nature. | “T never reveal matters of that kind, sir,” answered Mrs. Lindley, laconically. “The large amount of patronage I receive has been obtained through the eonfidence which may be placed in me.” “I beg your pardon for putting an impertinent question,” said the Hon. Mr. Eaton. “I ought to have known better.” “ There's no offence, sir—but I am sure you will be more pleased with my prudence for not gossip | ing,” retarned Mra. Lindley, attempting to smile— which was sather difficult, at least tedo it blandly,' with such acountenance as the one that she possessed. There wapanother long pause; and in about ten minutes @ servant entered and whispered in the old woman’s ear that one of the young ladies had been taken saddenly unwell and was obliged to retire to her charaber. Mra. Lind‘ey apologised to Mz. Eaton for leaving him, and quitted the parlour. | The young gentleman, finding himself alone, began to think thae the imterview between the Countess ef Desborough and Fernand# Ay:mer was «wnneces- sarily long;—and a feeling of uneasiness, for which he could searcely account, stole over him as he cast! his eyes vaund the sombre-looking roem, whos | gloomy aspect was rather shadowed forth thea re lieved lng the dimly burning candles and the flickering light of the fire. Rising from his seat, he examined the portraits a eminentphysicians suspended to the walls; and hi tour round the little parlour brought him to th antique book-case, on the shelves of which were thi | mouldy volumes treating of midwifery and the use of herbe, and the huge Bible fastened with silve: clasps. , This book-case had glass doors, which the ol?! woman was accustomed to keep carefully secured but on the present occasion it happened that she hat left the key in the lock. The fact was that she had beet studying one of the books when the Countess a Desborough and Mr. Eaton arrived; and iu het haste to greet the visitors, she had forgotten he usual cautiou—thus merely turning the key without taking it from the lock. Mr. Eaton, fancying that there could be no harm in examining the contents of the oooks, took one down from the shelf in order to while away the time until the Countess should rejoin him: but as he opened the volume a piece of paper fell from between its leaves. He picked it up; and, glancing over it was struck by the words which were written on the top These words were—“THe Hein’s Frienp.” Taking it nearer to the light of the candles, Mr Eaton had the curiosity to examine the contents of this document ; and he found it to be a recerpt for some purpose or another, but for what he entertained | no idea. He opened the book agai in order to place it between the leaves ;—when his eyes fell upon an other paper, also held loose in the volume and ef —_—_ - wr ead she suffered a great deal, sir: it was night-time when | dently put there for safety. | ei COMIC OOO