The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 317: what you’re looking at

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

‘ sleanly bed-chamber on the first floor received then ; “Well, well,” interrupted the woman—but nof and the woman intimated that it was here the young | petalantly ;—“ I must confess that I was affected lady was to sleep. She again apologised for the humi- | by all the dear young lady had been telling me as walked Fer it's seach a shoc‘iing thisg to have lost one’s parents at so tender an age-—— But come, dear Mises,” she exciamned, suddenly inéerrapting herself—for she saw thas Camilla had bescme painfully affected: “dry your tears—don't lity of the accommodation, but agaia: likewise affirmed an assurance of the most cordial welcome. Caruilla expressed her thanks for the kindness demonstrated lowards her—and the woman, placing the candle orphan hasiqned upon a little table, withdrew. Carefully locking the door, the to lay aside her clothing—for she was overwhelmed with fatigue; aad soon after she had laid her head upon the pillow slamber sealed her eyes. She awoke in the morning just as the clock ef | Westminster Abbey was striking nine; and when the sunbeams shone upon her eyes and she found herself safe in that homely room but cleanly bed, che agaia repreached herself for having thought ii of the couple to whom she was indebted fer tha hospitality she had enjoyed. Rising from the humble pallet, Camffia per- in the grave of her parents ! etrociows—and murder is abhorrent: bat-to il- wretch who has no pity for the orphan, is capable of robbery, and forgery, and rape, aad murder t Scarcely was Camilla’s toilette when some one tapped gently at the door. She opened it—and the woman nmiade her appearance with many anxious inquiries as to how the young lady had slept. This apparently kind solicitude on ker behalf having been daly acknowleiged by Camilla, _| the woman led the way to a small but neatly far- nished parlour down stairs, where breakfast was ready arranged upon the table. : The woman’s husband was there, and his appear- . ,@neo had andergone considerable improvement. | Fee be had shaven the beard of several days | growth which eahanced the simister expression of | his eountenamee when Camilla fisst beheld him a : few houses back--his hair, then matted, was now ' eombed out and neatly arranged—his seiled shirt : had been exehanged fer clean lnen—and hs wore a decent suit of black elothes. “I hope my missus hes made you comfortable, young lady ?" said the man, assuming as geatic a tone as his voice could possibly modulate itself to. “ik bave to return you both my sincerest thanks for your kindness,” answered Camilla. “Qh! don’t say a word about that, Miss,” ex- claimed the man. “ We only performed a Chris. tian duty; and I’m sure that even a heart of atone would have melted to see such a mice young lady | inci distress. | compelling @s you are in any sort of trouble and hace peated ama home about an hour after you and ny miseus, I found her a-crying ap. if her eges nad turned into water-spoute—__”” O God! robbery is bad—forgery is vile—rape is | wards pat one home, the sooned I entitle myvelf im aa- ether the better.” “ These I euppose, Miss, that you"ve got relaticas, or trustees, or lawyers, or seuusthing of the sort in the City,” anid the man ; “and yeu want to call upon them. In that ense, [ shail be very happy to see you safe to their house,” he added, with an apparent frank- ness which quite made the exzphan forget the sinister expreamon of his countenance. “ Alas! I have no relatives—no friends,” she re- turned, hastily wiping away the tears that started forth upon her long lashes. “ But, Oh !—I was wrong to eay that I had no friends!" she exclaimed, a sudden reminiscence striking her and bringing a tint of animation to her pole. chen =“ You— Mr Seagics—-bn will advise mae how to act——" “You'd better write a nete: ta your friend, Miss,” eel the mon, exchapging a mpid bet agzificant gience with the women: “aad I will take.it to him at once for you. It ‘ll be swels better them for yeu to atreetar-——’ ge taming about. the “Theek yon!" exclaimed Camilla, grateful for the suggestion and tha ofc whieh ac- companied it. “But it ia net feessssry. for me to write--imeleed, my brain is so bewikieted thet my very sight is dazzied—and I comld nat. pen a swgie time. My object will be however ancomptiohed if you will have tbe geodness ta call en Mz Mengies in Jeruayn Street ;”—and ahe: mentioned the passber of Mrs... Pi e house. *You.cen toll him thst to leave the establiahmvent in which I held ao sitmation—and that if he will faveur me with recei OOO