The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 364: what you’re looking at

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

MYSTERIES OF THB COURT . 353 (THE DUCHESS oF DEVONSHIRE] GHAFTER Cl. ARRIVALS AT THE MANOR. ‘Xxx fact was that the room into which Mr. and Mrs, Page thus suddenly burst, was the one oo- eapied by Mrs. Bryan and her hosband, and where this worthy couple were at the moment partaking of a salubrious and fragal supper of bread and cheese, onions, and home-brewed ale. The shriek emanated from Mrs. Bryan, who was terribly startled at the violent and unceremonious manner in which the door was thrown open; and Mr. and Mrs. Page explained the cause of their own alarm by giving vent to the ejaculation of “A ghost! a ghost |” . Mr. Bryan, the gardener, who was an old man with a face as red and shrivelled as a wind-dall pippin, bounded from his seat— caught up tho poker— sed threw a fierce look around, as muck: as- > wee oo ey to imply that the ghost had better mind what it was about. His wife set up a piteous moaning, in- terspersed with such expressions as “ Dearey me! dearey me '” and " Lauk-a-day! what will become of us ?”—while Mrs. Page sank exhausted upon a chair—and her hasband cast a rapid and frightened look behind, to ascertain whether any hideous spectre was in pursait of them. : But observing nothing, Mr. Page became a trifle more courageous ; and, mustering up valour enough to shut the door, he said to the gardener, “ Put down the poker, my good man: the spirit-has not followed us—and even if he had, it would be of no use to take up the fire-irons against him.” Mr. Bryan accordingly replaced the poker on the hearth, and resumed his seat,—saying, “ What was it you thought you saw, sir?” “Thought ejaculated Page, completely be- wildered: “by heaven! there was no thinking ia the matter! Lam not inclined to superstition—I comicbooks.conn