The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

74 A dizziness followed—and for a few moments _ gverything appeared to be in a whirl ;—then she felt as _- ee So CO _ Wf ehe must shriek oul and fall headlong into some unknown but terrible and fathomless abyss,—when she was suddenly recalled to her senses by the open- ing of the door, and the appearance of an eicerly woman, bearing a light, on the threshold at the bottom of the descent of steps. “Come, my dear gitl,” said Mrs. Brace, taking Caroline’s hang: “Jet me:introdues you to my friend Mrs. Lindley, who.is here to receive yau.” . The young girl threw.a shuddesing -glance upon the woman, who was endenvousing io waeath her her countenaneeinto a bland smile af weleome;—bat as the light, which she shaded with her long thin hand, was thrown full epon her fexteus, it gawe them a ghastly appearance—for Mrs. Léniiley's face was , angular, and sallow. ' “Come, I say, Caroline—dear Caroline !” whis- pered Mrs. Brace, almost in an imploring tone, as she felt the young girl's hand anatched back abruptly from her own. Those words suceseded in somewhat saassuring the affrighted creature—for they were qpeilem in a penetogte,~_iato © email peshour etenine thansiansn She yer edways humening tence dampen fi to The ehutters weas ‘Cuand inaide the cassmants : Slat du team thine her the best sean at the back milliner, and speaking in that mysterious and sub- dued tone which the very nature of her profession had rendered habitual, and which she therefore used on all occasions even when commonplace subjects might have enabled her to dispense with so much caution. “ And Carry is not only a pretty girl—but a very good girl,” said Mrs. Brace, in answer to Mrs. ley’s remark. experience nothing but the most affectionate kind- “JT have assured her that she will so lond, if yeu plesse! Remember that wails have Cal" “I beg your peuien, Bie Linfley—I quite for- got,” returned the dafy te whom this remonstrance was addressed : then, confuaing te apesk in a more subdued tone, she said, “Wes will fad Caroline i al .cliliging—ond thessfage I am polisctby eeil tagether.” “Hiush |—what f° murnugeel Mes ‘Lindley, lean- cotting ;—and in an. antique bodk-case afja sendy | ing Sooward with an air of guest mystery to catch the volumes on subjects of midwifery and the «nes of { senciation about to be made, and the nature of which herbs, kept company with a buge *” ose fastened by {she could pretty well conjecture. “ means of silver clasps. There was a good firein the grate: but the lanshent: flames that rose from a pile of crackling eoal, failed to mitigate the gloomy appearance of this room ;— and even the large black cat, which lazily opened its sparkling, glass-like green eyes, as it lay rolled up on the hearth rug, had something ominous and foreboding about it in the estimation of the trembliug, shudder- ing Caroline Walters. Mys, Lindley politely drew forward seata for the eooommodatien of her visitors; and then, slowly sinking down spon an easy chair with a very high back rudely carved, she put on a great pair of horn spectacles for the purpose cf taking a good long sur- vey of Caroline. ‘The young creature felt a disagreeable chil] come pver her, as the woman's email, dark, reptile-like eyes gleamed upon her through the large circular glasees : for & ecemed as if a snake were emdeavouring to fascinate her with its hideous gaee. And eo far fas- ginated she indeed was, that she could not withdraw her looks from the countenance of Mss. Lindley; hey were rivetted apon that cadaverous face with its sharp features and its parchment ekin—its thin pale lipe.and its thick and prominent eyebrows. “Go is a weet pretty xl, oxy dear readam,” ob- “erved the qweomaen, euddenly | ’t speak too rem: mind! What were you going to say? You ink——” “That Rachel Forrester will have to pay you an- other visit in a couple of months, or so,” added Mra Brace, irresistibly and also unconsciously catching for the moment a portion of that extreme habit of caution which appeared to keep Mra Lindley ever on the gui vive lest her words should be overheard by curious ears or hor movements noticed by prying eyes. "Well — well,” said the woman; “these things will happen—and it makes a good trade for me,” she added, with a low chuckling laugh, which was however the loudzst that she ever pnauiged in in. “Won't you take off your bonnet and cloak, and stay to supper with us?” she inquired, after a short pause, and still addressing herself to the milliner. “No, I thank you—I must return home almod immediately,” replied Mra. Brace. “But you had better take aff your things, my love,” she added, turning towards Caroline. The young girl rose fram her chair and mechani- She the atrings of her gipsy-hat, which she placed upon the table; and then dlowly ist he cloak fall from ber shoulders. The camnal observes, taming towards the | on. glancmg at the figure of Caroline Walten, cally complied with the suggestion of her mistress, | unfastened COMM ELOOO co