The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 266: what you’re looking at

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

mm Dc ee ol we THE MYSTERIES OF THB COURT. 256 assurance which I have given him that you are doing | not be at home. She knocked again: an upper your utmost in behalf of Miss Constance.” | window was then opened—and a harsh wnice, but “And we will succeed, too, Mary-Anne!” ex- just sufficiently feminine to show that it was s slaimed Juliana in a tone of confidence : “I am cer- . woman’s, demanded who was there. tain we shall succeed. You bad however better not | “I wish to speak to you for a few moments,” re- remain here any longer now; but bring me word , plied Juliana, “ on very particalar business.” when my mother and sister and the houschald have; “ But who are you? and from whom dv you retired.” eome ?”” inquired the speaker from the window. Mary-Anne accordingly left the young lady’s| “Are you the same person who has been on two chamber; and another hour passed. It was now | or threes occasions to Saxondale House?” asked eleven o'clock; and the faithful abigail returned ' Juliana, though by the glimpee she caught of the with the intimation that the inmates of the mansion , countenance which was now thrust forth from the had sought their respective chambers. Juliana was | window, and which was surrounded by a great white in readiness for her expedition. She had already oap, she felt assured she was speaking to the right put on # common straw garden-bonnet—the plainest | individual. dress she had in her wardrobe—and also the most| “ Yee—I am the same. Wait a moment: I will ing shawl that she could find. Stealing | let you in.” down stairs, followed by Mary-Anne who carrion | The window was closed; and almost immediately the light, she passed out of the rear of the premises | afterwards the rays of a light glimmered forth — issued from the side-gate—and telling the faithful ; through the dingy panes. Juliana heard the woman maid that she need not sit up for her, hastened | moving about in the room above as if hurrying away in the direction of Oxford Street. There she | on some clothing; and in two or three minutes entered a eab, and directed the driver to take her up | more, stepe were heard descending the stairs within. to the Seven Sisters’ Road in the neighbourhood of | The door was now opened; and the woman ap- Holloway. peared, holding a light m her hand. The glance This ride took the best portion of an hour ; and it | Which Juliana threw upon her at once cleared up was midnight when the intrepid Julians descended | any doubt which might have remained in respect to from the vehicle at the commencement of the Seven | her identity. She had on the dirty white cap, and hand as an earnest of her good faith that she would | had been previously mentioned by Francis Paton return; and bidding him wait for her, no matter | and Edmund; and moreover her features exactly how long, she hastened along the road. It was a. answered the description given fram the same oeantiful clear night—so bright and lovely indeed sources. that the small print of a book might have been, Juliana entered the hut, and was conducted into read; and therefore all objects were visible to even ' the little wretchedly-furnished room on the ground- a considerable distance. The map of London and its floor. Madge Somers looked very hard at the environs which the young lady had taken care to young lady; and instantly recognizing the likeness, consult previous to leaving home, had sufficiently she said, “Why, you must be Lady Saxondale’s defined to her comprehension the whereabouts of daughter?” the Hornsey Wood Tavern ; and from what she had| ‘I am,” replied Juliana; “and therefore you may culty in discovering the cottage of which he had | my mother has sent me to you this night.” spoken. But when she turned out of the main road| “For what purpose?” asked Madge, in hor own and began to traverse the field which it was neces- | terse and dogmatic style. eary to pass through in order to reach the place of| “Lady Saxondale wishes to see you on most paer- destination, she could not help feeling a sense of . ticular busipess at nine o'clock punctually in the utter loneliness; and this being the first time in her , morning. Can you be at Saxondale House precisely life she had ever found herself in such a position— | at that hour ?” alone, at the midnight hour, in the open country,—| I can—and I will,” answered Madge, evidently — it is no wonder if for a minute she experienced a astonished at the invitation. “Is anything wrong, vague and shuddering terror. Bat naturally on- | Miss?’ dowed with a strong mind, she speedily recovered | ‘‘ My mother will herself explain the business,” her fortitude, and resolutely advanced towards the | answered Juliana. “Of course it is connected with cottage. the secrets subsisting between yourself and her——” She now observed that it was indeed a wretched! “But amI to understand,” interrupted Madge, poverty-stricken tumble-down habitation ; and as in | looking very hard at Juliana, “that her ladyship has the minds of the upper classes the loneliness and | afforded you any insight into those secrete (” misery of a dwelling invariably associate themselves | “Surely your own good sense must tell you,” re- with the idea of treachery and crime, Juliana again . joined Miss Farefield, meeting the woman's gazp felt that sense of shuddering terror come over her _ with the steadiness of her own, “that my mother which she had already experienced. She therefore | could scarcely have entrusted me with such a mis- hesitated to proceed any farther with her present | sion ae this, unless te eS ow me the fullest ex- adventure: but the next moment conquering her | planations. I do indeed know what the secret is fears, and blaming herself for even transiently giv- | that enables you to hold my mother in your power,” ing way to them, she entered the little enclosure | added the wily Juliana, hasarding the remark in surrounded by the broken fenoe—advanced up to | order to draw out the woman. | the door—and knocked with her closed hand. And cunning though Madge herself was, yot For s few moments all continued silent within ; | Miss Farefield did succeed in drawing her out. She aed Juliana began to fear that the woman might pretended to be weary, and was therefore mvited to GON GoOO SS CO