The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 267: what you’re looking at

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

256 THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. rest herself awhile; and during the best part of an ‘tress. But Miss Farefield had not the slightest hour that she tarried at the cottage, there was of ,mtention of giving the abigail any account of her course some conversation. Upon what topic, there- | nocturnal expedition: she therefore hur- fore, could they talk, save and except concerning | riedly and evasively—promised to tell her every. the matter to which Juliana hed at random alluded, | thing at a more fitting opportunity—ead y but respecting which Madge Somers naturally fan- ' gave her some commuseions to execute which would cied that the young lady possessed the fullest infor- | ocoupy the next half-hour and thus prevent farther mation? 80 well did the crafty Miss Farefield conversation. Mary-Anne did not perosive that she manage her portion of the discourse, that until the | was treated with any deficiency of confidence, but end of this interview she sustained in Madge’s : expressed her delight at the assurance which Juliana mad the impression that she had known everything | vaguely gave her that measures were taken te previously; and when she took her leave, she de-: ensure the emancipation of Constance from the with the fall knowledge of all that she wanted ; close thraldom in which she was now held. to learn. She took good care to slip ten or a dosen | At half-past eight another ledy’s-maid—Latcille sovereigns into Madge’s hand; and the woman ' by name—knocked af Juliana’se door; and upon faithfully promised to be at Saxondale House at. being desired to enter, she said, “If you please nine o'clock. Mise, her ladyship purposes to leave at nine o'clock Of strange contexture were the thoughts of Ju- | punctually, and hopes that you are now ready for liana Farefield as she retraced her way across the | breakfast, and that your things are all packed up.” field into the Seven Sisters’ Road. She had learnt! “Here is the box I intend to take with me,” said her mother’s secret: but it was a secret that ap- Juliana. “You can send up one of the footmen to palled her. If, ere ehe had set foot within the cot- | fetch it down and cord it.” tage of Madge Somers, she had lived ten thousand | Mise Farefield then descended to the breakfast- years and in that tame had exhausted herself in | parlour, where che found her mother and sister conjectures as to what mother’s secret could | already in the astounding reality. Once or twice she actu- | self had no objection to affect an inclination to mest ally stopped short to ask whether it were | her mother half way towards reconcilement, the indeed true that she had heard what she thought | better to Inil hor into the completest security and she had heard, and that she knew what she belioved | confidence as to the success of her own plan, so that herself to know. She looked around to fix her| the counter-plot which wae arranged to happen attention upon perticular objects near, in order to | should strike her ladyship with a suddenness that acquire the certainty that she was really awake and | would leave her paralysed and helpless, thereby to satisfy herself it was no delusive vision of the ensuring the escape of Constance. night. Then she walked on, and reached the vehicle} “You look pale, Juliana,” said Lady Saxondele had left it. “T have not slept well, mother, and have a violent The morning had just begun to dewa,—the bright | headache.” summer morning, bringing back the presence of} “The travelling will do you good.” day to arouse a sleeping world, to bid the flowers} “TI hope eo,” rejoined Mies Farefield. ft their heads and open their buds, and to signal; They talked on in this strain for a little longer; the matin hymn from the feathered choristers in| and at ten minutes to nine Lady Gaxondale said, trees and hedgerows. It was four o'clock when | “We had now better put on our things; for the Julians alighted from the cab in the vicinage of | travelling-carriago will be almnoet immediately at the Saxondale Howse; and with her veil carefully drawn | door. We have post-horses, of coarse. Two of the down over her countenance, so as to conteal her | footmen will ride on the box: Mary-Anne and La- features from the observation of the policeman | cilla will go in the rumble behind.” whom an amorous cook was just stealthily letting | Juliana once more aseended to her chamber, while out up the area-steps of a neighbouring mansion,— | Constance accompanied Lady Saxondale to the Juliana sped on to the side-gute. There ehe let her- | latter's suite of apartments. But we should observe self in by aid of the key that she had with her, | that the elder sister had again found an opportuuity and passed safely into the mansion. Then, locking | to make a sign indicative of hope to Constance. the back door, and fastening the bolts so as to avert | Still was this young lady a prey to the deepest eus- suspicion of any one having issued from the house | pense as to the meaning of all these signals of in- during the night, she regained her own chamber. | telligence: but still, likewise, did she derive some Thoroughly exhausted with her adventure, she | consolation therefrom, for she stood so deeply im speedily sought her couch, and fell into a deep | need of solace! slumber: but the particulars of her interview with | The travelling-carriage, with four horess and twe Madge Somers followed her in her dreams. postilions, drove ap to the frontof Saxondale House. She did not awake till eight o'clock, and would ' The boxes were all corded in the hall, ready to be mot perhaps have aroused herself then, had not | stowed away upon the roof of the vehicle, where they Mary-Anne knocked at her chamber-door. Juliana were aow speedily packed in the usual manner. hastened to give her admittance; and the lady’s- The two footmen who were to accompany the equi- maid bent an inquiring look upon her young mis- page, were in attendance; as were also Mary-Aane eorniclacolks CO