The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 159: what you’re looking at

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B32 ment that thus esized upon her—she allowed herself to be carried-away en the flood of ecstatic feelings which engulfed her soul; and though she gave not buick again that burning kiss, she nevertheless with- drew not the mouth to which it seemed to grow. ‘But when the Prince, encouraged by this apparent abandoument of her person.to him, sought to snatch farther fxvours, she violently disengaged herself from iis arme—and, hurriedly arranging the bosom of her dress, whick his daring hand had disturbed, she ox- daimed, “ Think. not that you obtained the least par- ticks of permanent advantage over me. Amazement —dconfusion—bewilderment rendered me weak for a moment: but your Royal Highness must not again venture to treat mé with insult.” And, having thus epoken, she rang the bell. “Tu the name of Godt what do you mean, lovely Countess?” demanded the Prince, almost astounded By this proceeding, and likewise starting up from the dota: *Compose yourself,” said Eleanor, with a calm amd-noble dignity: then, asthe door opened and a doatestic appeared, she exclimed, “ His Royal High- ness desires that his carriage may immediately be dvawn up to the deor.” “ Mis Royal Highness’s carriage is in attendance, miy lady,” responded the lacquey. * ¥ou shall yot- be mize, haughty beauty—I swear tf? whispered the Prinos hurriedty, as he affected to bow in @ ceremonious manner ere he took his de- parture. “FE thank your Royal Highness for thé honour of tris visit,” said the Countess aloud—so that the ser- vant who held the door open observed not that any- thitg unusual was-taking plave. The Prinve durted upon Eleanor a lool of mingted Hicentioumness and menace, and quitted the room. CHAPTER XLL CAROLINE AND THB YOUNG LADY. Wr must row return to the abode of Mrs. Lindley in Fore Street, Lambeth. Three days had paseed since that terrible night on which Caroline Walters had contemplated the hor- rors of the store-room, and had heard the small shrill shriek of the new-born child whom the old harridan bad so ruthlessty consigned to the dark depths of the turbid Thames. It will be recollected that she had already cherished & sentiment of vengeance against the man who had seduced and betrayed her—and that she afterwards united with that resolve a vow to seek some means of punishing the old midwife who had enacted the principa! part in the appalling tragedy of that dread- fal night. During the three days which had elapsed since then, Caroline had pondered—deeply pondered—on those resolutions; and the more she meditated upon them, the more were they strengthened in her bosom. But she was at present powerless: and many weeks must probably elapse ere she would be again free and in a condition to enter upon the execution of her designs, Nor as yet had those designs assumed any settled shape in her imagination: she nursed them —she clung to them ;— but she must trust to accident to point out the way to carry them into effect. At all events, for the time being it was necessary SL ST TE TD a SS SS SS Sa SSS THE MYSTERIES. for her to maiutain a calm, placid, and even oon- tented demeanour in the presence of Mre Lindley and the young ladies who were her fellow-lodgers in the accursed establishment: for she, poor girl, was so utterly friendless that she was compelled to sub- mit to all the arrangements which Mrs, Brace had made for her;—and, being in the way to beoome a mother, she naturally clung to the asylum, though vile and abhorrent it were, which had been provided for her against the time when the hourof saffering and the pangs of maternity should overtake her. But she nevertheless vowed within herself that if the child which was then moving in her bosom should be born alive, it should escape the murderous intem- tions which Mrs, Lindley doubtless had in store with regard to it. The ctock at Lambeth Palace had proclaimed the hour of six in the evening, and Caroline Walters was m conversation with her fellow-lodgera m thé sitting-room allotfed to them generally, whey an old ‘nurse entered and summoned her to the presence of the midwife. Caroline repaired to the parlour where Mrs. Lind- ley was seated; but she shuddered when the reptile- like gaze of that woman was fixed upon her—for never since the night of horrors had she met that look without experiencing a cold sensation as if the hand of a corpse were passing slowly over her naked flesh. “ Shut the door, my dear obild,” said Mra. Lindley, speaking in that subdued tone which had become habitaal to her. “ Hush! not go violently—remem- her there’s an invalid up-stairs. And now at down fora few moments: I wish to speak to you par- ticularly.” Caroline took a chair, and awaited im silence the communication that was to follow. “My dear girl,” resumed Mrs. Liadley, caressing her great black cat, but still keeping her eyes steadily fixed on Miss Walters,—“I have selected you from amongst the rest to undertake an office which may afford a little variety and change for you. You are aware that im the next chamber to yours a young lady has very recently become a mother. Fortunately for ber, poor thing! the child was born dead —— But what is the matter with you, my love?” suddenly exclaimed the midwife “You appear to be unwell ?” “No, ma’am —it ia nothing,” hastily responded Caroline, who had been unable to subdue a shudder which was this time fully perceptible: for her whole frame had become coonvalsed on hearing the dread- ful woman give utterance to so calm and deliberate a falsehood respecting the young lady’s child “ Kk is nothing, I can assure you,” repeated Miss Walters, fearful of exciting a suspicion that ske knew the réal truth regarding that murdered infant. “But what you were saying made me think that my time is rapidly approaching ——” “Hush!” murmured the mitwife, placing hes long lean finger to her thin pale lip, and comtracting her thick and prominent eye-brows: “ the walls have ears, as I am constantly telling you ail! But you must not give way to nervous apprehensions, my love: you must keep up your cqurage—and you will pass through the ordeal in eafety. Recollect that I yield the palm of skill aud success in mid- wifery to no living practitioner, male or female; and therefore it is fortunate for you that our dear kind friend, the excellent Mrs. Brace, has entrusted you COMING OOOKS COMM