The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 157: what you’re looking at

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

THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER 139 ‘¢ What more can you say, my dear mother, or what more can I ask? ’’ murmured Mary. ‘¢ But now tell me, my dearest child,’’ resumed Mrs. Owen, after a long pause, “ tell me to what extent that excellent young lady, Miss Louisa Stanley, has been prejudiced against me? I ought not to say prejudiced, because anything you may-have told her I full well deserved — ”’ ‘““ Rest assured,”’ interrupted Mary, “‘ that I have spared my mother as much as possible in the communications I have made to Miss Louisa Stanley. Mr. Loftus knows more, far more, indeed, all; but, for many reasons, as such as it was possible to suppress was kept veiled from the knowledge of Louisa. Ah! I understand, my dear mother,”’ Mary exclaimed, as a sudden idea struck her, “‘ you are afraid that Louisa will not welcome you here as warmly as you would naturally wish? But she is the kindest-hearted, the most forgiving, and the most amiable being in exist- ence; and if I only breathe a few words in her ear to say how sorry you are for all the past, and what tender things you have promised me for the future— But stay, my dear mother, do not move; I will return to you in a minute.”’ Thus speaking, the young damsel hurried away and re- entered the cottage. In a few minutes she came forth again, accompanied by Louisa Stanley, and together did the two charming: girls hasten to the spot where Mrs. Owen was seated. She rose, however, the moment Louisa was intro- duced by Mary into her presence, and then she saw at once, by the welcome which the amiable young lady gave her, that Mary’s representations had indeed been as efficacious as she had predicted. ‘““Mrs. Owen, I need scarcely say how glad I am to find that my young friend Mary has at length regained a mother,” and as Louisa thus spoke, with tears in her eyes, she offered Mrs. Owen her hand. | “But to you, dearest young lady, what boundless grati- tude is due! ”’ exclaimed Mrs. Owen. ‘I have not words to express all I feel,’’ and she raised to her lips the hand which she clasped in her own. “ You gave an asylum to my daughter when compelled to fly from her natural pro- tectress.”’ “Oh, let us not talk of the past,’ cried Louisa, with amiable earnestness. ‘“ I know, madam, how deeply, deeply (C(O) nn) GDoOo <Si