The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

THE MOTHER AND DAUGHTER 143 then she would not dare make any confession to her lover, but would hush it up and lock the secret carefully in her own bosom. Heavens! how little, we repeat, did he understand that excellent girl! | While thus giving free vent to the thoughts that were hurrying him on toward the crime that he meditated and the risk which he endeavoured to palliate, he reached the Dane John once more by a circuitous route; and as he entered the avenue he was immediately confronted by Lilian Halkin, who rose from a seat half-embowered in the shade of the trees and the dense evergreens. “Ah! is it you?’ exclaimed Audley, an expression of mingled hatred and annoyance suddenly appearing upon his countenance. Then, as an idea flashed to his mind, and he recollected the rustling of the evergreens which had alarmed him in the midst of his soliloquy when in that same place a couple of hours previously, he said, ‘‘ You have been watching me? ” ‘“ Yes, to save you from the perpetration of a crime that will plunge you into ruin,” answered Lilian, in a voice that was firm and steady, though profoundly mournful. ‘What crime? To what do you allude? How dare you address me thus?’’ demanded the minor canon, putting these questions for the purpose of ascertaining to what extent he might have committed himself, when so unguardedly speaking aloud, to the knowledge of her whom he considered his evil genius. ‘““Searcely two hours have elapsed since in this very avenue you gave utterance to the wild ravings of your passions,’ and as Lilian thus spoke, she fixed her eyes with a look of steadfast warning and reproach upon the minor canon. ‘ Louisa Stanley has inspired you with a frenzied love —no, not a love. That sacred name shall not be desecrated by being used in such a sense.”’ “You dare not say that I have conceived any evil design relative to Louisa Stanley,’’ and Bernard Audley darted on Lilian Halkin a glance that was meant to read deep down into her soul. “And you dare not deny the conception of such design,” was her immediate response. “ At all events, I am not responsible to you for my con- duct,” he retorted, fiercely. (C(O) nn) GDoOo KS { r nin