The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 167: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAIDEN’S CHAMBER 149 in the purpose of this bold, bad man, and as he heard ten o’clock proclaimed from the towers of the numerous churches in Canterbury, he muttered to himself, with a deep feeling of exultation, “‘ The moment approaches.” Scarcely had the iron tongues of time ceased their loud, metallic sounds when the front door of the cottage was heard to open, and sweet, silvery voices were the next instant wafted to the minor canon’s ear. Louisa and Mary were bidding each other an affectionate ‘‘ Good night.’’? Then Mrs. Owen spoke, saying some kind things to Louisa, and lastly, Louisa’s voice was again heard, bidding the servant- maid return as speedily as possible after escorting the two ladies to the Fountain Hotel. Then the little party came forth, accompanied by Louisa as far as the garden gate; and in a few moments Bernard Audley beheld Mrs. Owen, Mary, and the servant-maid (whose Christian name, by the bye, was also Mary) issue from that gate and proceed in the direction which they had to pursue. Louisa Stanley walked slowly back into the cottage, her very pace indicating the pensiveness naturally experienced from the loss of a loved friend who had been her companion for the greater part of a year. The sound of the front door closing reached the minor canon’s ear, and a strange glow thrilled through his entire frame as he now saw that the opportunity for which he had so anxiously awaited was at length within his reach. Still he remained for nearly five minutes in his place of conceal- ment, but it was only to watch the movements of Louisa inside the cottage, and of which he could judge by the light burning within. On the upper story there was one window where a light had been shining all the time the minor canon was stationed at his post, and this, he conjectured, must be the chamber tenanted by the aunt. A light had also been burning in the parlour on the ground floor, but soon after Louisa had reéntered the cottage, as above described, this light disappeared, and in another minute was seen glimmer- ing through the curtains of a window adjoining that of the chamber which Bernard Audley calculated to be the aunt’s. ‘That, then, is the maiden’s own room,”’ he said to him- self, as through the hedge he surveyed the window where the light, carried up from the parlour, had just glimmered forth. ‘‘ Now to enter the cottage! ”’ (C(O) nn) GDoOo <Si