The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 180: what you’re looking at

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

158 THE COURT OF LONDON berland; for, believe me, my dear aunt, that Jocelyn — as we must of course still call him for the present — has ever spoken of you with the kindest interest, and when we have been talking over our future plans, your welfare and com- forts have entered largely into the arrangements thus laid down.” ‘“‘ T am delighted, my dear Louisa,” observed Miss Stanley, “to hear all that you are telling me. Yes, I see that this young gentleman must be honourable and well-intentioned, and I have now no doubt he will give satisfactory explana- tions for the adoption of a fictitious name. Perhaps he may even turn out to be some one of a more elevated rank than you suppose.” | ‘Clara has hinted something to this effect in one of her recent letters,’ said Louisa, ‘‘ but I never suffer that idea to dwell in my mind. I do not wish him to be more than he appears. At all events, if he were a prince I should not love him more than I do. And now, my dear aunt, I should mention to you that the business which has taken him to the Continent is in itself of a nature to win your esteem, although it has been connected with some dreadful adventures,”’ and Louisa shuddered visibly as she spoke. “ But it was not his fault.” ‘Explain yourself, my dear child,’ said Miss Stanley. “ Do not fear of exciting me too much. I feel strong in body and intellect to a surprising extent, considering all things.” “ Jocelyn Loftus,’”’ resumed Louisa, “ went abroad for the purpose of defeating a dreadful conspiracy which was devised against the Princess of Wales, and.in which certain young ladies named Owen —’”’ “Ah! Owen?” repeated Miss Stanley. “ Tell me their Christian names? ”’ she inquired, eagerly. “ Agatha, Emma — ” ‘¢ Enough, it is they! ”’ ejaculated the aunt. ‘“ What! you know them? You have heard of them?” cried Louisa. ‘ This is most strange. You knew Mr. Audley’s name; you now know these. But perhaps you will be astonished when I tell you that Mary Owen, the youngest of the four sisters, — and oh, so different from the rest, — has been an inmate of this cottage for the last ten or eleven months.” COMiicooOo (CO in