The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 192: what you’re looking at

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

170 THE COURT OF LONDON thither, or else get Louisa to send up the servant to fetch you.” ‘‘ Oh, pray do not disappoint me,”’ exclaimed Mary. ‘“ I long to call Louisa by the endearing name of cousin.”’ “You shall see her again to-day, my dear child,” said Mrs. Owen. Mary then withdrew from the apartment, and the two sisters were left alone together. ‘Tt appears, then,” said Lilian, ‘‘ that you have decided upon making yourself known to Louisa? ”’ ‘Yes, I passed all the afternoon and evening in her com- pany after you and I separated in the Dane John, and her conduct was most kind and cordial toward me. Indeed, she is an excellent-hearted girl, and evidently believes that the cruel misfortunes I have experienced in respect to my three eldest daughters are an ample chastisement for all that I have done. And such, indeed, I feel it, for the in- fliction is great and terrible.’ The two sisters then sat down together and conversed for a long time upon many matters. They gave mutual explanations relative to various circumstances which before were only partially known to each other, and which inti- mately concerned themselves. But as we shall presently have to combine the histories of the four sisters, Lydia, Anne, Melissa, and Lilian Halkin, all in one narrative, it is not here necessary to anticipate any portion thereof. Suffice it to say that in sincere penitence for the past did these two sisters mingle their tears together; and their explana- tions being over, they decided upon at once repairing to the cottage, in order to make known their relationship to Louisa, and also to see their invalid sister, whose restoration to consciousness and comparative health they little suspected. But in paying this visit they had deemed it better to go alone, there being something solemn and sacred in the pro- ceeding, and they feared lest in any unguarded moment they might let fall from their lips more than they chose the youthful Mary to know. Indeed, when Mrs. Owen had de- clared that she had given her daughter certain explanations, it was as much as to say that she had revealed nothing of the past beyond the bare fact of the relationships above announced. Mrs. Owen and Lilian Halkin were prepared to issue (C(O) nn) ClA@O) S (CO ) im