The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 391: what you’re looking at

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

DOCTOR DUPONT’S ESTABLISHMENT — 365 it would have been an act of rudeness on their part to have avoided him altogether. ‘Pardon me, ladies,’ said the young gentleman, in the English language, “‘ but if I be not much mistaken in your appearance, you must be fellow countrywomen of mine, and if so, meeting you thus in a foreign land and seeing you plunged in such bitter grief, I cannot pursue my journey without asking if my services can be made in any way available for your benefit.”’ ‘On behalf of my daughter and myself,” said Mrs. Owen, with all the courtesy of a thorough gentlewoman, “ I return you my sincerest thanks for your kindness and generosity. But ours is an affliction which admits not of relief, even on the part of a friendly sympathizer.”’ “ You will at all events, madam,” said the young gentle- man, “ pardon my indiscretion for having intruded myself upon your notice? Believe me, it was through no impertinent curiosity.” , ‘Such an assurance is altogether unnecessary,’’ answered Mrs. Owen, “ and considering the generous interest which you have thus manifested in our behalf, it would be at least discourteous, if not positively unhandsome, to evade an explanation of that grief which elicited your sympathy. Alas! sir, if you be a stranger in these parts, you are unaware that the immense establishment which you may observe on the slope of this eminence on the left hand is an asylum for those who have lost their reason.” ‘ Ah! pardon me, madam,” exclaimed the young English- man, observing that Mrs. Owen stopped short in a convulsion of grief, and that Mary had turned aside to conceal the fresh outburst of affliction to which she was giving vent. “ In- stead of soothing you, I have forced you into explanations which only tend to revive your sorrow. I understand you, madam. You have some relative in that place? ”’ ‘‘T have, I have,’ answered Mrs. Owen, hysterically, and the unhappy woman wrung her hands. ‘“‘ Two daughters, this dear girl’s sisters,’’ and she pointed toward Mary. “ Knough, madam,” said the Englishman, ‘‘ dwell not upon the melancholy topic. And now, think me not indis- creet if I again observe that should I in any way be able to prove useful to you I shall be most happy. Had we met thus in our own native England, and under the same cir- CoMmiclooe (So! nin