The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 394: what you’re looking at

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

368 THE COURT OF LONDON loved the most are sometimes regarded as the objects of sudden aversion, hatred, and terror. You will therefore both perceive the absolute necessity for exercising an au- thoritative command over yourselves at the approaching interview.” Mrs. Owen and Mary promised to follow Doctor Dupont’s injunctions as well as they were able, and when he thought they were sufficiently tranquillized, he conducted them out of the waiting-room. They traversed the hall, ascended a magnificent marble staircase, and then proceeded along a carpeted passage having an array of doors on both sides. Presently they stopped at one near the end of the passage, and here the doctor paused, placing his finger upon his lip to remind Mrs. Owen and Mary of the injunctions he had given. He then knocked at the door, and it was almost im- mediately opened by the female custodian who had charge of the two young ladies. Doctor Dupont entered first, Mrs. Owen and Mary following close behind. The reader may imagine if he can, for we have no power to describe, the feelings which now swelled in the heart of that mother who knew that she herself was the primal cause of every- thing which had hurried on her two unhappy children to the catastrophe of a madhouse; nor can we depict the emotions which the innocent and tender-hearted Mary Owen felt at thus encountering her sisters in such a place and under such circumstances. The mother and daughter had wept over the tomb of the murdered Emma in the cemetery without the walls of Geneva, and deep as their anguish had been there, it assuredly was not more profound than that which they experienced in crossing the threshold of the chamber containing the living Agatha and Julia, but living only in a state of mental confusion. The two objects of this visit were still seated at the window, still appearing to gaze forth upon the-splendid scenery without, but still looking upon dull vacuity. They heard not the door open, or if they did, paid no attention to the circumstance. Doctor Dupont motioned with his hand for Mrs. Owen and Mary to remain near the door, while he accosted Agatha and Julia. “Well, young ladies,” he said, in his blandest, kindest, most soothing tones, “‘ what is it that thus engages your attention? ” comicloooks (C(O) im