The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 361: what you’re looking at

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

846 THE MYSTERIES: — —— - ----— you safe again—and I implore you to look upon me as a friend.” “Oh! Mr. Meagles,” cried the orphan girl, burst- ing into tears,—“ if I had not already considered you in that light, I should not have ventured into your presence now. Pardon this intrusion—forgive this boldness——but——” She stopped short—a faintness came over her— and, pale though she was at first, yet her countenance now grew so suddenly ashy, that Meagles feared she was about to faint. Pouring out a glass of water, he held it to her lips: she had just strength sufficient to imbibe a few drops—anda the cold beveragerevived her. “Will you not lay aside your bonnet, Miss Fos- ter?” said Meagles, throwing into his tone and manner as much respectful attention and delicate courtesy as it was possible to convey or imply by those means. “ You are aware that I have no wife, nor sister—nor indeed any female relative to whom I can introduce you: but my landlady will pay you all due regard ——” “ Mr. Measles,’ interrupted Rose, now thoroughly reassured with respect to his character, and angry with herself that she had ever suspected its integ- rity,— I understand and appreciate all the genero- sity and delicacy of your conduct towards me;— but inasmuch as I come to you as a friend—nay, more—as a sister would fly for succour and advice to a brother—it is unnecessary that there Should be any third person present while I converse with you, But you said that you knew I had been perse- cuted——” “ Alas! poor orphan girl,” said Meagles in a tone of deep feeling, while tears started forth from his eyes; “I have indeed heard of the terrible adventure which you experienced a week ago—and I have been making unceasing inquiries concerning you.” “You, Mr. Meagles!” ejaculated Rose, in amaze- ment. “ Yes—certainly,” responded Tim, iti a tone of unquestionable candour. “ From the fitst moment that I saw you I felt interested in you—as, my God! who would not be, considering the cruel misfortunes which have overtaken you at so early a period of your life? The note which you sent me some weeks ago, gave me pain—because I had hoped and flat- tered myself that you would condescend to look upon me asa friend. But at the same time I admired your prudence, Miss |’oster—and, while I deplored the step which you had taken, inasmuch as it left me ignorant of your place of abode, the good opinion | had already formed of you was enhanced to the highest degree. You now understand, therefore, that I have thought of you often—and very frequently have I wished to know where you were that I might ascertain if you were contented with the new career you had traced out for yourself. Conceive, then, my dismay—my grief—my indignation, when I learnt, a week ago, that you had been made the object of a cruel persecution.” «Ah! Mr. Meagles,’ exclaimed Rose, the tears chasing each other down her cheeks,—“ had I treated you witb less reserve—had I consulted you frankly and ingenuously ere I resolved upon any particular proceeding—all that I have endured and encountered would have been avoided. Believing the establish- ment which I entered to be one of the highest re- spectability——” ‘Oh! what perils have you encountered, Miss Foster!” exclaimed Meagles, abruptly: “for your eyes are doubtless now open to the true character of Mrs. Brace’s house——’” “But how did you learn all that has happened to me?” she demanded. “ Report says that you are intimate with the Prince of Wales—and it was as an emissary from his Royal Highness to my poor father, that you first became acquainted with me. I must conclude, then, that the Prince himself made known to you his unworthy conduct and the manner in which I escaped from him—by adopting a course which makes me shudder even now when I think of ee? “ Heroic girl!’ ejaculated Meagles,—“ I also have shuddered a thousand times on your account ever since the daring exploit was made known to me. Yes —from the lips of the Prince himself did I hear the tale which excited within mea sentiment of abhor- rence towards him equalled only by that of admira- tion in regard to yourself.” “ Was it possible that his Royal Highness knew all along that Camilla Morton was none other than the Rose Foster whom his own wickedness had made an orphan?” inquired the young maiden. “ No—he only ascertained that fact at the last mo- ment—aindeed, at the same time that he discovered your flight,” answered Meagles. “A letter which you had dropped in the hurry and confusion of that memorable night, and which his Royal Highness picked up, informed him who you were. But think not, Miss Foster, that he was stricken with remorse —or thatif he were, the feeling lasted more than a moment. No!” cried Meagles emphatically,—* that inan is incapable of sentiments permanently generous or noble; and beware, Miss Foster, how you fall in his way! Let us not, however, dwell upon topics so unpleasant. I was ere now telling you that during the Jast week I have been making unceasing inquiries concerning you—and this is so true that I have neglected many important matters which de- manded my attention. But I knew enough of you to be aware that you are inexperienced and confiding : virtuous and well-intentioned yourself, you are na- turally prone to place reliance upon others ;—and I trembled, Miss Foster—Oh! I trembled lest you should fall into the snares of the artful, the designing, and the unprincipled.” “Oh! how can I ever sufficiently express my gratitude for all this generous sympathy and friend- ship on your part?” exclaimed Rose, her voice almost suffocated with sobs. ‘ Alas! alas! I have indeed become the victim of my inexperience—at least so far as my pecuniary affairs are con- cerned——” ‘Tell me all that has occurred to you, Miss Foster,” cried Meagles, “since the night on which you escaped from Mrs. Brace’s house. I am certain you have endured much—your adventures have been of no ordinary description—for you are pale, care-worn, altered ——”’ ‘Heavens! how can it be otherwise?” exclaimed Rose, suddenly becoming painfully excited as the thought of all she had passed through was recalled with terrible vividness to her mind. “ Yes—1 did indeed trust to people whom I believed honest— and they plundered me—robbed me, Mr. Meagles, of every guinea of that sum which you yourself had invested in my name at the Bank of Iingland. Oh! why did [ not come to you? But I sent—or rather some one pretended to call upon you—and I was assured that you had gone to Scotland ——” ip (C(O) nn) Cc 6)(0)(©) KS a(S)