The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

120 THE COURT OF LONDON to dinner; and when they once more found themselves alone over the dessert, Fernanda lavished the most seductive caresses upon her husband, declaring that he had acquitted himself admirably that afternoon, and assuring him that he was already the object of a love which would speedily expand into the enthusiasm of a boundless worship. The time passed rapidly away until nine, at which hour Fernanda said, ‘‘ We must now depart upon the business which we have in hand for to-night.” ‘““T am at your orders, dearest,” cried Lord Holderness; and he rang the bell for his hat and cloak, while Fernanda hastened up-stairs to put on a shawl and a black hood such as ladies wore in those times when going out of an evening. ‘““ Has your lordship ordered the carriage? ’’ inquired the footman who answered the bell. “No,” was the response. ‘“ Her ladyship and myself are merely going to visit some friends a few doors off, and as the night 1s perfectly dry and very mild, it is not worth while to have the carriage for so short a distance.”’ At this moment Lady Holderness returned to the dining- room, wearing an ample shawl and a black silk hood, and, her husband giving her his arm, they sallied forth together. But instead of repairing to the house of any friends in the neighbourhood, they hastened to the nearest hackney-coach stand; and, entering one of the vehicles, they ordered the driver to take them to the immediate vicinage of the arch- bishop’s palace in Lambeth. Half an hour’s ride brought them to the end of their journey, when they alighted, dis- missed the coach, and repaired straight to Fore Street. On reaching the house of Mrs. Lindley, Lady Holderness knocked gently, and the door was immediately opened by the midwife herself. She carried a candle in her hand, and the moment the light beamed on the well-known counte- nance of the fair patrician, as she partially threw back the hood which she wore, the old woman gave her a respectful welcome. Fernanda then entered the parlour, followed by her husband. That room was unchanged in its aspect since Fernanda last saw it. The shutters were hermetically closed inside the casements, the white blinds were down, the dark stuff curtains were drawn. ‘The massive walnut-wood furniture was as funereal as ever in its ebon darkness; the pictures, > ae (C(O) ANC 6)(0)©) CO