The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 319: what you’re looking at

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

EXCITEMENT AND TERRORS OF GUILT 285 maid, struggling as well as she was able against the horrified feelings that had seized upon her. ‘“‘ Listen to me for a few moments, my dear Harriet,”’ said the milliner, speaking with all the rapidity of a hyster- ical excitement. ‘‘ You remember that the Bow Street officer called last evening? Well, he became intoxicated, he pressed me with his licentious proposals. I was compelled to submit — my God! what could I do? I conducted him hither, and all in a moment he fell down dead at my feet, stricken by the lightning-stroke of apoplexy.” “Dead, at your feet! ’’ echoed Harriet, shuddering con- vulsively and repeating the milliner’s words with the me- chanical impulse of dire horror. “Yes, in an instant was I plunged into this cruel embarrassment,” said Mrs. Brace; “and all last night I remained here, alone with the corpse. Now ic are ac- quainted with this terrible secret, Harriet.” “Oh, I wish that I had never known it, ma’am,” exclaimed the young woman, covering her face with her hands as if to shut out some hideous object from her view. “Ah! now you drive me to despair, Harriet,’”?’ moaned the wretched milliner. ‘‘ My God! what is to be done? ”’ “IT know not,’ responded the abigail, dropping her hands suddenly, but only to wring them frantically. ‘ It already seems to me as if a murder had been committed and that I was an accessory.” ‘“* A murder! ”’ repeated Mrs. Brace, in a hollow tone and with a convulsive start. Then, fixing her haggard eyes upon her dependent, she said, ‘‘ You do not suppose, Harriet — you cannot think that I—1— caused the death of that man? ”’ ““T am afraid to think, ma’am; I recoil from my own thoughts,” returned Harriet, her tone and manner both acquiring firmness from actual despair. Then, as if suddenly conquering repugnances until this moment invincible, and summoning all her resolution to her aid, the young woman exclaimed, “‘ But there is no time to lose, and we must meet this embarrassment face to face.”’ “Oh, thank you, thank you, Harriet, dear Harriet, for this change in your conduct toward me,” said the unhappy Mrs. Brace. ‘ Tell me what we ought to do. I will place (€1@) Anyi 6)(0)(©)