The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 63: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER VI ROSE FOSTER AGAIN Five days had elapsed since that fatal night on which Rose Foster fell once more into the power of Mrs. Brace, and during this interval the orphan girl had been retained a close prisoner in a bedchamber the windows of which looked upon the small yard that lay between the two houses. The door was kept constantly locked, and thus all possible precautions were taken against another escape. Harriet, the lady’s-maid, took her up her meals at the proper hours; but, although civil and obliging in her general conduct, the domestic held her peace when questioned by the terrified girl respecting the meaning of this imprisonment and the ultimate objects which Mrs. Brace might have in view con- cerning her. Vainly did Rose implore, through Harriet, an interview with the milliner, whom she hoped to be able to move with her entreaties and her tears if she could only see her; but Mrs. Brace went not near the afflicted, bewildered, and almost heart-broken girl. Oh, how heavily, how wearily, and how viaeiails passed the time! By day the hours dragged their slow length along as if they were interminable; and by night the maiden could not sleep, for not only did the bitterness of her sorrow chase away slumber, but she feared to close her eyes lest some treacherous advantage should be taken of the moments of unconsciousness. Tears moistened her pillow, burning tears of anguish, which afforded not the consolation that they usually impart when serving as a vent for grief, but tears which flowed, as it were, from a heart gushing with a fountain of unextinguishable woe. What had she done, this poor helpless, harmless girl, to be thus cruelly persecuted? Had Heaven in her case forgotten 45 (C(O) Anyi } CS \