The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

ROSE FOSTER AGAIN 49 would only land her in the yard, where her recapture must be inevitable. But, ah! what hope is this which strikes her? What scheme suddenly springs into existence in her mind? Wild and romantic idea, and yet is it not feasible? Yes; and she willattempt it without another instant’s delay. Seating herself at the table, she steadied her hand as well as she could to pen the following lines: ‘‘ Whoever finds this, let him at once hasten to succour a persecuted girl who is held prisoner in the dwelling of Mrs. Brace, the dressmaker of Pall Mall. To a constable admission will not dare be refused; and let no excuse or denial be received. The blessing of Heaven will wait upon you who may rescue from dishonour the orphan ‘Rose Foster.” Having written this hasty billet, she folded it up and con- cealed it for the present in her bosom. Her next proceedings were promptly undertaken and skilfully executed. With a piece of whalebone taken from a pair of stays, and by means of some twisted silk, she made a bow; then, breaking off a thin rail from the back of a chair, she trimmed it with a knife until she reduced it to the degree of lightness fitting it to serve as an arrow. To the end of the stick she fastened her note, and opening the window gently, she shot the arrow completely over the roof of the adjacent house, so that she felt certain it must fall into St. James’s Square. Then closing the window, she cut off the silk from the whalebone and burned the thin shavings of the wood, so that not a trace of her proceeding remained visible inside the chamber. Hope once more returned to the young maiden’s bosom, for she looked upon the thought which had led to the step just adopted, as the inspiration of that Heaven which had not deserted her. And, oh, in some minds, especially in those of youth, how elastic, how indestructible is hope! Sometimes, to be sure, it is but the last stand which the anguished soul makes against despair; and not very far removed from this case was the position of Rose Foster now. (x @) Anyi OO WO)