The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 185: what you’re looking at

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

170 ' THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. - Been dreaming of: but she could’ not remember that | | seeaged ; in the solemn silence and seni -cheeutitey of she had been dreaming at ali. She lay perfectly the night, Henrietta was by no means inclined to still, unable to move a limb, and with all the sensa- | put faith in apparitions now that the sun was tions of having experiend@d some alarm, either in a shining, the birds were singing, and nature seemed vision or by the unknown circumstance that had | so gay and cheerful without. She never had be- thus startlingly awakened her. lieved in spirits—she could not new: but if it were Perhaps five minutes might have elapsed while ' not a spirit, it could scarcely have been a living she was in this state of consternation; and then she figure, because there was not the slightest indication heard a strange rustling of clothes in the room. of how it could have obtained ingress to the room, | Yes—she distinctly heard it; and the flesh crept or have effected its égress. The door was locked, upon her bones—her hair stood up by the roots— and there seemed no other door save those of the the perspiration broke out again, cold and clammy eupboards in the chamber. upon hey. But now all was silent once more. What | Henrietta passed into the drawing-room, and could it be? Suspense grew intolerable—and yet found the door at the farther extremity likewise she dared: not spring from the bed to.search if any locked as she had left it. She proceeded on into the ene were in theroom. For another minute a solemn dining-room, and found the outer door also as she silence lasted; and then she again heard the rustling had left it. The sliding-bolt was fast, and the chair of garments, and distinctly beheld one of the half- | was slant-wise against the lock. drawn curtains at the foot of the bed slowly pulled | ‘Thenassuredly it was a drean !” said Henrietta buick. Her eyes were rivetted in awful terror upon to herself. “ But how singular a°’dream—impressed the spot; and then she perceived a human shape with all the vividness ot reality! No wonder is it appear in the opening between the curtains. She if weak-minded persons, efter such a dream as this, endeavoured to shriek out—but her tomgue clave should entertain the imeradicable conviction they to the roof of her mouth: she could not avert have seen spirits from the other world!” her eyes even if she had wished to do so. The| But even while thus coming to the conclusion shape was that of a man enveloped in a dressing- that it was naught save a dream, Henrietta Leyden gown gathered by a cord at the waist; but for experienced a lingering doubt—a latent uncertainty, the first few moments Henrietta could not see in the depth of her soul. There was moreover a his face clearly in consequence of the shade of depression ot spirits, altogether apart from the in- the curtains. Slowly however he bent forward; fluence of the thoughts excited by her captive and then his countenance was revealed—but, Oh! a position. Her nerves had been shaken, and on countenance so ghastly pale, so sad and mournful in_ returning to her bed-chamber to perform her toilet, its look, that the young damsel felt convinced it was she found herself every now and then looking some apparition from the other world that was thus anxiously around with the apprehension of seeing gazing upon her. She gave one gasping moan of that shape, with its pale and melancholy counte- ineffable horror—and her senses abandoned her. | nance, standing behind her. She examined the When she awoke again, the sua was shining—the bed-curtains ; and though it certainly struck her room was filled with light—the birds were singing that one at the foot of the couch had been drawn in the trees of the garden—and everything seemed back somewhat more than it was when she retired cheerful and gay. The horrible and mysterious in- to rest, yet she could not be positive on this point. cident of the night arose in her memory; and shud- | Having dressed herself, she removed the chair deringly she flung her looks around with the dread from the outer door of her suite of apartments; oi again beholding that unearthly figure. But she and soon afterwards Susan made her appearance saw nothing to terrify her. She sat up in bed— with the breakfast-tray. The table was speedily gazed more searchingly about—and gathering cour- spread with a most tempting repast, if the poor age, descended from the couch. Still she saw girl had experienced any appetite for the viands nothing to revive her terrors. She glanced towards thus served up: but a cup of tea and a piece of the door—it was shut; and a closer examination bread-and-butter were all the sustenance she could showed her that it was locked as she had left it. Now take. She longed to communicate to Susan the she began to suspect that what she had beheld was incident of the past night: she not only felt that it merely in a dream; and yet she was slow and hesi- would be a relief to unbosom herself in that respect, tating in her progress to such a conclusion, inas- but she likewise experienced a secret anxiety to much as every detail of the occurrence was so ascertain whether the woman could help her in ac. vividly impressed upon her mind. She remembered counting for the occurrence in a natural way, other- having been awakened—remembered also the terror wise than by attributing it to a dream—in short, if she had then experienced, as if from the instinctive | it were possible that any one could have intruded knowledge that there was something dreadful in the into her chamber. But when she lboked at the for- room even before it had looked in upon her between bidding countenance of the servant, and remarked the curtains. She remembered likewise its shape, the decisive compression of her lips, her entire air and that sad pale face which had bent forward repelling any advances towards friendly or familiar cowards her. | intercourse,—the poor girl was constrained to hold But was it not possible that though she might her peace and ponder the matter in her own mind, heve awakened in terror under the influence of | After breakfast Mrs. Martin ascended to Hen- some unpleasant dream, she had gone to sleep again rietta’s rooms. The young damsel recoiled with an and had then in another-dream, or in continuation ill-concealed aversion from the presence of this of the former one, seen the figure which was soim- woman, whom, although she knew nothing of her, pressed upon her memory? Zhis was indeed the she could not help associating with everything vile vnly rational solution of the mystery: for however and depraved. Indeed, such was the impression deeply her superstitious terrors might have been that Mrs. Martin’s looks were but too well oalcu- ea eee ee a ene eee eee ee CORMICLOOOKS. EO