The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 395: what you’re looking at

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

THE FAIR STRANGER BY) Gibson, in a tone so kind and reassuring that it precluded the springing up of any immediate alarm or suspicion in the maiden’s mind. “No, I do not feel that I have sustained any serious injury, beyond a severe shock,’ answered the beauteous stranger, in a voice of the most touching melody; and as the colour came back with the delicate tinge of the rose- leaf to her cheeks, but with the deepest hue of that blushing flower to her exquisitely chiselled lips, and as these lips revealed teeth white as Oriental pearls, and exhaled the balmiest breath, Nell Gibson could not help thinking that she had never seen a lovelier creature than this fair girl. ‘You are welcome where you are, young lady,” said Nell; “‘ and if you can put up with such poor accommoda- tion as I am able to afford, I shall be truly happy.” ““ My best thanks are due for your kindness,’”’ answered the damsel; and it was with a sort of ill-subdued shudder that she cast her eyes around that wretched, cheerless, poverty-stricken chamber. ‘‘ But I must pursue my jour- ney this night; I must return to the coach, which will no doubt continue its way — “The coach is so much injured,” interrupted Nell, “ that it will not be able to go on till the morning; and therefore you must make up your mind to stay here. Is that your bundle, miss? ”’ “Yes, I thank you,” was the answer, as the fair stranger olanced toward the object thus indicated. ‘‘ But indeed — oh, indeed,’”’ she cried, in accents that bespoke a painful and increasing agitation, ‘‘ | must even pursue my way on foot, for I have promised to be at Dover by a certain hour to-morrow,” and as she thus spoke, she endeavoured to rise from the flock bed; but sinking back again with the weak- ness and exhaustion consequent upon her fall from the coach-top, she clasped her hands in a despairing manner, murmuring, ‘‘ O God! what will he think? ”’ Then a faintness came over her, and she sank down again upon the wretched couch, deprived of consciousness. Meantime, in the apartment down-stairs, Bob the Durry- nacker and the Mushroom Faker had explained to the Buttoner the accident relative to the night-coach, and the manner in which the fair damsel had fallen into their hands. (COMUMUC 0)(0)(0) SS (GO) im