The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 101: what you’re looking at

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

78 THE COURT OF LONDON leaving me in the lurch, just after that affair of Mobbs; but I surprised you, discovered your secret intent — ”’ ‘“ Well, well, we need talk no more of that,” cried Mrs. Brace, impatiently. ‘“ I gave you asolemn pledge to abandon that project, at least until you were disposed to fall into my views, and I have kept my word.” “Yes, because I threatened to blow your brains out if I caught you at any tricks again,’”’ observed Frederick, with a renewal of his savage tone and manner. ‘“Why treat me thus harshly, when we are discoursing together upon serious matters? ’”’ said Mrs. Brace, the tears trickling down her cheeks. ‘Come, come, no whimpering now,” ejaculated Dray. ‘Tt is this cursed feeling of uneasiness which I experience all over,’’ he added, in a milder voice, ‘‘ which makes me cross toward you. I have got a headache, and a general unpleasant feeling throughout my body. But what were we talking about? Oh, I remember, you propose to leave England and be off to America. Well, I am not so averse to that plan as I was some weeks ago. London then appeared full of pleasures to me; but now I am surfeited with them, nauseated, almost disgusted. And since you assure me that the business is falling off — ”’ “You cannot doubt it!’ ejaculated Mrs. Brace. ‘ Three months ago I had eleven young ladies in the establishment, and now there are but three. Rachel Forrester wanted to come back again yesterday, after the severe illness which followed her confinement; and I was compelled to refuse the poor girl’s application. All my economy does not counter- balance your wasteful expenditure; and since Harriet leit, I have not engaged another lady’s-maid.”’ ‘‘ Ah, poor Harriet, she has been confined, too,’’ observed Dray, with a heartless indifference of manner. ‘“‘ Let me see, her month is nearly up, and she will be wanting to come back —”’ , “Or else to be well provided for,’”? added Mrs. Brace. ‘“‘ Heavens! what trouble that young woman has given me! The coaxings and threats, the entreaties and menaces that I have used, the money I have given her, the difficulty I had in persuading her to leave the house ere her condition became visible — ”’ ‘“ Well well, you needn’t recapitulate ail these things, GoOmicsdooks (E(0)