The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 264: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXVII A MEETING OF OLD ACQUAINTANCES WE must now transport our readers back to London, in order to relate an incident which occurred on the same day as that which has been marked by the events just chronicled. It was about noon, and Tim Meagles was riding on horse- back along the Edgeware Road, when his attention was suddenly riveted upon the slight and graceful form of a young lady clad in mourning. She was proceeding rapidly along, with her veil drawn over her countenance; but the beauty of her figure, the musical charm of her walk, and the sable apparel which she wore, all convinced him that she was indeed the fair young girl whom he had longed to meet once again, if no more than once. Pressing his horse toward the footway, Meagles said in a low earnest tone, ‘‘ Miss Foster.’’ The maiden turned, gave utterance to a cry of mingled amazement and joy, and then, bounding toward Tim, took his hand and pressed it warmly. ‘“ God be praised that you are safe and at liberty,” ex- claimed the warm-hearted girl in all the enthusiasm of her fervid, ingenuous, noble gratitude. And you, Miss Foster, are you Lappy? ’? inquired Meagles, putting the question with an impatience and await- ing the reply with a visible anxiety which showed how deeply interested he felt in the condition of the orphan maiden. ‘I have every reason to be so,’’ she Denied throwing up her veil at the same time, so as not to have the air of treating as a stranger an individual to whom she lay under so many obligations, and whom she knew to have suffered for her sake. ‘‘ But I am residing in this neighbourhood, Mr. 233 CoOnnicloooKks (C(O)