Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 262: what you’re looking at

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

THE RETREAT IN WALES 245 “Tt was at the close of the year 1834— some months after Mrs. Burnaby’s death, and after that last interview with little Frank — that her ladyship came down into Wales. She brought with her six of the oldest and most faithful domestics belonging to her household, in addition to my- self. Arrangements were made with her brother-in-law for the payment of her jointure through Messrs. Marlow and Malton, solicitors of Parliament Street, Westmin- ster.” ‘“ And they were doubtless instructed by the brother-in- law,’ observed the marquis, “‘ not to give her ladyship’s address to anybody.”’ ‘“My poor mistress herself,’’ continued the housekeeper, “determined, on retiring from the world, to break off all correspondence with her former friends and acquaintances. She wished to separate herself as much as she could from the past, in order that the future years of her life might flow on as tranquilly and as uninterruptedly as possible. The only subject on which she sought occasional information from her brother and brother-in-law was the welfare of her children. Years passed on. In 1839, Elizabeth being then of age, her ladyship received the intelligence that she had married the Marquis of Villebelle, and it was a source of oratification to her to find that one wish she had formally expressed was thus fulfilled by the bestowal of a noble name upon her daughter. But some time afterward she was plunged into affliction by the intelligence that this daughter had separated from her husband and was living irregularly. Then came the news of Frank’s death — ”’ “All done,” interjected the marquis, “‘ for the purpose of stifling her future inquiries relative to her children, by making her believe that one was dead and the other unworthy her consideration. And now tell me, Mrs. Jameson, in what frame of mind her ladyship’s existence has been passed.” “ With the exception of those two causes for deep afflic- tion — and which, thank Heaven, in a few minutes will be dispelled — her ladyship has experienced a degree of mental tranquillity which, if not altogether natural, has at least saved her health and her person likewise from the ravages of a bitter anguish. I do not think, my lord, that the tone Gomichoo ‘S (F()