The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 102: what you’re looking at

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

INTREPIDITY 81 after the other upon her ear. Alarm at the return of her husband, terror at the discoveries he had made, admiration of Gertrude’s devoted conduct, the excitement of absolute horror at her perilous descent, and then fresh fears and apprehensions on her own account,— these were the startling and stirring feelings which in rapid succession were conjured up by Gertrude’s narrative. But when the intrepid young woman displayed that coil of rope made of twisted shawls, and which she had brought thither, Editha’s emotion of wonder and admiration triumphed for the instant over the more selfish sensations of alarm on her own account, and flinging her arms about the girl’s neck, the countess embraced her with the liveliest gratitude and affection. “1 thought your ladyship should know of all that has happened as speedily as possible,’ said Gertrude. ‘‘ In the first place, I feared lest his lordship should by any acci- dent suspect that you were here and come to seek you. Secondly, I thought that if when you returned home in the morning, disguised in my apparel and unprepared to receive the earl, you suddenly encountered him, you would be so completely overwhelmed that no possible excuse or explana- tion would come to your aid. And thirdly, it struck me that if any tale can possibly be made up to save your ladyship’s honour, it will be necessary to lose no time in putting Lady Lechmere on her guard, should the earl take it into his head to call and question her. For all these reasons I felt assured it would be better to warn you at once of what had occurred, and hence my resolve to escape from that boudoir and join you here, at any risk.”’ ‘““ Never, never, dear Gertrude,’’ exclaimed the countess, “shall I forget this more than kindness, this positive devo- tion, on your part. No sister would have risked a hundredth part as much for me. But what is to be done? What on earth can be done? Idiot, idiot that I was to leave those bills in my desk! — yes, or to leave even so slight a clue as that note which he showed you, and the contents of which you have recapitulated to me! Ah! wretched woman that I am,” she cried, wringing her hands bitterly. ‘‘ Like all my five sisters, like my mother, like my aunts, like every female member, in fine, of my family, am I destined to be dishonoured and disgraced! Oh, Gertrude, Gertrude! Ad} Cconniclooolks (C(O)