The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 98: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER IX INTREPIDITY WuHeEn thus left alone, Gertrude stood gazing in dull vacancy for some moments upon the writing-desk which had furnished the proofs of Editha’s criminality. Slowly awakening from this stupor of mingled dread and dismay, the abigail began to lay aside the splendid apparel in which she was decorated. Depositing the pearls and the orna- ments upon the toilet-table, she put off the amber-coloured robe, and then negligently and irresolutely began to comb out her long dark hair. But it was evident that she was revolving some idea in her mind, and that whether she should retire to rest or carry out this idea constituted the indecision in which she was hovering. Laying down the comb, she seated herself upon a sofa, and supporting her well-shaped head upon her really beautiful hand, she began seriously to deliberate upon the risks and chances of the project which every moment was becoming more firmly settled in her mind. Her naturally mischievous eyes were now full of a serious expression, while her cherry lips became compressed with the firmness which is characteristic of a heroine. It was evident that she was revolving some desperate or dangerous scheme; and indeed, if she were Just now overready to yield up her honour in the hope of diverting the earl’s attention from the proceedings of the countess, she was now as devotedly resolving to risk her life in order to serve that mistress whom she loved so well. Suddenly starting from her recumbent posture and from her deep reverie, she glanced toward the timepiece which stood upon the mantel; but that clock had stopped, and she knew not what hour it was. But calculating that it 77 Connicloooks (C(O)