Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 208: what you’re looking at

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THE MYSTERY OF ST, MARK’S ABBEY. 195 Mrs. Montmorency, with much eagerness, inquired of her daughter, to what event she alluded; and Charlotte related all that had occurred en the night in question, and the conversation which her and Angelina had upon the subject. A ray of hope for a moment darted upon the mind of Mrs, Montmorency. “‘ And yet,” she remarked, ‘‘ should it even be as you surmise, it will be almost as bad; for, although Angelina would not be placed ip the danger that she would had she again fallen into the clutches of the baron, yet, should she have had the weakness to yield to the persnasions of [the young map, and become his wife, will she not incur the displeasure of her yncle ?~Yes, J am certain, he would never countenance her again; aad there is no koewing what misery it might be productive of; for, who can tell what are the secret motives that prompt Mr. Woodfield se determinedly to oppose their unign 2” Charlotte could not deny the justness of her mother’s observations ; but she still urged the propriety of their taking immediate steps to agcertain the truth, Peter was, therefore, summoned to attend them, and Charlotte and her mother set forth in the direction which Angelina had stated it was her iptention to take. They walked on towards the rocks—they searched every spot which they knew she was fend of traversing, but, of course, without success; and, after inquiring at every fisherman’s hut, if they had seen a female answering the description of our heroine, or heard any particular noise, and being ansyezed in the negative, in a state of much grief and alarm, they returned home. The next day came, and Mrs. Montmorenucy and her daughter repewed their inquiries, after having first despatched a letter to Mr. Woodfield, making him acquainted with all that had taken placee For sometime, all thejr en- deavours to gain the least clue to what they were so anxious to ascertain, were completely fruiticss; and they were again about to retarn home in despair, when they reached the spot where Angelina had been seized by the villain, Rufus, and his companions, and, to their horrer, beheld the earth stained with blood (which had issued from the wound that the ruffians had inflicted upon Clifford, when they felled him to the earth), and at a short distance from the place, they found a bracelet, which they recognised in a moment as belonging to Angelina. ‘© Good God !—The poor, unfortunate girl is murdered !” cried the distracted Mrs. Montmorency, as she looked at the clotted blood upon the earth, and picked ap this convincing proof that Angelina had fallen the victim of some dreadfal outrage ; ‘‘ her enemies have gained their ends at Jast; and, having performed their fiendish task, have, probably, thrown the body of their victim into the sea. How shall I impart this dreadfui intelligence to Mr. Woodfield ? —wWill he not accuse me of neglecting the trust he placed in my hands—and, perhaps, suspect me, even, of having connived at the destruction of his niece ?”” “ Nay, my dearest mother,” said Charlotte, who was herself most violently agitated, but still more collected than the former, ‘* pray, do not thus afflict yourself. Dreadfully suspicious as it seems, it may not be so bad as your terrors suggest; and, if it should even turn out to be se, surely Mr. Woodfield possesses too much good sense to entertain the horrible surmises yeu speak of. You, at any rate, he cannot blame for what has happened,” | “© Ob, yes, he will have every reason for blaming me,” said Mrs. Mont« GOMMGIOO 1(GO)