The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 145: what you’re looking at

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a pT eee iv> INE MYSTENIES GF LONDOS. a TS ee to him that she -houll return shortly, Julia bastenel aimother was right when che counsellud me sever to away in company with Mrs. Ports Harry d:d-le 1 star ny hind a tman meving in a sphere be- his breakfu-t, not thinking muchof the fyowerl neath my ovnt’—Having tant given vent to his which had causht his cure, but shit ha oawdint excel fueling:, Wilmingten grew more composed : rightly under-tanil; and, os it woo beliday-tima, he and he now approached the cottace. The deor teud was about ton pacr ty ples in the gurien at the bak’ op_ns and, cntering without any c romony, he saw a of the howe, wien a dcable knock at the frent deur woman at the same instant descend rrem a staireass. male him ha-ten to the window. Perceiving that the ! ‘Is your name Porter?’ he enquired, speaking in a: Visitor waa the Marquir, he ran to give him admit-; mild a tone as pissible— Yes, sir,’ she ansncred.— tance; and the nobleman cntered the parlour. * Where | ‘And it is here that a child who lias ben, a3 it Were, ix your si-ter, Warry? ” he a-ked, carcssing the boy in a Lind manner.—*She is gone out, my lord,’ was the reply.—* Thus early 1? exclaimed the Marquis; ‘and I had promised myself the pleasure of breakfasting with you kuth. The niorning was so fine, andas lam a very early riser, I rode ont as far as the turnpike, and have sent my horse back with the groom.’—The noble- man spoke this rather in a musing tone, than actually addressing himsclf to the boy; and, after a pause, he observed, ‘I suppose your sister will not be long? *— °I do not know, my lord,’ answered Warry. ‘aA Wwomau came just as we were sitting down to break- “ist, and Julia seemed’much vexed at whit she told her."—I hope that nothing disagreeable has occurred ?’ cried the Marquis, in a tone of alarm.— The woman, whose name is Porter, informed Julia that the child was dangerously ill,’ responded Harry ; ‘and then they went away together.’~—* Oh! I understand,’ said the Marquis: ‘the child of some poor woman named Por- ter is unwell, and your sister has gone to see 1t.’—* No, my lord, I don’t think the child is Mrs. Porter’s,’ re- turned Harry, ingenuously, and with boyish communi- cativeness; ‘ for I have often called at her cottage with Julia, and I have heard Mr. Porter say that his wife's own baby died last winter.’.—* And Julia has often called there?’ exclaimed the Marquis, a horrible suz- picion suddenly arising in his mind.—‘ Very often mdeed,’ answered Harry, totally unconscious of the tremendous amount of mischief he was occasioning. ‘When we have been out walking together, we have come round that way, and stopped at the cottage; and -then I have waited mn the kitchen with Mr, Porter, who used to give me cakes or marbles, while Julis went up stairs with Mrs. Porter’—* And did you ever see the child?’ asked the nobleman, assuming as much composure as he could possibly call to his aid—‘No; Julia never told me a word about it.’—‘ And how did you first hear of it?’—‘Just now, when Mrs, Porter rushed in and said that the child was ill’—‘ And was Tulia very, very sorry?’ demanded the Marquis.— “Oh! yea, indeed!’ cried the boy, who saw nothing atrange nor unnsual in the nobleman’s tone or manner, and regarded this dialogue as mere chit-chat.—* And wherenbout is Mrs. Porter’s cottage?’ asked Wilming- ton, in whose bosom a perfect hell was now raging.— ‘Shall I show your lordship the way?’ said Harry, fhe nobleman nodded his head affirmatively; and the fittle fellow hastened to fetch his cap. They then proceeded in silence until they came within sight of the cottage, which Harry pointed out.—‘ You may now go home again,’ said the Marquis; and Harry obeyed the hint, still totally unsuspicious of the harm which his candid garrulity had accomplished. “The nobleman, when thus left alone, could no longer restrain the emotions which agitated within him. Turning aside from tho path leading towards the cottage, he rushed into the fields, exclaiming aloud, ‘Just heavens! on what an abyss was I hovering! But can such diabolical perfidy exist on the part of one sn young? Ol! yes—it is too apparent; and my abandoned by its unnatural mother, is lving danger- ously ill’ he said, fixing his eyes ‘teenly upoa the woman’s countenance.—* Thank God, the dur inno cent is better!’ exclaimed Mrs. Porter, taken com- pletely off her guard, and even entertaining a suspicion that the gentleman himself might be the father of her nursling.—‘ Now, confess every thing,’ cried the Mar- quis, ‘or it will be the worse for you! Was it not Miss Murray who engaged your services——’,—' No, sir: it was the surgeon who attended tho ladz in her continement,’ interrupted Mrs. Porter, terrified by the stern tone which her querist had suddenly adopted; ‘but it was at Miss Murray’s house——’,—‘ Enough! enough !’ ejaculated Wilmington; and he hurried away from the cottage. “In the meantime Julia bad returned home, bay- ing assured herself that the child was out of danger; and as she retreced her way by means of a bye-path, it happened that sho did not encounter her brother and the marquis. But little Harry was light of foot; and he, having been dismissed by the nobleman in the way above stated, reached the front door at the same instant as his sister. She was surprised to find that he had_ been out—still mora so when she learnt that, Lord Wilmington had called so early. But a frightful sensation seized upon her, when Harry ingenuously observed that the nobleman had taken him to lead the way to the cottage. Subduing her emotions, however, as well as slice could, she proceeded to question her brother; and in a short time she as- certained all that had passed between him and the Marquis. Each answer that he gave—each detail that he mentioned, increased the horrible fears which now oppressed her; and, at last—comprehending the full extent of her misfortune,—perceiving the nature of the suspicions which were sure to have seized upon her intended husband,—she uttered a piercing cry, pressed her hands in anguish to her throbbing brow, and exclaimed in a piercing tone, ‘Oh! Harry, Harry, you know not what you have done!’—The boy was frightened; and, darting towards his sister, he threw his arms around her neck, imploring her to forgive him if he had acted insproperly. Even in the midst of her bitter, bitter anguish, she could not find it in her heart to continue angry with her little brother, who had not wantonly nor wickedly inflicted this appalling injury upon her; and, assuming an appear- ance of calmness, she became the consoler. In the depth of misery there is a crisis that makes even des- pair the immedinte precursor of hope; and Julia began to reason to herself that all might not be so dark as she had feared. But while she was thus en- deavonring to persuade her inmost soul to render itself accessible to consolation, a note was put into her hand by the housekeeper. She glanced at,‘hic address which was hurriedly—almost illegibly vtit- ten, and the ink of which was scarcely dry,—so that she knew it had been penned somewhere m the neighbourhood. With trembling hands she tore it open: and her strength and mental encrpry sustained (CO) 5} GIOOKS (CO) >