The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 277: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTENIEB OF LONDON, ree eee eel ES EE: om oe eee A Gf ayers clusion, she started up in her bed, exclaiming, | an irrcsistille and almost incomprehensible influ. s*Novertholess, this is more than I can endure!” Then came the consciousness of where sho was, and why she was there, —how sho had fled from the home that her father had provided for her, and in spite of all his solemn injunctions and prudential warnings,—how her mother had left her in a Strange place, and with persons who were strangers to hor,—and how Mrs. Gifford would be cortain to send to Paris without delay ond communicato the afflicting tidings to Mr. Vernon. The maiden’s brain reeled, as theso thoughts fiashod through it ;—and at this moment, when hor senses appeared to be leaving hor, the clock of Christ Church, in the Blackfriars-road, proclaimed the hour of one? The sound came booming—rolling—vibrating through the air, like a solemn warning . at least, so it seemed to the disordered fancy of Agnes Vernon; —and, with feelings worked up to an intolerablo pitch, she leapt from her couch, To obtain a light was an casy matter—for the necessary matcrials were at hand; and when the flame burst from tho tip of the lucifer match, Agnes cast a hurried and affrighted glance around, as if she dreaded to meot some hideous countenance or horrible form in tho chamber. Not that sho was naturally timid: no—far from it;—her vory inno- cence and purity rendered her courageous on ordi- nary occasions. But she was now under the influ- enca of amotions poworfully wrung—of feolings Strained to an unusnal tensions:—and sho had no control over her imagination, which was disordered and oxcited. One idea dominated all tho rest. This was to escape from the house—to escape, at any hazard and at all risks. Not for worlds, sho thought, could sho return to that bed whore such distress- ing visions had rent her soul;—and she could not pass tho rest of the night alone, and ina strange place. No: sho must return to tho cottage—re- trace her way to the home which her father had provided for her—and endeavour to reach that friendly threshold in time to prevent Mrs. Gifford from transmitting to her sire tho news of her dis- obedienco. But her mother! Oh! sho should see that parent again—sho would explain everything—and perhaps arrangements might be made to suit tho views and accomplish tho happiness of all! In the mean time, however, she must escape-—-she must return home,—she could not endure the idea of re- maining another hour—no—nor cren a minute Jonger than was necessary —in that strangor- dwelling! With lightning speed did all theso thoughts,— or rather glimpses of thoughts—for they wero too brief, too flectingly vivid, to deserve tho namo of reflections, -— pass through tho maiden’s mind, as sho threw on her apparel with a congenial haste; and in three minutes she was dressed. Her bonnet was in tho parlour below: but that slo could take ou her way out of the house—or sho cared not if she did not find it at all, She would cscapo in any case, and at al] events; and if she could not find a vehicle to convey her home—sho would walk, al- though sho might havo to ask her way at every step. For Agnes had worked herself up to a pitch of des- peration: a fearful panic was upon her;—she knew not, neither did sho pauso to ask in her own soul, why eho longed so ardently to fy from that house :— | ence urged her on—and the hurry of her actions was in accordance with the hurry of her brain, Her hair was flowing over her sheulders: sho just waited a moment—a single moment, to fasten it up ina large knot behind; and then, taking the light in her hand, she stole noisclessly down tho Stairs. A. profound silence—a silenco which her footsteps disturbed not—reigned throughout the house, All, save tho affrighted — half-maddened gir, slept She gained the hall—sho endeavoured to enter the parlour to procure her bonnet: but the door was closed—and sho now remombered that the elder Miss Theobald had taken the key with her when they had all quitted that room for the night, But wo havo already said that Agnes cared not for the bonnet;—and without bestowing a second thought on the matter, she approached tho front- door, Alas! there was a moro serious disappoint- ment still—the key of that door had likewise been taken up stairs, An expression of bitter yexation passed over the pale countenanco of tho maiden—an expression more bitter than that beauteous countenance jad ever before worn: but, in another instant, it was succocded by somothing like a gleam of hope and joy,—for Agnes bethought her that there was 2 yard at tho back of the housce—sho had seen it, in the moonlight, from her bed-room window—and there might bo o means of egress in that direction, Cautiously descending the stairs leading into the kitchens, which were below the level of tho strect, she hastened to tho back-door, which, to her joy, proved only to bo bolted. Oh! now sho would cscape—she would escape, even if sho were forced to climb a wall and enter the enclosure belonging to a neighbouring house: for, with the excitement occasioned by her present proceedings, the panic influence which urged hor | on acquired fresh power every moment. Extinguishing the light, sho left the candlestick in tho house, and then emerged into tho yard, The fresh air,as it fauned her face, seemed to breathe whisporing promises of freedom, and gave her renewed courago, The moon was shining gloriously; and asshe cast a glance of rapid survey around, she beheld the backs of the dilapidated houses tho fronts of which had struck her with such sinister effect whon sho first entored Stamford Street, in tho hackney-coach, in the evoning. There was no modo of egress from the yard savo by scaling tho boundary walls, which were low on cithor side. Not an instant did Agnes hesitate: the fittings of a water-butt served as a ladder for her dolicato feet;—and, beheld! the sylph-like form of tle maiden passes nimbly and lightly over the wal), into the yard belonging to the ruined house next door: for it strikes her that egress by means of an unin« habited building must be certain beyond all risk or t, doubt. The moon-light streams, with silvery rays, upon the sombre walls—the dark Window-frames, with the blackened fragments of glass remaining in them —tho back-door hanging crazily and loostly on its hinges—and thorust-eaten bars of the back-kitehen window, Tle yard is overgrown with rank grasg, reaching aboro the ankles; and tho ground is rugged | EConnicloooks (CO)