The Mysteries of London, Vol. IV — page 314: what you’re looking at

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

"HE MYSTERIES OF LONDON. “ Before I givo you the necessary explanations to enable you to understand it all,” said Agnes, “ will you inform me which road the vehicle is pursuing ?” ‘‘T am taking you toa placo of safety, my dear girl,” responded Mrs, Mortimer, “A place of safety!” repeated Agnes, her coun- tenance assuming an expression of deep anxioty: ‘‘am J, then, in any danger? and in what does thie peril consist 2” “TY know not, my love,” answered tho old woman, speaking in the kindest tone of voice. “I only judge by the condition. in which I found you—the circumstauces which threw us this night together ~—and the observations which have fallen from your lips, that you were indeed in a state of extreme danger." “Just heaven!” ejaculated Agnes. observations did I make——” “That you had entertained suspicions relative to the friends to whose care your mother had consigned you,” said Mrs. Mortimer. “ Yes—and I told you truly,” resumed the inge- nuous maiden. “I know not how it was—I cannot account for it now—but when I found myself Alone in astrange house, terrible though undefined fears took possession of my soul—and I resolved to es- cape. I succeeded in getting as far as the next house, which I entered : but scarcely had I crossed the threshoid of the back door, when a light sud- denly appeared and a countenance was revealed to my affrighted gaze—a countenance so dreadful to look upon that I tremble now as I think of it. Then, sofar as I can recollect, I heard a voico thundering something loud but unintelligiblo in my ears: I screamed—and fainted. When I came to my senses, I was in your arms and in this ve- hicle.” “T can throw some light upon the matter,” said Mrs. Mortimer, whose object was to keep the atten- tion of Agnes as much and as unremittingly en- gaged as possible, so as to prevent her from growing uncasy rolative to the ultimate destination of the cab: for should she become alarmed, sho might appeal to the driver for protection, and a disturb- ance in the streets would prove inevitable. “ You must know,” continued Mrs. Mortimer, “that I was returning home from a friend’s houso in Stam- ford-strect, when I met a great, stout, horribly ugly man carrying a female form in his arms. The moon-light showed me his dreadful countenance— and l instantly suspected tliat some foul play was intended. I accordingly insisted that he shonid stop—which ho did with much reluctance, declar- ing that you wero his daughter, and that he was taking you home, as you had fallen downina fit.” “Oh! then some mischief was really moditated towards me!” exclaimed Agnes, clasping her hands together in shuddering horror of the perils through which she supposed herself to have passed. “ Yes—my dear child,” observed Mrs. Mortimer, “you doubtiess owe your life to me . . “Ah! madam,” interrupted Agnes, “how can I ever sufficiently thank you for rour goodness ?”— thon, as 2 reminiscence struck to her artless mind with the pang of a remorse, sho exclaimed, as she pressed the old woman’s wrinkled hands to her lips, “It seems fated that I should suspect thoso who are my best friends!” “Do not think of that, my love,” said the wily old creature, who easily conjectured what was passing in that amiable maiden’s ingenuous coul. “But what pes 809 “When you know me better, you will appreciate my conduct towards you as it deserves. Doubtless your fathor set you against me—and then that little misunderstanding relative to the affair of Lord William Trevelyan——But enough of that for tho present! Let me conclude my little narrative re- lative to yourself, Well, I was describing to you how I compelled the man to stop; and I was about to tell you that I was by no means satisfied with the explanations he gave me. Indeed, I threatened to summon the assistance of the police; and you may be well assured that this menace suddenly bo- came a settled resolution, when, as the moonlight fell upon tho countenance of the fair creature whom the man carried in his arms, I recognised yourself, my sweet Agnes! You can conceive my astonish- ment, perhaps—but you can ferm no idea of tho apprehension that scized on me; for I really love you dearly, although I have seen so little of you. Tho man was dreadfully alarmed when he perceived that I knew you; and I had no difficulty in com- pelling him to ‘surrender you into my charge. He thon decamped; and I placed you in a cab which happened to be passing at the time. You now know all.” “Ah! from what inconceivable perils have you not sared me!’’ exclaimed Agnes, full of enthu- siastic and impassioned gratitudo towards the woman whom sho looked upon as her deliverer. “My dear mother will thank you warmly—carnestly— most sincercly for this generous act on your part; and I shall never, nover forget tho deep obligation undor which you have placed me.” “Enough on that subject, mg dear child,” said Mrs. Mortimer. ‘' You have spoken seyeral times of your mother—may I ask how you came to dis- corer her, or how she happoned to have remained s0 long unknown to you?” ‘©T am bewildered when I think of all that!” re- turned Miss Vernon, ina mournful tone. “It was last evening that she camo to me—that she sought mo out in my retirement—that she announced hor- self as my parent; and my heart’s feelings gave me the assurance that she was indeed what she repre- sented herself to be. Then I agrecd to accompany her—for she told me that sho was unhappy, and sho claimed my love and my duty asa daughter. Oh! my dcar madam, you can doubtless understand how joyous—how delightful were my emotions on thus encountering a mother whom I had nevor known tillthen! I only thought of giving way to those deli- cious feelings—until I found myself leftin the chargo of strangers. Thenit was that I grow afraid—that vague and undecfinoble apprehensions took posses- sion of my soul—that I became suspicious of all and everything—and that I fled! Foolish, mis- taken creature that I was! That one false step of mine threw me into the hands of a monster, who would perhaps have killed me had you not rescued me from his power.” Agnes paused, and arranged her hair—her dark, luxuriant, glossy hair—floating so wildly and yet so beautcourly in its dishevelled state, over her shoulders ;—and now, as the tint of the rose had returned to her checks, and her eyes had recovered their witching softness of expression, she appeared transcendantly lovely to the view of the old woman, | whom the moon-light enablod to survey the charm- ing creaturo seated opposite to her. Suddenly the rehiclo stopped;—and Agnes, hastily looking from the windows, beheld a row of hend- (C(O) (C DOO <S LL (SO)