The Mysteries of the Court of London Vol. 4 — page 394: what you’re looking at

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

SE IE Eee, peso EB =——m ¢ te 6B me = e aie teas wee se - 2 Bb -eim Babee ome — = she gave utterance to these words the tcars rained down her cheeks. ° “Do not give way to yoyr affliction in this manner,”’ said eMrs. Owen, scarcely able to sgppress her own’ convulsive sobs: “you unndive me—you distract me!” ‘My dear mother, I cannot possibl¥ control my grief,” answered Mury. ¢‘ Let us sit down for a few minutes upon this verdant bank, and endeavour to compose our foeling8S ere we pro- ceed any farther.” The mother and daughter accordingly scated themselves beneath the shade of 3% wide- spreading tree ; and there they gave free vent to that bitter affliction whiéh was rending their hearts. It was by the aide of the main road leadin towards Dijon that they were thus seated : and so absorbed were they in their affliction that neither of them heard the sounds of approach- ing wheels, until a post-chaisc, coming from the direction of tho, French {rorftier and pro- ceeding towards Goneva, was almost closesup to the spot where they were seated. The occu- pant of the chaise was a joung gentloman of genteel appearance and tolerably good-looking. He was moreover an Englishman; and as he happened to be gazing out of the window nearest to the two ladies at the time, he was immediately struck by observing them thus giving way to a grief which was evidently of no ordinary bitterness. He called out to the stilion to stop:°and now Mrs. Owen and ry sprang to their feet—hastily dried their tears —and were hurrying onward to escape the observation whi they .had thus so disagreeably attracted,—when the traveller, leaping out of the chaise, accosted thom with a Salutation so courteous and words so polite as well as sympathetio, that it would have heen an act of rudeness on their part to have avoided him altogether. “Pardon me, ladies,”’ said the young gentlo- man, in the English languago; ‘‘but if I be not much mistaken in your appearance, you must be fellow-countrywomen of mine: afd if go, meeting you thus in a foreign land and seeing you plunged in such bitter grief, I cannot pursue my journey without asking if my services can be made in any way available for your benefit.” e . , “On behalf of my daughter and nfyself,’’ said Mrs. Owen, with all the courtesy of a thorough gentlewoman, “1 return you my sinccrest thanks for your kindness and _ generosity. But ours 1s an affliction whieh admits not of relicf, evon on the part of a friendly sympa- thizer.”’ ® “You will at all events, madam,” said t oung gentleman, “ pardon my indiscretion for having intruded myself upon your notico? Betieve me, it was through no impertihent ourigsity. “Such an assurance is altogether unncces- gary,” answered Mrs. Owen: “and considering the generous interest which you have thus manifested in our behalf, it would he at loast discourteous, if not positively unhand- some, to evade an explanation of that grief which elicited your sympathy. Alas. sir, you be a stranger in these parts, you are un- aware that the immense establishmen> which you may observe on the slépe of this eminence on the left hand is an asylum for these who havo lost their reason———”’ ° “Ah! pardon me, madam!” exclaimed the young Englishman, observing that Mes. Owen atopped short in a convulsion ef grief, aud that ewan ee a — = - e = ams awe Ghee, + eee ve Ce THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT gentleman thus to display so much interest in Aes = owen mr om . -_ a e 381 Mary had turned aside to conceal the fresh out- burst of affliction to which she Was ivin vent. ‘Instead of soothing you, I have fora you into explanations which only tend to revive : your sorrow. I understand you, madam: you have some relative in that place ’” ‘‘T have—I have,”’ answered Mrs. Owen hysterically ; and the unhappy woman wrung her hands. ‘‘ Two daughters—this dear girl’s sisters !’’—and ashe pointed towards Mary. ‘Enough, madam!” said the Englishman: “dwell not upon the melancholy topic. And now, think me not intiscreet if I again observe that should I in any way be able to prove useful to you, I shall be most happ . Had we met thnus*in our own native England, and under tho same circumstances,,I should not have stopped to make those inquiries upon which I have now ventured; but here, in a foreign country, it is different. This, madam, is my excuse for again proffering my services in any way that they could be made available.” “Once more do I*return you.my sincerest gratitude,” anfwered Mrs. Owen: “ but there is nothing that any human being can do to allay our affliction.” @ young man made a low entered the post-chaise, which” immediately drove on towards Genera. “Come, dearest Mary, let us proceed,” said Mets. Owen, as soon as this little incident had terminated. ‘Was it not kind of that young WwW, and re- our behalf 2?” Mary gave her assent to the question; and composing her feelings as well as she was able, accompanied her mother to the gate of the ploasure-grounds belonging to the asylum. The old porter, who immediately came forth from the lodgo, and who knew both the ladies well from the circumstance of their calling every day during the past month, immediately said, “<I hove good news for you on this occa- sion ; the doctor has given orders that if you call you are to be admitted.” ““My presentiment was correct !’’ whispered Mary _to her méther, “I knew that we should see nly poor sisters to-day !’” . ‘“ Now, ror heaven’s sake, my dear child,” said Mrs. Owen, when, Shaving passed through the iron gates, they were proceeding up the wide carriage-way to the entrance of the asylum,—‘‘do your best to restrain your efcelings in the presence of those whom we are about to sec. We know not how pornicious’ may he the effects of any violent display of anguish on our parts.” © Mother, I will do my’best,”’ responded Mary aman almost dying voice: “* but the trial will be & Revere one !” They now reached the handsome portico of tho edifice, and were at once admitted into an elegantly furnished waiting-room which opened. from the spacious entrance-hall. There they were specaily joined by Dr. Dupont, who was an old man with a kind and benevolent look, an air which *though mild nevertheless proved his to be capable of great firmness, and also a most cheerful as well as winning voice. e “At last, ladies,” he said, saluting them with the profoand respect of true French politeness, “von are to see those in whom youare so deeply interested. Under my system of treatment they have been brought to the most satisfactory calmness of mind; and although it is iumpos- sible to foretell what effect a meeting with you msy have upon them, yet I do not feel om - » - ~~ Ss." qr Seip Get CE intends apg Si CY) COMMU AOC) cS) CO