The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 5 — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

164 Ep vers reap rw THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. ee once summoned @ vehicle from tho publio stand. , wero to manifest the suspicions which were so ra- With every appearance of haste he himself offi- ciously opened the door-ere the driver could jamp down: Henrietta was promptly handed in—her companion gave some quick fostrugtions, spoken aside, to the coachmah—then he entered the ve- hicle—the door was closed—the msn. again to his box—and away they went. . All that we have described, from the first instant that the individual accosted Henrietts at the door of the Opera to that moment when she found her- self acated by his side in tho vehicole—bad passed with such rapidity that she had not leisure for the slightest reflection. Her ideas had been kept in a whirl by the hurried, bustling, andalmostanziously impatient magner of her companion ; eo that there was not even a moment's leisure fora suspicion to start upin her mind. Nor for the firstten minutes during which the vehicle sped rapidly along, didher companion allowher time to give way to reflection ; but he went on expatiating upon the philanthropy of her benefactor, the many obarities wkich he prac- tised, the vast amount of good beaiid, and.¢he de- light he took he succuuring the unfortunate.. The young damsel wag naturally. charmed at hearing euch encomia lavished upou theold gentleman ; but dtadually the thought atole into her mind that her presen wnign Hid notonce mentioned thessid old gentleme' aname. Then, for the first timedur- ing this interview, she began to regatd with some degree of attention the person seated by her side, When however she saw how respectable was his appearance, how free from anything savouring of treachery were his looka—And wifh what respect- leapt up pidly acquiring strength in her bosom? Henrietta accordingly made up her migd to see the adven- ture to. its issue, no matter what that fesult might be; and she even endeavoured to appear cheerfal and Say, and to reqpuine her part in the ctcouree so as to prevent her companion from fathoming her Up seainesee : The village of Hornsey was reached ; nd the webicle, turning into-e divergitfe road, stopped at the gate of 'a large pnd handsome-looking house. It atood a little way back and was so embowored {n tall and thickly umbrageous trees, that all its extent could not be immediately discerned: but. when the gate was opened by a gardener who was at work on the premises, and the vehicle passed up the shady avenue to the portico in front of the house, Henrietta at once found her- self at the entrance of a mansion. The poignancy of her suspicions now shot with a galvanic pang thrgugh jer heart: but the very next iustant an idea sprang up in her mind giving incalculable relief. What if the mansion really belarged to her benefactor, aud that in the carrying out of his generous purposes be*had resolved to afford her invalid mother, herself, and her little brother a gfome in this healthfully ‘situated dwelling? But she had not time for any farther reflection ér companion had sprung out of the vepiclo and giving her his hand, assisted her also to | alight. Painfully balanced betweon hope and fear | trembling to advance, yet not daring to retreat —Henrietta stood for a few moments on the steps ful sympathy be appeared to regard her, she again | of the portico; and then, making up her mind felt perfectly reassured. Then she ventured toask | with a desperate effort, she suffered herself to be where her new abede was situated ; and her com- panion at once informed her that it was in one of the most delightful shburbs of London—namely, near the village of Hornsey. Henvrietta there- upon’ remarked that it was very considerate on the part of her generous benefactor to have chosen so selubriousa spot for her invalid mother ; and this observation agaiv furnished ber com-- In this. panion with a topic for expatiation. manner he continued talking until the outskirts of London were reached on the northern side, and the vehicle was rolling along the road to Hornsey. Now again did the young damsel begin to. expe- rience e revival of that vague misgiving which had previously arisen in her mind. Ingenaibly the ides stole upon her that her companion sustained go. rapid'and continuous a discourse in order to keep ; her atferftfin engaged; abd as this ides Lgrom f ‘| world. All this occurred to Henrietta’s mind in s : moment } : and ghe turned her terrified looks apon upon her, she dbuld not help throwing at dubious and uneasy looks. These | however be Sid not appear to notice, but sought fresh toplea | for conversation; and though Henrietta had. by this time ceased to answer him through ‘the. in- fluence of ber augmenting terrors, he atill went on as volutly ag ever. alarm grew to an. imost intolerable, pitch... A shut voice whispered in the depths of her’soal that all was not right: Indeed abe felt like one be-.} all trayed into & snare. Again did she. glance at her. compsnion ; and now shethought there wassome- | thing sinister beneath the sedateness of his looks.- But wha’ was she todo? Suppose that, after all, everything he had sid was correct, how insulting ‘would it be alike to him and her benofactor if she the sedateness. of his countenance; and inclined to ery out—but fear choked her | anos. At that ingtant & door facing the one whioh ‘gtood open, afforded she instantaneonaly recognized but too well; and conducted into the mansion. A servant in splendid livery held the front door open ; and éhe found herself in a hall paved with marble and embellished with statues. A noblo escent of sthircase faced the front entrance; ang *. side door which stood open revealed the interior of a sumptnously furnished parlour. In short, the very first glimpse which the damsel thus obtained of these features of the mansion, showed her that it was evidently. the abode of wealth and luxury, and: her heart gank within her.« For now rushed -the.idea to her mind that it was by no means | probable ang man—and that man a complete would dogo extraordinary generous a atranger-—wo deed a3to transfir. herself and her relatives from,a. -wretebed atile to a palatial residence. It wasa phi- . lanthropy belonging to romance and not to reality, such a change as cue might read of in fairy tales, but not such as was wont-to happen in the true her companigs. Now she thought she beheld a sardonic kind of smile blending indefloably with ° ot to an individual whom her terrara being con§rmed in a moment, she gave vent tos Ww —burat from theNhold of her oompesion-sad pprang towards the front door, . But.the fuotman: in the gurgeous livery she was & prisoner ! ith frenzied look and reeling and the dread conviction’ ECOMRniclacae SS (CO)