The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

| ae ei Sag GR ~ oe be ee 7 ye eel pe does Oe eee ae 244 age? a side. As for her apparcl,—it was ¢his that at the first glance gave her a gipsy aspect, It consisted of an old cotton gown, with a dingy cloak over it; and instead of a bonnet or cap, she wore a cotton handkerchief tied round her head. Blue woollen stockings and cuurse shoes completed her garb. Her appearance was however cleanly; and not- withstanding the poverty of her attire, there was a certain neatness in i¢ which impressed the be- holder with the idea that she had seon better days. “Ah! poor Crazy Jane,” said the Baronet, in a low tone and with a compassionating look, as he beheld the woman stand up from the opposite side of the fence. “A penny for poor crazy Jane?” she said, forusting her skinny arm between the palings. “You know, Jane,” said Sir William Stanley, with a benevolent and pitying smile, “that I never give you a penny :”—at the same time he drew furth his purse, “No, true!” gjaculated the woman. “I remem- ber now! Sir William Stanley is always chari- tuble--and that ie the reason I so seldom come newer the Lfall, I don’t like to intrude on goud naturo. Ab, dear mo! I was not alwaya a poor wandering outcast ;:”—and then drawing back her hand from botwixt the palings, she pressed it to her brow. ‘ “ Poor creature !” said the Baronet. tive stullings for you.” She did not huwever seem to hear him; dut with her hand still pressed to her forehead, she muttered incoherently 1 Lérself:—then at length apeaking in w ‘ouuer tone, she said, “Ab! I oave got amnethuy more upon my mind I wish I emald explain it—but [ cannot. It is not the aume thing that has haunted me so long—ng, it is “ Furn are something new: but alaa! I cannot—I cannot !’ and the poor creature abook her head despondingty, as if she deeply felt her inability to give ineid expression to some idea that was uppermost ip ‘ser muni, “Here are the five shillings, Jane,” eid the Baronet: and he thrust them through the fenos. “ Heaven’s blesaing upon you !” murmured te afflicted woman—and teare trickled duwn ber wasted vuuntenance : then taking the money, sae passed abruprly away and was soon out of sight ‘ V “She is as road as ever, poor creature!" sapt hood.” tov, since tirst | knew her ! F ] and good-looking—— Mr. Redcliffe. eee, Bae eee ee oe ee eee Ae ee yearn,” added the Baronet. “Sadly is she changes, | venta me from sleeping at night. “No one appears rightly able to give any ex. | enh 2 eee ee _ —- wwe eee oe See See “ —_ = s+ _— =k. — =o - THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. eliciting more than that she had seen better daya, and that she had stood in the presence of ladies of the highest rank,—but whether as a companion or & menial, does not very plainly appear—though I should rather suspect in the latter capacity.” The conversation presently turned into some other channel ; and the three gentlemen retraced their way to the mansion. ay ie CHAPTER XLVIL CRAZY JANE. Ir was in the forencon—a couple of days after the arrival of Mr. Redcliffe at Stanley Hall, and while this gentleman himeelf had gone into Liver- pool to see the solicitor employed on behalf of Lettice Rodney—thet Captain Stanley was riding out on horseback, followed by one of his father’s grooms. Diverging from the road, he touk a smart. gallop through the fields; and had arrived in the neighbourhood of a copse, which he was about to akirt, when Crasy Jane suddenly sprang up before him as if she were rising out of the earth. The Captain drew in his steed, and spoke to her with compassionating kindnoss. “You are Sir William Stanley's son,” sho said, gazing intently upon him; “and you are a good young man—you have all your father’s benevo- lune, No -no, do not put your hand intu your pocket—J waui uvt queasy wow. Your father gave me enough to keep me fur-——TI know not how long. Ab, I had sumething to say the mo- ment I caught sight of you—-1 determined to say it-—-and now it is all slipping out of my head!” At first her utterance was rapid, accentuated, and jerking: but theese last words were spoken with a profound mournfulness; and pressing her hand to her furehead, she evidently strove tu steady her ideas. “What ia it, Jane?” asked the young gentle- man, ina kind tome. “ Think—reflect—take your time: I am inno hurry if you really wish to speak to me.” “ff do, I do!” ejaculated the mad woman. “It is something I have gut here :’’—and she touched her forehead. “ No—it is here?” she added after the Captain, “I remember hor from my b.y-} a panse, and she laid her hand upon her heart. (“It is something that oppresses me—something “ Yes—and I remember her for many, max yj} that lies as heavy as lead on my bosom, and pre- I wish I ovuld She was then youn, ; tell it—I thought I could just now—T said it all over to myself, just as I used to say my pruyers * Aud who 1s this unfortunate woman P” aske: , when I was a child: but it has all gone out of my head !”’ ‘ “What can 16 be?” asked Captain Stanley, planation on the subject,” returned Sir William | much interested in the woman's words and man- Stanley. “Sbe wanders about the country in all ; ner: for he felt convinced that it was not a mere directions—and hay been seen more than a hun-: meaningless phase of hor madness, but that it was dred miles from here. Sometimes she disappears | this very madness itself which prevented her from altogether for several monthe, and then suddenly | giving lucid expression to something that she liad curns up again. There is a half-ruined hut about four miles hence, which she inhabits when in the Deighbourhood; and as you may euppdse, she lives entirely upon charity. IL have often endeavoured tu lead her into conversation, and saecertain if possible what she originally waa, and what calamity turned her brain: but 1 have naver succeeded in really to reveal. : ‘What is it, you ask?” she said, with a sudden brightening up of her hitherto vacant desponding look. ‘Ah! now there is a gleam shvoting into my mind———yes, yes, it is about that dreadful murder———"” “The murder?” ejaculated Stanley, all the in- (C NOG ee . oe SS