The Mysteries of the Court of London, Vol. 7 — page 82: what you’re looking at

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

| | | | ees eee Seer ee SE ee gene Se i pte ey EE Sh er eee ee eee THE MYSTERUES OF THER COURT. We em ealipieg: Ppa ee Be AA 6 carpet eatiste TTT AAT Armed from the effect which her intelligence had produced upati the twins. We have already enid that she did not pbsitively possess a bad heart: but her better feclinga wore almost cowplotely over fuled by her love of gain and her fear of logs, —so that while ob the one hand she really pitied the orphans, yet on the other she wag already wondering to herself whether they oculd possibly thitik of keepiyg on their lodgings, and whother the rental of twénty-five shillings a week woald be thenceforth safo P - “Don't you think you had better go at onoe,” she suggested, “to Mr. Preston's houseP I daro sty the police are in possession of it; and you e ean at all“ewnte find out whether be hos left bebind him any papers regarding yourselves.” Chriatian and Christina were at once atruck by the etcellonce of this advice, and by the necessity of immediately following it. Mrs. Macaulay slowly retired fram the room; and tho twine, —- having again embraced each other, and whispered ,worde of hope and consolation in each other's ears, ~—hastened to their respective chambers to dress for going out. Ina few minutes they wore ready ; and they sallied forth tugethar. As they pro- ceeded along, arm-in-arm, towards the Regent's Park, they spoke but little: yet they were con- stantly turning their handsome dark eyes upon «gen other, to infuso mutual encouragemont by their looks. Iénch strove to assume an atr of os much cheerfulnes8 as posible, ior the sake of tho other: but both in theiy hearts entertained deep roisgivings test the crimes of Mr. Vrestun should prove ruinous to themselves. Many a pnssenger in the street lingered to gazo upon that interest. ing pair,—that young damse: with the eviphid form— that yuuth with the slender graceful shajpe, both endowed with so ligh an order of beauly— and theiy twin condition being at a glance revog- niscble. But tney saw not that they were thus the objects of such interest,—an interest all the deeper, inasmuch as there was trouble bul too evi- dent in their countenances, despite all their efforts to cunceul it. We may beze pause to observe that the Mr. Preston who has been mentioned, was a rman of about fifty—short and slight—of execeding busthng habite, and with a thorough business-like air. He , iad possessed a counting-house in the City; and hisg@rivate residence was one of the mansions on Carobridge Terrace in the Regent’s Park. He had ever been reputed a rich man: but, anliko Mr. Armytage, ho had cared little or nothing for bril- tiant society, and had nover courted it. Perhups if his affairs had long been failing, be might bave locuted himgelf in the Regent's Park with the hope of sustaining the impression that he was really weathy, rather than for the purpose of mingling in the fashionable world. He was un- married and childless; and thus, fortunately, he had no close connexions to be involved in bis ruin and disgraced by it. Christian and Christina reached Cambridge Ter- vece; avd their summons at the front door was answered by a policeyonstable. From hun they learnt that Mr. Preston had commiticd forgeries to the amount of thirty thousand pounds, as already ascertained—and that if was suspected there were other cases which were yet to transpire. Ie was only at an early hour in the morning of nf an fi CR TO BE Are Oe wey om enh ARE Reh te Sone ang: Seeman enn this same day that the forgeries were dinotered by some gentloman in the tinaucial wortd: a when the Solice, on receiving the informatisi, arrived at Cambridge Terrace to cuprebend * culprit, they found that he had abscunded de ae the past night. In addition to these particals Christian and Christina learnt that no papere @ any consequance at all had been discovered either at the dwelling in Regent’s Park, or at the offled in the City; but that in Mr, Preston's bedrdont at the me, there were traces of a considerable -| number of documents having been purposely burnt in the grate. Such were the partioulars gleanod trom thé police-consiable; and the twins passed away the mansion, —slowl y and insilence. They wal some distance hefore they even dared to glance towards each other: they felt that thoir ruin had been accomplished. At length their Jooks mot: tears filled the eyea of both -and they would have lang theraselves into each olher’s arms, were it not a public placo and people ware proceeding hither and thather. “Let us not despond, dearest sistor,” said Christian, suddenly wiping his eyes. “That which Mr. Prestof did not do fur me, I must uow on- deavour to achieve for myself. I will seuk for a situation that may enable me to earn at least something; and I will work hard, dear Christina, to keep us both in respectability.” “And I too will work, Christian,” replied the sister, “ Nou -wo will not despond !—we have the advantage of 1 good education, and it will be hatd tudeed if wo cannot earn our bread by our in- dustry.” The brother and sister were inspired with courage by the reaolve to whieh they had thus come. The tears no longer stood in their eyes, their hearts wore no longer smitten With sadness, Thoy had a fond reliance upon each other: they had faith in heaven ;—youth moreover is not the age which is prone to despuir; and thus they were evan happy. As they proceeded homeward, they discussed the plana which they should immodiately puraue. They agreed that if would be no fon prudent te occupy & lodging at twenty-five shi lings a wets; and they decided on speaking at once to Mrs. Macaulay about giving it up, When they*reached Mortimer Street, their landlady, who was somewhat anxivusly on the look-out for them, hastencd to open the front door, and invited them into ber own parlour. They frankly explained their position--expresacd their desira to romovo as speedily as possible into a cheaper lodging—and with equal candour infurmed Mrs. Macaulay that they were now entirely dependent ox themeclves. They possessed a guod stock of clothes; and they had acme fourteen or fifteen pounds in band— besides a few articles of jewellery of some little value. “Well, wy poor children,” said Mrs. Macaulay, “Tam sure 1 sin exceedingly sorry for you; and if there is anything in the world I cau do to he you, it shali be done. I know a very wotthy widow-woman who lives in 4 emall hodse in Park Street, Camden Town; and 1 happen to be dwWare that her lodgings are at this vary moment to pet, You would get two nico roome for ten shillings « week; and you tay give me as « réfettrice. As for your lodgings here, 1 won't be bard upon you, wos NOOK