The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 89: what you’re looking at

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

v4 © A dizziness followed—and for a few moments everything appeared to be in a whirl ;—then she felt as if she must shriek ou! and fall headlong into some unknown but terrible and fathomless abyss,—when she was suddenly recalled to her senses by the open- ing of the door, and the appearance of an elderly woman, bearing a light, on the threshold at the bottom of the descent of steps. “Come, my dear girl,” anid Mra. Brees, taking Caroline’s hang: “let me introdues you to my friend Mra. Lindley, whois here to recetwe you.” . The young girl threw.a shuddesing -giance epon the woman, who was endeavouxing t) -weeath her countenanee into a bland smile af weleome+—but.as was thrown full epon her featuses, it game them a re appearance—for Mrs. Linidley’s face was pered B . she felt the young gizi's hend snatched back abruptly {rom her own. | BuaeeweaXEmily Burdett—s deargend, lively girl! milliner, and speaking in that mysterious and sub. dued tone which the very nature of her profession had rendered habitual, and which she therefore used on all occasions even when commonplace subjects might have enabled her to dispense with so much caution. “ And Carry is not only a pretty girl—but a very 20 lond, if you please! Remember that walls have a, “I beg your pesben, Mies Lindley—I quite for- got,” returned the iniy te whom this remonstrance She was always humming tunes fam aaaming to : | might— empleo I gave her the best vaaus. wt the back ms lef the house, that she mightsing to the aeapand not the room. ‘Sibe fussituce wes of wainut-cnead, and herbs, kept company with s huge “ose fastenad by means of silver clasps. There was a good firein the grate: but the lansbent flames that rose from a pile of crackling esal, failed’ to mitigate the gloomy appearance of this room ;— and even the large black cat, which lazily opened its sparkling, giass-like green eyes, as it lay rolled up on the hearth rug, had something ominous and foreboding about it in the estimation of the trembling, shudder- ang Caroline Walters. Mire. Lindley politely drew forward seats for the ey accommodatien of her visitors; and then, slowly sinking down cpon an easy chair with a very high back rudely carved, she put om a great pair of horn epectacies for the purpose cf taking a good long sur- wey of Caroline. ‘The young creature felt a disagveeable chill come pver her, as the woman's email, deck, reptile-like cyes gieamed upon her through the large circular glasees: for & ecemed as if a enake were endeavouring to fascinate her with its hideous gase. And se far fas- cinated she indeed was, that she could not withdraw ther locks from the countenance of Mss. Lindley; Rhey were rivetted wpom that cadaverous face with its sharp features and its perchment ekin—its thin pale lipe-and Hts thick aad prominent eyebrows. “Go bs a ewect -protty girl, muy dear madam,” ob- |@ the strect. Yes—a nise girl was Miss Burdett! looked like cheng dm its Sanereal dye : a few ahi ond: “ Siush |—what f° marmepell Mes. ‘Lindley, lean- 1 éug Gooward with an air of gupat mystery to catch the seudiation about to be mads, and the nature of which she could pretty well conjecture. “ Don’t speak too loud, mind! What were you going to sayf You think——* “That Rachel Forrester will have to pay you an- other visit in a couple of months, or so,” added Mrs. Brace, irresistibly and also unconsciously catching for the moment a portion of that extreme habit of caution which appeared to keep Mre. Lindley ever on the gui vive lest her words should be overheard by curious ears or hor movements noticed by prying es. “ Well — well,” said the woman; “these things will happen—and it makes a good trade for me,” she added, with a low chuckling laugh, which was however the loudzst that she ever indulged ee “Won't you take off your bonnet and cloak, and stay to SUPP er with us?” she inquired, after a short and stil] addressing herself to the milliner. “No, I thank you—I must return home almog immediately,” replied Mra. Brace. “But you had better take off your things, my love,” she added, tusning towards Caroline. The young girl rose fram her chair and mechani- cally complied with the suggestion of her mistress, | She unfastenad the atrings of her gipsy-hat, whicb she placed upon the table; and then slowly let bar cloak fall from her shoulders. The casual o “erved the qwemen, auddenly taming towards the j on glancing at the figure of Caroline Waltess, COMmca@Oo @ CO