The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 90: what you’re looking at

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not have suspected its robust proportions to proceed from any other cause than the vigorous health of girlhood: but the experienced eye would have in- stanthy perceived that she was far advanced in the way to become a mother, and that unnatural meaus of compression had been adopted to conceal her ashame up to the present moment. She blushed deeply as she removed‘ her cloak ;~— for she observed that Mrs. Lindley had at the sante instant put on her spectacles agzin, and wat onee more surveying her with earnest attention. “Sit down, my sweet child,” said Mts Brace: “remember that this is to be your bome for the nest two or three months——” “ Hush!” murmured Mrs. Lindley, taking offher glasses, and raising her forefinger significantly : * net 20 loud !"—then, addressing herself to Caroline, she said, “Your excellent niistress desires you to coa- sider this house your home, until you are m @ con- ' ditfon to leave it again ;—and I cordially reiterate: the assurance. Cheer up, therefore, Miss Walters — and let me observe a smile upon your pretty face.”’ “Yes—pray smile, Carry,” exclaimed Mrs. Brace. ‘You will soon be reconciled to your new abode— and next Sunday evening I will come and pass an hour or two with you.” “You are very—very kind,” murnntred the young girl, with difficnlty subduing a violent outburst of grief: for, in spite of all the soothing words that fdll upon her ears, ahe had never felt more completely friendless—lonely—and desolate in her life. “Have you many inmates at present f” inquired Mrs. Brace of the woman to whose care the unhappy Misa Walters was thus consigned. “Four or five,” was thea answer. “The place is never altogether empty, you Lnow,® she added, with that subdued chuckling laugh which Caroline shud- dered to hear. “And of course Miss Walters will find com- panions in them ft” said Mrs. Brace, interrogatively. “In all save one,” responded Mrs. Lindley, now sinking her tone to the lowest whisper. “But, hush! —what noise was that? I thought I heard the shutters creak-——” “No—it was only the hackney-coach moving! a little outside,” observed: Mrs. Brace. “You were saying that there.is one lady at present in your house——” “Hush! not so loud !—walls have cars? inter- posed the woman, nervously. “But the fact is that I have beneath my roof a young lady in reference 'to whom the utmost precaution and secrecy are requi- gite,—a young lady of high birth——hush! what noise was. that f—the hackney-coach again——and she never quits herown room. Ah! ’tis a sad afihir —asad affair, by all that I can learn—and that: ig ittle enough. Such a sweet creature, too—of orm heavenly beauty——But there is that horrid nc in———” “It is nothing—I can assure you if is noffing,” - Observed Mrs. Brace, impatiently, “Hush! not so loud !” resumed Mrs. Lindley. “ As I was saying, the-young lady in question is th only one in whom Mies Walters will xoéf ffid a com- i0n.”” _ _“ At all events, you will not be wRhout suciaty, * Cavoline,” said Mira. Brace, rising from her seat. | _* And now, my dear girl, I must leave you—fos YF need not declare that my time is very, very valdable __ seat ab present” ‘tures formed a comt.aation of cherms.and-disphiyed' ‘avartety of loveliness enchanting toSchelé, Phere, 78i “But you will come and see ine soon f” exolaimed ' net’s arms, and kissing her with tiat fervour witich' seemed to imply that the poor forlorn creastare knew ' eee embracing her only friend, es come and see-you ofte—-very often, my dear Carvline,” said Mrs. Brace;—end kaving. retarned her carezses with tn affctionmte warmth— or, at least, with a great dispixy of ‘tender féeling— the fashionable milliner gentty- herself! from the artus of the poor girl who clung to Ner-with! the tenaciomsness of a distracted At length Mrs. Brace, having succeeded ‘in getting: away from ‘her; hurriedly took her departure: and: Caroline Walters found herself alene in that gleemy apartment with the Mrowrest! SCENES AT MES. BRACES ESTABLIGNMERE. Ir was about nine otlock when Mts. Brave reache® her abodé in Pall Mall; and repairing to her own! private parlour—the one thas we have described in @ previous chapter—she threw off her cloak and bonnet, and summoned Harriet to her presente. To her inquiries whether the letter had been duly’ sent to Mr. Meagiles, and whether the ovok had'pro- vided a succalent repastfor Mr. Hurivy she received satisfactory repfies; and Te- freshed herse:f with a glasw of the finest Mad¢ira, after her journey to Mrs. Lindley‘’s gloomy resi- dence, she proceeded to the large roonr wher the young ladies of her establishment were aeeustemed to take their meals. This apartment was well farnishod, and lighted by a chandelier suspended to the ceiling. A'good fire blazed on the hearth ;—the table was spread with a quantity of plate ; and the eleven or twelve beautiful young women who were seattered ‘about conversing fo groups, enhanced the cheerfal- appear. ance of the scene. We have before stated that these ravishing esca: indeed, ali admirers of ‘whatecever- night have found their tastes and stately young woman, with dignified. lok and imposing demeanour, — the ayiph-like' fgure and the volntile disposition, the slentitr'; pale, ang. interesting girl, with. pensive counttesiines aut? basis. ful manners,—the stoat, robust, andi‘ fall.prepor. tioned hourt; withs exuberanvue of charms,—the eoal-black hair and the lestwous dark eyes,—the flaxex ringlets and the sneltieg azure | orbs, — the chesnut locks and the eyed of hasel,—- the glowisy auburn tresses and the eydpof dar biué, —the Roman countenanee, denoting strong passions, le of Sond * At foe nite i =52 | supper wer served Up, GORMGOOOKXS {