The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 376: what you’re looking at

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

VT ye | “ Precisely so,” observed the Marchioness. “Let the corpse be conveyed to the Hall and the usual notice sent to the Coroner. I am compelled to depart forthwith on my return to London: but should my presence be needed for any purpose, my steward will communicate with me, and in a few days I shall be enabled to revisit this neighbourhood, if required.” ““ And I must also depart at once,” said Mr. Rig- den’s clerk: then, having made a low obeisance to the Marchioness, he hurried back to his post-chaise, which immediately drove away. The corpse of Lord Raymond Montgomery was covered with a sheet brought from Malden Farm, and borne upon a stretcher to Bellenden Hall. The ceremony respecting the bridge was of course abandoned under the mournful circumstances which had transpired ;— and the Marchioness returned to the homestead where she had passed the night. “Oh! my lady,” ssid Brooks, now approaching her with anguish and dismay pictured upon his counte- nance,——*“ I hope your ladyship is well assured——” ‘‘ That you are innocent of this crime?” exclaimed the Marchioness, in a tone of firm decision. “I am certain that you are, my good friend—morally certai:.,” she added with a stronger emphasis still. ‘Do not alarm yourself-—do not let your wife and children give way to despondency: I will protect you—because I know you to be innocent!” * God be thanked—and heaven bless your ladyship,” said Brooks, dropping upon one knee, seizing the fair hand of the Marchioness, and presaing it to his lips: then, springing to his feet again, he hurried into the adjacent room to convey to his family the solacing assurance which he had just received. “ Now Margaret,” said Lady Bellenden, as soon as the noble lady and her faithfal dependant were alone together in the pariour of Malden Farm,—“ give me writing materials and I will leave a note for Richard, who will doubless be here in the course of the day. He must travel post-haste after us—for to-morrow will be a busy and an eventful day for us in London.” “And these poor people here, Laura?” said Mar- garet, in a tome of anxious inquiry. “No harm shall be permitted to overtake them,” responded the Marchioness, emphatically. ‘“ Were suspicion to involve them in any embarrassment or dilemma, the whole truth ahould be at ance proclaimed relative to the tragedy of Malden Bridge. Ya— everything should be revealed, happen what would!” “T am glad to hear that such is your determination, my dear Laura,” observed Margaret: “and now for the letter—-as I perceive that the travelling-carriage is in readiness.” The note was accordingly penned amd given to Brooks to be delivered to HRichard the moment he ehould arrive at the farm: the Maroahioness then expressed her thanks to the yeomian and his family for their hospitality ;—and, having once more assured them they had nothing to fear in respect to the dis- covery of Lord Raymond's corpse, abe took her depar- ture in company with the faithful Margaret. CHAPTER CCXIX. 4 MEETING OF OLD ACQUAINTANCES. Wa mest now transport our readers back to Londen, in order to relate an incident which eccurred on the B65 same day as that which has been marked by the events just chronicled. It was about noon—and Tim Meagles was riding on horseback along the Edgeware Road, when his attention was suddenly rivetted upon the slight and graceful form of a young lady clad in mourning. She was proceeding rapidly along, with her veil drawn over her countenance: but the beanty of her figure— the musical charm @ her walk—and the sable apparel which she wore, all convinced him that she was indeed the fair young girl whom he had longed to meet once again—if no more than once / Pressing his horse towards the footway, Meagles said in a low earnest tone, ‘‘Miss Foster !” The maiden turned—gave utterance to a cry uf mingled amazement and joy—and then, bounding towards Tim, took his hand and pressed it warmly. “God be praised that you are safe and at liberty ~ exclaimed the warm-hearted girl in all the enthusi- asm of her fervid, ingenuons, noble gratitade. ‘‘ And you, Miss Foster—are you happy ?” inquired Meagles, putting the question with an impatien® and awaiting the reply with a visible anxiety which showed how deeply interested he felt in the condition of the orphan maiden. “J have every reason to be so,” she responded, throwing up her veil at the same time, so as not to have the air of treating as a stranger an individnoal to whom she lay under s0 many obligations, and whom sbe knew to have suffered for her sake. “ But I am residing in this neighbourhood, Mr. Meagles,” she added: “and although my kind benefactress is from home at present, yet she will not chide me for inviting so kind and disinterested afriend as you have proved yourself to be, to enter her mansion and rest awhile.” “I accept the invitation cheerfally, Miss Foster,” said Meagles; “the morte so, inasmuch as I am anxious to hear an account of any favourable change which has taken place in your fortunes.” “ This is the mansion where I dwell,” said Rose, step- ping up to the gate of Bellenden Piiory : then, ringing the bell, she desired the porter who made his appear- ance to take charge of Mr. Meagles’ horse. Tim accordingly dismounted and tossed the reing of his steed to the domestic,—for he had ridden out alone on this particular morning, Wasp having been despatched with a message on some important busi- ness. Rose Foster led the way across the beautifal gardens, and introduced Meagies into an elegant parlour, where she ordered refreshments to be served up:—then, having quitted him for a few minutes in order tu lay aside her bonnet and shaw! in her own chamber, she returned with a countenance expressing the most unfeigned satisfaction at being enabled, to testify, however slightly, the sense of gratitude which she experienced towards him. But when Meagles saw that charming girl come and seat herself by his side with all the tngenuous, artless confidence which a sister shows towards s brother, he could not help sighing at the thought that the feeling which ani- mated her was nothing more tender than a grateful friendship. « And now, Mr. Meagles,” she said, “you must permit me to declare how deep and lasting has been the sense which I have entertained of all the obliga- tions I owe you. You have doubtless read or heard of the fearful accusation which for s moment threst- ened to overwhelm me ——” “ Yeo—I have read all that in a file of newspapers, GOH GOO SS