The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 315: what you’re looking at

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

813 this from you, young viper that you are!” ex- elaimed Lady Saxondale, for an instant losing the eommand of her temper. “Viper—eh P’ echoed Edmund. “If you want to seo who can best call each other hard names, I don’t mind giving you a specimen of my ability, by telling you that you are nothing better than a demirep ; and you might as well take yourself off to William Deveril or Lord Harold—end perhaps a dozen others, for anything I know.” Lady Saxondale’s countenance became scarlet— and her lips moved as if she were about to give perhaps the communication I purpose to make, you that I am not to be insulted about to utter, are fraught with more importance than you may possibly imagme.” “Woe are all attention,” said Adelaide, glancing with rapid significancy at Edmund, as much as to make him understand that it were better to allow his mother to have her say. “Yes,” continued Lady Saxondale: “ matters have come to such a point that I am resolved te bsing them to a settlement in one way or another, vathout an hour’s delay. You two, no doubt, hug the belief that in a short time—in less than a year and a half froth the date—i shall become altogether @ mere cypher, end ye will be dominant! Now, that is a position which I am not at all prepared to accept; and sooner than look forward to such ignominy, I would bring the whole fabric of gran- deur, wealth, and titles, crashing and crumbling in ruins upon the heads of ws all.” Edmund gave a but Adelaide, laying * Fash !” for she ew Plamy eocags tat at Saxondale was with too solemn a serious- ness, and likewise with too much cold desperation in her resolve, not to have the inward conscicus- peace ; and hig mother went on in the following manner -— “There is a secret whieh my soai has hitherto treasured up as « crinsinal would hobi fast the tale of his guilt! It is a secret which—— At this moment the sounds of numerous voices of them was a man in the drew of « peasant, dir some kind of garment which he held up, so that it floated ont af full length. “What on earth ean this mean?” Edmund, who, in his silly curiosity, snoment lost sight of the very grave and e@anner in which his mother aa¢ just been fer the serious ; indeed. Lady Saxondale powerless ; that I shall sink into | i gown, I declare ! ‘ Found in the river?” Lady Saxondale now hurried to the window, as if she had more curiosity than her daughter-in- law Adelaide, who only proceeded thither more leisurely — doubtless thinking that whatecever might be going on was of very trivial unportance had scarcely flung forth a giance from that casement, when she turned abruptly round, saying, “ has oceurred: I must seo what it is.” | “And I will go too,” cried Edmund, following elose behind Lady Saxondale as she hurried forth Edmund gased upon his mother with a sost of stupid astonishment: he really and truly thought lips were quivering: she seemed bled all over with a glecial chill. (GO) iC C) DOO CS (COL