The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 355: what you’re looking at

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

=: «~=—~<SC; ~ ~ ) = ‘ you safe again—and I implore you to look upon me as a friend.” “Oh! Me Meagles,” cried the orphan girl, burst- ing into tears,—“ if I hed-mot already considered yon iu that light, I should not have ventared inte your presence now. bol dness——-but~——” She stopped short—a faintaase« cane overt her and, pale though she wae at-firat, yet hercountensner tiuw grew eo suddenly. sehy, that Meagles feered she: was about'to faink Pring out 2 glass of water; he held it to her lipa: she had just-strength sufficient to imbibe a few dropa--and the cold severagerevived hen: * Will you not layvwsiie yourr bonnet, Miss Fos- ter?” said Mengies;:thtewing into his tone and raauner as muelr respestfel attention and delicate courtesy as it wee-posstiie: to convey or imply by those means, ““Ydtr.ammaemre that I have no wife, nor sister—seninilesd “aagn female relative to whom I can introdmssryoer: buttemy. landlady will pay you all due regard-——* “ Mr. Meagles/* inteevupitied Rose, now thorenghis: vesssured with respest to’his character, audiangryy with herself that ehe had ever suspected Attenteg- rity,—“ I understand and appreciate all thubgenaro~ 1-1 sity and delicaey of your conduct towneia!sanp— | but inasmuch as I come to you as a-frlsini->negy, more—as a aister would fly for suecenr and adeter to a brother—it is unnecessary that: thareehould be’ auy third person present while I converse with you. But you said that you knew I had been perse- cuted———” “ Alas! poor orphan gir],” said. Meagles in a tone of deep feeling, while tears started: forth from hie eyes; “I have indeed heard of the terrible adventure which you experienced a week ago—and.I have been making unceasing inquiries concerning you.” “You, Mr. Meagies!” ejaculated Rese, in amaze- ment. “ Yea—certainly,” responded Tim, in a tone of unquestionable candour. that I saw you I felt interested in you—as, my God! who would not be, considering the cruel mirfortunes which have overtaken you at eo early a periud of your life? The note which you sent me some weeks ago, gave me pain—because I had hoped and fiat- tered myself that you would condescend to look upon me asa friend. But at the same time I admired your prudence, Miss Foster—and, while I deplored the step which you had taken, in asmuch as it left me ignorant of your place of abode, the good opinion I had already formed of you was enhanced to the highest degree. You now understand, therefore, that I have thought of you often—and very frequently have I wished to know where you were that I might ascertain if you were contented with the new career you had traced out for yourself. Conceive, then, my dismay—my grief—my indignation, when I learnt, a week ago, that you had been made the object of a cruel persecution.” - Ah! Mr. Meagies,” exclaimed Rose, the tears chasing each other down her cheeks,—“ had I treated you with less reserve—had I consulted you frankly and ingenuously ereI resolved upon my particular proceeding—all that I have endured and encountered would have been avoided. Believing the establish- ment which I entered: to be one of the highest re- spectability——” “Oh! what perils have you encountered, Miss Foster!” exclaimed Meagles, abruptly : “for your - iw “From the first moment’ eyes are doubtless now open to the true character of Mrs. Brace’s house——” “ But how did you learn all that has happened to me?” ashe demanded. “Report says that you are intimeterwitiy the Prince of Wales—and it was as an Pardon this introsion~~fergive this |-cntissasy;from-:his Roya) Highness to my poor father, thut yon Girst‘hesame acquainted with me. I must conelnde, then, that the Prince himself made known ‘to you his unworthy conduct and the mamner in which .1 eseaped from him—by adopting a course ‘which makes me shudder even now when I think of it" “ Hetoie girl!” ejaculated Meagles,—“I aleo have shuddered a thousand times on your account ever since the daring exploit was made known to me. Yes —from the lips of the Prince himself did I hear the tale whith excited within meva sentiment of abhor- rence towards him equalled only by that of admira- tion ia regard to yourself.” “Wes it possible that his Royal Highness knew all along that Camilla Morton was none other than the Rose Foster whom his own wickedness had made ‘amenrphan !* inquired the young maiden. “No—he only ascertained that fact at the last mo- w>~-indeed, at the same time that he diseovered “A letter which “You had. dropped in the husry and: confusion of that memorable night, and which his Royal Highness picked up, informed him .who you were. But think not, Mies Foster, that: be. waestsieken with remorse —or thatif he-were,. the feelang: Jasted more than a mowent No!” cried -Mbagles emphatically,—“ that man ts-insapableof tly generous onnoble; and beware, Mided/deter; how you fall in his:way! Let: us: not, howerer, dwell upon topics so unpleasant. I was-ere-now telling you that during the laet'week I have been making unceasing inquiries conoermng you~—and this is so true that 1 have neglected many important matters which de- ‘manded my attention. But I[ knew enough of you to be aware that you are inexperienced and confiding : Virtuous and well-intentioned yourself, you are na-~ turally prone to place reliance upon others ;—and J trembled, Miss Foster—Oh! I trembled lest you should fall into the snares of the artful, the designing, and the unprincipled.” “Oh! how can I ever sufficiently express my gratitude for all this generous ous sympathy and friend- ship on your part?” exclaimed Roee, her voice almost suffocated with sobs.. “Alas! alas! I have indeed become the victim of least so far as my cerned————” “Tell me all that bas occusred to you, Miss Foster,” cried Meagies, “since the night on which you escaped from Mre. Brace’s house. I am certain aflairs are con — a ee —— nn eee my inexperience—et: you have emfared much—your adventures have been of no ordinary description—for you are = care-worn, altered —-——"’ “Heavens! how ean it. be otherwise f* exelsimed | Rese, suddenly beeoming painfully excited as -the | thought of all she had paseed through wad recalled | with terrible vividness to her mind. “ Yes—!I did indeed trust to people whom I ‘believed honest— | and they plundered me—robbed me, Mr. Maagles, | of every guinea of that sum which you yourself had — invested m my name-at the Bank of England. Oh! why did I not come to you? But I sent—or rather some one pretended to cajl upon you—and I was assured that you had gone to Scotland ———” COMICOOKS.CO