The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 41: what you’re looking at

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

26 his own. “Bot have I not already told you that your image has dweit in my memory sinoe the mo- ment when we first met at the house of Lord Dese- borough in Berkeley Square? Is it surprising, then, that I should have spoken of you as the Air unknown to a lady who condescends to express an interest in my welfare?” “Mr. Woodfall,” said Rese, casting down her eyes and withdrawing the baad which she hed ab- stractedly suffered to Hager in his own for a few moments,—“I know not hew I ewald have mestted the good opinion which you so generously formed of me——” “We will not talk agen that subject for the pre- sent,” interrupted the artist, ia a geatic teas. “Time is wearing on-—é ie alrendy six o'vlock,” he added, congalting his wateh, which waz o gift from Lord Desborough; “and you mast be anxicas to depart from a plese which is not calculated to e2- cite the meet pleasarable remiaiseences.” Rose Foster gave act an inuediate reply: bet preseing her hand to her brow, she mentally teok a rapid sarvey of her position. To retara to Mra. Brace’s establishment wus aut to be thought of: to receive money from her was to accept a boon whieh y protection ; aad act would she think of agais beoossing the latter. For be it remembered she wae totally unaware of all thet hed happened te both of them. What, then, did the orphan decks apen? Net to return to Mrs. Brace’s establishment: nor to re- ceive any succour, pecuniary, or otherwise, at her hands. No—nor yet to appeal to Meagies, nor fly for refuge to the poor working man. Bat she re- solved upon trusting to George Woodfall—this new friend whom Providence appeared to have sent her at the moment of a cruelly embarrassing extremity. For the alternative with the poor maiden was to procure a home,—an asylum where she would enjoy personal sccurity and mental peace. And this home—was it not now offered to her? “ Miss Foster, you appear to hesitate—you are undecided ?” said the artist. “My God! do you still doubt me? Oh! if I did not entertain a true, sincere, and holy interest in your welfare, this utter waat of confidence on your part would prompt me to bid you a sorrowful farewell and retire.” “ How often am I destined thus to wound your generous feelings by that semblance of suspicion which my manuer so unfortunately assumes?” ex- claimed Rose, once more proffering her hand which the artist took with a joy that he could not conceal: bat this joy was mingled with so profound @ respect that so far from shocking even the most delicate sensibility, it coald only serve asa proof of his honest sinoerity. “Then you accept the proposal which I have made you, Miss Foster?” he said. “ Alvo! I have no alternative—poor orphan that 1am! she mormaringtly answered, her eyes filling | with tears. . “The Marchioness ot Bellenden will weloome you as cordially and as warmly as if you were 8 sister or a daughter,” rejoined Woodfall. “ And now—if you will say farewell to Mrs. Brace——” “Que word,” ejaculated Rose Foster, in a low but hurried whiaper, as she glanced almost in af- fright towards the milliner, who was still convers- ing with Gromiey in the window-recess: “I do oct wich Mrs. Brace to knew whither Iam going. Tals may appear cingular to you ;—but on a fatare cecasion—whea we are better acquainted—I will explain my reasons-———” “Never shall I seek to penetrate farther into your eonfidence than you may be willing to admit me,” interrupted Weooedfall. “The friend- ship which I profibe you claims no rights—aseerts ao privileges —~ imposes no conditions: it is the friendship—+the love—the affection which a brother may offer te a ciuter *” “And as euch do I ascopt and resiprocate it,” answered Rose, profoundly toeched by the sense of all that was edie, delicate, and con- And now let as ese what were the topics of con- verention with this latter coupie. “Well, ma’am,” observed Mr. Grumley, in a low and confideatial tone, as Mrs. Brace accom- penied him apart into the window-recess, “1 sup- pose you ain’t wery sorry that the present business has come off so well.” “On the contrary,” returned the milliner, “I can scarcely restrain my joy. You certainly ma- naged the affair excellent]y——~” “Indeed, ma'am,” interrupted Mr. Peter Grum- ley, “there was no management in the matter at all, The thing took its regular course—and there was no necessity for me to make use of any artifice or stratagem whatsomever.” “What do you mean?” exclaimed Mrs. Brace, surveying the head-constable with the most unaf- fected astonishment. “The inculpation of Arthur Eaton——" “Was brought abont by the natural course of events, ma'am,” rejoined the officer. “ Everything went on as smooth as possible; and justice re- ceived nothing more than the ordinary amount of help, and certainly net the slightest shadow of hindrance.” “I am totally at aloes what to think or how to understand you, Mr. Grumley,” said the milliner. “ fa the first place, did you not contrive the litde iucident of the discovery of the blade of the knife in Mr. Eaton’s own apartment at his father's CORNICE OO (CO