The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 217: what you’re looking at

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Rittle more vehermenre t hur response than was al-) thered from tho landlady’s words; and even this together consistent with the gratitude she owed Lady Bess: but stili the girl’e honest feelings were predominant et the tine. “T understand you,” said the heroine, neither moved nor offended. “You are afraid that what- poever gold my purse may contain, is not honestly acquired? Well, if you need nv pecuniary assist- ance, so much the better. And now, one word more ore we part. It will be well that no noise should be made about the adventure of this night. I have a claim upon your gratitude; and the way in which you can testify it ie by taking ‘care that your friends do nut seek redress at the hands of justice for whatecever you may have suffered from Lord Everton. Because if once you endeavour to put the law in force, you cannot tell half the truth, but must explain it all; and if you loudly proclaim how you got into Beech-Tree Lodge, you will be com to proclaim as loudly how you got out of it. This might lead to unpleasant inquiries after myself; and these of course you would not willingly be the means of setting afoot.” “Depend upon it I will do nothing to compro- mise you,” answered Henrietta. “ And excuse me if I add—with the deepest, deepest sincerity—that may God grant you never do more to injare your- self than I shall do to injure you !” “You are a good girl,” rejcined Lady Bees: “but it is evident that our paths run in opposite ways in life. Nevertheless we shall meet again: for I know that you will come and see me.” Thus speaking, the amazonian lady wrung Hen- rictta’s hand; and a ion then took place— proceeding one way, and Mies Leyden in another. Long, lonely, and weary was the walk—or rather run—which the young damsel had at that mid- night hour (for so late it now was) until she reached Holloway; and thenee she obtained a conveyance into London. It was two in the morning when she reached the court in the vicinago of Soho, where she had last seen her mother and Charley. Oh! with what a beating”heart did she approach the ahe await the to her summons! She looked up to see if there were a light in the attic- window: but there was none. At the expiration of five minutes she heard steps approaching down the passage from within: the door opened—and the landlady appeared with a light. She started on beholding Henrietta: but hurried and breathless was the inquiry which the young girl made. Her mother was alive: this was the instantaneous source of an almost over- powering joy! But she was very, very ill: and of the feelings. She was still in the house—but in a better room, on the first floor. The benevolent gentleman—Mr. Gunthorp* by name— who had interested himeelf in the poor family, had wished to have her moved into the country, a little way out of London: but poor Mrs. Leyden had de- elared that she would remain in that house until her daughter returned; so that when she did return there might be no unnecessary delay ere they met —~and if she never returned, then the unhappy mo- ther would die there ! Such was the information which Hénriotta ga- eee conenempemenes tat lt a I AE Ef THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT. her the assurance that pure and stainices as her danghter was when she went away, so pure and CHAPTER XLIV. THE BARGE. Ir was the night after the adventures at Beech- botween ten and eleven o'clock. lantern was suspended to the ceiling of the cabin the barge moored in the canal at Agar Town; and at the little round table three persons were These were Chiffin the Cannibal, Mr. Tuga, and the latter’s wife. The cupboard was removed from the recess which it usually occupied, the aper- ture being thus left ready for the Cannibal to pass into his lurking-hole should any visitor of a sus- picious character make his Upon the table stood a bottle of gin, the product of one of the illicit stills worked in the neighbourhood ; and three giasees showed that the persuns in the cabin had been partaking of the alcoholic fluid. Tugs and the Cannibal were smoking their pipes; while Mrs. Tugs was suckling the child, which was about eight or nine months old. She was @ young wo- man, and if clean would have appeared froeh- ugly: but she had a and was not over removing the pipe from his mouth and vomiting forth a cloud of smoke, ‘I wonder whethor Somers will come here to-night? You say that she was here last night, just after I had left the barge to meet Lady Bees at ornsey church ?” “Yes: Madge came last night,” responded the woman, to whom the question was addressed. “Tugs had gone up into the Town to ece some of the blue- ruin brewers”—meaning the workers of the illicit etills—* and so I was here all alone.” “And she wouldn’t loave no message, then?” said Chiffin inquiringly. ‘Qn’y that she would come back agin to-night, and that you was to keep cloee till she did. Sol suppose she will be here soon.” “I hope so,” observed Chiffin with one of his wonted growls; “for I am precious tired of being cooped up here. At the same time, mind you, I am very mich obleeged to you, Mrs. Tugs, and your hus- band, for making me so comfortable: but for a man which likes his liberty, this here sort of confinement isn’t altogether the thing.” “And yet you had a littl chavge lest »ight,* COMM (C SS CO OO