The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 175: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAIDEN’S CHAMBER 153 while the phase of her deliverance was passing? The sudden appearance of her aunt filled her with ineffable joy, not only in consequence of her own rescue, which it at once accom- plished, but likewise because of the wondrous cure which she thus beheld so suddenly effected. But while all terror on account of Bernard Audley was in a moment dissipated, a new source of alarm and anguish at once presented itself, for this dearly beloved aunt, who had risen from her lethargy - of three years to save her, had sunk down into unconscious- ness once more. Oh, with what earnest, heartfelt hope, but with what sore misgivings and direful apprehensions also, did Louisa raise her relative from the carpet and bear her to the couch! Then with what anxious suspense did she watch the effect of the restoratives that she hastened to administer, and what joy indescribable expanded in her heart as she beheld the invalid slowly open her eyes, but open them in consciousness! Sinking down upon her knees by the side of the bed, Louisa murmured, with deepest fervour, ‘‘ O God, I thank thee for this! ”’ ‘“ Louisa, sweetest, dearest Louisa,” said her aunt, in a low voice, and speaking with difficulty, ‘‘ what has happened? Have I not been dreaming horribly? Methought I heard piercing shrieks.”’ ‘Oh, my beloved aunt! Heaven be thanked that you are thus restored to me!’ cried Louisa, starting from her knees and embracing her relative with an enthusiasm which was almost wild. ‘Restored to you, my dear girl. What mean you?” asked Miss Stanley, gazing earnestly upon the lovely coun- tenance of her niece. ‘“‘ Ah!” she continued, pressing her hand to her forehead as if to collect the thoughts that were in confusion, ‘‘I have a feeling here as if something had happened. Yes, there seems to be a gap. I do not remem- ber going to bed last night. Let me think. You and Clara and I were seated together after dinner, we were conversing, and then it seems as if everything had suddenly become a blank. How was it? I do not recollect that we had tea, or that you bade me good night, or that I went up to bed as usual— But heavens, dearest Louisa, you are weeping, weeping bitterly, too. Come, dear child, tell me, what mean these tears? ”’ (C(O) nn) GDoOo <Si nin