The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 177: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAIDEN’S CHAMBER 155 “No, nothing, nothing wrong, everything happy and prosperous, so far as we are concerned,” and a blush mantled on Louisa’s countenance as she felt that her allusion partly referred to her own engagement with Jocelyn Loftus. ‘‘ But where is Clara? Why do you not go and fetch her? ” asked Miss Stanley, whose sight was yet too feeble to enable her to notice that crimson glow upon her young niece’s countenance. ‘Clara, my dear aunt, is not at home at this moment. She is staying with some friends, some very kind friends, with whom she has been a year and upwards.” “Louisa! ’’ ejaculated Miss Stanley, actually shivering with affright. ‘‘ Do you mean me to understand that I have been so long ill, so long insensible? ”’ ‘Yes, dear aunt,’ replied Louisa, softly, ‘‘ more than that. But pray don’t excite yourself; you must not, really you must not.” ‘Tell me at once, then, dear girl, how long I have been ill, if you would save me from the most torturing suspense.”’ ‘“T will, dear aunt, I will tell you everything,” said Louisa, perceiving how necessary it was to give the required explana- tions guardedly and gradually. ‘It is more than a year, but now, thank Heaven, you are recovered at last. It is more than two years, — dear aunt, do not, do not excite yourself, — ’tis three years since you were first taken ill.”’ ‘Three years!’ repeated Miss Stanley, in a low, hollow voice, as if absolutely dismayed and struck with consterna- tion by the announcement. Then, after a brief pause, during which an almost awful seriousness settled upon her features, she said, ‘‘ Now tell me, Louisa, tell me truly, — for I hope that on my recovery I find the same good girls whom [I left, as it were, when sinking into this dreadful lethargy of three long years, — tell me, I ask, how you have lived in the interval? ”’ ‘‘ Dear aunt, we learned from the bank that you had ob- tained your money from Mr. Beckford in London, and the banker wrote to him. He replied that he would pay us as regularly as he was wont to pay you.” ‘““ Ah! thank God!” exclaimed Miss Stanley, evidently experiencing an indescribable relief. ‘‘ Then you have not been without resources? But now let me look at you, Louisa. Draw back the curtain — more still; stand with your face (C(O) nn) GDoOo KS { ‘| in