The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 188: what you’re looking at

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

166 THE COURT OF LONDON ‘“ Leave me, then, dear child,’ said Miss Stanley, “ to the perusal of the letters; and when you come up again, in an hour or so, we shall perhaps have some further conversa- tion upon these Serious topics.”’ Louisa accordingly quitted the chamber, iad descended to the parlour, where the table was already spread for break- fast. It was now past eight o’clock, and the young maiden placed upon a tray the requisite refreshments for her aunt, and sent them up by the servant. She herself left the morn- ing meal untasted; her heart was filled with a variety of conflicting emotions. She had every reason for satisfaction in her aunt’s recovery and in the prospect of her lover’s speedy return to England; but, on the other hand, she experienced certain misgivings and uneasy suspicions in consequence of what Miss Stanley had said relative to Clara and the Beckfords. Perhaps the reader will ask what course she intended to take with regard to the Reverend Bernard Audley, and whether she purposed to pass over his vile conduct in silence. This subject likewise entered into the maiden’s thoughts, but as Jocelyn Loftus would so soon return to England, she resolved to let the matter stand over until she saw him. Issuing forth from the parlour, where the untasted meal remained upon the table, she rambled in the garden. At nine o’clock she sent the servant up to inquire whether her aunt was yet prepared to receive her, and the reply brought back was that Miss Stanley had not been able as yet to go entirely through the correspondence. Louisa accordingly remained walking in the garden, and thus nearly another hour passed away. The postman now made his appearance with a letter, and Louisa, on receiving it, at once recognized the writing of her sister Clara. Tearing it open, she read the following lines: ‘“ LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, “ July 19, 1815. ‘“T take up my pen, dearest Louisa, to write you a few hurried words, that you may be prepared to see me to-mor- row, Wednesday. I shall leave London at about nine o’clock, and shall be in Canterbury by three in the afternoon. Shortly after that hour you may expect to see me. A circumstance has occurred; a secret, indeed, has come to my knowledge, intimately concerning us both. It is, in short, the secret of GOMIIGOOOo S (CO im