The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 257: what you’re looking at

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

THE SICK - BED 235 and sculptured obscenities; and he had likewise encouraged her, as it were, in her own depravities, by making her his accomplice in his attempt to deprive Louisa Stanley of her innocence. As he now beheld her stretched before him with faded beauties and ruined charms, a ghastly wreck in the vigor of youthfulness, the mere shadow of the splendid being that she so lately was, his heart smote him bitterly, bitterly, and he thought that in all this he recognized the evidence of a superhuman retribution. Now he wished to speak seriously with his niece, but she still slept on. For a time the fever had left her. There was not even a trace of its tint upon her cheeks, but all was wan and ghastly there. Two hours elapsed, and still she awoke not. The marquis’s dinner-hour arrived, and he descended to the parlour where the repast was served, leaving instruc- tions that he was to be summoned to the sick-chamber so soon as the invalid should awake. It was not until nine o’clock in the evening that Ernestina opened her eyes. The fever had entirely left her, but she was weak almost to powerlessness. The medicine which had been prescribed was given her, and the nurse then sent to fetch the marquis. When he came he desired to be left alone with the invalid. The lady’s-maid and the nurse accordingly quitted the room, and placing himself by the side of the couch, he took his niece’s hand, saying, ‘‘ My poor Ernestina, you have been very ill, you are yet very ill.”’ ‘‘ Yes,’”’ she answered, in a low, plaintive voice, “‘ I feel as if the hand of death were upon me.” ‘Do not speak thus despondingly, my dear niece,”’ said Lord Leveson. ‘‘ I have come on the present occasion on purpose to see if there be anything I can do to ease your mind of whatever annoyances may be pressing upon it. I have sent the nurse and maid away from the room, in order that you may speak without reservation.”’ ‘Ah! my dear uncle,” exclaimed Ernestina, her voice suddenly swelling with a degree of excitement, ‘“ you then entertain the fear that this is my death-bed? Yes, I see by your look that such is the case. Perhaps the physicians have told you so? And, ah!” she continued, without waiting for his reply, ‘“‘I also apprehend the worst. Would to God that I were prepared for it! I have had my omens, my warnings, ay, fearful warnings. Have I not been delirious? (C(O) nn) GDoOo