The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 292: what you’re looking at

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

270 THE COURT OF LONDON vacancy. Several times she turned quite around, and looked in the direction of the town which lay at the foot of the deep indentation of the cliffs, as if a hollow had been hewn away to afford room for the site of that multitude of buildings. Was she awaiting some one? Had she sauntered hither in the hope of being overtaken by a person that she expected to issue from the town and speed across the heights to join her there? Presently the sounds of a horse’s feet reached her ears as she was pursuing her walk, and now a sudden vibration appeared to thrill through her entire form, galvanizing her, as it were, with the electricity of some feeling abruptly and profoundly stirred. But this time she neither paused nor looked around. She continued her way as if simulating unconsciousness that any one was approaching her. In a few minutes she was overtaken by the person on horseback, and this was none other than the Reverend Bernard Audley, minor canon of Canterbury Cathedral. On reaching the lady he reined in his steed, and made a courteous bow, saying, “‘I am here, fair but mysterious unknown, in pursuance of the billet which I received last evening at my hotel.” “How know you that I am fair?” asked the lady, in a voice that was barely audible. “Do you not tell me in that note which I received,” said the clergyman, “ that I have inspired you with a passion which, if I can reciprocate it, you will be found worthy of? And what does that mean, if not a consciousness on your part that you are beautiful? ” The lady made no reply, and a silence of nearly a minute took place. Then, leaping from his horse, Bernard Audley said, in his most winning tone, ‘‘ Do, for Heaven’s sake, shake off this timidity, if such it be. Throw aside all mystery, and let me behold the countenance of whose loveliness I have a presentiment.”’ “Pray, Mr. Audley, remount your horse,” said the lady, still speaking in a very low voice, but now with much agita- tion in the tones. ‘‘ We shall be seen, and it looks all too familiar for you to have dismounted thus to walk by my side. It appears like an appointment given, whereas, if you keep on horseback, it will have the air of a simple acquaint- ance happening to meet a lady. Indeed, it was for this comicloooks (CO mn