The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 398: what you’re looking at

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

372 THE COURT OF LONDON ‘“‘ O God, it is indeed our mother! ” suddenly shrieked forth the two sisters, both at the same instant, and in blending tones of the wildest frenzy. But the next instant Agatha staggered back, with a ghastly paleness suddenly seizing upon her, and fell heavily upon the carpet, the blood flowing from her lips. “Great Heaven, she is dying!” shrieked the horror- stricken Mary, rushing toward her eldest sister. ‘“‘ No, no, keep back, keep back! ” screamed Julia, forcibly pushing Mary away; and then she threw herself upon the panting, convulsing form of Agatha. All was now horror and distress on the part of Mrs. Owen and Mary, for it was but too clear that the unfortunate Agatha had burst a blood-vessel. The doctor and the female keeper forcibly removed Julia from the dying sister to whom she clung; but, oh, more horror, more distress, more terror and dismay! Was the blood on Julia’s lips but the stain of that flowing from Agatha’s mouth, or was it her own life- blood oozing forth from the fountains of a bursting heart? The two sisters were speedily placed each on her respective couch, and all that human skill could do for them was per- formed by Doctor Dupont. Vain endeavour! The same excitement had produced in each the same effect, and both were dying. Mrs. Owen and Mary were well-nigh frenzied with grief. They first bent over one, then over the other, of those loved beings on whom death was laying its hand, and in the physician’s looks they beheld no hope. Neither Agatha nor Julia spoke another word, but about twenty minutes after the bursting of the blood-vessels which sent the stream of life pouring from their lips, they made a movement, each upon her own couch, as if seeking to clasp something in their arms. By this action they turned them- selves toward each other, and with a last expiring effort they stretched out their arms to one another. Then closing their eyes, they sank imperceptibly into that sleep from which on earth there is no awakening. It was in the forenoon of the second day after this catas- trophe that Mrs. Owen and Mary entered alone together into the chamber of death, and knelt down by the side of the couch on which the two dead sisters lay. They had both been placed upon the same bed, Doctor Dupont, with what comlclooolks (CO) im