The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 146: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XIII CAROLINE WALTERS Not many minutes had elapsed after Fernanda and her husband had taken their leave of the midwife when a hackney- coach stopped at the door of the sinister-looking establish- ment, and Mrs. Brace alighted. She was received by Mrs. Lindley on the threshold, and instantly conducted to the warm parlour, where she did not refuse the refreshment which had already been offered to Lord and Lady Holder- ness. said the handsome and robust milliner, as she sipped her wine, “‘ because I wished to have Caroline Walters disposed of in some manner or another before I bring Rachel Forres- ter over to you. Rachel must come in a few days, and I do not like the idea of any two of my girls getting together under such circumstances. They are apt to compare notes and then persuade each other that they have been ill-used.”’ ‘“ Precisely so,” observed Mrs. Lindley, who was also indulging in some wine, which made her reptile eyes gleam with an ominous light through the large circular glasses. ‘This Caroline Walters, especially, is a girl of remarkable spirit and strange character.” ‘“‘ She who was so docile at first,’ cried Mrs. Brace, so thankful for everything that was done for her.”’ ‘“‘ Ah! but in such a place as this,” observed Mrs. Lindley, bending forward and speaking with a mysterious air and low whisper, ‘‘ young women are apt to get ruminating upon their position, and then they fancy that they have been wronged.” ‘““ Besides,’”’ added Mrs. Brace, ‘‘ Caroline is half a Spaniard and may therefore be headstrong, vindictive, and unfor- 124 “and ‘‘T have come to see you this evening, my dear friend,” GOMIGHOoOks CO im