The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 318: what you’re looking at

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

284 THE COURT OF LONDON to entrust the tremendous secret to Harriet, her faithful abigail. But she postponed the evil moment as long as possible; and it was not until the young ladies had retired to rest and the clock was striking eleven that the milliner, who was now seated alone in her parlour, could muster up courage sufficient to enter upon the appalling topic. At length, feeling that an excitement was growing upon her which would speedily destroy all her resolution and throw her ideas into chaotic disorder, she rang the bell; and when Harriet made her appearance, she bade the young woman follow her up-stairs to her own chamber. Upon gaining this room, the milliner placed the candle upon the toilet-table and locked the door. Then, suddenly fixing her eyes, which had in a moment become wild and haggard, upon the lady’s-maid, she said, in a deep voice, ‘“‘ Harriet, I am about to reveal to you a terrible secret.’’ ‘“‘ Ah! madam, is it possible that you are on the point of giving birth to a child? ” said the dependent, her knowledge of her mistress’s frailty instantly exciting this idea in her mind. ‘‘ Would to God that it were no worse, Harriet! ”’ returned Mrs. Brace, speaking in a hollow whisper. ‘‘ But I implore you to steady your mind, in order to receive as calmly as possible a revelation that is only too well calculated to fill you with horror.” ‘“ Merciful Heaven! ma’am, what do you mean?” ex- claimed Harriet, now catching the infection of the milliner’s harrowed feelings. ‘“‘T mean,”’ responded her mistress, in a still lower, deeper, and more hollow tone, while her looks expressed all the mingled anguish and terror that had become resuscitated in her soul, ‘‘ I mean, Harriet, that there is a dead body in yon bathroom.” , “Oh, horror!” ejaculated the young woman, with a stifling shriek, and, staggering backward, she threw her eyes in unspeakable terror toward the door of the adjacent chamber. ‘“‘ Silence, and courage, I conjure you,” said Mrs. Brace, clasping her hands in agonizing entreaty. ‘‘ If you alarm the house you will ruin me; but if you will assist me, I will load you with favours and benefits.” ‘Speak, madam, what can I do? ”’ demanded the lady’s- CONnRICLOO© re) S (C@)