The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 229: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXIV THE FAMILY VAULT In one of the most beautiful parts of Warwickshire stands the ancient village of Bellenden. Nothing can be more charmingly picturesque than this little group of habitations, situated on the gentle slope of a hill, and embowered as it were by stately oaks and chestnut-trees which had flourished for ages. The tower of the old church was covered with ivy, and the sacred fane itself was larger than such edifices usually are in country places. The cemetery was crowded with tomb- stones, some of them so old that the inscriptions were entirely effaced by the hand of Time; indeed, it was universally believed in the village and surrounding district that Bellenden church was one of the most ancient in the whole kingdom. It was about two o’clock in the afternoon, when atravelling- carriage drove up to the door of the Bellenden Arms, which was the name of the village tavern. There were no heraldic blazonries upon the panels of the vehicle; but the plain equipage was instantaneously recognized notwithstanding by the landlord and his wife. Out they came, followed by the hostler and the chambermaid, the men cap in hand and - the females all'smiles and curtsies, for some years had elapsed since the Marchioness of Bellenden had honoured the village with her presence, and her arrival now was as welcome as it was unexpected. Yes, it was the marchioness herself who had just halted at the Bellenden Arms. She was travelling with post-horses and was attended only by a footman and a female domestic, both of whom had been for some years in her service and were of long-tried fidelity. To the greetings of the landlord and landlady of the Bellenden Arms her ladyship responded in the kindest : 199 Goim boo eS (EO)