The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 161: what you’re looking at

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

THE TWO ACCIDENTS 143 became delirious, giving utterance to incoherent things, none of which, however, had any particular significancy. Chris- tina remained in faithful attendance upon her, never once closing her own eyes the entire night. For ten days did the dangerous period of Lady Octavian Meredith’s illness last, and several times she appeared to be hovering upon the very verge of the grave. The physician, on the third evening, had insisted upon having a nurse; nevertheless Christina would not abandon her friend, but remained with her night and day, recruiting, however, her own strength by lying down for a few hours in a bed which she caused to be prepared in the same room for the purpose. With her own hand she ad- ministered all Zoe’s medicine, but usurping this duty with such sweetness of manner and with so much amiability that the old nurse, though belonging to a class amazingly jealous of their prerogatives, could not find it in her heart to be of- fended. Nor throughout all this time did Christina once incur the chance of finding herself alone with Lord Octavian. Occasionally, when his visits were paid to his sick wife’s chamber, the nurse was absent, Zoe was unconscious of what was passing around her, and thus it may be said that he and Christina were virtually alone. But then she would sit on the opposite side of the couch from that where he placed himself, and half-concealed by the curtain, she would not once meet his gaze. When he spoke to her — which was in the same manner of friendly courtesy as was formally wont to mark his bearing — she on her side responded with equal courtesy, but gave no encouragement for a protracted conversation. Thus did the time pass, and on the twelfth day after the accident, the physician pronounced Lady Octavian Meredith to be out of danger. She now became conscious of what was passing around, and from the lips of both the physician and the nurse she learned how Christina had affectionately and tenderly ministered unto her during her severe illness. Indeed the medical man, who was generous-hearted and conscientious, hesitated not to give Zoe the assurance that she owed her life to Miss Ashton, observing that though the physician may prescribe, and though the pecuniary position of the patient may be such as to ensure every comfort, yet that there is something which surpasses all professional skill and which no wealth can purchase, — namely, the unwearied CORNICLOO <S) (E) im