The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 88: what you’re looking at

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

70 REYNOLDS’ WORKS endowed with no small share of true feminine curiosity, — she, by her interjected observations, as well as by her ques- tions, encouraged her companion to as much communica- tiveness as she chose to demonstrate. Thus did the hours pass away, while the train was pursuing its course of almost marvellous rapidity, and the two ladies mutually con- gratulated themselves that they should thus have been thrown together. It was at some point—no matter precisely which — between Birmingham and Manchester, that the conversation was all in an instant cut short, as if a thunderbolt had come crashing through the roof of the carriage. As Lettice Rod- ney subsequently described the occurrence, she was for a moment — and only for that single moment — sensitive to an abrupt shock; it was quick as the eye can wink, and the next instant consciousness abandoned her. As she slowly came back to her senses, she became aware that she was lying on the slope of an embankment, and that some gentle- man, of middle-age, was bending over her, and ministering restoratives. It appeared to her like a dream; she closed her eyes as if to shut out all external objects, the better to concentrate her mental vision inwardly, and thus arrive at some comprehending of what it was that she thought and felt. There was a dull heavy sounding in the brain, a sense of numbness over all the faculties, a blending of uncertainty and vague consternation in the mind. Again she opened her eyes, but only to receive additional confirmation of the awful suspicion which, hitherto dim, indefinite, and clouded, had hung in her brain. The gentleman spoke a few kind words of mingled encouragement and inquiry, and these still further served to stamp the horrible conviction in the soul of Lettice that what she had fancied and apprehended was no dream, but all a too hideous reality. In a word, an accident had happened to the train; several of the carriages, being thrown off the line, were literally dashed to atoms, and numerous deaths, as well as frightful injuries, mutilations, and contusions were the consequence. The gentleman whom Lettice found bending over her was a surgeon who happened to be in the ill-fated train, and as he was unhurt, he had rendered all possible assistance to those passengers who, though escaping death, were otherwise less fortunate than himself. Lettice had been merely stunned CORMICLOOOLK 2 i SS aes 3 Sone et + ee LES SS ara See