The Mysteries of the Court of London by Pauline Clarendon — page 211: what you’re looking at

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

208 THE COURT OF LONDON She blushed deeply as she removed her cloak; for she observed that Mrs. Lindley had at the same instant put on her spectacles again, and was once more surveying her with earnest attention. “Sit down, my sweet child,” said Mrs. Brace. ‘‘ Remem- ber that this is to be your home for the next two or three months — ”’ ‘Hush! ’”? murmured Mrs. Lindley, taking off her glasses, and raising her forefinger significantly; ‘‘ not so loud! ” Then addressing herself to Caroline, she said, ‘‘ Your excellent mistress desires you to consider this house youl home, until you are in a condition to leave it again; and I cordially reiterate the assurance. Cheer up, therefore, Miss Walters, and let me observe a smile upon your pretty face.’’ ‘Yes, pray smile, Carry,’’ exclaimed Mrs. Brace. ‘‘ You will soon be reconciled to your new abode, and next Sunday evening I will come and pass an hour or two with you.”’ “You are very, very kind,’’ murmured the young girl, with difficulty subduing a violent outburst of grief; for, in spite of all the soothing words that fell upon her ears, she had never felt more completely friendless, lonely, and desolate in her life. “Have you many inmates at present? ’”’ inquired Mrs. Brace of the woman to whose care the unhappy Miss Walters was thus consigned. ‘Four or five,’? was the answer. ‘‘ The place is never altogether empty, you know,” she added, with that sub- dued chuckling laugh which Caroline shuddered to hear. “And of course Miss Walters will find companions in them?” said Mrs. Brace, interrogatively. ‘Tn all save one,” responded Mrs. Lindley, now sinking her tone to the lowest whisper. ‘‘ But, hush! — what noise was that? I thought I heard the shutters creak — ”’ “No, it was only the hackney-coach moving a little outside,” observed Mrs. Brace. ‘‘ You were saying that there is one lady at present in your house — ”’ “Hush! not so loud! — walls have ears! ’’ interposed the woman, nervously. ‘ But the fact is that I have beneath my roof a young lady in reference to whom the utmost precaution and secrecy are requisite, a young lady of high birth — hush! what noise was that? — the hackney- coach again and she never quits her own room. Ah! ECORNIECLOOOKS EO m