Penny Blood Serial Fiction — page 60: what you’re looking at

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

MORNING IN LONDON 43 did she already experience a parent’s love for the innocent babe, and, contemplating it with mournful and passionate affection, her countenance was for a few instants animated with the blushful glow of strange inward exultation. But, alas! she was compelled to resign the hapless babe to the care of strangers, — to separate from it, disowning it at once and for ever! The sacrifice was torturing to her soul, but there was no alternative, no choice; and when the child was gently taken from her by Mrs. Smith, the wretched parent covered her face with her fair white hands and burst into an agony of weeping. In a few minutes the unconscious cause of all this mental suffering was carefully enveloped in thick shawls, and Ma- tilda, bearing it in her arms, accompanied the surgeon to his own abode. On her return she was enabled to give the young mother the consolatory assurance that Mrs. Thurston had already provided a wet-nurse for the infant, and that every preparation had been made to give a suitable recep- tion to the little stranger. On the following morning, while it was yet dusk, a plain travelling-carriage drove up to the door; and Mrs. Mordaunt, well wrapped up to guard her as much as possible against cold, was conveyed into the vehicle. Mrs. Smith followed her, Matilda took her place on the box by the side of the valet Pembroke, who was in attendance, and the equipage drove rapidly away in a northern direction. We should observe that the two ladies had not forgotten to express their gratitude to the sisters for the hospitality which they had experienced at the villa; and Mrs. Smith promised to call upon them as early as circumstances would permit. CONMMICELOOO ss) (Cc)