The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 103: what you’re looking at

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

82 THE COURT OF LONDON what a scandal, what an excitement will there be in the fashionable world to-morrow when the explosion takes place! ”’ ‘“‘ But lady, dear lady,’’ interrupted the girl, “is all this risk that I have run to be in vain? Can you devise nothing, can you think of nothing to avert the impending ruin? ”’ “I do not see what can be done,’’ answered the almost distracted Editha. “‘ Even if I could get back unperceived into the house, the evidence is too strong against me. Those bills, those dreadful bills, and then Lady Lechmere’s unfor- tunate note! Oh, Gertrude, | am undone, I am undone! Ruin is inevitable, destruction is certain! ”’ “Yes, if you meet your misfortunes half-way, or sink down under them at once,” exclaimed Gertrude. ‘“ But, happen what will, your ladyship must not stay here another minute; for if the earl did come and find you in such a place, — pardon me the observation, — there would then be no hope nor chance of either explaining away existing circumstances or of eventual reconciliation.”’ “Then what would you advise?” asked the countess, with all the fluttering of painful excitement. ‘“‘ Whither shall I go? What asylum shall I seek? ’’ ‘“Come home, my lady, and dare it all,’’ rejoined Gertrude. “That is the best plan. Who knows what the chapter of accidents may turn up in your favour? But of course, if you once absent yourself from your home and the household knows it, then do you convict yourself beyond all redemp- tion. 7 “ But how, in the name of Heaven, are we to enter? ” demanded the countess. ‘“‘ Surely not by the same way that you ere now quitted the mansion? ”’ she said, with a hysterical laugh. ‘“‘ Your ladyship forgets,” said the abigail, “ that if nothing had happened you would have returned home between five and six in the morning, as on former occasions.’ “Yes, dressed in your apparel, my dear Gertrude,” exclaimed the countess, suddenly recollecting these matters which had been lost sight of in the poignancy of her alarm. ‘““ And I have the key of the area door with me— Oh, all this had slipped my memory.”’ ‘‘Hasten, my lady, and let us depart,’’ said Gertrude. ‘“ Come, time presses — ”’ CORNICE OOO KS (E(@)