The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 383: what you’re looking at

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

300 THE COURT OF LONDON the young nobleman came home, they were married, and at the present moment they are as happy as the day is long.”’ ‘And what became of the child?” asked Agatha, with no mere passing interest in the question, because the subject came very nearly and somewhat painfully home to her own feelings. : ‘““Oh, the child,” observed Mrs. Ranger, carelessly. ‘A gipsy-woman consented to adopt it on condition of receiving fifty pounds.” ‘Good heavens! ”’ ejaculated Miss Owen, with a shudder, which now arose from a tremor at the heart’s core, and not from the influence of the night air, “is it possible that the young mother could have shown such heartlessness? ”’ ‘“ Where was the alternative, my dear?’ asked Mrs. Ranger, with all the cool unconcern of one who was hardened in iniquity. “‘ It was not likely that I, as the young lady’s adviser and confidante, should have allowed a chance of that child sooner or later discovering the secret of its birth, and becoming 1 in the hands of sits hina > persons a means of extortion.” ‘“‘ But in this present case, my dear madam,”’ said Agatha, erasping Mrs. Ranger with convulsive violence by the arm, as they continued their way along the lonely road, “‘ in this present case — ”’ “What do you mean?—in your case?” asked Mrs. Ranger. ‘‘ There, I nearly slipped over a stone! Dear me, what a wretched road! But look, Agatha, from this point how beautiful appears the lake at a distance! Does 1t not seem like an inland sea? ”’ | ‘““ My dear Mrs. Ranger,” cried the young lady, ‘“‘ do for Heaven’s sake talk to me upon the subject that is now upper- most in my thoughts! Pray do not show such callousness. I am entirely in your hands, entirely at your mercy. I have submitted to your advice in all things.” ‘“ Well, my love, and have I not given you the best possible counsel? Here you are, near the end of your eighth month, and your appearance is such as to preclude the possibility of suspicion. Besides myself and your sister Emma, not a soul is acquainted with your secret.’’ ‘Yes, Julia has discovered it,’’ observed Agatha. “Well, I suppose it was your own fault,’”’ exclaimed Mrs. ) Gomicbooks (E(@)