The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 140: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XII CONTINUATION OF LADY BESS’S HISTORY “I TooK up my quarters at a hotel, and reflected upon what course I should now pursue. I learned on inquiry that there would be no steam-packet for Southampton for the next two days; but even if there were, and if by parting with some of my clothes I could raise money enough to pay my fare, what was the use of presenting myself in a pauperized condition to my poor brother? I knew that he had no funds wherewith to assist me, and, moreover, I shrank from the idea of afflicting him by an account of my misfortunes. What was I to do? My position was most embarrassing. I did not, however, suffer myself to be completely cast down. The same spirit which had animated me in dealing with the petty tyrants of the family which I had so recently left inspired me now with courage to meet my misfortunes. At first I thought of writing at once to Sir John Marston, telling him how I was situated and requesting his pecuniary assist- ance. But when I reflected on the independent manner in which I had left him, my soul recoiled from the idea of such self-humiliation. The only course open to me appeared to be that of obtaining a situation as a governess, and this I thought would not be so very difficult, as there were many English residents in Havre, as well as respectable French tradesmen, who knew that I had been a year with Sir John Marston’s family. I accordingly set about instituting immediate inquiries. The robbery of the diligence was of course generally known in Havre, and it being likewise , known that I was one of the victims, my position excited some degree of sympathy. ‘An English lady, named Knight, who had recently been left a widow, and had several children, was staying at Havre 117 CORNICLOOOKS (EO)