The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 122: what you’re looking at

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

THE AVENGING HUSBAND 99 penniless will I go forth as a discarded and branded crea- ture.”’ The two maids threw themselves weeping at Eliza’s feet, conjuring her not to carry this resolve into execution, but she was firm, and in that very firmness she issued her com- mands in a voice that seemed more than decisive: it was even stern. The maids rose, and in profound silence gave her the things she asked for. When she was dressed for depar- ture, her looks softened toward them, and she said, in a tremu- lous voice, ‘‘ Your kindness, my dear girls, touches me deeply, for, oh, this is indeed a trial in the midst of which such kindness is to be felt. Farewell. Trouble not yourselves forme. Remain here until you are sought out and questions are put to you as to the mode of my departure. Then say that as I brought nothing with me of my own when the duke took me as a wife, so I bear nothing away with me. Tell him likewise that in my writing-desk he will find the papers to which I alluded in the letter just now sent him. And once again, farewell,”’ With these last words — and not trusting herself to fling another look upon the two weeping damsels — the duchess abruptly quitted the chamber. Seeking the private staircase, she descended it quickly, and passed out of the side door into the grounds. No one observed her egress, and the two maids remained together in the chamber, weeping bitterly at the mournful circumstances under which they were thus sud- denly deprived of a mistress whom they loved, and whose conduct had been uniformly kind toward them. Meanwhile Lord Clandon, as the reader will recollect, had returned to the apartment wherein the duke had locked himself, his nephew’s object now being to report that Mrs. Bailey had gone without the duchess, and to obtain further instructions. In about ten minutes Lord Clandon issued forth again, and summoning a footman, desired him to go and give immediate instructions to have the plain chariot gotten in readiness. He then ascended to the room which Eliza had so recently left, and knocked gently at the door. The summons was at once answered by Jane, down whose cheeks the tears of affliction were still flowing fast. ‘“‘ IT wish to speak a few words to her Grace,’ said Clandon, the expression of whose countenance was deeply mourn- ful. EORNICLIIOOKS (E(0)