The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 213: what you’re looking at

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

186 REYNOLDS’ WORKS arrangements with Mrs. Giles, and they began to pack up their things for the purpose of removing that very same evening. It was about nine o’clock, their boxes were all in readiness, and a cab was at the door to receive the luggage and bear the orphans away to their new and much humbler home. They flung a last look around the apartments which they were now quitting, to assure themselves that they were leaving nothing of their own behind, and as their eyes met, a sentiment of sadness simultaneously smote them both, — an identity of feeling to the effect that it seemed as if they were suddenly going down in the world, or, at all events, that the battle of life was now about to commence. But they embraced each other, and again were they cheered by that profound fondness which inspired mutual trustfulness and reliance, and hand in hand they issued forth from the sitting- room. They descended the stairs, and just as they reached the landing of the first floor, the door of the front apartment opened, and Mr. Redcliffe, enveloped in his cloak, and with his hat on his head, appeared upon the threshold, he being about to go forth. His dark eyes were at once riveted upon the brother and sister, and there was something about them which immediately inspired him with a strong interest on their behalf. ‘““T presume,” he said, “‘ that you are my fellow lodgers, of whom the landlady spoke to me this morning in such pleasing terms? ”’ Christian answered to the effect that he and his sister had hitherto lodged in the house, but that now they were about to remove elsewhere. | ‘‘ Indeed! ”’ said Mr. Redcliffe, in a melancholy tone. ‘“ I am sorry for that. It would have pleased me to form your acquaintance. ”’ But having thus spoken, he bowed, and hurrying abruptly down the stairs, issued forth from the house. Yet the bow was one of well-bred courtesy, accompanied by a melancholy smile, and with a look plainly showing the interest which even in a few swift brief minutes had been inspired in him by the appearance of the twins. ‘He is a strange man, a very strange man,” said Mrs. Macaulay, who, standing at the foot of the stairs at the time to bid the orphans good-bye, had overheard what just passed. ECORNIClIOO KS (E(0)