The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 235: what you’re looking at

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

208 REYNOLDS’ WORKS to which real penury had ‘driven her, but for which the clothier experienced no sympathy because the case pre- sented not any features which he could turn into an available mode of puffery for himself and his emporium, — all these cases, coming thickly one upon the other, had filled the heart of Christina with mingled horror, astonishment, pity, and disgust. Therefore, even when her own peculiar feelings were overruled, she was kept riveted to the spot, a most painfully interested listener to a discourse which revealed the wrongs and sufferings of others. She now stepped forward, and was immediately confronted by Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel, who were turning away from the spot where they had been discoursing with their managing man. Though Christina was neatly dressed, and had not the slightest appearance of poverty about her, yet the clothier and his wife were so accustomed to receive applica- tions for work from respectable young women in reduced cir- cumstances that they at once anticipated the object of her visit. The next moment, however, they thought they must be wrong, for a second glance at Christina’s countenance showed that there was a flush of indignation upon it, mingled with as much abhorrence as it was in her delicate nature to display. They therefore awaited until she should explain her own business. ‘I should be obliged to you,’’ she said, “if you will give me the address of that poor widow woman of whom you have spoken, and I will at once hasten and furnish her with the means to set herself right toward you, so that you need not give her into custody.” The Jew and Jewess exchanged looks of rapid meaning with each other, and then the former, with an insolent air, exclaimed, ‘‘ I suppose, young miss, you have been listening to what passed? ”’ ‘And pray,’ demanded Mrs. Emanuel, ‘‘ what business have you to come sneaking into a place to play the eaves- dropper? ”’ Christina’s countenance became crimson; the flush of in- dignation previously upon it suddenly deepened into one of shame, as she was struck by her own imprudence in thus confessing that she had listened, but the avowal was inad- vertently made in the strong excitement of feelings under which she was labouring at the moment. CORNICLIOOKS (E()