The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 282: what you’re looking at

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

STRUGGLES 251 to you for the intelligence you have given me and the kind wishes you have expressed.”’ Christina hastened up to her own chamber, put on the best apparel which she could command, and descended to Mrs. Giles’s room again, to inquire the address to which she was to proceed. The landlady had already written it down for her, and Christina, with renewed thanks, issued forth from the house. As she entered the Regent’s Park, she suddenly recollected the insulting conduct she had experi- enced on a former occasion, and she almost repented that she had not awaited her brother’s return to escort her. But then, what happiness would it be for her if, when he came back to the lodging, she should be enabled to give him the assurance that thenceforth they would both have bread. The idea of separation was the only drawback to the happi- ness which Christina felt she should experience if her present mission proved successful, but still she argued with herself that when persons are enmeshed in difficulties, it is almost invariably necessary to make certain sacrifices in order to escape from them. Thus reflecting, she continued her way, she crossed the Regent’s Park without experiencing any fresh insult, and she at length knocked at the door of a house, of very genteel appearance, though not of very spacious dimensions. To her inquiry whether Lady Octavian Meredith was at home and could be seen at such an early hour in the fore- noon, she received an affirmative response, and was at once conducted to a parlour where Zoe, in a morning déshabillé, _ was seated upon a sofa. Christina was already prepossessed, by what Mrs. Giles had said, in favour of Lady Octavian Meredith, but her good opinion was enhanced at the very first glance which she flung upon Mr. Armytage’s daughter. It was not so much that the exquisite beauty of Zoe inter- ested the young girl, as that the goodness and sweetness depicted on Lady Octavian Meredith’s lovely countenance were well calculated to inspire confidence and hope. The dark velvet covering of the sofa threw out Zoe’s form in admirable relief, arrayed as it was in a light morning garb; her hair, without any ornament, showered in ringlets upon her shoulders, and it was with a gracious encouraging smile that Zoe, on learning Christina’s business, bade her sit down. Lady Octavian Meredith herself was struck with the extraor- ¢om (@) 1LOVOKOL KS (E(0)