The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 141: what you’re looking at

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

118 REYNOLDS’ WORKS formers are displaying. It is quite entertaining. I feel as if I were a child once more, and could enter into the spirit of them.”’ Then stooping her head toward Laura’s ear, she added, ‘“‘ Come, my dear girl, do cheer up a little, shake off this dreadful despondency. You know that I have nothing but your best interests at heart.” ‘“‘ My best interests? ’’ said the young maiden, looking up with an air so woebegone that it would have melted any heart save one of hardest flint. ‘Yes, to be sure,’’ whispered Mrs. Oxenden, hastily and also petulantly. ‘‘ Am I to explain it to you all over and over again? But come, my dear Laura, go out for a few minutes on the balcony; the fresh air will do you good, and the feats of these men will divert you.” Thus speaking, Mrs. Oxenden took her young sister’s hand, and led her toward the window; for Laura had relapsed into a, state of deepest dejection, so that she suffered herself to be guided as if she were an automaton. She passed out upon the baleony, and Mrs. Oxenden remained with her for a few minutes. At first Laura contemplated the mountebanks in a kind of listless, vacant manner, but by degrees her eyes seemed to display more interest in their proceedings; and Mrs. Oxenden, believing that she was really cheered, returned into the drawing-room to impart this intelligence to the old baronet. The truth was that Laura did experience just that small amount of interest which a mind, sunk deep in lethargic despondency, was calculated to feel at any trifling circum- stance that might break in upon the deeply mournful monot- ony of her thoughts. And yet it was rather the eye than the mind that was thus attracted, for while the poor young lady followed with her looks the exploits of the itinerants, ~ her soul still continued brooding on the afflictions which haunted it. But she was now alone upon the balcony. The wind blew sharp from the northeast, though the sun was shining brightly, and she drew around her the shawl which her sister had thrown over her shoulders ere conducting her out upon that balcony. One of the mountebanks came close under ‘the window, and suddenly drew forth something from the ‘breast of his party-coloured jacket. Laura observed the action, but considered it to be some part of the perform- ance. | ECORNICLIOO KS m