The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 142: what you’re looking at

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

THE MOUNTEBANK 119 ‘““One word!” said the mountebank, “‘ one word! Quick, young lady! — are you Miss Hall? ”’ “Yes, that is my name,”’ was Laura’s hasty response, for she instantaneously perceived there was something significant in the man’s proceedings; and to one in her desperate posi- tion the veriest trifle appeared like a straw of hope floating past and to be clutched at by her hand. “This note,’’.rejoined the mountebank, “ take it quick! It is from Mr. Beverley. We will return to perform again to-morrow at the same hour, and you can then give me the answer.” It were impossible to describe the wild feelings of joy which thrilled through the frame of the beauteous young maiden as these words reached her ear. She trembled with those emotions for a few instants; she was bewildered with a sense of relief, hope, and happiness. The mountebank made an impatient gesture; the young lady, recalled thereby to her self-possession, flung a rapid glance behind her into the drawing-room, and perceiving that her sister and the old baronet were in earnest conversation together, she took the note from the hand of the friendly performer. The next in- stant he was dancing and capering away on the top of his stilts with greater elasticity than ever, and in the effusion of his joy at having so successfully executed his commission, he bestowed (with one of the stilts aforesaid) so hearty a thwack across Raggidbak’s shoulders that the mouth-organ for an instant sent forth a peculiar sound which seemed to be com- posed of a yell and a growl. Laura had thrust the note into the bosom of her dress, and then she exerted all her powers to avoid the outward betrayal of her feelings that were now so different from those which a few minutes back she had experienced. Mrs. Oxenden re- turned to the balcony, and said, ‘“‘ You are diverted, Laura? ”’ “ Yes,” replied the young lady, scarcely able to repress a gush of emotions, ‘“‘ more, much more than I could possibly have anticipated.”’ ““T am glad of it,” said Mrs. Oxenden. ‘“ We will have these men again to-morrow.” Laura was about to give expression to a joyous affirmative, when she was struck by the imprudence of displaying too much interest in these proceedings, and she accordingly held her peace. Her sister called one of the itinerants toward EGOMINIGIOOKS (CO)