The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 275: what you’re looking at

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

248 REYNOLDS’ WORKS that she would relapse into the dark, sombre mood that would prompt her to demand the sacrifice of himself. ‘‘ After so pretty a compliment to my powers as a legend- teller,” he said, smiling, — ‘‘a compliment which, though implied rather than pointedly uttered, I am vain enough to take unto myself, —I cannot delay the tale you are so anxious to hear. You have visited the dell before? If it were in Scotland, or in any wilder district than this, it would be called a ravine. Deep and rapid is the stream that runs at the bottom, and for several feet upward above the turbid bosom of the water the sides are perfectly escarped. Do you remember all this, Ethel? ”’ “Yes, I think so,” she answered, ‘‘ but my recollection of the place is by no means strong, though it is barely eight- een months since I visited it.”’ ‘You will presently find my description accurate,”’ con- tinued Adolphus. ‘“ But is it not singular that over the most dangerous of places there should be the most dangerous of bridges? ”’ ‘‘ The bridge is so little used, doubtless,’ suggested Ethel, ‘that it has not been thought worth while to form a larger and a safer one.”’ ‘“ And yet with all the improvements,” said Adolphus, ‘that have been made upon the estate by the late earl and his father before him, is it not astonishing that they should have left that vile old crazy wooden bridge? I vow, Ethel, that to-morrow I will give orders for a new one.”’ ‘‘ And perhaps spoil the wild picturesque beauty of the scene,’ added the countess, “‘ or at all events destroy the interest of the Maiden’s Legend.’ “But conceive, Ethel, a bridge not more than a yard wide, and with only a rail on one side, so that if some un- fortunate creature in a tipsy state, or suddenly seized with giddiness, should be passing over, down he must go, full fifty feet, into the stream beneath, and nothing could save him! For, as I have told you, the sides are all escarped.”’ ‘‘ It is indeed dangerous,’ observed Ethel, ‘‘ and perhaps you would do well— But, come, it will be time enough to think of a new bridge to-morrow. For the present let me have the legend.”’ ‘“‘ A legend, by rights,’’ resumed Adolphus, again smiling, ‘“ ought to go back for at least two or three hundred years, ECORNICLIOO KS m