The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 347: what you’re looking at

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

316 REYNOLDS’ WORKS revenge she contemplated was all the more certain to be sooner or later wreaked. But it was not the sense of her wrongs which solely engaged her thoughts; she had to deplore the fall of a sister more beauteous than even she herself was, and whom she had loved as tenderly as her cold disposition would permit her to love at all. She had in the morning of that day received a letter from her sister, and the contents thereof entwined themselves with the reflections that she was pur- suing in regard to her own position. The farmer’s widow was no relation to Amy Sutton, but they had become acquainted by some means which it is not worth while pausing to describe; and when Amy had found that the time was approaching when she could no longer be able to conceal her position from the world, she bethought herself of Mrs. Willis as a woman in whom she could confide, and of her rural habitation as a place where she might bring forth in seclusion the offspring of her shame and dishonour. For in such a light does society regard the illegitimately born, although the mother may have been guiltless of wanton frailty, and merely the victim of foulest treachery, as was the case with poor Amy Sutton. It was in the afternoon, as we have said, that she was sitting in the little parlour at the cottage when her ear caught the sound of footsteps approaching through the garden, and raising her eyes, she beheld Christian Ashton. Her first impulse was to order the servant-girl to deny her to the young gentleman, for be it recollected that when they were travelling together, she had not revealed to him the full extent of the misery entailed upon her by the Duke of Marchmont’s black criminality. But a second thought determined her to see him. He was already acquainted with nearly everything that regarded her, and of what avail to keep back the rest? Besides, in her solitude she could welcome him as an old acquaintance — almost as a friend; she knew him to be a youth of the strictest probity and honour, and there is no sorrow so desperate but that it may derive a balm, however slight and however evanescent in its effect, from friendly companionship. Christian was accordingly introduced, and with that air of frank kindness which was natural to him, he proffered his hand, saying, ‘“‘ I would not pass by this neighbourhood, ECORNICLIOO KS (E()