The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 349: what you’re looking at

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

318 REYNOLDS’ WORKS ‘As soon place a viper there,’ ejaculated Amy Sutton. “ But I was about to tell you that I have nothing, and can have nothing —save my present hope of vengeance — which binds me to life. When that is accomplished, I shall be ready to die, or in the accomplishment of it I may engulf myself.” ‘“ But have you no relatives,” asked Christian, infinitely pained as well as shocked by the language that flowed from the lips of the unfortunate young woman, — “ have you no relatives who could be kind to you now, and who would have to deplore your fate if by your own madness —”’ ‘I have one relative whom I loved, — yes, still love,” responded Amy, in a mourniful tone, — ‘‘ a very near one, — a sister, but she is likewise fallen.”’ ‘By treachery also?’”’ asked Christian. “No, by her own wantonness and weakness,” rejoined Amy. “I will tell you a brief narrative. We two sisters were left orphans at a somewhat early age; an aunt took charge of Marion, another aunt took charge of me. The aunt who adopted Marion was the richer of the two relatives, and she gave Marion an education fitting for the position of a lady. The aunt who took charge of me brought me up to a genteel servitude — namely, the position of a lady’s- maid. This aunt died when I was between fifteen and six- teen; I went into service, and have ever since earned my bread by mine own honest industry. My aunt taught me thrift, and I have been thrifty, or else 1 should not now possess the means of retiring awhile from the world, for not one single coin of the gold that the villain Marchmont offered as a recompense for his foul treachery did I accept. But I was about to speak of Marion. It would be difficult to conceive a more lovely creature; she is indeed exquisitely beautiful, and her beauty has proved her ruin. Two years ago the aunt who had adopted her died suddenly, and the property which she intended Marion to inherit was swept away into the possession of strangers, through some in- formality in the will of the deceased. I recommended Marion to obtain a situation as a governess, for which her accomplishments fitted her. She went into a family in that capacity, but in a short time she became the victim of a seducer. This was the Earl of Beltinge, and with him she lived until very recently. I thought all the while — ) ECORNICLIOO KS (E(0)