The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 360: what you’re looking at

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

AMY 329 and that she will be punished for that and other offences which have come to his knowledge.’’ The vehicle now stopped at Mrs. Macaulay’s house, and that female herself came forth to welcome Christina. “Dear me, Miss Ashton,’’ exclaimed the garrulous land- lady, ‘‘ how wonderfully you have improved since last I saw you! I was telling your brother yesterday that he too had improved, but really in respect to yourself —”’ ‘““My dear Mrs. Macaulay,” said Christina, smiling and blushing, ‘“‘ you are pleased to compliment me, but I can assure you —”’ ‘Oh, no compliment at all,” interjected the garrulous landlady, ‘‘ you are the most beautiful creature that ever honoured the threshold of my house by crossing it. Ah! and there is that odious Mrs. Sifkin looking out of her parlour window and she will be ready to eat her own head off with spite at seeing such an elegant young gentleman and such a charming young lady entering at my door.” ‘Rather an impossible feat for Mrs. Sifkin to perform, is it not, Mrs. Macaulay?” observed Christian, smiling good-naturedly, ‘‘ and certainly one far transcending the importance of the occasion.” “Oh, you know not the spite of that odious woman,” exclaimed Mrs. Macaulay. ‘‘It was but the other day she told Mrs. Bunkley, which does my mangling— Ah! I forgot,’ ejaculated the worthy woman, suddenly in- terrupting herself, ‘“‘ I have such news for you! Only look here, in yesterday’s paper, amongst the list of bankrupts — Mr. Samuel Emmanuel of the great clothing emporium. Gone all to smashes, and serve him right. That great, coarse, vulgar-looking wife of his won’t be hung with massive gold chains any more, like a turkey with sausages at Christ- mas. But I see that you are in a hurry, and Mr. Redcliffe is walting anxiously for you both.” Mrs. Macaulay — who had hitherto barred the way in the passage that she might indulge in her garrulous propensities and have this little chat with the twins — now stepped aside, and they were enabled to pass her. They ascended to Mr. Redcliffe’s sitting-apartment, where Christina experienced the kindest welcome from that gentleman. After a little conversation Mr. Redcliffe inquired whether she had brought with her those memorials of her long deceased mother EOMINGIOOKS (CO)