The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 66: what you’re looking at

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

CHRISTINA’S ADVENTURES 47 unable, in a word, to bear up against the effects of this series of incidents through which she was hurried, — she mechanically abandoned herself to the care of the two servant-maids, and was conducted into a house which she had not been enabled to recognize on account of the dimness which came over her vision. Such too was the confusion of her thoughts that though she had recognized the voice of Jessie Giles, and knew it to be a friendly one, it did not at the instant strike her where she had known the girl before; but when placed upon a sofa in a handsomely fur- nished room, when wine and water was proffered her, and the two domestics were doing all they could to revive her from that listless condition which bordered so closely upon unconsciousness, a light suddenly flashed into the mind of our heroine. She knew where she was. The apartment was indeed familar enough to her; it was one of the elegantly furnished parlours of Lord Octavian Meredith’s residence. Then naturally enough the idea smote her that it was he who had caused her to be carried off, and shocked as well as horrified by the belief of such tremendous perfidy, she burst into tears. ‘“‘ Let me go hence! let me depart! ”’ she the next moment exclaimed, dashing away those tears, and becoming violently excited with mingled alarm and indignation. ‘‘ Your vile master shall not keep me here,’ and she rushed to the door. ‘For Heaven’s sake, Miss Ashton, compose yourself! ”’ said Jessie Giles, springing after her. ‘‘ You are mistaken. It is his lordship who rescued you, and his carriage is ordered to wait to convey you home, wherever it may be.’’ Now another revulsion of feelings took place in the bosom of Christina, and she comprehended in a moment all the strength of the insulting suspicion to which she had given way toward Lord Octavian Meredith. She sank upon a seat, and, pressing her hand to her brow, burst into another flood of tears. : ‘“ Do pray compose yourself, miss,’’ repeated Jessie. ‘‘ You must know that you are in safety here. But it is natural you should be frightened, for from what little his lordship said to us when the carriage stopped at the front door, you have been outrageously treated. Indeed, it was very for- tunate our coachman had taken a drop too much and run COnnicloookKks (CO)