The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 67: what you’re looking at

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

48 REYNOLDS’ WORKS against the cab, or else you might not have been delivered from the hands of those people.” ‘““T hope you will not repeat to his lordship,”’ said Christina, earnestly, ‘‘ the words which I uttered. I was half-wild — I gave vent to anything which came into my head — ”’ ‘Here is his lordship,’ said Jessie, and she at once withdrew from the apartment, followed by her fellow servant. It was simply from motives of respect that the women retired, for they had not the faintest idea that Christina would not for worlds have thus found herself alone with their master. She had not the power to stop those women; she was shocked at the thought of the insulting suspicion to which she had abandoned herself, and which contrasted so strikingly with the sense of gratitude which on the other hand she ought to have felt toward her deliverer. She could not even rise from her seat as Meredith advanced toward her, and in the gentlest tones of his musical voice inquired if she felt better? It was a perfect consternation of bewilder- ment that was upon her, — a distressing sense of confused thoughts, and with an utter uncertainty what she ought to say or how she ought to act. But one word of explanation ere we pursue the thread of our narrative. Meredith, who was returning home in his carriage when the collision took place, — he having been dining at his club, — thrust his head out of the window to put an end to the altercation by telling the cabman who he was and ordering his coachman at once to drive on. Then was heard the sound of the crashing glass of the cab window, instantaneously followed by a shriek, and Meredith, convinced there was something wrong, — though little expecting to meet Christina,—sprang forth from the carriage. Several persons collected upon the spot, and Madame Angelique told them from the window that she was a tradeswoman of respectability, and that she was merely taking home a runaway apprentice. She thought the lie would serve her, as Christina had fainted and therefore could not contradict it. But Meredith insisted on investiga- ting the matter further; he tore open the cab door, he recognized Christina, and an ejaculation of amazement burst from his lips. To take her in his arms and bear her to his own carriage was the work of the next few moments, during CORNICLIOOKS (E(0)