The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

116 REYNOLDS’ WORKS completely concealed by a screen of trees from the win- dows of Queen Indora’s habitation. In a few minutes he beheld the white dress of Sagoonah at a short distance; at first she approached rapidly, but when within a few yards of him, she relaxed her pace and seemed to be smitten with confusion and timidity. ‘““What have you to fear, Sagoonah?”’ asked Mr. Red- cliffe. ‘“‘ Why is your manner thus strange? Draw near, and tell me for what purpose you besought this interview, and what important communication you may have to make to me?”’ ‘“‘T know not, sir,” responded Sagoonah, in a low, soft, tremulous voice, ‘‘ whether to sink down at your feet and speak as a slave, or whether to look you in the ein and with the dignity of a woman address you.’ ‘‘-These are strange words,” said Mr. Redcliffe, gazing in- tently upon the ayah in the hope of fathoming her purpose by the expression of her countenance. ‘‘ You speak of slavery; there is none in this country, — at least not that species of slavery that you are thinking of. Even if there were, I should not claim such homage from you — ’”’ “Ah! but, sir,’’ interrupted Sagoonah, ‘if there be no slavery that is enacted or confirmed by law, there may never- theless be a slavery in which the feelings or the passions enthral the individual.” ‘What mean you, Sagoonah?”’ ejaculated Mr. Redcliffe, who now appeared to catch a slight scintillation of the real truth; but the next instant he repudiated the suspicion from his mind as something preposterous or impossible. “ What mean you?” he repeated. The ayah advanced a little nearer toward him; there was a moment’s flashing of her brilliant, burning eyes, and then the next instant they were curtained by her ebon lashes, and her looks were downcast. For a moment too it appeared as if she were really about to assert that womanly dignity of which she had spoken, but that as if she found it impossible to be maintained against the influence of other and softer feelings which were agitating within her. ‘““ Mr. Redcliffe,” she said, in a voice that was again trem- ulous, ‘‘ I would fain consult you upon a point which closely and intimately concerns my happiness.” “But why not consult your kind-hearted mistress? ” CORNIClIIOOKS (E(0) im