The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 46: what you’re looking at

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

THE STUDY 27 she resolved to consider it as sacred. She had suddenly discovered that so far from her sire having lost his property, he was immensely rich, and more than ever, therefore, did she marvel why he should have left his own beautiful man- sion and pleasant little estate in the neighbourhood of Fon- tainebleau to bury himself in that gloomy old chateau on the outskirt of the Pyrenees. Other things likewise entered into the midst of Clarine’s thoughts, but with these we have nothing to do, at least for the present. Having sufficiently composed her countenance, the young lady returned to the drawing-room, where the piano-seller had just finished putting the instrument into proper tune. His account was paid, and he took his departure. Zoe and Clarine now took their turns to try the new purchase, and they were enraptured with it. It was truly a splendid in- strument, and they both brought out its fine tones with the grandest effect. They practised together for the greater por- tion of the rest of that day, but amidst the joy which Clarine experienced in possessing the coveted piano would come the recollection, saddening and sickening, of that look of inde- scribable anguish which had swept over her father’s features during her singular interview with him in the study. That interview had in a few moments given Clarine’s mind the experience of whole years; a veil seemed to have fallen from her eyes, and she was led to reflect upon things on which she had never reflected before. She now saw that there was some deep mystery connected with her parent, — a mystery for which not even the loss of a much-loved wife (as she supposed her mother to have been) could possibly ac- count. Then, what was it? Clarine was bewildered; there seemed no earthly clue to the solution of that mystery, and moreover it appeared to be her father’s resolve that, what- ever it were, the secret should die with him. The ladies separated a little after ten o’clock in the eve- ning, and sought their respective chambers. Zoe was on this occasion attended in her room by Rachel, for the maids took their turns to wait upon their mistress, and Honor had tended her ladyship in the morning. A glance at Rachel’s counte- nance showed Zoe that the girl was labouring under a sense of terror which she vainly endeavoured to conceal. At first Lady Octavian thought of leaving the circumstance un- noticed, in order to avoid a discourse upon superstitious CORnNICLOOOKS (CO)