The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 80: what you’re looking at

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

THE PRECIPICE 61 Here Mademoiselle Volney paused for a few minutes, during which she reflected profoundly, and then she con- tinued in the following strain: ‘It was on the day after that conversation, as I have just said, that I came forth to take my usual exercise. I brought a book with me, and I roamed in this direction. The book that I brought was one I had purchased on the previous day in the village. It was Lamartine’s “ Jocelyn,’’ — a beautiful poem, characterized by the most touching pathos as well as interspersed with descriptions of mountain scenery that at times enchant and at others overawe the soul. I became so deeply interested in the volume as I walked along that I per- ceived not the frightful peril toward which I was advancing. All of a sudden — while my eyes were riveted upon the book, and I had no thought for anything besides its absorbing, riveting interest — I was startled by a loud cry warning me of danger. But it was too late, or, rather, perhaps the cry itself accelerated the mischief which it strove to prevent, for bounding forwards with the sudden impression that some peril threatened me from behind, I fell over that precipice.’’ “Good heavens, Clarine!’’ ejaculated Lady Octavian, horrified at the bare idea. “Yes, it is all too true,’”’ continued Mademoiselle Volney. ‘“‘ T had advanced toward a spot where the railing was broken away; it has since been repaired. I fell over, but the out- stretching trunk of a tree growing forth from the side of the chasm caught me about a dozen feet below the edge. You may conceive the wild terror that filled my brain as, hanging over the trunk of that tree, I looked down into the fearful gulf, along the depth of which a stream was eddying and foaming. But succour was nigh. He whose well-meant warning had pealed upon my ear lowered himself down by means of the roots growing out of the side of the precipice. I remember that as I looked up and saw him hanging above me, sustained only by those frail and. uncertain means of support, the dizziness which had before prevailed in my brain amounted to a torturing frenzy. I did not immediately faint, but I have lost the recollection of the precise means that were adopted by my deliverer to save me, and himself too, from our perilous position. I however recollect that when at length safe on the firm land above, I fell into a swoon. Onslowly coming back to consciousness, I found my EOMINIGIOOKS (CO)