The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 203: what you’re looking at

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

178 REYNOLDS’ WORKS from all suspense, and would have the joyous consciousness that his innocence would be triumphantly made apparent to the whole world. © The discourse of Queen Indora and the twins was inter- rupted by the entrance of Purvis, the faithful old steward, who eame as the bearer of a special request to him whom he now for the first time saluted as Duke of Marchmont. “My lord,” he said, in a voice tremulous with emotion, ‘permit an old man who liked and loved you when little dreaming who you really were to offer his felicitations on your attainment of your just rights. And in you, lady,” continued Purvis, turning toward Christina, sei | sis 59%, a resemblance to your poor mother.”’ The steward, the queen, and the twins were all much affected, and the two latter grasped the old man by the hand. ‘““T come,” said Purvis, after a pause, during which he to a certain extent regained his _Seli-possession, ‘with a mes- sage from that dying man. _“ Tf he wish to see me;”’ said Christian, ‘““T will go to him. If he be penitent, truly and sincerely penitent, I will not refuse him my forgiveness, although he took my father’s life.”’ | ‘¢ And your ladyship,”’ said the old steward, again adddee ing himself to Christina, ‘‘ will you accompany my lord your brother, for the dying man alee the eta of. it both? ”’ “Yes, I will go,” replied our generous-hearted hoteles Queen Indora glanced approvingly on the twins, and they issued from the room, followed by Purvis. They ascended the staircase; they paused for a moment at the door of the chamber in which lay the dying nobleman, and in the sym- pathetic unison of their hearts they exchanged looks which were as much as to imply that they both felt the necessity of conquering all repugnances as much as possible, in order that they might smooth the pillow of the dying penitent. Purvis gently opened the door, and the twins entered. By the couch knelt Lavinia, her face resting upon her hands, and by her side knelt the village clergyman. The physician was standing close by the head of the bed, with a solemn expression of countenance, for though accustomed to look upon death-scenes, yet this one was attended with circum- GOMiGcsdooks (E(@)