The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 255: what you’re looking at

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

226 REYNOLDS’ WORKS recovery of your rights. But if you did know it, you would not offer me, or at least you ought not to offer me those miserable silver coins when your purse contains so much gold.” ‘“ Who can you possibly be,” asked Christina, in aston- ishment, ‘‘ that you in any way contributed to the results of which you have spoken? Show me that you really did what you proclaim — ”’ ‘‘ Ah, I spoke foolishly,’’ ejaculated the woman; “ it is not for me to tell you who I am. But by my appearance you can judge enough,” she continued, with deep, concen- trated bitterness, ‘ to understand that I am not amongst the fortunate ones of this life. For months past I have en- dured sufficient misery to crush the very life out of me, — _ a misery so great that if its amount were divided amongst a dozen different people the proportion would still be intoler- able for each. How often think you, young lady, that within those months of which I am speaking I have closed my eyes in rest beneath a sheltering roof? How often think you that I have sunk down exhausted beneath hedges or haystacks, or dragged myself painfully through fields or along roads the livelong night? And during the whole winter how much frightful wretchedness do you think has been mine? But no matter. You rich and great ones think little of the sufferings of your fellow creatures.” ‘This is not altogether true,’’ answered Christina, gently and compassionately. ‘‘I can without the imputation of vanity or unmerited self-applause declare that never has either my brother or myself become aware of a case of dis- tress without alleviating it.”’ ‘Then give me that gold.’ cried the woman, sharply, — ‘that gold which is in your purse! You never knew a case of distress so bitter as mine! Give me the gold, I say, or, by heaven, I will take it from you)” Christina all in an instant recovered that spirit which was natural to her, and as there was now a look of hardened effrontery and menace in the countenance of the woman, our young heroine was determined not to yield to intimidation. ‘T will not give you this gold,” she responded. “ Take, if you will, the silver that I have proffered you for your im- mediate necessities, come to Oaklands in the course of the day, convince my brother and myself that you have upon us" CORNIELIOOLKS (E()