The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 27: what you’re looking at

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

10 REYNOLDS’ WORKS with passion upon her countenance, but with a passion most sensuously different from that which his words ap- peared to express. ‘“‘T believe you, oh, I believe you!” exclaimed Finette. “Tt will take me an hour to complete my little prepara- tions.” “And then you will rejoin me?” cried De Margaux. ‘“ And where is there a better spot for our next meeting than this very one where we have been so happily brought together? I will await you here, Finette. Need I hint, dearest girl, at the necessity of observing the utmost cau- tion? You will not breathe a syllable to a soul.” “Oh, rest assured,’”’ exclaimed the young damsel, “ that all my precautions shall be taken with the most careful regard as to the result. And now farewell for the present. You will be sure to meet me here —”’ ‘‘ And you, Finette, will be sure to come?” “ Within the hour that is passing,’ she rejoined, and giving him her hand for a moment, she glided away from his presence. Finette issued from the wood, and sped back into the town. On arriving at her uncle’s house, she found her father sitting in a gloomy mood in the parlour, up-stairs, above the shop. | ‘Where have you been, Finette? ”’ he angrily demanded, for through vexation and disappointment all his irritable feelings had suddenly revived against his daughter. “I will not have you wandering about by yourself; you will get into mischief, and even worse things will happen to you than what has already taken place.” “No, father, never! ’’ exclaimed Finette, vehemently. ‘“‘ Then if you mean to keep yourself steady and respectable for the future,’’ continued her sire, “‘ you would do well to look out for some employment or else for a situation. I cannot keep you in idleness. I mean to take a situation myself, however humble it may be, for I will not live as a burden upon your uncle, who seems to grudge us every morsel of food we put into our mouths. Oh, Finette, you have been my ruin! ”’ | “Say not so, father. And yet it is too true. Relative to that shop which: you thought of taking — ”’ | ‘““Nonsense, the shop!” vociferated the ex-turnkey. GOomiuicdoc <S (E()