The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 272: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAIDEN’S BRIDGE 243 ‘‘ It shall be done, miss,’’ answered the steward, with a respectful bow. Isabella now entered upon the bridge, and the steward pointed out to her where the handkerchief was found and where the piece of the dress was discovered fluttering. The young lady looked down shudderingly into the depth where the torrent, swollen by recent rains, was eddying and foam- ing, but she soon raised her eyes, for her brain grew dizzy. ‘You perceive, miss,” said the steward, indicating the contrary direction, ‘“‘ where the side of the dell rises into that eminence. There is a bridle path along there. It was much farther off from the edge some few years ago, but with the falling-in of the earth it is getting nearer and nearer. It was along that path I was coming when I caught sight of the two bodies — which, however, at first seemed only one object —in the depth below. You may observe where a stunted tree grows sloping out from the precipitous side of that eminence. A few yards on this side of the exact spot which it overhangs lay the corpses, which the force of the torrent had swept thither until the stones arrested their further progress. It is singular,’’ added the steward, with significantly sombre look, “‘ but there is a legend attached to this bridge, and your two relations, miss, formed the second pair who were found in that very spot, the female with her arms clasped tight around the neck of her male companion, and hence the name of the Maiden’s Bridge.”’ ‘“Indeed, this is singular!’’ said Isabella, a thousand circumstances connected with the deceased Adolphus and Ethel rushing in unto her memory. “I never heard that legend; have the goodness to recite it while we slowly pursue our walk on the other side of this bridge, for my brain feels dizzy while I stand here.’’ ‘‘ And by crossing the bridge, miss,’”’ rejoined the steward, ‘you will behold the very cottages with which the legend is likewise associated.”’ The steward then proceeded to tell the tale which is already known to the reader, and if he did not embellish it with such poetic language as that which Adolphus had used when reciting the tale to Ethel, he nevertheless preserved all the facts, so that Isabella listened with a profound attention. By the time the narrative was finished, they reached the vicinity of the cottages, and the steward re- GOMIIGdOGC SS) (S©)