The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 276: what you’re looking at

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

THE MAIDEN’S BRIDGE 247 having watched and listened. And then, too, as my hus- band says, since the coroner’s inquest made it all look as if it was an accident, where was the good of giving a worse colour to it before the world? But when you came in just now, miss, and spoke so kind to me, I could not resist the opportunity of telling you, and my mind is relieved. But I hope you are not angry? ”’ “Tl am not angry, I have no right to be,’’ interrupted Isabella. ‘“‘ After all, it is fortunate that you have kept the secret, for you have saved the honour of my two relatives.”’ The woman fully understood Isabella’s meaning; she saw that the young lady alluded not merely to the disgrace that would affix itself to the memory of the late countess if it were revealed to the world that by the same act she had rendered herself a murderess and a suicide, but that Miss Vincent’s remark likewise pointed to the unquestionable fact that a criminal intimacy must have subsisted between that suicide murderess and her victim. ‘“T am glad that your mind is easier,’’ continued Isabella, “and I hope that now it is lightened of its load you will soon get well. Do not vex yourself any more upon the subject; keep the seal of silence still upon your lips. You need not even mention to your husband that you have made this revelation to me.”’ The poor woman thanked Miss Vincent for her kindness, and the young lady took her departure from the cottage, attended by the steward. The latter saw by the countenance of his mistress that something had occurred to horrify and sadden her, but he dared not put a question. The Maiden’s Bridge was reached; Isabella traversed it quickly, with but one shuddering look into the foaming, eddying water below, and when the opposite side of the ravine was gained, she said to the steward, in a low voice that was full of a solemn awe, ‘‘ The mystery exists no longer; it is cleared up. But it was neither an accident nor a double suicide.” She then proceeded to relate all that she had heard from the lips of the invalid peasant woman, and the steward lis- tened with a dismayed interest. Isabella thought that she was bound thus to make him a confidant in respect to the fate of her relatives, after the generosity he had displayed in endeavouring to save the honour of the family name to the utmost of his power. i) COnnICLOOOKS (S©)