He then returned to
the kitchen, in which the unhappy woman remained, her hands still
clenched, her eyes fixed, and her limbs extended, like those of a
person in a trance. Much moved by her situation, and with the prospect
which lay before her, he endeavoured to awaken her to existence by
every means in his power, and at length apparently succeeded in
dispelling her stupor, and attracting her attention. He then explained
to her that he was in the act of leaving Whitefriars in a few hours--
that his future destination was uncertain, but that he desired
anxiously to know whether he could contribute to her protection by
apprizing any friend of her situation, or otherwise. With some
difficulty she seemed to comprehend his meaning, and thanked him with
her usual short ungracious manner. "He might mean well," she said,
"but he ought to know that the miserable had no friends."
Nigel said, "He would not willingly be importunate, but, as he was
about to leave the Friars--" She interrupted him--
"You are about to leave the Friars? I will go with you."
"You go with me!" exclaimed Lord Glenvarloch.
"Yes," she said, "I will persuade my father to leave this murdering
den." But, as she spoke, the more perfect recollection of what had
passed crowded on her mind. She hid her face in her hands, and burst
out into a dreadful fit of sobs, moans, and lamentations, which
terminated in hysterics, violent in proportion to the uncommon
strength of her body and mind.
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