Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 139: what you’re looking at

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

126 ANGELINA; OR, in my power to accede to your wishes, bat as it is not, nay, more, as you wonld save yeoreeif and me frow fetere misery, promise me that yen will andeavopr to conquer your cafortunate passion, asd that you will give no further encousagement te the advances of Hagh Ciifford.” , $¢ was sqme minutes before Angelina conld make any reply to these ebser- vations, hut at length, achameil of the weakness bhe displayed, she madd a powerful effort to regain ber equanimity, ana succeeded sufficiently to answer as follows, in 3 tose of comparative firmness -— ““My dear uncle, I trust that you have hitherto never found me diso- hedients; and in’ the present ipstance, soondr than cause you a moment's uneasiness, although ‘my heart-break in the effort, I will endeavour to do as you desire.’ ‘¢ Dear, excellent-girl!” ejaculated Mr. Woodfield, kissing the tear-moist- ened cheek of his niece, with the utmost fervour, ‘* I ought to have known that you weeld not act in opposition to my will, even at the sacrifice of your ows peace of mind. Rest aisured, strange and ambiguous as my conduct wey Appear at present, it is prompted only by an earnest desire for your future peace and welfare. The object who has inspired this passion in your bosom is, I am sure, too noble, too generous, when he finds that circumstances conspire to place an iasuperable barrier to his love, not to endeavour to vanqgpish it, and try to place his affections on another woman not jess warthy of him. _ §* He can never do it, ‘“* I am certain,” remarked Mrs. Woodfield, warmly. ‘¢ Hugh Clifford, or I have most egregiously mistaken his real character, is not of that ickle-minded temper, so easily to eradicate from his memory the only girl upon whom he has placed his warmest affections. He may appear to obey , on, but in secret he will indulge his ardent love, until it preys upon his health, ‘and probably aay bring him fo a premature grave. Indeed, { like not such. wonerensary cruelty.’’ Angelina shuddered with horror at the picture which Mrs. Woodfield drew. - ‘* Dame,’’ said her husband, augrily, “ will you obstioately persist in arging me to that which I have already told you could only be productive of the. most unhappy cousequences to vs all? Have I not told you that it is necessity, and pot my will, which compels me: tp reject the young man’s suit. Let me again desire, nay, command you to mention the subject no more to me, unhless you.woyld make me wretched, and bring dowa the greatest misery upon those whom you leve. Angelina, remember !”? Having thus spoken, Mr. Woodfield hastened fiom the. room to attgnud to bis duties jn the field, and the three females were left to themselves. When Mr. WoodGeld had Jofc the cottage, the grief occasioned by his words, in spite of all her efforts to restrain it, found vent in a capjous flood of tears. Mrs. Woodfield expressed by ber lopks and her manner the deep sympathy she felt for her, and Laura, whose hilarity svas seldom iaterrupted, now evinced a seriqusness of demeanour which was in her very remarkable. The efforts of her and her mother were combined in an attempt to soothe her. . ** Nay, my poor chid,’’ said her kind-héarted aunt, ‘‘ do not give way to this violeat grjef; your uncle may relent; he surely will, for well do you know the affection he bears you, and I am certain he cannot long see you unhappy.” conn @ NOOKS ACO