Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 172: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERY OF &T. MARK’S ABBEY. - 499 meq would make you reparation, by the most unbounded kisdness and love. You have taxed me with undue severity towards her who, in disobedience to my orders, and the commands of her husband, assisted you to escape, when you was before confined here; I acknowledge it, but it is in your power to release her, and I promise you, faithfully promise you, that I will make her all the amends in my power, by the most unlimited kindness. You speak of the Baroness de Morton? True, she possesses my hand, but my heart is yours, and yours only ?—You tell me I have sought your life !—I cannot tell what could cause me to do s0, only the strange, the lamentable infatuation, which I have before mentioned. Thus do not, beauteous, all-captivating girl, suffer these painful circumstances to prejudice you against he who Joves you to mad- ness !—Here, on my knees, behold me bow my adoration for your beauteous, your all-powerful person, and, on this fair hand to seal-—”’ ‘* Hold! sir,” cried the indignant damsel, forcibly tearing her hand from the baron’s grasp, while her cheeks turned allernately red and ghastly pale, ‘your words are as revolting to me as your person; away, and rather let me endure the horrors of the dungeon to which your myrmidon consigned me when he brought me hither.”’ The baron seemed abasbed for a few moments at the boldness of the maiden’s manner, and made no answer. He bit his lips, his brows became contracted, and it was very evident that he had a violent struggle to stifle those expret- sions of anger, which the impetuosity of his disposition excited. At length, chasing all looks of displeasure from his countenance, he turned upon Angelina an expression of affection, and said :— ‘¢ Beauteous girl, let me beg of you to endeavour to vanquish this repug- waace, which I own is only natural, after the pain I have unfortunately been ‘the eause of inflicting upon you; let me entreat that you will cease to look ‘upon me with the jaundiced eye of prejudice, and that you will view me only ag one who loves you as ardently as ever man could love a woman, and who is reatly to make any sacrifice to contribute to your happiness. «‘ Happiness 1’ repeated Angelina, with a look of scorn, ‘‘ and think you the way to make me happy, is to clandestinely tear me from my friends, and leave them in a state of uncertainty as to my fate?—To hold me in confine- tent .ia thin horrible place, where every chamber seems to trace a crime of horror *—To insult mine ears with the expression of your disgusting pussion ? ‘Leave me, sir, your sight fills my bosom with horror and abhorrence.” “<>T is well, young lady,’’ observed the baron, in a voice of wrath; ‘* you may, probably, repeat this cold disdain. For the present, | will leave you ; but, remember, that you gre now in my power, without any chance of being rescued, without the least prospect of any of your friends ascertaining where you are confined, and that, i€ you persist in rejecting my suit, and not acceding to my desires, force aball speedily make you !’’ As he thus spoke, be turned upon our heroine a threatening look, and quitted the room. Our heroine now felt, if.anything, more wretched than before, for the pas- sion of the baron phe seemed to dread even more than his vengeance. But ja , the midst of her tropble she could not help reflecting with astonishment upon ‘the change which had suddenly taken place in the baron’s behaviour. What could: have:had she power $o change his most deadly wrath to love, ifthe pas- GOMMGIOO 1(GO)