Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 186: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERY OF ST. MARK’s ABBEY. 173 regret at the hereible quiferinge you have endured for my sake. Never akail i be able to repay the debt of gratitade I owe you.” “* It is.aleeady repaid, Miss,” retezned Bridget, ina tone of siacerity—“ it is already repaid, ie the ceasciousness I have of having performed a virtuous action, aed saved the life of a fellew-createre. As for my sufferiags, dreadful, indeed, as they were, they are ever new; and since we are permitted te meet agniny and to be tegether, [ will endeavour to forget them, or to re- member them only with feelings of anything elee but anguish.” “ Aad are yeu, indesd, to be my companion, dear Briiget 2?” inquired An- gelina, eagerly; ‘‘shall we be allowed to share the same apartments, and my sight no longer be offended, or mine ears disgusted with that hateful old woman, Deborah ?”’ “‘ Yes, Miss,” replied the faithfal Bridget, “‘ the baron has told me that I am ia futere to be with yeu constantly, on condition that I never mention the past, and that I endeavour all that isin my power to persuade you to receive his advances witheat abhorreace. But his lordship must bave theught very meanly of me, to have imagined that I could be capable of doing as he wished, and rather would I iecer all that his utmost vengeance could inflict, and which, as I have experienced, he knows how to exercise with such severity, than I would even attempt te act in a manner so repugnant te my feelings.” , ““] kaow you weuld, my. good, kind, affectionate Bridget,” ejaculated Angelina, oace more embracing her companion with the utmost ardour and sincerity. ‘* Henceforth we are sisters, and nothing can ever estrange from my bosom the feelings of love and gratitude which I feel towards you. But what think you of the Baron de Morton's designs against me P”’ “ Alas! Miss Woodfield,” replied Bridget, ‘‘I scarcely knew how to answer you, for were I to endeavour to instil the sentimeasts of hope into your miad, I should not only be misleading you, but speaking ia a manner contrary to my own opinions. .The baron is a wicked man, and when he forms a design, there is nething that he will shrink from performing te put it inte execution. It is very certain, that his former extraardinary hatred, and even dread of you, are changed into love, (it such a detestable passion as that he feels, deserves such a title,) and that has formed a resolutien, by some means or the other, to obtain the indulgence ef his sinfal desires. But I know that I need not beg of you to meet him with equal determination, and fear pot but that Pro- vidence, will project you from the villain’s wicked designs.” ‘ST will, indeed, do as you say, Bridget,”’ returned our heroine; “‘ and the consciousness of the rectitude of my own heart, will, I am confident, enable me to triumph.— Yes, I will no longer despair, but meet my persecutor with firmness, and shew him that virtue is as a coat of mail to its possessor, and may set at defiance all the evil machiaations of the guilty.” ‘* Tt delights me to hear you talk so,’ said Bridgets *‘ and I feel as certain as you yourself can, that your ideas will be realized. The baron is crafty and designing, and he will, doubtless, try every effort in his power to effect the gratification of his wishes. But a firm resistance, conducted with prudence, will frustrate his object, and distract him from his purposes, until such time at you may effect your liberation, and place yourself in a situation to defy his power, or wicked designs,’ 6) 1(GO) COMIC