Angelina: Or, The Mystery of St. Mark's Abbey — page 236: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERY OF ST. MARE’S ABBEY. 293 you as my fature husband, I feared to offer any opposition to his will, (which I. knew was peremptory) or, to inform him of my affections, and throwing myself uper your mercy to withdraw your suit, but from that also I shrank with a feel- ing of dread which I found it utterly impossible te vanquish, and the fatal time arrived, we were united. Still Eustace, think not, although another held pos- session of my warmest regard, that you was despised, that you have never heid any place in my affections; Heaven knows that next to my guilty seducer, you have been, and you are dearer to me than any other being in existence ; but whocan control the strength of the first and ardent attachment 2? We were mar- ried ; time passed on, and you saw the manner in which I behaved to you; the way in which I attempted to struggle with and to conquer my feelings. Hea- ven knows that it was my most sincere wish, my hourly prayer, that nothing should ever make me swerve from the duties of a wife, and hard did I strive to forget that individual who was fated te be my greatest curse. You recollect the accident which first introduced Sir Vincent and hia friends to you? You re- member the deep emotion, the uncommon agitation I evinced upon that ocea- sion, and after what I have mentioned, yeu cannot, you will not be surprised at it. Oh, Eustace, how sballl give utterance tothe guiltysequel ? But it must be teld! Sir Vincent, iu spite of my situation, renewed his vows and, weak, guilty fool that 1 was, I yielded to his base wisbes—-”” ‘* Almighty powers!” gasped forth Sir Eustace staggering and dropping into a seat; “and my sister, Emmeline too !” Lady Amabel made a powerful effort to speak, her bosom heaved with con- vulsive emotion, her couatenance turned completely black, and sinking back on her pillow, with a groan, she yielded her spirit into the hands of her Creator. Let us pass hastily over the painful scene which followed this dreadful disclo- sure. Suffice it tosay dhat for a few days after the demise of his wife, Sir Eus- tace Arlingham was quite delirious, and it was feared by his medical attendants that he would never recover the severe shock his feelings had received ; but at length his reason was restored to him, buat not antil the remains of his unforta- nate but guilty wife, were consigned to the tomb. Upon the head of the villain Sir Vincent Rosenford, he invoked a dreadful curse, and although he did not make any vow, he felt almost confident that he could never pardon his sister Emweline, who had net only brought eternal disgrace upon their hitherto un- sullied name, but had also broken the heart, or ruined the piece of mind for ever, of a fond and indulgent husbaad. Fast did the clouds of misfortune gather over the once happy and proud house of Arlingham. Scatcely six months had fied from the time of the elopement of Lady Emmeline, and the death of his wife, when Sir Eustace, whe had two or three most implacable enemies at court, who were jealous of the favour he had by his merits gained in the eyes of his sovereign, was accused of high treason, and so well concerted was the villanous plot which had been formed against him, that bis monarch, who had hitherto placed such implicit cenfidence in him, was persuaded of his guilt, and he was committed to prison upon the charge, and would, ne doubt, have been found guilty, but he escaped, and get on board a ship indisguise, with not any property in his possession, and by the assistance of a friend, made his way to Flanders, where, under an assumed name, (that by which he was first introduced to our readers), and the exertion of that friend who had never deserted him in all his misfortunes he sat up in business, and GOMMGIOO 1(GO)