Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 228: what you’re looking at

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

220 HER ROYAL LOVER. in separating herself from it almost loved it. What was this future reserving for her, which she desired while apprehending? The day before the memorable one in which Madame de Mineleko was to become the king’s wife, he came at the customary hour. “To-morrow !—it is to-morrow!” he said, while pressing Najeska Ivanowna passionately against his heart. “Yes, it is to-morrow, my well-beloved, that thou shalt be mine, thou wilt become my wife for- ever!” In presence of so much effusion, of so much ten- derness, Madame de Mineleko remained, however, agitated and disquieted. “What will the Empress of Hindostan say, sire, when she will know—what will she do then?” “When sh2 will know, it will be too late. What she will do I donot even ask myself, for what is there to be done against the indissoluble ties which are going to bind us to each other?” The brow of Najeska Ivanowna had been hitherto quite meditative; it cleared a little. “The king is — right,” thought she, endeavoring thus to reassure herself, to repulse the idea of misfortune which, in spite of her, was besetting her. In fact, what could the old sovereign do when the marriage was once accomplished? Poor Najeska Ivanowna! if she had been able to know what a feeble reed this king was, upon whom she believed herself henceforth able to lean. m Comicbooks.co