Her Royal Lover: A Novel — page 290: what you’re looking at

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

282 HER ROYAL LOVER. CHAPTER XXXIX. A CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. When the messenger had departed, bearing the response of Madame de Mineleko, the dignity and the strength that had hitherto supported her, com- pletely abandoned her. Quickly taking refuge in her miserable cell she could at last relieve her heart, so burdened with outrages and apprehensions, and . permit the sobs which oppressed her to freely es- cape. This nightmare which she was endeavoring to dis- pel; was it. then, a frightful reality? All was ended, then, between the king and her! Ended! and at the very hour wherein the marriage had been consum- mated. Najeska Ivanowna wept a long time, her body thrown across the bed in an abandonment of heart- rending despair. Who had she now to aid and sup- port her in this atrocious struggle which was about to commence? No one would come, to revive again by an affectionate word, her broken courage; nota friendly hand would endeavor to heal the wound of her heart! “Nothing more—nothing in the world but thou alone, oh my God! Forsake me not, I be- seech thee!” A short, but fervent prayer which, from the soul of this poor martyr, ascended to heaven. Undoubtedly, the Lord was touched by it, for its efficacy was not long in coming. After hav- ing given free course to her tears Najeska Ivan- owna felt her ideas gradually rearranging them- selves in her poor head, Despite the delirium in Gomicbooks: com