The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 284: what you’re looking at

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

THE MYSTERIES OF TIE COUT. 278 a — [PAULINE CLARENDON. ] reparation he can make you, otherwise than by leading you to the altar: I answer emphatically, that he can be forced to espouse you !” “ Impossible !” exclaimed Octavia, starting up as if obedient to the sudden influence of a gal- vanic battery: then, clasping her hands together, she cried, ‘‘ No—no, my beloved sister: you are deceiving yourself—you are deceiving me ;—for did you not just now declare that, even if his affection were still mine, I could not enjoy it in honour to myself.” “Yes—I spoke thus—in haste—and without remembering at the instant that there was a possibility of adopting ulterior means,” said Pau- line. ‘‘ Besides—I was anxious to probe all the varied feelings of your mind——” “ But you have spoken of ulterior means !” in- terrupted Octavia: “Oh! tell me—keep me not in suspense, dear sister—those means——And yet,” she exclaimed, frantically interrupting herself and dashing her open palms wildly against her polished brow; “it were madness to entertain such a hope!” “Not so foolish as you conceive, Octavia,” answered Pauline, in a tone of partial triumph, 35. “ A secret of the utmost importance is in my keeping—a secret which only became known to mo on Sunday last, while I was out with Gabriel dering your absence at church——”" “And that secret ?” exclaimed Octavia, anx- jously. : “ Tnvolves the honour of a lady of the highest rank——" “But it will not save my honour, Pauline,” in- terrupted the elder sister, bitterly. “Oh! what in the name of heaven has all this to do with my unhappy case?” she demanded, gazing in aato- nishment upon Pauline, “ What do you mean ?” “TI mean that the lady who became a mother at our recent abode, under such mysterious cir- cumstances——” “Mrs. Mordaunt ?” cried Ootavia, literally trembling with impatience. “Yes—Mra, Mordaunt,” repeated Pauline. “And can you guess who this Mrs. Mordauny really is?” “‘How can I, Pauline?” exclaimed the older sister. “But you remember that wo always suspected her to be some lady of rank—and her friend Mrs. Smith too——” comicbooks.conn ———— eee