The Mysteries of the Court of London — page 44: what you’re looking at

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

feet——and her polished, warm forehead came in contact with his fine and open, but fiushed and heated brow. Starting from hie suppliant posture, he threw g At length extricating herself from his embrace, and hurriedly smoothing her dress and arranging her disordered hair, she turned upon him a look of mingled tenderness and reproach: but he strove to seize her fair hand in his own. ‘‘ Release me—for God's sake let me go!” she murmured: “my sister will return in a mo- meat——* ‘And I will tell her that I love—that I adore you, charming Octavia!” interrupted Harley. ‘‘No—no—not yet!” said Octavia, yielding to him her hand, and holding down her blushing ‘‘ Consider, Mr. Harley-——” by my Christian name, dearest,— call me George,” he exclaimed, passing his arm yound her waist and drawing her gently towards him, antil his cheek rested upon the glossy sur- face of her radiant hair. ‘Consider then, George,” she proceeded in a low, tremulous, yet tender tone, which seemed like the sound of a silver bell oscillating in a strong breeze,—‘ consider that we have known each other for so short a time—that my father is “Well, then, my angel, we will for the present conceal our love,” said Harley. “ But do you— ean you love me? Oh! now upon your reply all my happiness reposes !” ‘‘ And were I to answer in the affirmative,” said the rejoicing, exulting, but trembling girl, “you would think———” “Only that you are as kind and tender as you are beautiful !” “What words would you have me speak 7— Oh! what would you have me say?” murmur- ingly inquired the agitated girl. ve would have you tall me that you love me! aan love me as 1 love you!” responded Harley. “Tell me this, sweet maid !—adorable Octavia ! =—tell me this, and make me happy !—Oh! im- measurably happy !” : “ But—but,” she murmured, “if I did, you would deem me bold—forward—-rash~—inconside- rate——” “Oh! no—no! I can never entertain a senti- ment injurious to you, my beloved Octavia!” in- : again and again did he clasp her to his breast—and he could feel her bosom throbbing against his chest like the undulations of a mighty tide ebbing to and fro. Octavia was lost as it were in a new world of ineffable bliss: she felt like one who has suddenly passed from the mono- tony of a well-known and long familiar clime into a glorious land where streams are most pearly, foliage most green, flowers most beautifal, fruite most luscious, and the air most fragrant ; — that surrounded her as with a halo— -—and gently separating from the confiding, lovi girl, he said, “This is a heavenly dream of hap piness in which all worldly thoughts are sorbed! But we must exercise prudence, my angel—and ‘tis now for me to remind you that Pauline will soon return. Tell me, sweetest girl, can you possibly find an excuse to go out alone for an hour or two to-morrow evening? Nay— start not—I have so many things to tell you—so much to say to you, my beloved Octavia!” “Oh! do not ask me to act with such duplicity towards my sister! murmured the young lady. “Duplicity, dearest?” said Harley, with a well-feigned air of surprise, yet blended with the softness of a re-assuring smile “Oh, yes!— duplicity!” repeated Octavia ‘s Would it not be duplicity—deceit—dissimula- “ Heavens! that I should be deemed capable of urging you, my charmer, to such a course!” again interrupted the man of the world, with another look of surprise. ‘“‘No—never! I love you too well, Octavia! Hear me!” “I will—I will! Speak! What do you mean?” asked the trembling girl COLT ©) NOOO) CO